Amazon is destroying e-reader innovation

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by rcentros

That's true, but would you say your eReading needs would apply to "most" people who use eReaders, or a relatively small percentage of them? Not that I wouldn't like to see more selection in American stores.

The latter. But then the same could be said for all e-readers in the early stages of their development. And just because my needs are niche doesn't mean it shouldn't be fulfilled. It's being fulfilled in Europe, so why not in America? Again, this is the point I made in the OP. Amazon's dominance is reducing choice.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by kacir

The second Kindle - now called Kindle Keyboard did have possibility to set your own margins by editing a simple text file in the "system" directory on Kindle. I can't understand why Amazon removed that option.

Seriously. What pisses me off, is knowledge that there is no real technical reason for removing options, such as justification or margin size or list of font sizes, even in the form of advanced settings buried deep within the fifth level of experimental menu, or an xml file you would have to create and edit on PC in a "system" directory.

THIS is exactly what I am complaining about. Users have no choice.
It is not that I think that Kindle is not a good reader for some people. It is exactly the type of device I would recommend for a non-technical user that has no support and needs to get his/her books and set her/his options unassisted.

Also Amazon has removed the option to install custom fonts on the PW1/2. Shocking, IMO. Sure you can embed fonts, but that's a horrid clunge out of reach for the average user.

Again, Amazon is reducing choice, even with their software choices. They are dumbing down e-readers.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Tarana

On the other hand, tablets have an advantage now because there currently aren't any ereaders sold that do TTS. I don't actually like my Kindle HDX, but it does have a much better computer voice for TTS. Wish it had bluetooth.

There used to be e-readers in America which supported TTS (Sony and Kindle), but no longer. Choice is reducing.

E-readers with audio (and Android) are available in Europe. They support TTS.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Also Amazon has removed the option to install custom fonts on the PW1/2. Shocking, IMO. Sure you can embed fonts, but that's a horrid clunge out of reach for the average user.

AFAIK, the possibility to add fonts was never an option; it was a bug.

Again, Amazon is reducing choice, even with their software choices. They are dumbing down e-readers.

Kindle's are already among the dumbest e-readers around. The margin settings are useless, they only have six fonts, and the sizes below 3 or above 6 are almost unusable, except for people with stellar eyesight or the near-blind ones. If you need a size bigger than 6, you have a serious problem...

However, at the same time, the Kindle's are also the ones with that have the least software problems, and are among the best (maybe the best) supported by Calibre; you can set your own page counts, conversion to AZW is about perfect, and all of the Kindle's features work without any jacking around.

That cannot be said for Kobo's "we want our own format toohoo!" KEPUB. Both the EPUB and KEPUB renderers have one or more problems that I don't care for; either some features of the reader don't work (EPUB), or it renders in a way I don't like, wasting space in headers and footers (KEPUB).

In the end, if I compare e-readers, the Kindle is the best of the worst. The really good readers with loads of options are only available for tablets, which is the reason why I'd really *REALLY* like an Android e-ink tablet.

[ingmar]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

The really good readers with loads of options are only available for tablets, which is the reason why I'd really *REALLY* like an Android e-ink tablet.

Not that I wouldn't want one, too, but I'm actually running CoolReader 3 on my PocketBook, just saying.

[Barty]

Look at it this way: if Apple were in the same near monopoly dominant position wrt smart phone as Amazon is wrt ereader, would you expect much iPhone innovation from them? Even having lost market share to android, look how long it has taken them to release a (rumored) larger iPhone. And Amazon is not even in the ereader business, they are in the ebooks and media content business.

It's an exaggeration to say Amazon destroys ereader innovation, but they really don't need to do much to compete as there is no competition. Soon, they will be in the same position as Apple is with the iPod. When was the last time people got excited over a new iPod?

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Also Amazon has removed the option to install custom fonts on the PW1/2. Shocking, IMO. Sure you can embed fonts, but that's a horrid clunge out of reach for the average user.

Again, Amazon is reducing choice, even with their software choices. They are dumbing down e-readers.

For me, the PW would kind of suck if there were no hack available to install custom font, adjust margins, and customize available font sizes.

[Katsunami]

The iPod, except for the 160GB Classic, can be replaced by a smartphone. The smatphone even plays FLAC, which the iPod doesn't. That way I don't need to maintain a seperate MP3 library.

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I don't need the phone functionality to read a book,

Sure, but what if we'd turn it around - a phone where you can comfortably read a book.
iN that vein, where are the foldable displays? Give me a current android phone with foldable e-ink display and I'd buy it probably without looking at the price.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

AFAIK, the possibility to add fonts was never an option; it was a bug.



Kindle's are already among the dumbest e-readers around. The margin settings are useless, they only have six fonts, and the sizes below 3 or above 6 are almost unusable, except for people with stellar eyesight or the near-blind ones. If you need a size bigger than 6, you have a serious problem...

However, at the same time, the Kindle's are also the ones with that have the least software problems, and are among the best (maybe the best) supported by Calibre; you can set your own page counts, conversion to AZW is about perfect, and all of the Kindle's features work without any jacking around.

That cannot be said for Kobo's "we want our own format toohoo!" KEPUB. Both the EPUB and KEPUB renderers have one or more problems that I don't care for; either some features of the reader don't work (EPUB), or it renders in a way I don't like, wasting space in headers and footers (KEPUB).

In the end, if I compare e-readers, the Kindle is the best of the worst. The really good readers with loads of options are only available for tablets, which is the reason why I'd really *REALLY* like an Android e-ink tablet.

Kindle has the least software problems *because* they are among the dumbest ereaders. If your ereader has very few choices it shouldn't have many problems. Except of course not being usable to those who don't care for the defaults.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Kindle has the least software problems *because* they are among the dumbest ereaders. If your ereader has very few choices it shouldn't have many problems. Except of course not being usable to those who don't care for the defaults.

With all due respect... um, who are you arguing with, exactly?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Kindle has the least software problems *because* they are among the dumbest ereaders.

Yeah I think so too, but I thought that this was clear from my post. Maybe not

Originally Posted by eschwartz

With all due respect... um, who are you arguing with, exactly?

Me. I'll go hide now...

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

With all due respect... um, who are you arguing with, exactly?

I was replying to Katsunami saying that they are the dumbest but also the best working.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Yeah I think so too, but I thought that this was clear from my post. Maybe not



Me. I'll go hide now...

It was just that they are dumbest and the best at the same time.

[CommonReader]

Even in Europe the level of choice is hardly overwhelming. You seem to have more choice when buying a record player for LP discs than in ebook readers. Around here it basically boils down to the Kindle sold by Amazon and some department stores, the Tolino sold by the book store chains and Kobo/Sony/Pocketbook sold by the stores for consumer electronics. Given that research costs for ebook readers can't be that high the lack of choice is really disappointing. At least Pocketbook seems to be trying. Something like the Aqua should have been available for some time.