So What would YOU change about the Kindle ?

[Victoria]

[QUOTE=
I also would like Alt+Back = Forward. This would be very handy when wanting to "flip" back and forth between 2 things, such as footnotes and the text.[/QUOTE]

Great suggestion -I'm a big footnotes kind of person, and would love this!!

[myral]

I'd really like to have a second, smaller Kindle to put in my handbag, but with Wi-fi and functionality of the 6-inch version. I don't use the keyboard all that often and would settle for an on-screen, on-demand keyboard.

Oh, and sub-collections. Definitely sub-collections!

[The Terminator]

for number three you seem to want a sticker which you can buy at Zagg. I would have bought a Kindle if they had library support IE DRM'd E-pub support. I've tried a Kindle out I know three people who have one and two people who have Kobo's I really like the kindle because of stuff like internet support so you can google stuff but the no epub was a deal breaker.

[Kenneth_irl]

Originally Posted by THE TERMINATOR

for number three you seem to want a sticker which you can buy at Zagg.

I did mention a couple of reason why I don't like stickers, though perfectionistic in nature, no doubt.

Anyway, I'm not going to spend 15 quids on a sticker. You could get a really nice cover for that money. But hey, that is just my opinion.

[Barty]

I'd like to see infrared touch (so screen readability isn't affected), since I rarely use the keyboard and getting rid of it will shrink the unit a little more. However, I still want the physical page turn buttons and home/menu/back/rocker so you can do most things without touching the screen. I.e. don't be a touch purist a la Steve Jobs.

Oh and not letting me change the screensaver without a hack is just unAmerican. Seriously. Even Apple lets you do that.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_irl

So what would you change about the Kindle, and what would you like to have it do if you could make it happen ?

All the usuals mentioned above.

Within the universe of things requiring remanufacturing, it would be a touch screen, particularly if it came with an on screen keyboard. Eliminating physical keys would mean a more portable device.

Within the realm of the practical, meaning software tweaks, I'd like to be able to double click the page buttons & go back or forth 5 screens. Mainly back.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by BobLenx

But lets face it, in a digital reading environment like the Kindle, the ONLY thing that makes sense is SCREENS - what screen am I on out of how many screens in the entire ebook (based up my current font settings). How obvious can that be? After all that is how a physical book works. Certainly this is true for over 90% of what most of us are reading on our Kindles - novels. If Amazon truly wants to make reading on the Kindle as close to reading a physical book as possible, then it is a no brainer - SCREENS should be the standard - not locations not ISBN pages and not percentage.

That's quite a good solution. I don't really have any need to share exact page numbers or locations with anybody. I know the location is used to sync my books between my phone and Kindle, but that can happen in the background. In fact, they could implement screens and still have locations available for use in the integrated features that require more accurate info (e.g. notes, etc.). But for MY use when I'M reading a book - I just want an indication of how I'm progressing. Screens is perfect. Have you given this feedback to Amazon? I think I will shoot them an email right now. It can't be a difficult feature to implement.

I for one would much prefer your screens method over percentage or page numbers. Screens would also give a better indication of how long books are relative to each other. I've had a few books that have been really long but I didn't realise when I started reading them because percentage and locations give no indication of the real length of a book really.

Now I'm pissed off that my Kindle doesn't have screen numbers! Thanks

My pet peeve with the Kindle (Kindle 3 version) is that the page turn buttons are too easy to accidentally press when I'm picking it up or putting it down.

I'd also like a touch screen if they can add one that doesn't affect the display quality (I had a Sony PRS-700 and the touchscreen essentially ruined the e-ink display by destroying the contrast and adding glare).

And, assuming a touchscreen is doable, get rid of the keyboard and increase the screen to 7 inches. I almost never use the keyboard, and when I do I use it to type one or two words (e.g. searching for a book in the store). I can handle small bits of typing on a touchscreen. They can keep the main controls, as I think I'd prefer to turn pages with buttons rather than touch, and I'd like a button to take me back to the menu/home screen, etc.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by Barty

Oh and not letting me change the screensaver without a hack is just unAmerican. Seriously. Even Apple lets you do that.

