Aura HD questions before to buy it

[trocchietto]

hi bookworms
would like to ask some questions on issues in order of priority, now that the loved sony is discontinued.I loved the aura hd and yesterday i have been at the store playing 2 hours, comparing setting etc. looks really nice and fast! but...

1) pdf, i cannot highlight them and i cannot use dictionary, and the quality looks lower than sony( but maybe is because zoom is more deep). calibre is cool, but i am really busy and prefer to pay more than converting formats, install other applications etc( the chess added are great btw)
2) as per manufacturer declarations battery lasts only one month compared to two months, did they did the test with light on?
3)cannot find dutch english dictionary, for me is essential more than the english dutch that i found it.
4) any trick to move the sony annotations on kobo hd?
5) loved the chess package and more pdf readers, is the procedure safe and idiot proof? i found notice of some bricked device peering into the section here...
6) handwriting, is not essential but, well better have it that not, could not find it in the settings

7) annotations are super, thinking to buy only for this reason, as can go through my synthesis even without open the file, then can enquire, go back, but can i also export them
thank you if you reply the first three questions make me happy,
also i heard a new model is coming but won t change apart the impermiability
ciao

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

hi bookworms
would like to ask some questions on issues in order of priority, now that the loved sony is discontinued.I loved the aura hd and yesterday i have been at the store playing 2 hours, comparing setting etc. looks really nice and fast! but...

1) pdf, i cannot highlight them and i cannot use dictionary, and the quality looks lower than sony( but maybe is because zoom is more deep). calibre is cool, but i am really busy and prefer to pay more than converting formats, install other applications etc( the chess added are great btw)

The PDF reader on the Kobo devices does not allow selecting of text and hence can't use the dictionary.

2) as per manufacturer declarations battery lasts only one month compared to two months, did they did the test with light on?

The tech specs pages says "Up to 2 months*" and "* Based on 30 minutes of reading a day. Varies according to individual use." They usually test without the light and with WiFi off. The light doesn't use much power. I don't think people have noticed much difference in the battery life with and without the life.

3)cannot find dutch english dictionary, for me is essential more than the english dutch that i found it.

The dictionaries listed are the ones available. But, people have created other dictionaries. I don't know if there is a Dutch-English dictionary.

4) any trick to move the sony annotations on kobo hd?

There is no way to do it currently. Both devices hold the annotations in an SQLite database. It would probably be possible to extract from one and insert into the other. But, to the best of my knowledge no one has tried.

5) loved the chess package and more pdf readers, is the procedure safe and idiot proof? i found notice of some bricked device peering into the section here...
6) handwriting, is not essential but, well better have it that not, could not find it in the settings

It's an ereader, not a tablet. It doesn't support this.

7) annotations are super, thinking to buy only for this reason, as can go through my synthesis even without open the file, then can enquire, go back, but can i also export them

It depends on where you want to export the annotations to. The driver in Calibre has an option to import the annotations and but the Annotations plugin does a better job. There is also a hidden option on the device that enables an option to export the annotations to a text file. All of these are one way and there are no tools that will import annotations to the device from elsewhere.

[trocchietto]

thank you David, for the great feedback

Originally Posted by davidfor

It's an ereader, not a tablet. It doesn't support this.
.

do not agree on this handwriting was supported on Sony, we have to face that a real paper experience have to be mimicked on digital, and personally found a pity the hd did not inherit this nice carachteristic, that makes me dream to use a normal piece of paper

Originally Posted by davidfor

It depends on where you want to export the annotations to. The driver in Calibre has an option to import the annotations and but the Annotations plugin does a better job. There is also a hidden option on the device that enables an option to export the annotations to a text file. All of these are one way and there are no tools that will import annotations to the device from elsewhere.

well let's face the HD is shining on managing annotations, also the faster 1G processor is really smooth, and is understandable are one way to export, although i think probably we should mention eventual limitations I had on the sony over few rows was thrown an exception that did not allow to copy more for copyright reasons.

all in all, is a great device and is great can be hacked without rooting to put koreader and other software.just pdf are not efficient, i suggest to make an internal calibre conversion inside the software that allow internally to convert an a pdf to epub, see the result and eventually cancel it as the conversions are definitely not always optimal.

thanks i am on the fence, the most annoying feature at the moment for me to upgrade from sony t2 to hd that is really cool is annotation and a faster processor, but i reckon is just matter of personal preference, while instead i do not understand why these devices do not give direct access to the google market.

