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

[Daithi]

Here is a feature I'd like that could easily be added to my existing eReader's software. When viewing a list of books, I'd like to be able to highlight a book and have the eReader display the backpage blurb of the book so that I can decide if this is the book I want to read.

Preferably the eReader would display this backpage automatically. Let's say, if I highlighted a title but didn't open it, and just left the title highlighted for more than 2 seconds. At that point the eReader should display the backpage blurb.

[dpierron]

Simply the ability to choose my own fonts and formatting options, like I can do in Stanza and FbReader...

[brecklundin]

I am gonna add this again...these devices need weather/environmental sealing. Not in order to use your reader while snorkeling but rather to protect against spills, splashes (pool side or in the tub reading), drops in the sand on the beach as well as the accumulation of dust inside the device. Also the ability to run a light stream of water over the reader should it get saltwater splashed on it (dried salt water is about as corrosive a thing as you might want and needs rinsed off before it dries on the device) or even chlorine rich "clean pool water".

This means proper port covers (or doors with seals covering multiple ports in addition to silicon-rubber seals around all seams/joints. Readers with user replaceable batteries, could have a natural place for replacing or adding a memory card. Buttons are trivial and easier than people might thing and membranes for just this sort of thing have been around for a long time.

And yeah, this is the sort of thing that could add $20-$30 to the price of a reader but also it would be a nice marketing feature setting a given device family apart from the others.

I for one like to take a reading device with me when I go out on hikes or just go site by the pool or on the beach...knowing my reader device has an added bit of protection from the environment would really be nice.

I think most readers are pretty close to such sealing already but need a few refinements to get there completely.

Another feature I have pondered would be something for times when one cannot hold the reader but if using an easel to hold the reader, a simple CHEAP tiny remote control would be super. For example many digital camera makers have small, I mean small like the size of a quarter or even a couple of Sony Memory Sticks stacked on top of each other. They are simple IR remotes, cost under $10 each but would be nice for the times a person might need them. I consider this idea will not meet with much appreciation, until a person stops to think about the times when holding a book was impossible or just uncomfortable...but of you could somehow mount a reader or position it where it can't move or fall. just being able to turn pages would be super. More complete sets of function control like menu navigation, searching, on screen keyboard use, highlighting and/or dictionary look-ups and such would be possible but might make the remote impractically large....buuuut, ya never know it would be really nice to have that level of control.

Now here is another idea...what about hooking your device up to an external display device, anything from a simply monitor or even a big screen for slide show type use, or even to display novels or papers in a classroom setting. These would maybe include the remote control but could also work in a simple tethered situation, but wireless might be nice and use less power. And yeah, I know existing portable and desktop PC's have this ability, but expanding a reader device in this way could let profs/instructors carry lesson plans, examples, what not for all their courses each semester easily in a SMALL device compared to the weight and other usage issues of desktop/laptop/tablet PC's. Even color content should be doable on the external display.

Anyway, those are a couple things I could find useful over time. I feel all could be done quickly enough, though not instantly of course, but the most important to me is weather/environmental sealing.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by geneven

I would like an alarm clock on my Kindle 2, and ...

I don't know about an alarm clock -- my wristwatch covers that function -- but it occurs to me that a timer could be frosting on the cake. In today's time-constrained world, we often find our reading time has to be squeezed in wherever possible. But reading is distracting; we can become so absorbed in the endeavor that we can lose track of time until we suddenly look up and become aware that we are late for that next appointment.

It wouldn't be a deal-breaker, but it would be nice.

[FragFrog]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I don't know about an alarm clock -- my wristwatch covers that function -- but it occurs to me that a timer could be frosting on the cake.

Personally, I'd settle for a clock in the status bar already Seems somewhat strange to me having to go into the settings menu just to check up on the time.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by FragFrog

Personally, I'd settle for a clock in the status bar already Seems somewhat strange to me having to go into the settings menu just to check up on the time.

The reason most eInk based devices get such long battery lives is primary because the display is bistable... it only draws power when refreshing. The problem is that in order to have a proper on-screen clock the device would need to refresh at regular intervals.

[dmaul1114]

They could just have the clock refresh with each page turn.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

They could just have the clock refresh with each page turn.

That could work. Though I can just imagine all the confusion that would result. (People might think their device was broken.)

[Jellby]

Would updating just a tiny area of the screen every minute really suck so much battery? One could even have it update every 5 minutes, how many people need better accuracy than that?

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by FragFrog

Personally, I'd settle for a clock in the status bar already Seems somewhat strange to me having to go into the settings menu just to check up on the time.

Originally Posted by Dylrob

The reason most eInk based devices get such long battery lives is primary because the display is bistable... it only draws power when refreshing. The problem is that in order to have a proper on-screen clock the device would need to refresh at regular intervals.

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

They could just have the clock refresh with each page turn.

This is a great idea, dmaul1114. Clocks use very minuscule amounts of power, and anytime you needed to know the current time, you could simply turn the page.

[dmaul1114]

Yeah, I don't think it would be an issue, people would figure out it only updates on page turns.

I see you have a kindle-- pressing Alt-T will bring up the time. At least on the K1, not sure if they took it way for K2.

[WT Sharpe]

I've been beefing about the lack of a usable notepad function. Cripes, I feel like such a dummy! I could have had one at any time! See my post at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...124#post637124 about how to create your own notepad function for the Kindle. It probably works for other eReaders as well.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by Daithi

Here is a feature I'd like that could easily be added to my existing eReader's software. When viewing a list of books, I'd like to be able to highlight a book and have the eReader display the backpage blurb of the book so that I can decide if this is the book I want to read.

Preferably the eReader would display this backpage automatically. Let's say, if I highlighted a title but didn't open it, and just left the title highlighted for more than 2 seconds. At that point the eReader should display the backpage blurb.

That would be fantastic.

[GizmoPlanet]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

In addition to being able to read printed material, annotate and bookmark, what additional function would you like to see in an e-book reader?

For me, it would be the ability to write and store what I've written in separate files. It wouldn't even have to be anything fancy; a simple notepad function would be super.

What would you like to see?

It would have been nice if my Sony PRS-300 had a date and time display on the screen that could be turned on and off at will.

It does have a date and time setting, and it's only visible from the main menu, not on any pages of a book.

The ability to annotate sections of a book or document would be nice too, although Sony's PRS600 and a number of larger, more expensive reader has that feature.

[Sydney's Mom]

I had to go back to my history to make sure I hadn't already answered this one. But I bet everyone knows #1 on my list:

1. Ability to make folders, subfolders-organization
2. Replaceable battery
3. SD card - doesn't seem they are ever big enough!
4. Library compatible - not every book I read I want to keep forever.
5. Virtual keyboard
6. More versitiliity with fonts. There are times when I would just like to be able to make it a little darker - bold.
7. Wireless capability. Never thought wireless downloading was that important, but it is amazing how much I miss it on my ipod. I actually have bought a book at the airport, after being inspired by tne airport bookstore.
8. Ability to buy a sturdy cover - I don't suppose eledctronics will ever be strong enough to drop them on the concrete train platform, but my ipod case protects my ipod, and my kindle case has protect my kindle.

See, not that much. That color book browsing on the nook is sure nice, though. If it had #1, I would be there.