Yeah, there should be an easy way to stick a few images in a folder and have them be the screensaver.

I would also like Kindle to automatically add photos of the authors I read and/or the covers of books I have as my screensaver. I have no intention of reading the majority of the authors on my Kindle screensaver. They don't represent my interests or personality. I don't want to be forever explaining that I don't read Emily Bronte (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by myral

I'd really like to have a second, smaller Kindle to put in my handbag, but with Wi-fi and functionality of the 6-inch version.

I sort of have one...it's called the Sony 350. But you have to learn how to strip the DRM and manually move the files since it lacks the wifi.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by myral

I'd really like to have a second, smaller Kindle to put in my handbag, but with Wi-fi and functionality of the 6-inch version.

Do you have/have you thought of a smartphone? I have a phone with a 4-inch screen that runs the Kindle app. It syncs with my Kindle so I don't have to keep track of pages, etc.

I think the Kindle 3 is small enough to take almost anywhere, but I think a smaller ebook reader would be a bit 'in between' (as in not as convenient as a smartphone and not as good as a proper reader).

Of course, I don't use my phone for any heavy duty reading as the screen is smallish and I don't like staring at the backlit screen for too long, but it's great for convenience when I want to read but don't have my Kindle with me.

[myral]

I used to read on my previous smartphone. This one is not compatible, however, not to mention the glare of the screen. I have been looking at the pocketbookpocket 360 and the Opus as well. But instant accessibility to my Kindle account would be nice.

[Kenneth_irl]

Another point of why I would like the screen edge to be inclined is that I'm getting a small line of shadow across the top screen when I'm reading at night using my Mighty Bright light (a book light device). It's damned hard finding a angle that doesn't cause glare and no shadow on my screen.

Again this is just a small thing, but still, small things add up in the end.

[cathie]

Within the universe of things requiring remanufacturing, it would be a touch screen,

No touch screen please! the darn things are constantly unreadable with all the fingerprints all over it!

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

Touchscreen/pen + applets.

Originally Posted by magicmonster

Custom screen saver or the ability to disable the screen saver without hacking or debugging the darn thing.

Originally Posted by Barty

I too want to have screens. That seems logical and meaningful for an ereader. This may be computationally too expensive to calculate. To accurately determine the number of screens, you have to pretty much parse and format the entire book out. But hey, that's why you pay them programmers.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Add EPUB.

Originally Posted by dixieknits

Epub support.. Pleeeease...

Originally Posted by grownupboy

love my k3 but i really wish the build quality was "a bit" better. my friend has a new sony prs-350 and it makes the kindle look like a cheap piece of plastic.

of course, i'd take the kindle's shopping ecosystem any day of the week!
g

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Adding EPub would be nice if only to stop the bitching about the lack of EPub.

Being able to customize the screen savers would be nice.

ummmm

Yeah that is about it. Short of color e-ink which may or may not happen...

Originally Posted by BoiseShan

LIBRARY EBOOKS!!!

And move the on/off switch. I hold mine with my pinkie finger propping up the bottom. I hit the switch every time.

Originally Posted by Tiersten

The only thing I'd really like is faster/better PDF support. I've got some technical manuals that take forever to load up on a Kindle and one of them takes so long that I've never been able to view it before giving up. The K3 isn't ideal for reading PDFs but it'd still be nice to be able to quickly look at something.

Oh and the Kindle should come with a free pony IMO

Originally Posted by billmilo

I don't understand why amazon doesn't let you change your own screen-saver. If you purchased a PC, and Microsoft didn't allow you to change your screesaver people would rightly complain and maybe sue MS.

It is pure arrogance on Amazon's part to think their choices for screen-saver must be liked by everyone.

Originally Posted by mikeayers

sub collections would be at the top of my list....
screens instead of locations would be up there also.

Originally Posted by treadlightly

1. Move the power button to the top
2. Custom screensavers
3. ePub support

Originally Posted by Barty

I'd like to see ePub and library books support. Mobi format is pretty old and dated. Having a better format allows publishers to not have to code for the lowest common denominator. We would get better looking books. Imagine if the web were still stuck with HTML 2, circa 1994.