[Anak]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

1) pdf, i cannot highlight them and i cannot use dictionary, and the quality looks lower than sony( but maybe is because zoom is more deep). calibre is cool, but i am really busy and prefer to pay more than converting formats, install other applications etc( the chess added are great btw)

3)cannot find dutch english dictionary, for me is essential more than the english dutch that i found it.

also i heard a new model is coming but won t change apart the impermiability
ciao

Do you read a lot of PDF files? If that is the case maybe a AuraHD is not the best choice for you. Have you looked at the Onyx Boox T68 (€169). This is basically a AuraHD with some additional extras not found on Kobo readers.
The T68 supports PDF reflow, which makes reading of PDF files a lot easier. It also runs on Android with Goolge Play support, so you could install almost any reading app.

Maybe it is best to wait until the new Aura H2O hits the market. I don't know is this machine runs on Android, if it does it would be more fexible than the AuraHD. Otherwise it is more likely that the firmware is pretty much the same.

There are no official Kobo translation dictionaries from or to Dutch.
You could try to convert an open source dictionary to the format Kobo uses for its dictionaries.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

hi bookworms
would like to ask some questions on issues in order of priority, now that the loved sony is discontinued.I loved the aura hd and yesterday i have been at the store playing 2 hours, comparing setting etc. looks really nice and fast! but...

1) pdf, i cannot highlight them and i cannot use dictionary, and the quality looks lower than sony( but maybe is because zoom is more deep). calibre is cool, but i am really busy and prefer to pay more than converting formats, install other applications etc( the chess added are great btw)
2) as per manufacturer declarations battery lasts only one month compared to two months, did they did the test with light on?
3)cannot find dutch english dictionary, for me is essential more than the english dutch that i found it.
4) any trick to move the sony annotations on kobo hd?
5) loved the chess package and more pdf readers, is the procedure safe and idiot proof? i found notice of some bricked device peering into the section here...
6) handwriting, is not essential but, well better have it that not, could not find it in the settings

7) annotations are super, thinking to buy only for this reason, as can go through my synthesis even without open the file, then can enquire, go back, but can i also export them
thank you if you reply the first three questions make me happy,
also i heard a new model is coming but won t change apart the impermiability
ciao

The Koreader alternative reader is much better for reading PDFs and you would still have the high resolution screen. Installing both Sergey's pbchess package with Coolreader and Georgio's port of the Koreader project using tshering's Kobo Start Menu, adds a lot to the AuraHD's capabilities and has not caused "bricked" devices. (Most of those are from botched Kobo Firmware updates.) Koreader uses Evernote for exporting annotations/highlights.

Luck;
Ken

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by Anak

Do you read a lot of PDF files? If that is the case maybe a AuraHD is not the best choice for you. Have you looked at the Onyx Boox T68 (€169). This is basically a AuraHD with some additional extras not found on Kobo readers.

thank you
stay tuned mate! i need a couple of day to benchmark my stuff and I am thrilled to come back to you


if you want to help me in the mean time can i press pdf to have the dutch eng translation && highlighting && notes on this onyx? the way notes are managed in HD is a breakthrough.
will come back to you!

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

The Koreader alternative reader is much better for reading PDFs and you would still have the high resolution screen. Installing both Sergey's pbchess package with Coolreader and Georgio's port of the Koreader project using tshering's Kobo Start Menu, adds a lot to the AuraHD's capabilities and has not caused "bricked" devices. (Most of those are from botched Kobo Firmware updates.) Koreader uses Evernote for exporting annotations/highlights.

