WSJ: Amazon to Release Tablet, Two new Kindles, in October - Page 8

johnnyb · 07-18-2011, 02:20 PM

The ONLY thing I'm hoping for is that the new Kindles will retain the possibility to highlight past a single page, whatever controls they need for that, build them in... This makes the Kindle the single most advanced reading device of all available and planned, unless this is not a widely recognized necessity (PDFs don't even support that on the format side), no reader will ever faithfully reproduce the experience of reading on paper where page breaks are just so much less prominent because of that...

Giggleton · 07-18-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't understand what that even means. What does a "swiping mechanism" have to do with how text is rendered on an ereader? I have no problem if you want to move to a touch system because you prefer it, but don't just make shit up.

There are no pages in our epubs, there is simply a stream of text that flows across our screen. A method for more finely controlling this flow, i.e. a swipe of the thumb across a surface rather than a depression of a thumb against a button would be more aesthetically and physically pleasing to me and perhaps to others.

This would also work towards the abandonment of the idea of pages, with no page turning buttons there would be no need for pages, and no discussion about page numbers... I admit it gets a little abstract here, but if we are to move beyond the book we have to abandon all bookish related concepts.

Graham · 07-18-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giggleton

There are no pages in our epubs, there is simply a stream of text that flows across our screen. A method for more finely controlling this flow, i.e. a swipe of the thumb across a surface rather than a depression of a thumb against a button would be more aesthetically and physically pleasing to me and perhaps to others.

This would also work towards the abandonment of the idea of pages, with no page turning buttons there would be no need for pages, and no discussion about page numbers... I admit it gets a little abstract here, but if we are to move beyond the book we have to abandon all bookish related concepts.

When I've finished reading a screen of text I want the whole screen to refresh at once. I don't want to scroll through to the next bit I need to read. Consequently, regardless of whether the document has been formatted in pages, I essentially need to update to the next 'page'.

However, I'm with you on the swipe of the thumb...

Graham

JSWolf · 07-18-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

What's a good touch interface? I've tried the Sony 950 and it was OK for everything but page turning, if I could have set it to use a tap instead of a swipe for turning I'd likely have been KO with it.

Actually, the swipe is better then the tap. When you tap, you have more chance of seeing fingerprints then you do from the swipe. And with the 650, the swipe doesn't have to be much at all. Just a tiny flick.

JSWolf · 07-18-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

We concentrate on "page turning" because it represents, by far, the main interaction (and almost only interaction, depending on the individual reader) with the device. The majority of readers spend the overwhelming majority of their eReader time not doing those other things.

I'm a buttonholic. I've tried a myriad of different devices with touch interfaces. I don't care for them... it's that simple. Is that not allowed? It sounds like Amazon (if the reports are true) have recognized the fact that there's a not tiny user base who feel the same way I do, and have decided to respect our wishes. As well as respecting the wishes of those who have buttonphobia. Good for them.

If it's true, I expect the K4 button edition to be the last button edition Kindle as the Touch version seriously outsells the button edition. So Amazon will stop making a button version of the K5.

JSWolf · 07-18-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't understand what that even means. What does a "swiping mechanism" have to do with how text is rendered on an ereader? I have no problem if you want to move to a touch system because you prefer it, but don't just make shit up.

He is saying to do away with page turn buttons because swiping on a touch screen is more like turning the pages of a pBook. He's not making shit up.

JSWolf · 07-18-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppw

I can hold my K3 and turn pages all with ONE hand. Not sure how would I do that with a touch interface. But maybe a touch interface combined with minimal buttons work the best.

I can hold my 650 with one hand. I just move my thumb and give it a gentle flick on the screen and the page is turned.

JSWolf · 07-18-2011, 07:46 PM

Who reads on a cell phone and uses page turn buttons to do so?

Phogg · 07-18-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Who reads on a cell phone and uses page turn buttons to do so?

I do. I have the volume buttons mapped for page turns on my Streak. My grip covers the buttons and I don't have to do more than slightly squeeze one finger to turn forward or back.

And yes, I did watch the development of this phone for months before release because I wanted it to read on.

Skydog · 07-18-2011, 09:32 PM

Ditto. I do too! I have the volume buttons on my Droid X mapped for page turns, which I prefer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

I do. I have the volume buttons mapped for page turns on my Streak. My grip covers the buttons and I don't have to do more than slightly squeeze one finger to turn forward or back.

And yes, I did watch the development of this phone for months before release because I wanted it to read on.

DiapDealer · 07-18-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

He is saying to do away with page turn buttons because swiping on a touch screen is more like turning the pages of a pBook.

If you say so... but that's certainly not how I interpreted it.

DiapDealer · 07-18-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it's true, I expect the K4 button edition to be the last button edition Kindle as the Touch version seriously outsells the button edition. So Amazon will stop making a button version of the K5.

That's fine. Since I'm still happily using my K2, I've got a long time to worry about it then.

Giggleton · 07-18-2011, 10:20 PM

I must say that having not used a touchscreen ereader, I cannot offer an opinion as to the validity of their functionality, specifically regarding dirty screens. What I would like on my Kindle is just for the page turn buttons to be replaced by a little touchpad that I can swipe up or down to flow the text. I don't know if that would work either, I suppose there would be inadvertent swipes perhaps?

AnemicOak · 07-18-2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, the swipe is better then the tap. When you tap, you have more chance of seeing fingerprints then you do from the swipe. And with the 650, the swipe doesn't have to be much at all. Just a tiny flick.

Thanks for telling me that they way I'd prefer it to work is wrong ('cause it's not like I've tried it both ways or anything). I'll sleep better knowing that.

Giggleton · 07-19-2011, 12:59 AM

I've actually thought about it a bit more and would like a mind interface to my ereader so that it simply knows when to refresh the screen.

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07-18-2011, 02:20 PM	#106
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4273668 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Boox Note Air 4C, Remarkable PP Move, iPad Pro 11	The ONLY thing I'm hoping for is that the new Kindles will retain the possibility to highlight past a single page, whatever controls they need for that, build them in... This makes the Kindle the single most advanced reading device of all available and planned, unless this is not a widely recognized necessity (PDFs don't even support that on the format side), no reader will ever faithfully reproduce the experience of reading on paper where page breaks are just so much less prominent because of that...

07-18-2011, 07:46 PM	#113
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Who reads on a cell phone and uses page turn buttons to do so?

07-18-2011, 10:20 PM	#118
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	I must say that having not used a touchscreen ereader, I cannot offer an opinion as to the validity of their functionality, specifically regarding dirty screens. What I would like on my Kindle is just for the page turn buttons to be replaced by a little touchpad that I can swipe up or down to flow the text. I don't know if that would work either, I suppose there would be inadvertent swipes perhaps?

07-19-2011, 12:59 AM	#120
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	I've actually thought about it a bit more and would like a mind interface to my ereader so that it simply knows when to refresh the screen.