What Additional Function would you like to see in your reader?

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by angryvegan

Nothing.. I wish they'd just focus on higher resolution and maximum contrast instead of adding features that I already have in other devices.

I'd be happy with that too...though I want more speed too.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by angryvegan

Nothing.. I wish they'd just focus on higher resolution and maximum contrast instead of adding features that I already have in other devices.

The OEMs have little control over that, since most aren't involved with the R&D or manufacture of the displays themselves.

[To clarify, companies like Sony or Amazon are just buying their eInk screens and from another company.]

[John F]

Customization: Fine granularity for text sizes, margins, justification, line spacing, spacing between paragraphs, indent of paragraphs, ...

[Syniurge]

Originally Posted by afv011

The only thing I'd be interested in would be an RSS client, so you can fetch news.

A RSS aggregator and a Web lookup (e.g in Google or Wikipedia) function for me.

Oh and screw all kinds of devices that don't let you get the most of them, either by not making hardware documentation public or by not providing the ability to embed our own applications like Android or Maemo. But I think that's a bit too remote from most people's concerns...

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

No reason we can't have dedicated readers and multi-function devices. Everyone has their own needs.

Keeping in mind that the question posited is "what do you want in your ereader device," not "what do you want in your multi-function device that you could use to read ebooks:"

If you want a multi-function device, by all means go get a multi-function device -- i.e. something built from the ground up to accommodate a wide variety of functions. A major advantage of a focused device is that it is optimized for a specific task; adding unrelated functions just distracts -- both the user during reading process, and the purpose of the device.

Or to put it another way: You might have 2 people who want a calendar, 3 people who want a built-in camera, 4 people who want animations, and so forth. By the time you're done piling on functions unrelated to the process of reading, you don't have an ebook reader -- you have a bloated, jury-rigged device that, as a victim of feature creep, isn't particularly good at anything and is ten times more difficult to support.

And ebook readers are so small, light, easy to use, and now dropping in price, that for a serious reader I see fewer reasons not to have a dedicated device, especially one that can sync up with a multi-function device.

I say focus on making ereaders the best possible device for the reading process, rather than bog it down with unnecessary and distracting functions.

Originally Posted by FragFrog

I don't need anything fancy like synchronisation, but for crying out loud, my six year old $20 cellphone had an organiser, calendar and contactlist.

If you have all that on your cellphone (and computer and netbook and your GMail and your portable music player and your 2-Way Wrist Radio and what have you), why do you need it on an ebook reader?

P.S. in most cases, that "$20 cellphone" actually costs more like $150. The full cost is usually distributed across the full duration of the contracts or service agreements you have with your carrier.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Keeping in mind that the question posited is "what do you want in your ereader device," not "what do you want in your multi-function device that you could use to read ebooks:"

If you want a multi-function device, by all means go get a multi-function device -- i.e. something built from the ground up to accommodate a wide variety of functions.

I say focus on making ereaders the best possible device for the reading process, rather than bog it down with unnecessary and distracting functions.

Fair enough. I just don't see reading functions getting hurt too much by other features--beyond eye strain and battery life until that technology improves. Text is text for the most part.

I just need something much more functional that current e-readers to even remotely consider switch from paper books and printouts of academic articles for work as I won't make the switch until I can highlight and annotate at least as easily as I can on paper as time is of the essence.

If I can get a device that lets me ditch my PDA, and has enough internet and e-mail functionality that I can take it instead of a laptop on a short business trip where I won't be working on stuff that I need a keyboard for, then all the better. Same with video playback etc. It's just nice to have all you use on a regular basis in one easy to use portable device--assuming it does it all well.

And that's all stuff any multi function tablet device should do well as it's all simple, standard PC tasks. And what I'm talking about is really just a tablet PC minus the keyboard. I think tech has gotten to the point where multi-function devices can do lots of things very well--from home theater PCs, to smart phones to the PS3 being one of the best Blu Ray players out there (where as past game consoles were crappy DVD players).

Give me something about the size of the Kindle DX or a bit larger screen size, a little thicker by necessity, with a nice stylus touch screen and I'll be a happy camper.

But like I said, no reason not to still have dedicated readers out there for those of you who just want as simple reader. I'd probably keep my K1 on the nightstand for leisure reading as smaller readers are fine and very comfortable for novels. Just 110% useless for academic or business work due to the small screen and god awful annotation options.

[rebarnmom]

Uh... let me think... DICTIONARY SUPPORT!
(I still have a perfectly fine 700 & can't afford a Touch 600.)