Originally Posted by jocampo

-micro SD card
-7" screen
-Even better PDF support

Originally Posted by Piper_

In addition to so many great suggestions above:

1. Ability to organize the Archives - mine are becoming way too unwieldy.

1a. Ability to sort Archives by "Most Recently purchased", so we don't have to hunt through 20 screens to find the latest books bought and sent to another device.

2. Better caulking between the screen and frame. (Stronger and less grooved, to avoid lifting and pet hair intrusions. )

3. A single button for TTS on/off

4. Raise the 5 way's edges so it's easier to use without hitting other buttons.

5. A "Favorites" sub-menu from the main menu, so you can flip between books or documents.

Originally Posted by dwig

1. Font size control for the Home screen.

2. Sub-collections.

3. Improved PDF support (more zoom settings, ...)

4. Customizable screen saver. Options for "Current Book Cover", "My Pictures", "Default", "Personal Info" or "None". The latter would actually be a single image with some very small icon to allow distinction between it and the power off screen. The "My Pictures" option would use all pix in some "blessed" folder such as \Pictures\Screensaver. The "Personal Info" would display the text entered into the Personal Info section in Settings allowing you to have an "If found..." message displayed on a password locked device. Actually, anyone halfway skilled at creating bitmap images can produce the equivalent of all the other options if just an option of a custom picture folder is added.

Originally Posted by cathie

BobLenx:
I have to agree, about the page, screen, percentage issue. the screen savers don't seem to bother me much, that being said I have only had my K3 since Christmas (& I love it, love it, love it!).
I am still exploring & playing with it (between reading!).

Originally Posted by brooks.williams

In addition to the screensaver stuff, I'd really love better footnote support. It really sucks to have to navigate to the footnote and then click it. When reading text with multiple footnotes/screen, this gets old really fast. There should be a way to jump directly to and between footnotes.

Originally Posted by warlock07

seamless e-ink display(The whole refresh things is a bit tiring actually)
touch screen...(imaging sliding through the pages on kindle screen.**Its so smooth I'm gonna die***.) Also note taking ability with touch screen would be perfect...
Better PDF support.....
Ideally an ipad level experience on a E-ink screen..

A man can dream..Can't he?

Originally Posted by januaryman

If it worked with a touch screen with all the functionality of the Kindle app on my ipad, I'd get it in a second. It's an incredible reader app. Notes, highlighting, fast page/chapter progression, search, fast dictionary pop up at the touch of a word... really a wonderful thing to behold.

Originally Posted by myral

I'd really like to have a second, smaller Kindle to put in my handbag, but with Wi-fi and functionality of the 6-inch version. I don't use the keyboard all that often and would settle for an on-screen, on-demand keyboard.

Oh, and sub-collections. Definitely sub-collections!

Originally Posted by Barty

I'd like to see infrared touch (so screen readability isn't affected), since I rarely use the keyboard and getting rid of it will shrink the unit a little more. However, I still want the physical page turn buttons and home/menu/back/rocker so you can do most things without touching the screen. I.e. don't be a touch purist a la Steve Jobs.

Oh and not letting me change the screensaver without a hack is just unAmerican. Seriously. Even Apple lets you do that.

Guys and Girls,

this is the best thread EVER! The good news is: All that you wish for does exist! You just want a SONY PRS-X50!!!

[Kenneth_irl]

@ Poppaea

That is probably true for many for the wishes stated here, I'm sure. I'd love to try one, although I'm stuck on my Kindle until next gen at least. Also, there's still room for a lot of improvements for the current gen Kindle.

But I'm actually impressed by the low prices that you can get a refurbished Sony-600 for on Amazon. As low as 99 quid ! Nice. A retail model is quite a bit more expensive than a Kindle wifi, though.

And besides, I wouldn't call many of the Kindle's shortcomings for deal breaking, still.

I'd call this for a improvements/next-gen-Kindle-hopings/rent thread. And that's cool, I think. And it also keeps many for them in one single thread.

Btw:

Is that a real creature in your avatar ? I think I wanna die after having looked at it. Hah.