contrast on kindle 3

amytug · 11-18-2010, 05:39 PM

I just got my kindle 3 today. I don't like the contrast (or lack thereof) on it, and will return if I cannot get it remedied. I googled and stumbled across this site and am hoping you guys can help me figure out what firmware, etc is, and how to do it. I am so lost! I don't feel that we should have to jump through all these hoops to have our devices behave properly. considering just exchanging for a kindle 1, but i have a thing against using older versions of stuff.

rawr!
wwyd? is 1 really that much better?

desertgrandma · 11-18-2010, 05:58 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, amytug

I had the K1 and upgraded to the K3.......I found the contrast better.

There was no ''hoop jumping" associated with my K3.

Have you tried contacting kindle support? Go here, click on the "contact us" page, sign into your account, and choose the "call me" button........someone will call you back almost immediately.

Tiersten · 11-18-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amytug

I googled and stumbled across this site and am hoping you guys can help me figure out what firmware, etc is, and how to do it.

The firmware doesn't affect the contrast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amytug

I don't feel that we should have to jump through all these hoops to have our devices behave properly.

No hoops need to be jumped through unless you want to do the third party modifications such as different screensavers or altering the fonts. Neither of which are essential for proper operation of the Kindle 3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amytug

considering just exchanging for a kindle 1

The contrast of the Kindle 3 display is significantly better than contrast of the display on a Kindle 1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amytug

is 1 really that much better?

It isn't. Its worse.

What exactly about the display do you not like? If it is very low contrast then the display is faulty in some manner. Take a photo of the screen if you can.

amytug · 11-18-2010, 09:07 PM

gosh, I wish I loved it as much as you guys do! I really really want to! I'll call customer service tomorrow. It must have been another message board that were all about getting the firmware 2.0.1 i believe it was called, for contrast on the kindle 3. and there were members with a kindle 1 and got the 3 and returned because teh contrast on the screen was better on the 1. I have a refurb, so maybe that is why it's screwy? never had bad luck with refurbished electronics.

to me, the kindle is 2 shades of grey. light grey and dark grey. NOT balck and white. am i expecting too much in hoping that it'd be very close to a hardback?
http://www.winsupersite.com/mobile/kindle3.asp
this is pretty accurate to what mine looks like. I guess I was just expecting more of a true book like experience. I have sensitive eyes. or maybe picky. compared to your hardbacks, doesn't it look quite a bit darker?

ty all for answering so quickly! i love the help! I really want to love love love my new cmas presant.

oh, in the link- see how the kindle 3's white part of the screen is so much greyer than the white of the kindle 2? it doesn't seem to me like it should be like that. I guess i'm just stuck with deciding if I'm going to keep it or return it. I'm bummed.

Blossom · 11-18-2010, 09:34 PM

My Kindle 3 (which I just got yesterday

) contrast is amazing compared to my old EzReader. It's has a very light grey background with very black text. I don't even need a book light to read it with like I did with my old reader. Contrast is so good I can hold it far away and still read it cause the text looks just like a paperback but better IMO.

My old reader contrast sounds just like what you described your Kindle 3 having. Two shades of grey which isn't Pearl at all. I would defaintly return it for another one because something isn't right.

amytug · 11-18-2010, 09:39 PM

oh, here is that thread. it was the kindle 2 they were talking about here- embarrasing. at least i figured it out and didn't have to have someone else point it out lol

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41009

I may order another kindle and return one or the other. just to compare and make sure. if they ar the same i'll chalk it up to my being picky and settle cuz darnit- i want this thing! lol I like to read, and having them all in this tiny little thing. kids can't rip it off the shelf and toss it about the house, it's just amazing!!!

oh, and i too just got mine yday. i lied in the op- got it yday, just opened it up to play with it today

i like the pics that are on it when it's asleep. so neat. love the birds.

FF2 · 11-18-2010, 10:29 PM

The "gray" on mine is quite light/pale. Somewhere I compared it to the very light beige/cream/whatever color of paper, at least, the paper in most books. I have really not seen that many books with WHITE paper - magazines, yes. Books, rarely.

But it is possible that yours is flawed. Also, playing with the font size might help distinguish characters better.

curstpriest · 11-18-2010, 10:34 PM

Sounds like you just don't understand the technology or are expecting something different. It's not black on white, but it's close. If you go to k1 it's less close. If you're unhappy with k3, you'll be much less happy with k1, and slightly less happy with k2.

There really isn't any difference between exchanging them either.. These things pass QC so it's not like your particular model is defective, it is what it is.

The only things that really affect the contrast are:
1) your brain (and to an extent your eyes and the optic pathway) - if you are using the white model, it lowers percieved contrast, the graphite model will give you higher perceived contrast.
2) ambient lighting - look at it in the sun, or quality fluorescent light (3ft). Don't use tungsten light sources, or low light environments. Lower brightness = lower contrast.

Blossom · 11-18-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF2

The "gray" on mine is quite light/pale. Somewhere I compared it to the very light beige/cream/whatever color of paper, at least, the paper in most books. I have really not seen that many books with WHITE paper - magazines, yes. Books, rarely.

