Transparent cases for ereaders

[doubleshuffle]

Would certainly make for interesting conversations with strangers on the train, don't you think?

[Apache]

I could care less that people know what I am reading. I read because I enjoy it not to impress or scandalize others.
Apache

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Though there is the issue that the Kindle, which is the most popular eReader, doesn't support using the current bookcover as the screensaver, at least without a jailbreak.

Amazon bought Liquavista, a manufacturer of low-power color displays, and never did anything with it.

I do not think that the technology was ever good enough for displaying print books. But, it just might be great for displaying a book cover in color! Perhaps Amazon will come out with a Oasis cover that has a color Liquavista display that shows the cover of the book being read.

And of course, you would still need a clear protective surface over that cover as is being described in this thread.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Gee Here I thought you were asking about an invention NOT Currently on the market....

Barbara,

If the case that the OP describes is on the market, perhaps you could provide a link to it, rather than writing mocking messages. It would be a lot more helpful, not to mention friendly. It's not very nice for someone to come here looking for help, and get sarcastic messages in reply. You seem to be aware of the existence of the type of cover the OP is looking for. Help him out by providing a link.

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by MarkoRamius

In a classic case for ereader (leather ou simili-leather like we all have), you could have a sort of window on the front part of the case that would be filled with, for example, such a silicon gel sheet. That would have the protection level we all expect, plus the transparency I'm looking for. Just to say that it's possible to have both those features.

This is what I was thinking after reading your first post. A normal front cover around the edge for optimal protection (and magnets and such), with a slightly raised (so as not to hit the device screen) window of some clear material about the size of the device screen or maybe slightly smaller. Honestly as your first post mentions, it sounds like a good idea specifically because of sleep screens and some people liking to see the book cover screen while the device is asleep. I'm surprised no one's done it yet.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

This is what I was thinking after reading your first post. A normal front cover around the edge for optimal protection (and magnets and such), with a slightly raised (so as not to hit the device screen) window of some clear material about the size of the device screen or maybe slightly smaller. Honestly as your first post mentions, it sounds like a good idea specifically because of sleep screens and some people liking to see the book cover screen while the device is asleep. I'm surprised no one's done it yet.

Probably not too difficult to do as a "DIY" project. Buy a cheap third-party cover, cut out the appropriate-sized rectangle from the front with a craft-knife, and glue in a rectangle of clear polycarbonate (that's the stuff that the outer screens of most eInk devices are made from - it's transparent and scratch-resistant). Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to do.

This company, which was the result of a search for "polycarbonate sheet", will sell you a 3" x 4" piece of 2mm thick polycarbonate for £1. I'm sure there are lots of other suppliers.

[MarkoRamius]

Originally Posted by Apache

I could care less that people know what I am reading. I read because I enjoy it not to impress or scandalize others.
Apache

I understand some people don't want others know what they're reading. But I don't really see why sharing its reading has to do with 'impress or scandalize other'.

I'm curious to know how you used to read before ereaders exist ... Did you stick a black sheet of paper on the cover of your books to avoir scandalizing poeple ? :-) Or just maybe at that time people were less scandalized, or just more tolerant ...

I'm quite amazed this suggestion led to remarks, as if the idea was coming from an alien. The possibility to display the current book cover as sleep screen on the Kindle is known to be one of the top requests from kindle users (https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comm...requests_that/) , and it's the main reason (and probably often the only reason) why some people jailbreak them ...

@HarryT anyway, you're right, the idea of DIY is not a bad one, thanks !

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MarkoRamius

@HarryT anyway, you're right, the idea of DIY is not a bad one, thanks !

You're very welcome. If you do give it a go, please show us the results!

[Deskisamess]

The possibility to display the current book cover as sleep screen on the Kindle is known to be one of the top requests from kindle users (https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comm...requests_that/) , and it's the main reason (and probably often the only reason) why some people jailbreak them ...

I’d be very curious if that is correct. It may be a common request from Kindle users, but I doubt it is the main reason that users jailbreak theirs. Most people don’t stare at their sleeping device, so whatever is displayed on the sleepscreen is only visible for a split second as the device wakes up. So even with a clear cover, it just doesn’t matter what is one the sleep screen.

If you’re out in public using your Kindle, it’s going to be awake because you’re reading. If you’re not reading, are you just carrying the Kindle around? Do people really pay that much attention to what the person sitting next to them are reading or holding in their hand?

