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Schnipps · 09-24-2020, 08:08 PM

I'd love a look at the Hisense, but I'm not buying the cat in a bag. All I really want for now is check out what's on offer.

Usage cases: reading in daylight, language learning on-the-go (with TTS), music, maps, internet & calls. A phone is more versatile than an ereader. Size & ruggedness also matter.

I did get my hands on a Yotaphone 2 the other day - still on Android 5, definitely has OTG support, but apparently no exFat driver (which format I use with all my sticks & cards). Most likely this wouldn't change if flashed to Android 6. None of my Marshmellow devices' stock ROM supported exFat - this appears to be a custom or Android 7+ feature. The problem with all these E Ink devices is you can't install custom ROMs on them.

I do care about a good screen, and that's a point in favor of the Yota. 16 greyscale levels can't compete with 16 million colors, at least, when the contest is about more than simulating a paper book. Which even the Yota does half-convincingly at 960x540 pixels, bad print and all.

The color screen is nice and crisp, and the dimming can be well adjusted at lower levels.

The headphone sound is good, but the Yota appears a little touchy - the slightest nudge turns it on or off. The size is o.k., large enough for reading, but slim enough for a jacket pocket, though I hear the eInk screen is prone to cracking.

All in all - the Yotaphone 2 (to me):
- pros: dual screen, Google Play services, geek value
- cons: touchy, outdated, possibly more fragile than it looks

The Yotaphone 3 is newer, but according to one cect-shop review, more limited in what can be done with the eInk screen. The mirroring feature (that allows full control over the phone using this screen) no longer works. And it's larger and more expensive.

So now I'm intrigued by the technology, but not sold on it. The screens are not good enough for anything but basic maps and text. All I can really imagine myself doing with it is lounging around in the sun reading, or emergency navigation when biking around. Maybe I should simply buy a bigger straw hat instead?

Lastly, book pages aren't shiny (usually, art prints and comics excepted), so it makes sense to have a matte EPD screen or screen protector; also, to avoid reflections. I found the Goodereader comparison of all the Hisense A5 models pretty convincing in that regard. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PufgRUvI9s)

09-24-2020, 08:08 PM	#431
Schnipps Member Posts: 16 Karma: 2118398 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab S	I'd love a look at the Hisense, but I'm not buying the cat in a bag. All I really want for now is check out what's on offer. Usage cases: reading in daylight, language learning on-the-go (with TTS), music, maps, internet & calls. A phone is more versatile than an ereader. Size & ruggedness also matter. I did get my hands on a Yotaphone 2 the other day - still on Android 5, definitely has OTG support, but apparently no exFat driver (which format I use with all my sticks & cards). Most likely this wouldn't change if flashed to Android 6. None of my Marshmellow devices' stock ROM supported exFat - this appears to be a custom or Android 7+ feature. The problem with all these E Ink devices is you can't install custom ROMs on them. I do care about a good screen, and that's a point in favor of the Yota. 16 greyscale levels can't compete with 16 million colors, at least, when the contest is about more than simulating a paper book. Which even the Yota does half-convincingly at 960x540 pixels, bad print and all. The color screen is nice and crisp, and the dimming can be well adjusted at lower levels. The headphone sound is good, but the Yota appears a little touchy - the slightest nudge turns it on or off. The size is o.k., large enough for reading, but slim enough for a jacket pocket, though I hear the eInk screen is prone to cracking. All in all - the Yotaphone 2 (to me): - pros: dual screen, Google Play services, geek value - cons: touchy, outdated, possibly more fragile than it looks The Yotaphone 3 is newer, but according to one cect-shop review, more limited in what can be done with the eInk screen. The mirroring feature (that allows full control over the phone using this screen) no longer works. And it's larger and more expensive. So now I'm intrigued by the technology, but not sold on it. The screens are not good enough for anything but basic maps and text. All I can really imagine myself doing with it is lounging around in the sun reading, or emergency navigation when biking around. Maybe I should simply buy a bigger straw hat instead? Lastly, book pages aren't shiny (usually, art prints and comics excepted), so it makes sense to have a matte EPD screen or screen protector; also, to avoid reflections. I found the Goodereader comparison of all the Hisense A5 models pretty convincing in that regard. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PufgRUvI9s)