Voyage Optimised Font technology

Moonraker · 10-23-2014, 02:09 PM

Does anyone know what Amazon means by Optimised Font technology?

Have they improved the fonts on the Voyage or are they the same old limited fonts. The last Amazon e-reader that had decent fonts on it for me was the K3. I then upgraded to the PW with it's disproportionate jump in font size that I just could not get on with. I gave my PW to my sister and purchased a Kobo Aura HD which is great for me to get a darker font and correct size.

I really like the look of the page-turn buttons on the Voyage but it will be no good if it has the same old fonts, margins, and limited line spacing.

Katsunami · 10-23-2014, 02:55 PM

Same fonts and settings as KPW1 and KPW2 as far as I know.

sparklemotion · 10-23-2014, 04:40 PM

They improved the fonts in that they are sharper and also a bit darker as well. However, the font choices, margins, and line spacing all remain the same.

pghaworth · 10-23-2014, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonraker

I really like the look of the page-turn buttons on the Voyage but it will be no good if it has the same old fonts, margins, and limited line spacing.

Same fonts, sharper, clearer, easier to read, and I can use a smaller font that before, but the HUGE and HUGEST are still there. No subtle graduations or anything additional.

xendula · 10-23-2014, 10:05 PM

^ ... or god beware any new fonts

JSWolf · 10-23-2014, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

They improved the fonts in that they are sharper and also a bit darker as well. However, the font choices, margins, and line spacing all remain the same.

The new version of the higher resolution Carta screen improved the fonts.

cybmole · 10-24-2014, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The new version of the higher resolution Carta screen improved the fonts.

the man beat me to it. same old fonts, better screen.

Having said that there may be an improved font coming soon for voyage. they said somehing about it in the launch blurb but I can't be bothered to go track it down. I think is in a bundle of stuff coming to voyage in 2015 ?

Josieb1 · 10-24-2014, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

the man beat me to it. same old fonts, better screen.

Having said that there may be an improved font coming soon for voyage. they said somehing about it in the launch blurb but I can't be bothered to go track it down. I think is in a bundle of stuff coming to voyage in 2015 ?

I wonder if they could add that via a software update. I don't see why not.

Katsunami · 10-24-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I wonder if they could add that via a software update. I don't see why not.

They can. The Touch gained all the fonts of the Paperwhite after that firmware got backported to it.

sparklemotion · 10-24-2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The new version of the higher resolution Carta screen improved the fonts.

Does the Kobo H20 have the newer version Carta screen?

jswinden · 10-24-2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I wonder if they could add that via a software update. I don't see why not.

Fonts can definitely be added via a FW update. I doubt Amazon will ever do that, but they should. They should also add way more options for font size, margin size, line height, etc. But they probably won't.

And yes I think most of the sharper text rendering is due to the new eInk screen and the redesigned light layer that degraded text on the PW1 and PW2. But they still need to add the ability to darken (make thicker) a font. The text is okay, but I wish it was thicker since the lighting is still wonky and uneven.

sparklemotion · 10-24-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Fonts can definitely be added via a FW update. I doubt Amazon will ever do that, but they should. They should also add way more options for font size, margin size, line height, etc. But they probably won't.

And yes I think most of the sharper text rendering is due to the new eInk screen and the redesigned light layer that degraded text on the PW1 and PW2. But they still need to add the ability to darken (make thicker) a font. The text is okay, but I wish it was thicker since the lighting is still wonky and uneven.

What I don't understand is why the lighting on my PW2 is so even compared to the voyage. The lighting on my Pw2 is so much better than on my voyage. In fact, overall the screen is just so much more even on my PW2, but the negative is the fonts are a little less sharp. My voyage also has slight color hues. Pink mainly.

jswinden · 10-24-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

What I don't understand is why the lighting on my PW2 is so even compared to the voyage. The lighting on my Pw2 is so much better than on my voyage. In fact, overall the screen is just so much more even on my PW2, but the negative is the fonts are a little less sharp. My voyage also has slight color hues. Pink mainly.

Totally agree! My PW2 had a really nice screen, and it was the first and only PW2 I had. I lucked out on the PW2. But the text was just too fuzzy for my eyes. I kept it a few months but finally had to admit it mostly sat on a shelf collecting dust. Plus I got tired of having to embed a font or turn all the text bold so I could read without too much eyestrain.

