Firmware Update Kindle 3 Firmware 3.0.2 preview - Page 4

whitearrow · 09-22-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mircea

Still no word on a "cover" browser instead of the dull title list?

I wouldn't expect this anytime soon. Given the black and white nature of the device, it wouldn't look that great, and the potential for it to slow down the Kindle makes it sort of a "meh" proposition.

The home screens should help you find what you're looking for, quickly. It's not there to be pretty, but functional.

haroldgh · 09-22-2010, 03:11 PM

Yes, I don't see that as particularly attractive, given the black and white display.

As for functionality vs. cosmetics, of course we want both. But eink hardware isn't there yet.

foghat · 09-22-2010, 03:15 PM

Whitearrow, I disagree.

Why do you think if there are covers you won't find what you are looking for quickly? Would probably display more items per page in cover view and, if done right, you would still be able to sort by title, author, etc.

Plus, I do want it to look pretty. greyscale covers look fine. If the Kobo can do it, Kindle (especially K3) should have no problem.

There is no reason why there can't be an option to choose how the home page displays.

http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/04/08/...bo-ereader-08/

Frankly, the only disappointments I have with my kindle are the inability to view the covers while browsing books (and I mean without having to go into the book 'details') and the way they have taken a simple and necessary concept such as sorting and fubar'd it.

Along the same lines, I sure do wish there was an option to open the book to the cover page.

bob coxner · 09-22-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaoZ

I too will wait for the official release. I've had little problems, mostly from web browsing issues. If they update the browser to fix that problem where you cannot enter text in a login field, that'll be great. If they added support for another window, I'll be overjoyed.

I've got the problem of not being able to enter text in some, but not all, login fields. I'm curious what causes this and why it's only a problem on some sites.

toronado · 09-22-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob coxner

I've got the problem of not being able to enter text in some, but not all, login fields. I'm curious what causes this and why it's only a problem on some sites.

Excellent question.

NormHart · 09-22-2010, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foghat

Frankly, the only disappointments I have with my kindle are the inability to view the covers while browsing books (and I mean without having to go into the book 'details') and the way they have taken a simple and necessary concept such as sorting and fubar'd it.

True, sorting is not all that useful on the Kindle IMO. I'm hoping for further developments there. On the cover issue, would going to the 'details' page and having the option to page (or arrow) through them without returning to the Home page address your problem?

Quote:

Along the same lines, I sure do wish there was an option to open the book to the cover page.

I have a few ebooks that open to the cover (even on the Kindle). I believe it is a publishing option that most Publishers are not aware of. Perhaps if more people push for it more Publishers will enable it. (or disable the 'first page' option if that is how it works.)

foghat · 09-22-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormHart

True, sorting is not all that useful on the Kindle IMO. I'm hoping for further developments there. On the cover issue, would going to the 'details' page and having the option to page (or arrow) through them without returning to the Home page address your problem?

Sort of but, not really - I'd still like to see multiple books on one page, but just show me some covers. The three view options available on the kobo (as I linked above) would be perfect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormHart

I have a few ebooks that open to the cover (even on the Kindle). I believe it is a publishing option that most Publishers are not aware of. Perhaps if more people push for it more Publishers will enable it. (or disable the 'first page' option if that is how it works.)

I'm not sure how it works. But surely the Kindle can force it to open on the 'first' (cover) page of the book/file. Calibre does when you view a book with its built in reader.

tomsem · 09-22-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormHart

True, sorting is not all that useful on the Kindle IMO. I'm hoping for further developments there. On the cover issue, would going to the 'details' page and having the option to page (or arrow) through them without returning to the Home page address your problem?

I have a few ebooks that open to the cover (even on the Kindle). I believe it is a publishing option that most Publishers are not aware of. Perhaps if more people push for it more Publishers will enable it. (or disable the 'first page' option if that is how it works.)

The Kindle guidelines actually suggest to set the start point to the beginning of the actual reading material, rather than the cover (which is actually at the back in some books I have - like The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - don't ask me why). But some open to cover, some to Table of Contents.

You can always go to the info page and jump directly to the cover if you want. But as I mentioned, that's not necessarily at the start of the book.

NormHart · 09-22-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

The Kindle guidelines actually suggest to set the start point to the beginning of the actual reading material, rather than the cover (which is actually at the back in some books I have - like The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - don't ask me why). But some open to cover, some to Table of Contents.

You can always go to the info page and jump directly to the cover if you want. But as I mentioned, that's not necessarily at the start of the book.