Luck;
Ken

thank you Ken, by any chance do you know if I can use dictionary && highlighting && notes on this koreader?

EDIT
dear all i found this stuff that makes Kobo aura the first candidate at the moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qzRjSL8Qo
will come back within 4 days

[trocchietto]

Dear All,
no need to go further i went through my analysis!

Onyx offers android but is in my super (well known) independent advice a bit buggy , the screen grey-ish and the capacitive screen too frustrating in times of ipad retina technologies; to sum up the actual Onyx do not offer me the experience to read in a cool way, on my nice couch lying on my back.

if I have to giggle around to try to find the inefficient small icons and submenu after I am behyind a pc's GUI 10 hours, plus 1h ipad, plus 1h touching with my fingers tons of mobile apps all the day, i would rather take an old piece of paper on the night as i am not a pianist, but a reader! I want a nice (fake) paper experience, and CEO's NOOK understood this, but still is too busy to create margins that giving me the device of my dreams.

as hard eink lover this dreams has these dimensions: 7 inches, with a small hardware button, good light..and is light, thin and beautiful, new qualcomm color technology screen and not capacitive, 1,5 G processor( so fast I do not see refresh or loading icons), google play.

unforuntately we are far from that due to the lack of interest of not smart people that prefer to red on LCD screen and move the market, thanks to them the market will give me this device not before FY18 but partially they are right there are too much cables and devices around to be in the Internet of things era.

Kobo HD will be my temporary choice if the h2O will give me the possibility to use an efficient android, otherwise i will rather install android rooting my sony t2, that has only one issue, is sluggish with 0,7 G

ciao

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

i do not understand why these devices do not give direct access to the google market.

because the google market is for apps which run on Android devices & the Kobo e-readers are NOT android - Duh !

If you want android then get a tablet & get some e-reader apps - lots to choose from - you can then also have HD ( MUCH more HD than the AURA "HD" ), quad processors, full PDF support, export of annotations.... what's not to like ( except the battery life! )

PS Kobo make tablets if it has to be Kobo, Sony also make/made tablets - not sure if they are still in the market but they were way over-priced when they first joined the android party.

PPS my Kindle HDX 8.9 has 2560 × 1600 (339 ppi)display - which makes my aura HD look very low quality in side by side comparisons. Even the 7 inch KIndle HDX has 1920 x 1200 - way more than AUra HD - & other quality makes of tablets nowadays have similar specs. For comparisons I have set them both up with same font , (using various epub reader apps). Even the side loaded kobo app looks muich better than than the Aura , once you balance the brightness to suit your taste on both devices. and that's just the ink - there's the colour covers, the coloured highlighting, the linking to wikipedia, & to thesauruses.. the text-to-speech options....

The only advantages I see nowadays for e-ink devices are battery life & read-in-sunlight ( which I never do) , & I suppose cost.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

thank you Ken, by any chance do you know if I can use dictionary && highlighting && notes on this koreader?

EDIT
dear all i found this stuff that makes Kobo aura the first candidate at the moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0qzRjSL8Qo
will come back within 4 days

There are a good number of dictionaries available including hyphenation, translation, and regular dictionaries. You can even make and add your own, using a poster's tools.
Edit: It also has Wikipedia link for a selected word or phrase in the returned dictionary definition. ( Of course, you need WiFi access to use that. )

Highlighting works with the highlighted text added to the history file for that book. There is also an Evernote plugin so you can send highlights to them, not sure how that works, as I haven't an Evernote account (Free or not). Notes, might be another issue, I don't think there is much for that.

Luck;
Ken

[trocchietto]

Ok thank you everyone I have enough info

Btw personally I think today nobody should think anymore an ereader is only to read, we are on a digital era and I expect chess and a good browser as minimum

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

Ok thank you everyone I have enough info

Btw personally I think today nobody should think anymore an ereader is only to read, we are on a digital era and I expect chess and a good browser as minimum

Edit ps I expect also that the h20 will be ok impermeable but mainly also anti scratch so that I can bring it in my bag without a protection

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by cybmole

because the google market is for apps which run on Android devices & the Kobo e-readers are NOT android - Duh !

