Content Folders! Rant! Rave!

Gideon · 03-07-2008, 06:30 AM

Argh!
I gotta tell ya, I love my Kindle but I'm about to throw it through the window in regards to its poor navigation options.

The inability to do any sort of organization besides author and title (which can't be edited easily at all) is just driving me nuts. And honestly, that alone really wouldn't frustrate me if we could navigate via folders which would even be better!

I'm curious... did no one testing the Kindle have much content on it? Cause I'm looking at seven pages and I'm just sick to death of trying to sort out with the first few words of a title and my email address if I mailed it to go on. The PDF's often have metadata - USE IT.

I really do like the device in every way but that. I read a lot of academic journal articles through the device, and it's just getting pretty damn messy. I love that I can just send them to my device via email so easily, but man it is getting ugly in here.

jacksonunit · 03-07-2008, 07:41 AM

i KNOW right? It's like if Gwen Stefani had a big zit on her cheek.

BTW, I really enjoy your blog. I have a t-shirt with the Feb 27 quote on it.
(No, really. I do.)

BTW also, Do you know where an humble Calvinist might find a suitable electronic version of The Institutes of the Christian Religion. All I can find is a shoddy four file version on memoware.com

I have a paper copy but am afraid I might crack a tile if I drop it.

NatCh · 03-07-2008, 09:30 AM

I'm beginning to think that all the makers of these devices did their market research at the same place, since they all seem to have decided that flat navigation is the way to go.

Gideon · 03-07-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonunit

i KNOW right? It's like if Gwen Stefani had a big zit on her cheek.

BTW, I really enjoy your blog. I have a t-shirt with the Feb 27 quote on it.
(No, really. I do.)

BTW also, Do you know where an humble Calvinist might find a suitable electronic version of The Institutes of the Christian Religion. All I can find is a shoddy four file version on memoware.com

I have a paper copy but am afraid I might crack a tile if I drop it.

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Calvin had a heck of a mind... I just kind of stumbled upon that quote the other day and loved it. That idea is so prevalent in Judaism - in fact, after "action over belief" I'd suggest that the aversion to idolatry is the second biggest "issue".

Regarding Calvin's book... I found this mobipocket drm'd book. You can attempt to use it with your Kindle with the instructions around here somewhere.
It's not free, however:
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/inst...vin-ebooks.htm

Books on Board has a similar situation:
http://www.booksonboard.com/index.ph...=john%20calvin

That's pretty much what I could find that didn't appear to be exactly what you had. That's very surprisingly, actually. Good luck!

Alisa · 03-07-2008, 03:16 PM

I totally agree. I want subfolders and the ability to customize search to an individual book, a subfolder or the whole Kindle. It's not rocket science.

Kingston · 03-07-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

Argh
I'm curious... did no one testing the Kindle have much content on it? Cause I'm looking at seven pages and I'm just sick to death of trying to sort out with the first few words of a title and my email address if I mailed it to go on. man it is getting ugly in here.

Wait'll you get like me. 23 pages & counting!

I finally broke down and put some of my 'already read' books on an SD card and stored the card.

The current update should have enabled folder creation.

I read somewhere that an Amazon big wig said one Kindle owner bought 800 (!!!) books since buying the Kindle. I'll see if I can find the page.

europas_ice · 03-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

I read a lot of academic journal articles through the device, and it's just getting pretty damn messy. I love that I can just send them to my device via email so easily, but man it is getting ugly in here.

I'd be interested in seeing a screenshot of a converted journal article on the kindle, and the corresponding original pdf formatting. One of the reasons I got a sony was so I could read pdfs of scientific articles; however, the pdf view on the Sony is really way too small to actually read.

JSWolf · 03-07-2008, 07:01 PM

So far, Sony seems to be one step ahead of the pack with Collections. It's not folders, but it's not too bad.

europas_ice · 03-07-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So far, Sony seems to be one step ahead of the pack with Collections. It's not folders, but it's not too bad.

And even though the collections don't work for the stuff on the SD card, you can edit the metadata for the files, and you can manually sort the SD card files to appear on the reader in any order you want.