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I’d be very curious if that is correct. It may be a common request from Kindle users, but I doubt it is the main reason that users jailbreak theirs. Most people don’t stare at their sleeping device, so whatever is displayed on the sleepscreen is only visible for a split second as the device wakes up. So even with a clear cover, it just doesn’t matter what is one the sleep screen.

If you’re out in public using your Kindle, it’s going to be awake because you’re reading. If you’re not reading, are you just carrying the Kindle around? Do people really pay that much attention to what the person sitting next to them are reading or holding in their hand?

For instance, someone could leave their device lying on the coffee table and enjoy seeing the cover of the book as they pass by or when they're sitting nearby. Maybe for you there is only a split second where you'd see the screen as the device wakes or that it just doesn't matter, but that doesn't mean it must be true for everyone.

I will echo MarkoRamius regarding many of the posts in this thread and ask why would anyone feel the need to argue with MarkoRamius about what he'd like, and try to tell him he shouldn't want that? To each their own.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I will echo MarkoRamius regarding many of the posts in this thread and ask why would anyone feel the need to argue with MarkoRamius about what he'd like, and try to tell him he shouldn't want that? To each their own.

Precisely. Let's try to help people, not tell them they're wrong!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

Do people really pay that much attention to what the person sitting next to them are reading

Absolutely! I always want to know what other people are reading!

[Ken Maltby]

There are good reasons to add a stiff insert, to prevent any twisting of the glass substrata, as well as some real protection for the screen. You can pick-up clear plastic window "glass" replacement material at many hardware stores. Attached find my addition to a ballistic nylon case, to protect my AuraHD. The plastic sheet also provides a place for some pictures of my kid from when he was little. By the way he bought me the case as a present.

Luck;
Ken

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by MarkoRamius

Wow, I couldn't expect such sort of replys. Matter of taste !

Well, as I feel I have to justify myself, let's go ! :-)

I like reading. I love my ereader because it's very convenient. But I still do love more the feeling of the real book (you know, that thing made of paper and a cardboard cover). I like when I take my ereader in my hands to have that feeling. I like to view the cover of the book I'm reading, because it starts immersing me. Because sometimes I don't even remember what book I was reading last time I read, too.

Other thing I love from real books, it's the social dimension. Have you never had a talk with a friend, a relative, a neighbour in a train or plane, just because he saw you were currently reading THAT book he loved (or hated - that happens too) ? I like talking and sharing about readings. When I go to someone's house, I like to see the books he has on the shelves of his library. To compare what we have read in common, discover others books he loved, and so on. All sort of things e-readers currently prevent, and that I - personnaly - regret. And I'm here talking about real discussions, face to face, not forum or social network talks.



Thank you for your sarcam ( :-) ) but no, I'm not asking about an invention already in the market (from what I know). You wrote soonner that thin plastic is not a protection, the example of silicon gel is just to show there are materials that are transparent, thick enough, and quite effective as a protection. In a classic case for ereader (leather ou simili-leather like we all have), you could have a sort of window on the front part of the case that would be filled with, for example, such a silicon gel sheet. That would have the protection level we all expect, plus the transparency I'm looking for. Just to say that it's possible to have both those features.


Ok, no problem with that, every one can live the way he wants. At the opposite I'm pretty sure there are many people that do want to announce it (for the above mentionned reasons !).


I agree with that, that's why I'm talking about a standard case, with just a transparent window on the front part !

I just hope I made myself clear - english is not my mother tongue, as you may have noticed !

I like your thinking.
Luckily, if you sort by most recent, the kindle might keep what you were last reading at the top of the list. I have the same remembering problem.
As to visiting people, anyone that visits here gets wide eyed. I collect cookbooks.
Your English is great. I would not have known it wasn't your native language.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by MarkoRamius

I'm curious to know how you used to read before ereaders exist ... Did you stick a black sheet of paper on the cover of your books to avoir scandalizing poeple ? :-) Or just maybe at that time people were less scandalized, or just more tolerant ...
!

I say again, you don't read romance. Before ebooks, forums were full of posts by people saying that they like romance but the cover were shameful, or that they like to read romance but they didn't want others to know because of the mockery. I know a lot of people who covered they books or bought cover for them. So please, let me laugh a lot about people less scandalized or more tolerant before.