Has Kindle typsetting improved?

Tomifonication · 09-05-2021, 09:11 PM

Hi all,

Just curious for you Kindle owners whether KFX improved the formatting of text on a Kindle? By that, I mean that on my Kobo every new page-turn displays a full page of text, like a real book does. On my Kindle from many years ago, this wasn't the case and some pages would use 75% of a screen, or 90%, but not always the full 100%.

From what I've read, KFX resolves this problem and every new page-flip renders a full page resembling a regular book page.

Has this been improved?

Badcatalex · 09-06-2021, 10:44 AM

yes and with it we got enhanced type setting so drop caps and the such

JSWolf · 09-06-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

yes and with it we got enhanced type setting so drop caps and the such

And with that comes DRM. Way to go Amazon.

Quoth · 09-06-2021, 11:26 AM

They could do it on any Kindle with azw3 (KF8) that supports KFX. KFX isn't about better typesetting but nasty DRM, even when the publisher has requested no DRM. It's not an anti-piracy solution but Amazon control of customers.
The so called Enhanced Typesetting is from the same source and if that doesn't have drop caps, then KFX won't. Also drop caps ARE in azw3/KF8 files if the source has them. Drop caps interfere with reading and are a Publisher ego thing. I converted all the drop caps to regular caps just with a global search and replace on two Amazon azw3 books yesterday after verifying which class set them.

HLS · 09-06-2021, 02:33 PM

I see no difference. I do think print looks better. more crisp unless that's just my imagination. I just used my Oasis fo rthe first time in ages and i noticed its easier on the eyes

JSWolf · 09-06-2021, 07:52 PM

Adobe was able to do ligatures, kerning, multi-spacing, and hyphenation all with RMSDK without having to change ePub in any way. It proves that Amazon could have done the same thing with KF8 if they had wanted to.

For Amazon, it's not about the user. It's about their megalomaniac control they want over your eBooks. That what KFX is. It's Amazon's way to control your eBooks.

Barty · 09-06-2021, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Adobe was able to do ligatures, kerning, multi-spacing, and hyphenation all with RMSDK without having to change ePub in any way. It proves that Amazon could have done the same thing with KF8 if they had wanted to.

For Amazon, it's not about the user. It's about their megalomaniac control they want over your eBooks. That what KFX is. It's Amazon's way to control your eBooks.

Also kfx files are like twice the size? They're turning into PDFs apparently

cerem0ny · 09-07-2021, 08:50 PM

I love kfx files! I convert every book to kfx with inserted page numbers. I just love the ligatures hehehe

BiliBug · 09-08-2021, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerem0ny

I love kfx files! I convert every book to kfx with inserted page numbers. I just love the ligatures hehehe

Me too!!

JSWolf · 09-08-2021, 01:58 PM

One problem with KFX is that I designed ChareInk (font) to have a smaller line height. That works with KF8. But KFX, not at all.

JSWolf · 09-08-2021, 02:00 PM

But if you like ligatures, why not get a Kobo and read ePub? ePub is a better format that does ligatures, kerning, and hyphenation.

Sirtel · 09-08-2021, 02:00 PM

And the font_ramp hack doesn't work with kfx. Without it I'm unable to find a suitable font size with most fonts. It's either too small or too large.

cerem0ny · 09-10-2021, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But if you like ligatures, why not get a Kobo and read ePub? ePub is a better format that does ligatures, kerning, and hyphenation.

Because I vowed never to buy another Kobo again after I went through 8 (eight!) Kobo Aura One’s to find one with a decently lit screen. And even that one started to flicker on me after about a year. Plus, I prefer the Kindles interface and hardware.

That being said, I definitely miss the way Kobo presents their typesetting, and also miss their level of customisation…

JSWolf · 09-10-2021, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerem0ny

Because I vowed never to buy another Kobo again after I went through 8 (eight!) Kobo Aura One’s to find one with a decently lit screen. And even that one started to flicker on me after about a year. Plus, I prefer the Kindles interface and hardware.

That being said, I definitely miss the way Kobo presents their typesetting, and also miss their level of customisation…

Sorry you are stuck with a Kindle. Take a look at the history of Sony Readers. Sony had some models that were rubbish. But Sony did come out with better models after the rubbish.

Kobo has done the same with the Libra, Forma, and Elipsa.

cerem0ny · 09-11-2021, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sorry you are stuck with a Kindle. Take a look at the history of Sony Readers. Sony had some models that were rubbish. But Sony did come out with better models after the rubbish.

Kobo has done the same with the Libra, Forma, and Elipsa.

Hmmm thanks for the recommendation. I really like the look of the Forma but I will wait and see what Amazon comes up with next.
Cheers

09-05-2021, 09:11 PM	#1
Tomifonication Luddite Posts: 60 Karma: 90670 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Vancouver, CA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5	Has Kindle typsetting improved? Hi all, Just curious for you Kindle owners whether KFX improved the formatting of text on a Kindle? By that, I mean that on my Kobo every new page-turn displays a full page of text, like a real book does. On my Kindle from many years ago, this wasn't the case and some pages would use 75% of a screen, or 90%, but not always the full 100%. From what I've read, KFX resolves this problem and every new page-flip renders a full page resembling a regular book page. Has this been improved?

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09-06-2021, 10:44 AM	#2
Badcatalex I draw. Posts: 131 Karma: 4278578 Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Midwestern US Device: K1, K4B, KPW3, KOA3, KF7 (2019)	yes and with it we got enhanced type setting so drop caps and the such

09-06-2021, 11:26 AM	#4
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,045 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	They could do it on any Kindle with azw3 (KF8) that supports KFX. KFX isn't about better typesetting but nasty DRM, even when the publisher has requested no DRM. It's not an anti-piracy solution but Amazon control of customers. The so called Enhanced Typesetting is from the same source and if that doesn't have drop caps, then KFX won't. Also drop caps ARE in azw3/KF8 files if the source has them. Drop caps interfere with reading and are a Publisher ego thing. I converted all the drop caps to regular caps just with a global search and replace on two Amazon azw3 books yesterday after verifying which class set them.

09-06-2021, 02:33 PM	#5
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,132 Karma: 16342480 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	I see no difference. I do think print looks better. more crisp unless that's just my imagination. I just used my Oasis fo rthe first time in ages and i noticed its easier on the eyes

09-06-2021, 07:52 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Adobe was able to do ligatures, kerning, multi-spacing, and hyphenation all with RMSDK without having to change ePub in any way. It proves that Amazon could have done the same thing with KF8 if they had wanted to. For Amazon, it's not about the user. It's about their megalomaniac control they want over your eBooks. That what KFX is. It's Amazon's way to control your eBooks.

09-07-2021, 08:50 PM	#8
cerem0ny Evangelist Posts: 449 Karma: 3059202 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Scribe 2024	I love kfx files! I convert every book to kfx with inserted page numbers. I just love the ligatures hehehe

09-08-2021, 01:58 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	One problem with KFX is that I designed ChareInk (font) to have a smaller line height. That works with KF8. But KFX, not at all.

09-08-2021, 02:00 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But if you like ligatures, why not get a Kobo and read ePub? ePub is a better format that does ligatures, kerning, and hyphenation.

09-08-2021, 02:00 PM	#12
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,475 Karma: 239219543 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	And the font_ramp hack doesn't work with kfx. Without it I'm unable to find a suitable font size with most fonts. It's either too small or too large.