Opinion about landscape mode and other

[Owl_]

I think a firmware update on the Kobo Aura One that will allow the landscape mode (horizontal reading) on kepub and epub books, would give a sharp increase in the selling of the device.

Another thing that seems strange in a so good device is that the touch area often doesn't correspond to the related button or word shown on the screen (it means that you touch something and do something else)

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Owl_

I think a firmware update on the Kobo Aura One that will allow the landscape mode (horizontal reading) on kepub and epub books, would give a sharp increase in the selling of the device.

Another thing that seems strange in a so good device is that the touch area often doesn't correspond to the related button or word shown on the screen (it means that you touch something and do something else)

My Tolino epos has landscape mode and I've used it a couple of times but I find no real advantage for reading most of my book collection.

As for the touch area, that is annoying at times though I find I rapidly get used to touching the spot that I need to rather than the one that looks like the spot to touch. I would like a mode that popped up 16 or so dots on the screen to calibrate the touchscreen like one of my old laptops offered.

[Mrs_Often]

Originally Posted by Owl_

I think a firmware update on the Kobo Aura One that will allow the landscape mode (horizontal reading) on kepub and epub books, would give a sharp increase in the selling of the device.

Why? What do you see as an advantage in landscape mode? I would find landscape mode very annoying to read from with such wide lines, it would take lots of tiring eye muscle movement!

Originally Posted by DNSB

I would like a mode that popped up 16 or so dots on the screen to calibrate the touchscreen like one of my old laptops offered.

Yes! Me too!
I think iPhones used to have the calibration option too. Having the calibration option would make sense even if screen touch would be very accurate for most people, as the exact point of touching the screen depends on finger size, shape and angle, and can thus give a very diverse experiences.

[Ripplinger]

I would never use landscape mode for reading either. It would be more awkward to hold the reader for me and more sideways eye movement for wide lines, which I wouldn't like.

I certainly wouldn't be against any option for it so everyone can have it their way, but it's just something I myself wouldn't use.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Why? What do you see as an advantage in landscape mode? I would find landscape mode very annoying to read from with such wide lines, it would take lots of tiring eye muscle movement!

The Sony PRS-950's two page mode is a pretty nice way to read in Landscape. (See image, not a very clear one.) But the shape of the 950's is unique in eInk readers, I think.

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I would never use landscape mode for reading either. It would be more awkward to hold the reader for me and more sideways eye movement for wide lines, which I wouldn't like.

I certainly wouldn't be against any option for it so everyone can have it their way, but it's just something I myself wouldn't use.

I don't use Landscape mode much on my Tolino Page, Kindles or Sonys, except I found it useful when I had maps in fantasy novels or diagrams or photos in non-fiction books. But, obviously, I don't use it that much because I didn't even know Kobos didn't have landscape mode.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by Owl_

I think a firmware update on the Kobo Aura One that will allow the landscape mode (horizontal reading) on kepub and epub books, would give a sharp increase in the selling of the device.

Another thing that seems strange in a so good device is that the touch area often doesn't correspond to the related button or word shown on the screen (it means that you touch something and do something else)

be careful when making positive recommendations for you might be surprised by some of the responses.

best wishes koboy

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by DNSB

My Tolino epos has landscape mode and I've used it a couple of times but I find no real advantage for reading most of my book collection.

I've always felt that landscape mode was missing. But, like you I don't think I would use it except maybe for images or maps that are shaped that way. One thing I did wonder about was for large font sizes. My wife was using a font size large enough on her Glo that she only got a few words per line. I was wondering if landscape mode would have been better. It would probably have been the same number of words per screen, but I was wondering if longer but fewer lines would be better.

As for the touch area, that is annoying at times though I find I rapidly get used to touching the spot that I need to rather than the one that looks like the spot to touch. I would like a mode that popped up 16 or so dots on the screen to calibrate the touchscreen like one of my old laptops offered.

My problem was that I adjusted on the Aura ONE but also compensated on the other devices. And yes, being able to do a calibration would be good.

[anacreon]

I use the landscape mode for PDFs whose pitch would be too small to read otherwise, or those that are scans of open books (old ones), two pages at once.

[Mrs_Often]

Originally Posted by rcentros

The Sony PRS-950's two page mode is a pretty nice way to read in Landscape.

Ah yes of course, two page mode would make sense. Just like a paper book... I hadn't considered that. Thanks!
I still don't know if I would read in landscape mode though, even without the looooong lines & eye movement objection.