Yup, it is the wild wild west out there folks, far worse than the Beta/VHS/Laser Disc days. Competing devices, competing ebook formats, variations of ebooks formats, and variations of implementation of the formats. I assume in a decade or two it will all settle down, for now I just enjoy it.

foghat · 09-22-2010, 04:18 PM

^hmm interesting. I wonder how come the Calibre viewer always opens at the cover page.

I usually run my books through Calibre. I've never come across a book where the cover wasn't at the beginning. If I did, I'd remedy that in Calibre.

NormHart · 09-22-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foghat

^hmm interesting. I wonder how come the Calibre viewer always opens at the cover page.

I usually run my books through Calibre. I've never come across a book where the cover wasn't at the beginning. If I did, I'd remedy that in Calibre.

So far as I've been able to determine Calibre pre-processes each ebook as you open/import it, doing all sorts of things with the material. One of the things it does is create a cover.jpg for each and every ebook.

My biggest gripe is how Author names are displayed (or not). I'd guess that somewhere around 65% of my 750+ ebooks do not support how the Kindle sorts/displays author names. This is simply because some of the ebooks are old, some the publisher just didn't bother to get the format right, and some got lost in translation. I had originally intended to correct this in each of my ebooks using either Calibre or Mobi2Mobi but the task is really too big. I rather be reading or gripping about it here. LOL

mircea · 09-23-2010, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

I wouldn't expect this anytime soon. Given the black and white nature of the device, it wouldn't look that great, and the potential for it to slow down the Kindle makes it sort of a "meh" proposition.

The home screens should help you find what you're looking for, quickly. It's not there to be pretty, but functional.

before my Kindle DX I was very happy to use the "cover" browsing on a Bookeen Gen 3.
Looks good even in B&W; Doesn't slow down the device (except when you add a lot of books at once); and of course you can switch through several "views", including the simple title list.

cybook gen3 sample view

I'm still wondering how a small french company can implement and Amazon with its ressources, cannot...

Regards,
M

HarryT · 09-23-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foghat

I'm not sure how it works. But surely the Kindle can force it to open on the 'first' (cover) page of the book/file. Calibre does when you view a book with its built in reader.

A Mobipocket book contains (or should contain, at least) a navigational item called "other.ms-firstpage", which is a hyperlink to the position in the book at which it should initially open. This is normally set to the start of the book's actual text, and is the point at which the Kindle will open the book.

If this guide item is not present, the book will open to the very first page, which is normally the cover.

foghat · 09-23-2010, 09:46 AM

HarryT,

Do you know if there is any way to manually change the other.ms-firstpage value?

HarryT · 09-23-2010, 10:03 AM

I'm afraid I don't, other than by decompiling the book to its OEB source, editing it, and then rebuilding it.

09-22-2010, 03:15 PM	#48
foghat Evangelist Posts: 464 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle PW3	Whitearrow, I disagree. Why do you think if there are covers you won't find what you are looking for quickly? Would probably display more items per page in cover view and, if done right, you would still be able to sort by title, author, etc. Plus, I do want it to look pretty. greyscale covers look fine. If the Kobo can do it, Kindle (especially K3) should have no problem. There is no reason why there can't be an option to choose how the home page displays. http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/04/08/...bo-ereader-08/ Frankly, the only disappointments I have with my kindle are the inability to view the covers while browsing books (and I mean without having to go into the book 'details') and the way they have taken a simple and necessary concept such as sorting and fubar'd it. Along the same lines, I sure do wish there was an option to open the book to the cover page. Last edited by foghat; 09-22-2010 at 03:34 PM.

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09-22-2010, 03:11 PM	#47
haroldgh Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle3	Yes, I don't see that as particularly attractive, given the black and white display. As for functionality vs. cosmetics, of course we want both. But eink hardware isn't there yet.

09-22-2010, 04:18 PM	#55
foghat Evangelist Posts: 464 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle PW3	^hmm interesting. I wonder how come the Calibre viewer always opens at the cover page. I usually run my books through Calibre. I've never come across a book where the cover wasn't at the beginning. If I did, I'd remedy that in Calibre.

09-23-2010, 09:46 AM	#59
foghat Evangelist Posts: 464 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle PW3	HarryT, Do you know if there is any way to manually change the other.ms-firstpage value?

09-23-2010, 10:03 AM	#60
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm afraid I don't, other than by decompiling the book to its OEB source, editing it, and then rebuilding it.