Why do fonts washout after a few pages on Android Ereaders?

[shak3800]

Hi everyone!

I have a Kobo Aura and an Icarus E653 Android Ereader.

I noticed that when using my Icarus , the fonts washout most of the time and the weight sometimes is inconsistent with other words.

With Kobo Aura the experience is more stable . On each page i have the same weight of fonts and they don't wash out.

Any ideas why this happens and if it is fixable?


Thanks!

[HarryT]

The Icarus has an older "Pearl" eInk screen compared to the newer "Carta" screen of the Kobo. The older screen has poorer contrast. There's nothing you can do about it. You may be able to make the screen look better by adjusting the frequency at which a full screen refresh is done, if this is an setting in the device's configuration options, but it'll never look as good as the Carta screen.

[shak3800]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Icarus has an older "Pearl" eInk screen compared to the newer "Carta" screen of the Kobo. The older screen has poorer contrast. There's nothing you can do about it. You may be able to make the screen look better by adjusting the frequency at which a full screen refresh is done, if this is an setting in the device's configuration options, but it'll never look as good as the Carta screen.

Thanks for the response.

It actually has the Carta screen , at least this is what is says out of the box (bought it through Amazon Warehouse deals) . It was build after 2015 i even installed the Google Play Update on it , so i guess it has the new Carta screen. It does have a more white screen instead of the yellowish screen that Kobo Aura has.

[HarryT]

OK - the reason I said it had a Pearl screen is because that's what a review of it I read said. The E653 is a re-badged Boyue T61, which is quite an old device.

[shak3800]

Originally Posted by HarryT

OK - the reason I said it had a Pearl screen is because that's what a review of it I read said. The E653 is a re-badged Boyue T61, which is quite an old device.

Yes i've read a lot of reviews stating the it has a Pearl Screen. I also thought that it had a Pearl screen but found a deal on warehouse deals and i couldn't resist on buying it. It came with about 7 gb of storage (probably 8) and the box says that it has Carta screen. I 've sent an email asking Icarus about it and just to confirm that i do have the Carta screen.

If i do actually have the newer screen technology , could it be a problem with the built in Epub reader?

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by shak3800

Yes i've read a lot of reviews stating the it has a Pearl Screen. I also thought that it had a Pearl screen but found a deal on warehouse deals and i couldn't resist on buying it. It came with about 7 gb of storage (probably 8) and the box says that it has Carta screen. I 've sent an email asking Icarus about it and just to confirm that i do have the Carta screen.

If i do actually have the newer screen technology , could it be a problem with the built in Epub reader?

Try installing better fonts. Personally I use literata fonts but you can get better fonts optimised for eink that have been shared here on mobileread forum.

[church mouse]

I believe the 653 upgraded to a Carta screen in 2015.

Shak3800 - I am not sure which reader App you are using on your Icarus, but some are better than others at allowing you to fine tune your font for a sharper, more solid look. My preferred App is Alreader, which gives a decent range of font tuning options. Also, on Android e-ink readers, I have found having a frequent refresh rate helps.

As Dopedangel suggests, try some other fonts too. I like the Charis Modified available on this site.

[Pajamaman]

I have a Boyue T61 with a Pearl screen and experience no lack of clarity. Indeed, I have used many Pearl screens and none of them have showed deterioration in the displayed text.

I use Alreader on the Boyue. Try that. Also maybe use a bold font. I use Caecilia.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I have a Boyue T61 with a Pearl screen and experience no lack of clarity. Indeed, I have used many Pearl screens and none of them have showed deterioration in the displayed text.

They will do if the screen isn't doing a full refresh sufficiently often. "Ghosting" became dramatically less of an effect with the "Regal" refresh waveform which was released along with the "Carta" screen.

[shak3800]

Originally Posted by church mouse

I believe the 653 upgraded to a Carta screen in 2015.

Shak3800 - I am not sure which reader App you are using on your Icarus, but some are better than others at allowing you to fine tune your font for a sharper, more solid look. My preferred App is Alreader, which gives a decent range of font tuning options. Also, on Android e-ink readers, I have found having a frequent refresh rate helps.

As Dopedangel suggests, try some other fonts too. I like the Charis Modified available on this site.

Thanks for yoursuggestions.

I downloaded Alreader and even though i had a hard time finding the weight tuning of fonts and a way to get full screeen and hide the taskbar of Boyue , i cant figure it out how to enable refresh. I changed the setting to enable refresh to Always but it doesnt do it. I still get washed fonts afterwhile. Is it normal for a Carta screen to have this issue with wash out fonts? I tried Charis modified and it is a little better but still dont know why Kobo doesnt have this issue even though it refreshes on every chapter whereas Icarus refreshes every 5 pages. Issue can be fixed on default reader (adobe reader) when i choose refresh every page on Icarus

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by shak3800

Is it normal to Carta screen and have this issue with wash out fonts?

No, it's certainly not inherent in the screen technology. I have a Kindle Voyage, which has a Carta screen, and it has sharp, crisp fonts.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by shak3800

Hi everyone!

I have a Kobo Aura and an Icarus E653 Android Ereader.

I noticed that when using my Icarus , the fonts washout most of the time and the weight sometimes is inconsistent with other words.

With Kobo Aura the experience is more stable . On each page i have the same weight of fonts and they don't wash out.

Any ideas why this happens and if it is fixable?


Thanks!

You haven't left A2 mode on have you? That would make text look like crap.