[FragFrog]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

If you want a multi-function device, by all means go get a multi-function device -- i.e. something built from the ground up to accommodate a wide variety of functions.

Fine, you show me a device that has ePaper and performs the same functionality as my Sony Touch but in addition the agenda functionality I requested.

To my knowledge, such a device simply does not exist, at least not for the same price, weight, etc.

Or to put it another way: You might have 2 people who want a calendar, 3 people who want a built-in camera, 4 people who want animations, and so forth.

Do not make the classical mistake of piling software together with hardware. On my reader, I have a button 'More' on my homescreen, which leads to a seperate page with 3 (!) options (audio, pictures, settings). There are 7 (!) empty spots on that page. I would go as far as to suggest an ability to create and add small applications, widgetlike, to that page - things like a calendar, calculator, drawing application, etc. These would not effect the core functionality at all, and be only there if you want them to be, but allow users to tailor their eReader far better to their personal requirements.

If you have all that on your cellphone (and computer and netbook and your GMail and your portable music player and your 2-Way Wrist Radio and what have you), why do you need it on an ebook reader?

Because my cellphone has a tiny screen and a numeric keypad unsuited to enter data with. It is the same reason why I do not use my cellphone for anything other than calling and a rare text message. My music player is a very small dedicated device with about 4 buttons for switching songs and changing volume (though I will admit that, given the chance, I would have liked to combine cellphone and music player since they essentially coexist in my pockets when I'm outside). I do not carry my computer or laptop along to lectures, but I do carry along my eReader, for the simple reason that I store my study books on there and use it to make notes. It is the primary reason I bought an eReader with touch-screen in the first place.

Consider this: the average paper agenda is a light, flat object generally between 5" and 8", with the ability to enter written notes and give an overview of those notes. There is only one electronical device in existance as far as I know with the same description, to wit, eReaders. Yes, certain smartphones and PDA's also have the ability to take notes, but at the cost of screen size. Netbooks can do it too, but are a lot more bulky. Some tablet PC's come close, but are nearing extinction and are in any case a lot heavier. I really believe that an eReader is by far the best suited candidate to replace a paper agenda, which makes me more and more surprised the functionality is available on just about any other device but not on this.

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I say focus on making ereaders the best possible device for the reading process, rather than bog it down with unnecessary and distracting functions.

Why, when one can have its cake, and eat it, too?

Apple has shown us how it is done. The core of the functionality on iPhone/iTouches is Apple business, 3rd party applications are there for those who want more and are ready to pay for it.

Sadly, some of the stuff mentioned on this thread falls, very much so, into the "core business" category. Dictionary support is NATIVE function for any (dedicated or not) ebook reading device.

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Fair enough. I just don't see reading functions getting hurt too much by other features--beyond eye strain and battery life until that technology improves.

I hope I'm not pressing to hard, but I do see problems, hence my objections. For example, I really do not want my ebook reader to announce "You've Got Mail!" every 5 minutes.

And I'm not saying "zomg no ebooks on multifunction devices" -- there are many situations where a multifunction device ends up being more convenient or efficient. But just as there are times when you are best served by a Swiss Army knife, there are also times when you are better off with a steak knife, a fillet knife, a bread knife, a butcher knife, a tactical knife, a butterfly knife, a throwing knife....

It's pretty clear from the remainder of your post that you're looking for a multi-function device, and again if that is your goal, that makes perfect sense. The thing is, you may only want one or two non-reading features; but someone else will want one or two other non-reading features, and another person will want even more, until you've got so much crap in the menus that a once-elegant, easy-to-use and focused device looks like this:

Since the goal is to read a book rather than fly a plane, it makes more sense to me that someone in your position should go with a netbook-type device or -- gasp -- a tablet PC than to try and turn a dedicated, focused, optimized reading device into a netbook.

Originally Posted by FragFrog

If you really think that adding some additional functions on that page would make it too complex for you, I wonder how you are able to operate a car, or a webbrowser for that matter (unless of course you use a Mac, in which case you can regard my comment as unwritten).

It's not a matter of making it "too complex for me" (though "ease of use" is unquestionably a beneficial thing, especially with electronics). It's that you are piling functions onto a focused device that are unrelated to its core mission. I.e. you could stick a can opener and a thermometer on the side of your TV -- there's room for it, but is it really beneficial?

