Sony Reader Lives on with Rowling!

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

From reading Kobo's forum, it seems their firmware is fairly buggy, from complaints of laggy touch response, wi-fi issues, among other things. So I would expect rapid firmware updates to satisfy the customers.

Right now Kobo is a start up and it feels like one. I called customer service regarding their iOS app (it was buggy) and the person tried to guide me through it using the RIM version of it. Hilarity ensues.

I think you'll find grumbles in all of the vendor forums but you're unlikely to find representatives of the developers in the forums listening and altering code to ensure an improved customer experience.

I expect if that was a recent tech call for iOS app support, you will find improvements in the relatively near future. If that was a call placed some months ago, you might revisit the app -- assuming you are buying Kobobooks -- to see if it meets your needs.

BTW, how is the Sony eReader iOS 4 app working for you on your iPhone these days?

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're absolutely right, Jon!

As ever, a bit behind on this post - but I have to agree with Harry & Jon.

It is really wearisome & boring to read top posting - I find myself starting to read post, then go to quote to see what poster's going on about, then go back to the posty bit to see if it was worth the effort !

Then I feel I can't be bothered if they can't do the logical thing, and give up on it.

It certainly doesn't improve readability or comprehension, so is just to stand out from the crowd ?

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

As ever, a bit behind on this post - but I have to agree with Harry & Jon.

It is really wearisome & boring to read top posting - I find myself starting to read post, then go to quote to see what poster's going on about, then go back to the posty bit to see if it was worth the effort !

I think you missed the irony in Harry's post.

[elcreative]

Funnily enough, I have ALWAYS top-posted and NEVER had a complaint from anyone on any forum until here when that well-known (and happily ignored) JSWolf started up with his jibes and endless fascination with AOL (which I've never used at any time) followed eventually by a few others doing a "me too"...

On other forums, people have usually been more interested in topics being discussed than inflicting "the one true way" on posters... and please note there is no irony in my post, just irritation and boredom...

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Yes, there was a missing "Pearl" there. Surely, after 1800 posts here, you didn't think I really had no idea Sony didn't have eink previous to its "incremental" refresh of models? This was quite an unnecessary rant. Be that as it may ...

Is that better? No sleights were intended to Nook or Sony; in fact I was underscoring that Sony made the right moves and nearly a year before.

But it doesn't change the fact that Sony is MIA at the moment and its lack of investment in the sales channel, the product platform and its bookstore has effectively erased every drop of edge it started with -- an edge it enjoyed well before the Kindle launch.

I was just highly confused about it, because I knew you weren't a newbie. That is why I said I hoped you'd come back and explain.

And I do have to agree that Sony is getting edged out. They started sitting on their laurels, and didn't attempt to push their readers. I am hoping that the Pottermore deal is a sign that things are changing.

[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

But it doesn't change the fact that Sony is MIA at the moment and its lack of investment in the sales channel, the product platform and its bookstore has effectively erased every drop of edge it started with -- an edge it enjoyed well before the Kindle launch.

I'm curious what this "MIA" is referring to.

The only company continuously actively advertising is Amazon. I've seen Sony and B&N ads, but not so much any more. Even with the release of the new Nook, it's only been PR statements, tech blogs and previews. The same Sony had on the release of the *50 series.

Sony sold out of all readers the week prior to Father's Day in the US (2 weeks ago?). Before that, they had all models in stock except for the black PRS-650. The PRS-350 is back in stock, but other models aren't yet.

Sony has also never advertised the Reader store, except in manuals delivered with a Sony Reader! In terms of the edge Sony had, it was first to market with e-Ink, and stayed the biggest (and cheapest) until Amazon entered the fray. That edge disappeared with the Kindle because Amazon had a known bookstore that just happened to already be the world's largest! Amazon was a juggernaut, even with the ugly-stick Kindle 1. B&N was #2, and their entry with the Nook was similar -- a well-established bookstore to get the device in front of customers.

I believe Sony's real mistake was not immediately expanding to other bookstores like Amazon, a huge miscalculation on their part. They wanted device lock-in, and they -- and we -- are still reaping the unfortunate benefits of that today.

-Pie

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by elcreative

On other forums, people have usually been more interested in topics being discussed than inflicting "the one true way" on posters...