But it is possible that yours is flawed. Also, playing with the font size might help distinguish characters better.

Yep that's how mine is too.
It looks just like a paperback. Except the text is better, darker and not smudgy like paperbacks. Maybe because I upgraded from a Hanlin v5 clone but it's just knocked my socks off how much difference the contrast is on this reader. I am one happy Kindle owner!

JeremyR · 11-18-2010, 11:48 PM

Hmmm, mine is pretty much black text on light grey. Far more like a newspaper than paperback.

Or really, like the first web pages, the grey background they'd use.

It's quite readable, but when you put it up next to a book, you can see a huge difference. Even when it's a trade paperback (which tend to use recycled paper, I think, and isn't so white)

jondelfin · 11-19-2010, 12:15 AM

I have a Kindle 2 [which my daughter has taken over!!] and a Kindle 3. Those photos in the link are misleading. Side by side the background on the K3 looks whiter than the K2, and the contrast is much better. I don't find it an issue - most paperbacks are certainly not printed on pure white paper. I also find a lot depends on the ambient lighting at the tiime as well.

amytug · 11-19-2010, 12:53 AM

thank you guys, i would def say that it's a lot like a newspaper. I'm loving it thouhg, even downloaded some free books that actually look pretty good tonight. I'm so excited to play with it.

one thing I do notice is that sometimes once the picture changes (or words) the outline from the previous picture/words is still on the page. very light but there. It does eventually go away. Is this pretty common?

I tihnk I'm going to go witht hte poster that siad i probably was just expecting something different. now that i've read more on it, i really do love it. i wish i had the funds to send one to everyone on my cmas list!!! my 8 yr. old dd is asking me if she can use it. heh. ill have to think about that dear.

enkov · 11-19-2010, 01:00 AM

The process of making (manufacturing) e-Ink displays is not so refined yet and there is up to 30-40% difference in the contrast and gray-ness of the different batches of displays even in the same model. This (and different lighting conditions and the camera settings) is the cause of the differences in the photos of the Kindle displays that we discuss here. Of course - there are three display types by manufacturing process used in the Kindles - Kindle 1 use Vizplex 1.0 (this is my numbering), Kindle 2 Intl use advanced Vizplex 2.0 and Kindles DXG / 3 use Pearl displays.

Yes, there is a some outline (afterdark - opposite to the afterglow) by the previous page's text. I think this is caused by the forcing the display to refresh faster. Some kind of the 'overdrive'. It is not fatal and of course it dimnish after a time or on the next page.

Mintaka · 11-19-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amytug

one thing I do notice is that sometimes once the picture changes (or words) the outline from the previous picture/words is still on the page. very light but there. It does eventually go away. Is this pretty common?

I have that on my K2 from time to time, and even a few times on my K3. I just use Alt-G to refresh the screen if it really bothers me. Most of the time it's easily ignored.

RexGalore · 11-19-2010, 02:16 AM

I have the K3 and my friend the K2 and there is a significant difference in contrast (to the K3's advantage).
Found this page that illustrates the difference quite well: K3 vs. K2
example:

11-18-2010, 05:39 PM	#1
amytug Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 3	contrast on kindle 3 I just got my kindle 3 today. I don't like the contrast (or lack thereof) on it, and will return if I cannot get it remedied. I googled and stumbled across this site and am hoping you guys can help me figure out what firmware, etc is, and how to do it. I am so lost! I don't feel that we should have to jump through all these hoops to have our devices behave properly. considering just exchanging for a kindle 1, but i have a thing against using older versions of stuff. rawr! wwyd? is 1 really that much better?

11-18-2010, 09:07 PM	#4
amytug Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 3	gosh, I wish I loved it as much as you guys do! I really really want to! I'll call customer service tomorrow. It must have been another message board that were all about getting the firmware 2.0.1 i believe it was called, for contrast on the kindle 3. and there were members with a kindle 1 and got the 3 and returned because teh contrast on the screen was better on the 1. I have a refurb, so maybe that is why it's screwy? never had bad luck with refurbished electronics. to me, the kindle is 2 shades of grey. light grey and dark grey. NOT balck and white. am i expecting too much in hoping that it'd be very close to a hardback? http://www.winsupersite.com/mobile/kindle3.asp this is pretty accurate to what mine looks like. I guess I was just expecting more of a true book like experience. I have sensitive eyes. or maybe picky. compared to your hardbacks, doesn't it look quite a bit darker? ty all for answering so quickly! i love the help! I really want to love love love my new cmas presant. oh, in the link- see how the kindle 3's white part of the screen is so much greyer than the white of the kindle 2? it doesn't seem to me like it should be like that. I guess i'm just stuck with deciding if I'm going to keep it or return it. I'm bummed. Last edited by amytug; 11-18-2010 at 09:14 PM.