An ereader should be great for reading, and again are small and light enough, and are slowly getting affordable enough, that it really isn't a problem to carry one in addition to a netbook or smartphone. (Heck, it's easier to carry an ereader and a netbook than two textbooks and a spiral notepad.) As a result, I don't see the point of turning an ebook reader into a netbook, PDA or smartphone just because there are a few blank spaces on a menu. Especially when even basic functions like annotations still need improvement.

Originally Posted by FragFrog

I do not have a service agreement or contract with my carrier - it is a prepaid telephone costing exactly that. Please do not insult both our intellects with such needless assumptions.

It's an "insult" to be aware of how cell phone companies do their business? Or that I assume you're like 90% of the public, that uses post-paid cell service? And are you sure you want me to know how you pay for your cell phone?

Cell phones are commonly subsidized by the subsequent costs. You may not have a contract, but I assure you that your phone cost a tad more than $10 to make -- and ultimately you paid more than $20 for it. The rest of your phone's cost is hidden in the higher usage rates. It's possible you may cancel the service before the provider recoups the investment, and that's a risk they take -- and in a sense one you pay for, again, with the higher rates.

Nor, ultimately, is the problem that "adding a calendar to an ebook reader is expensive or complex" -- it's that it distracts and detracts from the fundamental and focused purpose of the device. The last thing I want is to have a calendar alarm pop up in the middle of my reading a book. Well, second to last -- email notification would be much worse.

Originally Posted by Ankh

Why, when one can have its cake, and eat it, too? Apple has shown us how it is done.

See the above; and Apple can't sprinkle magic pixie dust on a tablet and quintuple battery life or reduce distractability. And for every iPhone, there are dozens of Treos, NGages, and Dell Axims.

Originally Posted by Ankh

Sadly, some of the stuff mentioned on this thread falls, very much so, into the "core business" category. Dictionary support is NATIVE function for any (dedicated or not) ebook reading device.

Good thing I don't object to dictionary support, then. I fully support reading-related features. I just don't see any benefit to ebook reader that becomes utterly baroque in the attempt to imitate a netbook.

[geneven]

I would like an alarm clock on my Kindle 2, and some sort of mind-mapping/note-taking program; I tend to take a lot of notes when reading certain books, and I currently take them on my Nokia N810 tablet. I would like a chess board just to view chess games on, not one that plays chess. I would like a calendar.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by geneven

I would like an alarm clock on my Kindle 2, and some sort of mind-mapping/note-taking program; I tend to take a lot of notes when reading certain books, and I currently take them on my Nokia N810 tablet. I would like a chess board just to view chess games on, not one that plays chess. I would like a calendar.

Excellent app ideas for the reader devices. I sense there are more folks like you and myself that would LOVE a more functional device. More like a PDA, of course with some compromises due to the screen tech at this microsecond. But for the price these devices use high powered CPUs and pretty much only display text...that is a lot of wasted clock-cycles. Build like a 16GB device with an SDHC slot and there would be a huge platform for a true PADD...

A bit OT from here:
BTW, are you currently using a mind-maping app on your N8x0? I want to try one but haven't taken the time,I think there is at least one in the repo but am not certain. Also, if you have not tried it and like crosswords, Xword is a really nicely done port to OS2008 (or OS2007 as well).

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Since the goal is to read a book rather than fly a plane, it makes more sense to me that someone in your position should go with a netbook-type device or -- gasp -- a tablet PC than to try and turn a dedicated, focused, optimized reading device into a netbook.

What I do not understand is why are you even attempting to define what the goal--for a given device--is. And, more importantly, what you are hoping to gain from that limitation of functionality.

eInk screen is a limitation itself, these devices are poor (full blown) multifunction platforms. However, unlike iPhone itself and its competition, most of these devices are running the same (Linux) OS. For a manufacturer to open up kernel and provide a toolchain to the community/3rd_party_developers is a trivial effort. It is more a question of the mindset, than of technical difficulty.

Then it is up to the user to find the measure of essential/non_essential features for his device. To follow a "pure dedicated device" route, or to add 3rd party software (and suffer the consequences, if the platform itself is destabilized) to it.

Adobe is not going to lose focus on DE just because Sony Reader can be used for a quick game of sudoku, imho.

[DawnFalcon]

Oh for..

Are app downloads so hard to conceptulise? It's a linux-based machine, not a black box. And Sony could easily only offer verified-good apps on the Sony Store...

[PaulGuy]

I'd like a better way to organize content such as folders, and the ability to pick different fonts including bold.