[Owl_]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Why? What do you see as an advantage in landscape mode? I would find landscape mode very annoying to read from with such wide lines, it would take lots of tiring eye muscle movement!

It depends on the customer

[RobertJSawyer]

I have several ereaders that allow landscape mode, including going all the way back to the original Rocket Ebook -- and, of course, Kindle offers it, too.

The advantage is huge for those of us who wear bifocals. Wide lines require only left-and-right eye tracking; tall pages require up and down head movement.

Also, next time you're on an airplane, walk the aisle and note the tablet users who are reading books; those who ACTUALLY HAVE A CHOICE (as opposed to those who are merely guessing at what it might be like to read in landscape mode) overwhelmingly choose landscape reading on tablets.

It's ridiculous that Kobo-owned Tolino offers landscape but Kobo's flagship Aura One doesn't.

[Mrs_Often]

Originally Posted by Owl_

It depends on the customer

I know, that's why I was genuinely asking after your opinion on landscape advantages; I couldn't think of any at the time.

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

The advantage is huge for those of us who wear bifocals. Wide lines require only left-and-right eye tracking; tall pages require up and down head movement.

Oh yes of course. I was thinking along the lines of vertical speed reading, but that wouldn't work with bifocals.

Also, next time you're on an airplane, walk the aisle and note the tablet users who are reading books; those who ACTUALLY HAVE A CHOICE (as opposed to those who are merely guessing at what it might be like to read in landscape mode) overwhelmingly choose landscape reading on tablets.

That's also true. Before I had an ereader and used to read on my iPad, I used two-page landscape mode. I completely forgot about that. However, I did that because the iPad's screen was much too big to read comfortably: lines were too wide and screen was too high. I would never read in two-paged landscape mode on a 6" screen. Maybe having the functionality would make sense on the larger eReaders.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

Also, next time you're on an airplane, walk the aisle and note the tablet users who are reading books; those who ACTUALLY HAVE A CHOICE (as opposed to those who are merely guessing at what it might be like to read in landscape mode) overwhelmingly choose landscape reading on tablets.

It's ridiculous that Kobo-owned Tolino offers landscape but Kobo's flagship Aura One doesn't.

Hmmm... I was on a flight just a few days back. I only noticed one person other than myself reading a book and that lady was reading on a older Kindle. The tablets (iOS, Android and Windows) that I saw in use were being used for videos, games and email/work. Admittedly, this was from 2 trips to the washroom so I didn't see every device on board but I did walk by about 2/3 of the passengers. And yes, I'm one of those nasty people who actually look at what other people are doing as I walk by them.

And it's equally ridiculous that the Rakuten-owned Tolino does not offer epub3/epub3 fixed layout when Rakuten-owned Kobo does. Personally, I will take Kobo's font control and ability to remember the user's font preference between books over landscape mode without a single regret.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... I was on a flight just a few days back. I only noticed one person other than myself reading a book and that lady was reading on a older Kindle. The tablets (iOS, Android and Windows) that I saw in use were being used for videos, games and email/work. Admittedly, this was from 2 trips to the washroom so I didn't see every device on board but I did walk by about 2/3 of the passengers. And yes, I'm one of those nasty people who actually look at what other people are doing as I walk by them.

And it's equally ridiculous that the Rakuten-owned Tolino does not offer epub3/epub3 fixed layout when Rakuten-owned Kobo does. Personally, I will take Kobo's font control and ability to remember the user's font preference between books over landscape mode without a single regret.

I agree Kobo's font control/user's preferences are excellent but i would also like to have landscape mode as a feature/option. not Personally for myself but because i know others want it.

best wishes koboy

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

It's ridiculous that Kobo-owned Tolino offers landscape but Kobo's flagship Aura One doesn't.

Not that I don't think Kobo should offer landscape mode, but the Tolinos and Kobos are (so far) two completely different animals. The Tolino runs under Android, the Kobo under Linux – I'm guessing there will be changes in the future as Kobo integrates Tolino more closely into their infrastructure.

Originally Posted by DNSB

And it's equally ridiculous that the Rakuten-owned Tolino does not offer epub3/epub3 fixed layout when Rakuten-owned Kobo does. Personally, I will take Kobo's font control and ability to remember the user's font preference between books over landscape mode without a single regret.

But you've got to admit, it is kind of odd that Kobo doesn't implement landscape mode when it's pretty much a given for most other eReaders. I don't see why they couldn't offer all the features mentioned above AND landscape mode.