Amazon announces Kindle Scribe Colorsoft at Sept. 30 Devices Event

[rfog]

I've read the FAQ about the connections with OneNote/OneDrive/Google and to me it seems not enough for a very productive environment, as you must import, modify, export, but not automatic synchronization. For PDF, Boox uploads automatically the annotations done in a PDF stored in a cloud, and even separately syncs the current position and other configurations in their own network, then you can continue in other device without any worry. As Amazon did with the PDF annotation, that flattens the PDF before exportation, this is a joke to me.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by rfog

I've read the FAQ about the connections with OneNote/OneDrive/Google and to me it seems not enough for a very productive environment, as you must import, modify, export, but not automatic synchronization. For PDF, Boox uploads automatically the annotations done in a PDF stored in a cloud, and even separately syncs the current position and other configurations in their own network, then you can continue in other device without any worry. As Amazon did with the PDF annotation, that flattens the PDF before exportation, this is a joke to me.

Yes, I'm hoping that has improved, but have yet to see evidence that it has.

Amazon is offering bulk purchase and corporate discounts for the new Scribes so they will quickly learn what those customers require for PDF round trip (if they haven't already).

[JoeC]

Originally Posted by rfog

I've read the FAQ about the connections with OneNote/OneDrive/Google and to me it seems not enough for a very productive environment, as you must import, modify, export, but not automatic synchronization. For PDF, Boox uploads automatically the annotations done in a PDF stored in a cloud, and even separately syncs the current position and other configurations in their own network, then you can continue in other device without any worry. As Amazon did with the PDF annotation, that flattens the PDF before exportation, this is a joke to me.

The Boox system sounds very similar to the Remarkable. I bought the original Scribe with high hopes but never found it useful to mark up PDFs - flattening the PDFs was a real head scratcher for me. I really like what the Remarkable cloud does with PDFs.

[JoeC]

Here's a good review - https://youtu.be/jjPDkxpMGbs?si=IJcAwZ2EKMeNu_m6

[axu2]

Can anyone confirm the screen resolution? A comment on reddit says 1980×2640 and I just want someone to confirm.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by JoeC

Here's a good review - https://youtu.be/jjPDkxpMGbs?si=IJcAwZ2EKMeNu_m6

Beyond occasional discrepancies, Chalid's reviews are always a guarantee.

[tomsem]

From that video review, it turns out there is a way to have handwriting converted to text where you would normally need to use virtual keyboard (adding a note). Not clear if that's on device or requires internet connection. Or which languages are supported.

However that addresses some of my reluctance to create sticky notes, as they don't interoperate across Kindle platform. Yet handwriting is a lot quicker than using the virtual keyboard. With this I can create text notes more quickly and they'll be portable to all of the apps and other Kindles.

[rfog]

Tomsem, any AI related stuff MUST require online access, as all is done in Amazon servers. And take in consideration, I've not read the license, but there is a probability of 101% that you give them ownership or at least use permission of all the things you do in your Kindle.

Remember, when it is free, the product is you.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by JoeC

Here's a good review - https://youtu.be/jjPDkxpMGbs?si=IJcAwZ2EKMeNu_m6

You should embed the YT video.

[TheJohnNewton]

Would love the 11 inch color screen but just with only the reading features. I don't need the note taking part. I have a Colorsoft and love it just would like a bigger screen.

[tomsem]

I got my Scribe Colorsoft yesterday.

Coming from the 2022 Kindle Scribe, I'm very pleased with the physical changes: it feels more balanced and comfortable to hold and write on, it is nice to have a larger screen without it feeling bulkier, and it's actually a little lighter.

For me, the stylus is more comfortable and the 1st generation Premium Pen, and my writing is far clearer that what I created on the 2022.

On the software improvements (many of which should appear on older Scribes), Workspace is a game-changer. It's great for grouping content around specific interests or projects, combining books, documents, and notebooks for more focus.

One very significant improvement to Notebooks which I have not seen described elsewhere is that you can now duplicate pages, copy or move pages to another notebook. One nitpick: one should be able to move and copy to a new notebook. But it's a vast improvement over the copy/paste workaround.

My other favorite feature is ability to convert handwriting to text in text entry contexts (search, text notes). It is much faster than using the virtual keyboard, and it works without internet connection.

Google Drive and OneDrive connection is a mixed bag. It does use Send to Kindle cloud service, it does not 'directly download' and convert on-device as feature description might imply. There's no option to avoid adding it to your Library, or to rename title/author (feature request: ability to rename personal documents). But it is more convenient in that you don't have to use a second device if what you want is in GD or OD.

Export to OD/GD/OneNote also goes through Amazon services, but at least it avoids the awkward link-to-download-in-email, and collects everything in one place in GD/OD.

With OneDrive, there's a cover preview offered for ePub format.

Notebooks sync with my 2022 Scribe; when using one of the new notebook templates, they do show as expected on the 2022 Scribe, but those pages do not have a template label.

This suggests that it is possible to construct custom template notebook pages, side-load these and have them available for use (now that you can duplicate and move pages).

I'm also interested in
- building on @jhowell's export notebook to ePub (KFX output CLI) to add an export to PDF option, where annotations would be grouped (by timestamp probably) and editable with a PDF viewer.
- exporting print replica documents to PDF and converting and adding pen annotations and text notes and highlights to PDF equivalents (what Amazon should be doing).

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton

Would love the 11 inch color screen but just with only the reading features. I don't need the note taking part. I have a Colorsoft and love it just would like a bigger screen.

Even so, if you like making text notes for your reading, being able to handwrite them and have it converted to text is magical, compared to having to use the virtual keyboard as with other kindles.

[Fitz Frobozz]

Have you had a chance to test the KFX Conversion Input Plugin on your new Scribe, tomsem?

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Fitz Frobozz

Have you had a chance to test the KFX Conversion Input Plugin on your new Scribe, tomsem?

For Notebooks? not yet.

I expect there will be some errors (color properties are new, and maybe strokes with the Shader tool will cause issues), and will work to get them resolved with @jhowell, the plugin developer.

[John F]

Originally Posted by tomsem

I got my Scribe Colorsoft yesterday.

...

What is your opinion on the color? BW contrast?