Gideon · 03-07-2008, 07:55 PM

Yeah, I really miss the collections feature - it was very nice.

Here are some shots. These are just pdf's emailed directly to the Kindle - it is by no means perfect, but it is certainly readable.

JSWolf · 03-08-2008, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by europas_ice

And even though the collections don't work for the stuff on the SD card, you can edit the metadata for the files, and you can manually sort the SD card files to appear on the reader in any order you want.

Collections do work on the SD card for the 505.

europas_ice · 03-08-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Collections do work on the SD card for the 505.

Ooo, I didn't know that. I suppose it's not enough of a reason to shell out the $400 though.

JSWolf · 03-08-2008, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by europas_ice

Ooo, I didn't know that. I suppose it's not enough of a reason to shell out the $400 though.

$299.99 retail from Sony directly. Can be found slightly less on other store websites selling it.

dugbug · 03-08-2008, 07:56 PM

Yah, this thing needs folders.

However, JSWolf, if I was given a Sony, I'd just chuck it a drawer and continue using the kindle. The advantages are overwhelming.

-d

Alisa · 03-08-2008, 11:00 PM

I think Sony could close the gap a fair way with a bit of investment in firmware development. It's a good device at a great price point. They need to put forth some effort if they want to stay in the game. I love my Kindle but I don't want it to be the only game in town.

03-07-2008, 06:30 AM	#1
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Folders! Rant! Rave! Argh! I gotta tell ya, I love my Kindle but I'm about to throw it through the window in regards to its poor navigation options. The inability to do any sort of organization besides author and title (which can't be edited easily at all) is just driving me nuts. And honestly, that alone really wouldn't frustrate me if we could navigate via folders which would even be better! I'm curious... did no one testing the Kindle have much content on it? Cause I'm looking at seven pages and I'm just sick to death of trying to sort out with the first few words of a title and my email address if I mailed it to go on. The PDF's often have metadata - USE IT. I really do like the device in every way but that. I read a lot of academic journal articles through the device, and it's just getting pretty damn messy. I love that I can just send them to my device via email so easily, but man it is getting ugly in here.

03-07-2008, 07:55 PM	#10
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Yeah, I really miss the collections feature - it was very nice. Here are some shots. These are just pdf's emailed directly to the Kindle - it is by no means perfect, but it is certainly readable. Attached Thumbnails

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03-07-2008, 07:41 AM	#2
jacksonunit Sand Bender Posts: 107 Karma: 35218 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Antonio, Tx Device: Kindle1/iPhone/iPad/Droid/KindleDX/Kindle 3G/Kindle Touch/Kindle Fire	i KNOW right? It's like if Gwen Stefani had a big zit on her cheek. BTW, I really enjoy your blog. I have a t-shirt with the Feb 27 quote on it. (No, really. I do.) BTW also, Do you know where an humble Calvinist might find a suitable electronic version of The Institutes of the Christian Religion. All I can find is a shoddy four file version on memoware.com I have a paper copy but am afraid I might crack a tile if I drop it.

03-07-2008, 09:30 AM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'm beginning to think that all the makers of these devices did their market research at the same place, since they all seem to have decided that flat navigation is the way to go.

03-07-2008, 03:16 PM	#5
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I totally agree. I want subfolders and the ability to customize search to an individual book, a subfolder or the whole Kindle. It's not rocket science.

03-07-2008, 07:01 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,945 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So far, Sony seems to be one step ahead of the pack with Collections. It's not folders, but it's not too bad.

03-08-2008, 07:56 PM	#14
dugbug Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 1723 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Kindle	Yah, this thing needs folders. However, JSWolf, if I was given a Sony, I'd just chuck it a drawer and continue using the kindle. The advantages are overwhelming. -d

03-08-2008, 11:00 PM	#15
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I think Sony could close the gap a fair way with a bit of investment in firmware development. It's a good device at a great price point. They need to put forth some effort if they want to stay in the game. I love my Kindle but I don't want it to be the only game in town.

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