It's the content of the letter that's important, not the envelope it comes in.

[sonyreaderfan]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I think you'll find grumbles in all of the vendor forums but you're unlikely to find representatives of the developers in the forums listening and altering code to ensure an improved customer experience.

I expect if that was a recent tech call for iOS app support, you will find improvements in the relatively near future. If that was a call placed some months ago, you might revisit the app -- assuming you are buying Kobobooks -- to see if it meets your needs.

BTW, how is the Sony eReader iOS 4 app working for you on your iPhone these days?

I'm a software developer and I worked for startups and established companies. Kobo is nimble as a startup and do things like respond in forums and quick turnarounds (we did that in the startup too) , but their quality process isn't in place. It's also clear they rushed out their software and firmware (just in time for Father's Day) because they're so buggy. Either it's because their staff is overextended or inexperienced, I don't know, but I know in a start up there is great pressure to ship, even underbaked software, which is what the Kobo firmware is. I'm surprised that even Kobo employees in the forum agree that it's a work-in-progress.

Established companies like Amazon and Sony have process in place to ensure quality. I used a K3 and Sony Reader; I don't have to worry about the firmware being buggy. The devices just work. I don't have to worry about firmware updates also -- frankly most consumers don't care about firmware updates, especially ones so frequent. They just want their product to work out of the box. Sony, Amazon, and BN have an active developers community that gives firmware features (Doukan, PRS+, Android rooting) so you don't have to rely on the companies to add features. But the foundation is a nonbuggy firmware.

I gave up on the Kobo app. It's ridiculous that unlike the Kindle app, you have to log in to access your books, and the log-in part is buggy (it hangs -- so basically the app is rendered useless). Any ereader app that reads Adobe DRM (like Bluefire Reader) is a good substitute. That works for Sony ebooks also, so I don't have to rely on Sony ereader app, which is nonexistent. In fact, Sony's strength is their hardware. Their ereader software is terrible so it's good there are alternatives.

[JoeD]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-p...rprise-winner/

Apple is losing the audiobooks and Amazon isn't getting eBooks.


If this is all true, Amazon is going to have to go ePub or risk losing sales left and right as people want the HP eBooks and since they won't work on a Kindle, that will be one big strike for Amazon.

Agreed.

Going drm free and using ePub if true is a move I think we should applaud Rowling for. She's potentially cutting out a lot of kindle owners by doing so, but the end result could be of much more benefit to those same readers if amazon add ePub support, I may even consider a kindle as a replacement for my Hanlin then

However, Isn't there a chance they'll just sell in multiple formats? ePub for most but an option of mobi for kindle owners? It'd be a shame if that were the case though. On the one hand it'd be a shame for kindle owners to miss out, but on the other it'd be great for a standard to be heavily pushed and hopefully force manufacturers into supporting it as an extra format, even if they only support drm free ePub (which is what I hope happens) which in the longer run would then be of benefit to kindle owners.

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by EatingPie

I'm curious what this "MIA" is referring to.
-Pie

"Missing in Action" a military term for those combat members who can't be found.

POWs/MIAs....Gone but never forgotten....

AJ

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

"Missing in Action" a military term for those combat members who can't be found.

POWs/MIAs....Gone but never forgotten....

AJ

Ummmmm..... I'm thinking that the poster was asking why Sony was being characterized as MIA, not the meaning of the acronym.

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Ummmmm..... I'm thinking that the poster was asking why Sony was being characterized as MIA, not the meaning of the acronym.

Oh...

Had to get my patriotism in, though....

AJ

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It's the content of the letter that's important, not the envelope it comes in.

But I do so hate breaking my nails on those super-glue stuck flaps, don't you ?

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by JoeD

However, Isn't there a chance they'll just sell in multiple formats? ePub for most but an option of mobi for kindle owners?

It's pretty clear that she's releasing it in multiple formats; the paidcomment linkbait article at the beginning basically made up the fact that HP would be in epub.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Ummmmm..... I'm thinking that the poster was asking why Sony was being characterized as MIA, not the meaning of the acronym.

My guess is due to the lack of advertising and marketing, plus how difficult it is to get sony readers in some areas.