I'm still on the fence with my Voyage. I want to keep it, but will it just turn into a paperweight? I have to fiddle with it to get the lighting just right. And then I can still see the giant, but thankfully dim, smudge on the upper 1/3 of the screen. But at least it doesn't degrade the text. But the blue tint is annoying even though I can make it mostly disappear too. But it is like trying to get TV reception from a rabbit ears antenna when you live 20 miles from the TV transmitter tower. There will be a lot of repositioning until you get a clear picture. Last night I realized I was leaning funny in my recliner, then understood I did so to get the Voyage into a position where its light combined with the table light made most of the design flaws fade away enough to read. Hmmmm? To be honest all the Kobo images I've seen look just as bad. I see the same kinds of defects in them.

sparklemotion · 10-24-2014, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Totally agree! My PW2 had a really nice screen, and it was the first and only PW2 I had. I lucked out on the PW2. But the text was just too fuzzy for my eyes. I kept it a few months but finally had to admit it mostly sat on a shelf collecting dust. Plus I got tired of having to embed a font or turn all the text bold so I could read without too much eyestrain.

I'm still on the fence with my Voyage. I want to keep it, but will it just turn into a paperweight? I have to fiddle with it to get the lighting just right. And then I can still see the giant, but thankfully dim, smudge on the upper 1/3 of the screen. But at least it doesn't degrade the text. But the blue tint is annoying even though I can make it mostly disappear too. But it is like trying to get TV reception from a rabbit ears antenna when you live 20 miles from the TV transmitter tower. There will be a lot of repositioning until you get a clear picture. Last night I realized I was leaning funny in my recliner, then understood I did so to get the Voyage into a position where its light combined with the table light made most of the design flaws fade away enough to read. Hmmmm? To be honest all the Kobo images I've seen look just as bad. I see the same kinds of defects in them.

I know, they make it hard to make a decision. The font on my PW2 looks fine to me, until I compare it to the voyage and can then see the voyage is sharper. It's frustrating with these devices that we can't simply be completely satisfied and instead always have issues that complicate things but, at the same time, have the device still be good enough to put you on the fence about it. Argh.

I'm definitely returning my voyage, but I'm going to give the H20 a try. If that doesn't work out, I'll stick with my PW2 for another year.

What defects are you noticing on the Kobo screens? I thought they looked pretty good as far as evenness goes. I want to give one a try and see what I think. I do a lot of reading outside in the Spring and Summer and also at night in the dark, so I really love having a lighted reader for night, but one I can also use outside. I just wish they didn't make the process so painful for us. Good luck with your decision! It might be worth trying one more, do you think? Maybe at Best Buy?

cybmole · 10-24-2014, 12:13 PM

when I check via google: - Amazon were claiming "optimized font technology" in 2013 for the PW, and implying it ( but not with those exact 3 words) even on the basic, now discontinued models.

so maybe it's a case of "move along, there's nothing new to see here" ?

10-23-2014, 02:09 PM	#1
Moonraker Addict Posts: 314 Karma: 1002965 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Device: ILiad. Gen 3, PocketBook 360, Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Oasis 2	Voyage Optimised Font technology Does anyone know what Amazon means by Optimised Font technology? Have they improved the fonts on the Voyage or are they the same old limited fonts. The last Amazon e-reader that had decent fonts on it for me was the K3. I then upgraded to the PW with it's disproportionate jump in font size that I just could not get on with. I gave my PW to my sister and purchased a Kobo Aura HD which is great for me to get a darker font and correct size. I really like the look of the page-turn buttons on the Voyage but it will be no good if it has the same old fonts, margins, and limited line spacing.

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10-23-2014, 02:55 PM	#2
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Same fonts and settings as KPW1 and KPW2 as far as I know.

10-23-2014, 04:40 PM	#3
sparklemotion dangerous when cornered Posts: 1,865 Karma: 22891237 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Device: Kobo H2O, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Paperwhite	They improved the fonts in that they are sharper and also a bit darker as well. However, the font choices, margins, and line spacing all remain the same.

10-23-2014, 10:05 PM	#5
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	^ ... or god beware any new fonts

10-24-2014, 12:13 PM	#15
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	when I check via google: - Amazon were claiming "optimized font technology" in 2013 for the PW, and implying it ( but not with those exact 3 words) even on the basic, now discontinued models. so maybe it's a case of "move along, there's nothing new to see here" ?