A bit nasty there. You catch more flies with sugar water than vinegar.

Originally Posted by cybmole

If you want android then get a tablet & get some e-reader apps - lots to choose from - you can then also have HD ( MUCH more HD than the AURA "HD" ), quad processors, full PDF support, export of annotations.... what's not to like ( except the battery life! )

Outdoors is where I do a fair amount of my reading -- comfortable chaise lounge on the back patio, glass of ice coffee on the table and rock and roll playing in the background. I can compare my Aura HD to my iPad Air and Nexus 7 HD and guess which one is my choice for outdoors reading or even bright light indoors reading.

As for the reader apps on iOS or Android? I've tried quite a few of them. Hmmm... uncentered text, text sizing that does not follow the CSS, fixed line heights, images wrapped in SVG that show up at odd spots and sizes on the screen, etc. About the best I've tried recently is the DL Reader freebie from Datalogics.

And yes, battery life is quite critical to me. I probably read more than many people given that my TV watching is pretty minimal so the battery life of an eInk reader is a critical item if I am not going to be tethered to a charger.

Originally Posted by cybmole

PPS my Kindle HDX 8.9 has 2560 × 1600 (339 ppi)display - which makes my aura HD look very low quality in side by side comparisons. Even the 7 inch KIndle HDX has 1920 x 1200 - way more than AUra HD - & other quality makes of tablets nowadays have similar specs. For comparisons I have set them both up with same font , (using various epub reader apps). Even the side loaded kobo app looks muich better than than the Aura , once you balance the brightness to suit your taste on both devices. and that's just the ink - there's the colour covers, the coloured highlighting, the linking to wikipedia, & to thesauruses.. the text-to-speech options....

Kobo's Arc 10 has the same pixel count as your Kindle HDX if someone wanted a larger screen tablet. It has the same issue as the Kindle FireOS tablets in that quite a few apps in the PlayStore do not work with it.

Colour covers? Colour highlighting? Ah, yes -- eye candy. I seldom look at the book covers so that doesn't add or remove from my enjoyment. For the most part, my reading on my Aura HD is fiction so I need one level of highlighting when I am reading to correct errors. Otherwise, I don't use highlighting.

Out of a perhaps morbid curiosity, do you have a tablet/laptop/whatever, a dictionary, a thesaurus and other reference materials at hand when you read a dead tree book? Or do you simply enjoy the story?

And oddly, I find eInk displays a lot easier on my eyes than any of the tablet displays I've tested. Perhaps a few decades ago I might not have said that but time has flown and my eyes are not what they were.

As for text to speech? Been there, done that. A human reader does a much better job of reading at this time. Not to mention that quite a few publishers do not allow TTS on their ebooks perhaps since they want you to purchase their audio books.

Regards,
David

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

Ok thank you everyone I have enough info

Btw personally I think today nobody should think anymore an ereader is only to read, we are on a digital era and I expect chess and a good browser as minimum

Why such an old-fashioned game as chess? As for the browser, eInk and browser is not a good combination, IMNSHO.

Regards,
David

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by cybmole

The only advantages I see nowadays for e-ink devices are battery life & read-in-sunlight ( which I never do) , & I suppose cost.

Well some of us prefer the look of the lighted eink screen to the look of a backlit screen. Tablets have shine/glare that I personally don't want to stare at for hours at a time. I love the look of the good quality eink screens, the Aura HD and the Kindle Paperwhite are among the best. Even unlighted screens are preferable....I read for 3 hours on my Sony T2 today. At the mall. I wouldn't want to be dragging a heavy tablet around to read on.

That Kobo Aura HD screen is just awesome. Although it is a little yellower than my PW1 screen, when held side by side. Doesn't really matter, to me.