Opus Opus and fonts

[mjmcleod]

Got my shiny new Opus today.

According to the user manual if I copy TrueType font files into the "fonts" folder on the internal memory I should be able to set a font using the "font family" context-menu option.

However, I don't see any such option on the context menu, either in library or reader modes.

Also, I've noticed that the little dot they use to mark the currently selected menu item doesn't always move, even though the selected menu item does move -- e.g., on the "font size" submenu it consistently doesn't move the dot, but if I press down a couple of times then the middle button, it'll switch to a larger (or much much smaller, if I was already toward the bottom of the list) font. Not a show-stopper, but not terribly impressive either.

[Gaurnim]

Originally Posted by mjmcleod

Also, I've noticed that the little dot they use to mark the currently selected menu item doesn't always move, even though the selected menu item does move

This seems weird.
On the Cybook, the small round dot is not used to mark the currently selected menu item, but instead the ones that are activated.
The currently selected item is marked either by a square white dot or a square dotted line around the round dot / tick mark.

As the firmwares will be compatible, I suppose it should work the same for the Opus.

[wallcraft]

The fonts write up in the manual sounds like it is for the MOBI firmware.

MOBI reading software generally allows the reader to set things like the font type, font size, font bold, justification (left or full), and line spacing. In principle an ePub Reader could do the same, but Adobe Digital Editions has a "publisher is always right" philosophy and the only characteristic the reader controls is font size.

It is still possible for the reader to control how a DRM-free ePub appears on the Opus, but this requires modifying the original ePub (e.g. with Calibre). This probably includes specifying a font from the Opus's fonts directory within the ePub, although I don't think anyone has reported on this yet. Something similar is possible on the Sony PRS-505 using Calibre for example. Note that ePubs can also include embedded fonts, although Calibre won't yet embed a font for you.

[mjmcleod]

It may be that the dot is not round. It's fairly small -- as is the font used for menus generally -- so I may be mis-seeing it.

However, it's definitely not always moving with the current selection.

I've figured out the font thing. It appears you only get the "font family" submenu with text files, not with epubs. That seems... stupid? Presumably I can modify the epubs directly to set a different font.

Also, someone else was saying there's no "embolden" option. There is for text files, just not for epubs.

[mjmcleod]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

MOBI reading software generally allows the reader to set things like the font type, font size, font bold, justification (left or full), and line spacing. In principle an ePub Reader could do the same, but Adobe Digital Editions has a "publisher is always right" philosophy and the only characteristic the reader controls is font size.

Hrm. If the MOBI firmware ever appears for the Opus I may have to give that a spin. I make a point of not having anything DRM'd so conversion via Calibre shouldn't be a problem.