11-18-2010, 10:34 PM	#8
curstpriest Confused Posts: 402 Karma: 5538 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: Kindle DXG	Sounds like you just don't understand the technology or are expecting something different. It's not black on white, but it's close. If you go to k1 it's less close. If you're unhappy with k3, you'll be much less happy with k1, and slightly less happy with k2. There really isn't any difference between exchanging them either.. These things pass QC so it's not like your particular model is defective, it is what it is. The only things that really affect the contrast are: 1) your brain (and to an extent your eyes and the optic pathway) - if you are using the white model, it lowers percieved contrast, the graphite model will give you higher perceived contrast. 2) ambient lighting - look at it in the sun, or quality fluorescent light (3ft). Don't use tungsten light sources, or low light environments. Lower brightness = lower contrast. Last edited by curstpriest; 11-18-2010 at 10:37 PM.

11-19-2010, 01:00 AM	#13
enkov Advanced Dunno Posts: 80 Karma: 27094 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Plovdiv, Bulgaria Device: Kindle Fire HDX 7 + Paperwhite 2013	The process of making (manufacturing) e-Ink displays is not so refined yet and there is up to 30-40% difference in the contrast and gray-ness of the different batches of displays even in the same model. This (and different lighting conditions and the camera settings) is the cause of the differences in the photos of the Kindle displays that we discuss here. Of course - there are three display types by manufacturing process used in the Kindles - Kindle 1 use Vizplex 1.0 (this is my numbering), Kindle 2 Intl use advanced Vizplex 2.0 and Kindles DXG / 3 use Pearl displays. Yes, there is a some outline (afterdark - opposite to the afterglow) by the previous page's text. I think this is caused by the forcing the display to refresh faster. Some kind of the 'overdrive'. It is not fatal and of course it dimnish after a time or on the next page. Last edited by enkov; 11-19-2010 at 01:02 AM.

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11-18-2010, 05:58 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, amytug I had the K1 and upgraded to the K3.......I found the contrast better. There was no ''hoop jumping" associated with my K3. Have you tried contacting kindle support? Go here, click on the "contact us" page, sign into your account, and choose the "call me" button........someone will call you back almost immediately.

11-18-2010, 09:34 PM	#5
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	My Kindle 3 (which I just got yesterday ) contrast is amazing compared to my old EzReader. It's has a very light grey background with very black text. I don't even need a book light to read it with like I did with my old reader. Contrast is so good I can hold it far away and still read it cause the text looks just like a paperback but better IMO. My old reader contrast sounds just like what you described your Kindle 3 having. Two shades of grey which isn't Pearl at all. I would defaintly return it for another one because something isn't right.

11-18-2010, 09:39 PM	#6
amytug Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 3	oh, here is that thread. it was the kindle 2 they were talking about here- embarrasing. at least i figured it out and didn't have to have someone else point it out lol https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41009 I may order another kindle and return one or the other. just to compare and make sure. if they ar the same i'll chalk it up to my being picky and settle cuz darnit- i want this thing! lol I like to read, and having them all in this tiny little thing. kids can't rip it off the shelf and toss it about the house, it's just amazing!!! oh, and i too just got mine yday. i lied in the op- got it yday, just opened it up to play with it today i like the pics that are on it when it's asleep. so neat. love the birds.

11-18-2010, 10:29 PM	#7
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	The "gray" on mine is quite light/pale. Somewhere I compared it to the very light beige/cream/whatever color of paper, at least, the paper in most books. I have really not seen that many books with WHITE paper - magazines, yes. Books, rarely. But it is possible that yours is flawed. Also, playing with the font size might help distinguish characters better.

11-18-2010, 11:48 PM	#10
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Hmmm, mine is pretty much black text on light grey. Far more like a newspaper than paperback. Or really, like the first web pages, the grey background they'd use. It's quite readable, but when you put it up next to a book, you can see a huge difference. Even when it's a trade paperback (which tend to use recycled paper, I think, and isn't so white)

11-19-2010, 12:15 AM	#11
jondelfin Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 610 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 2, 3, 4T	I have a Kindle 2 [which my daughter has taken over!!] and a Kindle 3. Those photos in the link are misleading. Side by side the background on the K3 looks whiter than the K2, and the contrast is much better. I don't find it an issue - most paperbacks are certainly not printed on pure white paper. I also find a lot depends on the ambient lighting at the tiime as well.

11-19-2010, 12:53 AM	#12
amytug Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle 3	thank you guys, i would def say that it's a lot like a newspaper. I'm loving it thouhg, even downloaded some free books that actually look pretty good tonight. I'm so excited to play with it. one thing I do notice is that sometimes once the picture changes (or words) the outline from the previous picture/words is still on the page. very light but there. It does eventually go away. Is this pretty common? I tihnk I'm going to go witht hte poster that siad i probably was just expecting something different. now that i've read more on it, i really do love it. i wish i had the funds to send one to everyone on my cmas list!!! my 8 yr. old dd is asking me if she can use it. heh. ill have to think about that dear.

11-19-2010, 02:16 AM	#15
RexGalore Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 142 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I have the K3 and my friend the K2 and there is a significant difference in contrast (to the K3's advantage). Found this page that illustrates the difference quite well: K3 vs. K2 example:

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