Why did Kobo abandon the capacative touch flat screen?

[koboy]

perhaps no fun but plenty of common sense.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by dordale

The PW2 (not sure about the PW1, but I think it's the same) also has capacitive touch--although the screen is recessed and not flush.

Wonder why the screen isn't flush? I thought the recessed screen was done because of the IR?

[filmo]

Raised bezel helps hold reader with one hand without accidentally touching screen and might be cheaper.

[chrisridd]

Having a raised bezel would seem to me to require that the reader contained at least 3 structural pieces - the back, the bezel, and the screen.

A flush bezel like the Aura only uses 2 pieces.

I have no idea whether that makes it cheaper or more expensive.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by EndlessWaves

Capacitive screens don't work with gloves, Kobo are Canadian.

It may not be problems, I haven't heard of any issues with the aura's screen, it may just be that the benefits of IR touchscreen tech are appealing to more people over that those of capacitive tech.

There were quite a few complaints on MR and elsewhere that when held at the right angle, you could see what looked like scratches on the screen. Several reviews pointed out that same issue. I've seen similar effects on ATM touch screens so I tend to suspect it's an artifact of the capacitive sensing layers over the eInk screen.

There were also complaints that the background on the Aura was darker than on the Aura HD though only really noticeable in a side by side comparison. Again, I suspect this was simply due to have multiple extra layers over the eInk screen.

[koboy]

does anyone think we will see refresh every chapter on any other kobo other than the aura?

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Wonder why the screen isn't flush? I thought the recessed screen was done because of the IR?

Most ereaders have a recessed screen regardless of whether they use infra-red or capacitive touch.

A recessed screen is protected by the bezel, but a flush screen has to have an extra protective layer like a tablet. It seems to be that exra layer that causes the reflection problems.

The only advantage of capacative touch over infra-red is that capacitive can accurately detect three or more concurrent touches, whereas infra-red can only accurately detect two. However that is not really a very useful feature for an ereader.

An advantage of infra-red is that you can use something other than your sweaty/oily skin to touch, such as a fingernail, so the screen doesn't have to end up covered in fingerprints.

[EndlessWaves]

Originally Posted by chrisridd

Having a raised bezel would seem to me to require that the reader contained at least 3 structural pieces - the back, the bezel, and the screen.

A flush bezel like the Aura only uses 2 pieces.

I'm not sure about the aura but most devices like that use a sheet of transparent material as a top layer to give a consistent texture. So you not only have at least as many pieces, you also have to come up with a mounting system for a top layer that doesn't show and potentially has tighter tolerances.

Originally Posted by GeoffR

The only advantage of capacative touch over infra-red is that capacitive can accurately detect three or more concurrent touches, whereas infra-red can only accurately detect two. However that is not really a very useful feature for an ereader.

No, infrared can definitely handle more than two touchpoints. There are plenty of larger infrared touchscreens that do ten point multitouch.

It may be that the power consumption increases more rapidly for supporting more touch points on infrared than it does on capacitive, or some other reason to make it prohibitive for mobile devices, but it's definitely not a fundamental limitation of the technology.

[Phogg]

Capacitive touch would have been a problem on the H2O since it was designed to work even if you are out in the rain.

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by EndlessWaves

No, infrared can definitely handle more than two touchpoints. There are plenty of larger infrared touchscreens that do ten point multitouch.

If you have three concurrent touches in order 1,2,3 like this:

1 3
  2

Then after touch 1 and 2 there is no way touch 3 can be seen as the sensors are hidden behind the first two touches.

Edit: Perhaps I should have said that infra-red touch can only accurately detect two concurrent touches. Further concurrent touches are subject to errors of the type above.

[filmo]

I first thought IR touch used with ereaders used light beams going straight across screen same as the first IR touch system I saw 30 +years ago. Now IR light from 1 source is seen by many receivers that can tell which light source is seen or not seen by the code projected by by each light source. That is why multiple IR touch is possible.

[rashkae]

Capactitive is not fundamentally bad. It certainly seems to work well for Kindles. But the capacitive on the Kobo Aura was *terrible*.

Already mentioned is the visible grid, people thought looked like scratches. I think that's by far the most minor of it's problems.

The extra layers used by kobo made the image (and text rendering) look very fuzzy, as well as lower contrast. The screen on the Aura was a noticeable downgrade from the previous generation Kobo Glo.

The flush screen was hyper sensitive around the edges. My elderly aunt, updating from a deceased Glo to an Aura, had a very difficult time. The flush screen did not leave anywhere obvious to hold the device that would not result in unwanted taps.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rashkae

Already mentioned is the visible grid, people thought looked like scratches. I think that's by far the most minor of it's problems.

The extra layers used by kobo made the image (and text rendering) look very fuzzy, as well as lower contrast. The screen on the Aura was a noticeable downgrade from the previous generation Kobo Glo.

I'm guessing it would still be an improvement over my Nook Simple Touch w/Glowlight. The higher resolution alone would make up for whatever deficiencies the bad implementation of the capacitive screen causes.

I have seen the grid you mention on my tablet, when holding it at an angle. But I never see it when the screen is on.

Originally Posted by rashkae

The flush screen was hyper sensitive around the edges. My elderly aunt, updating from a deceased Glo to an Aura, had a very difficult time. The flush screen did not leave anywhere obvious to hold the device that would not result in unwanted taps.

*That* is my concern! I love how the Aura looks, but if the screen is too sensitive to touch, it could be a total PITA.

I don't understand why the major e-reader manufacturers have moved away from page turn buttons. By their nature, e-readers don't need to be sleek, high end devices. (I say as I salivate over the pretty design of the Aura)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by oren64

Kobo don't sell the Glo any more, i bay from my Glo from ebay for 69$ half a year ago.
the Aura is for 99.95 CAD and the Glo Hd is for 129.99 CAD in Chapters.
you can upgrad the internal micro-sd card in the Glo Hd so you can " load my zillions of ePubs".

Hey Oren, I forgot to reply to your comment earlier.

I understand you can upgrade the SD card in the Glo HD, but really, you shouldn't have to. I wonder why they left expandable memory out of the HD, when it is a feature on just about every other reader they make?

To me lack of an SD card slot is a signal from the maker that they want to lock you into that ecosystem only (which of course, they all do, but they don't have to wag it in your face). The only company that can currently get away with that (in my opinion) is Amazon. And I wouldn't buy one of their readers anyway.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Hey Oren, I forgot to reply to your comment earlier.

I understand you can upgrade the SD card in the Glo HD, but really, you shouldn't have to. I wonder why they left expandable memory out of the HD, when it is a feature on just about every other reader they make?

To me lack of an SD card slot is a signal from the maker that they want to lock you into that ecosystem only (which of course, they all do, but they don't have to wag it in your face). The only company that can currently get away with that (in my opinion) is Amazon. And I wouldn't buy one of their readers anyway.

hi ZodWallop, i completely agree with every word, i couldn't have put it better myself, doubling the internal memory to 8GB would have been a good idea seen as they have left out the SD card slot.