Contrast Levels vs Other eReaders

[JD Gumby]

Go with the included Rockwill font. Nice, thick characters. The rest are all too spidery for me.

[Xennex1170]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

Go with the included Rockwill font. Nice, thick characters. The rest are all too spidery for me.

Hmm.. In the process of trying out "Rockwell" I noticed that there is a new entry in the font list "Document Defaults".. I like "Georgia" myself.

[JxK]

Originally Posted by Xennex1170

Hmm.. In the process of trying out "Rockwell" I noticed that there is a new entry in the font list "Document Defaults".. I like "Georgia" myself.

Remember that kobo lets you try out different fonts. Try the Caecilia font that is used by default on both the nook and kindle ereaders. Or if you desire added contrast, perhaps consider caecilia bold. (Just be sure to also download the italics version of your specific font as well, so as to avoid issues with formatting).

[DaniDE]

I am highly satisfied with my Kobo Touch Display. I use the Tahoma font on mine, its just perfect for this eReader IMHO. Sliders for text size and padding are at ~20%, border 0%.

All with the newest firmware of course.

-Dani

[larrymohr]

Originally Posted by fkm

The Nook got a recent firmware update which supposedly improved contrast and visibility. If this can be done to the Pearl display, don't see a reason why it can't also apply to the Kobo.

I really can't see how this is possible in a firmware update. eInk technology is based on charged black and white pigments suspended in oil. Set the charge one way you get white, the other you get black. The contrast would be set by the difference between the black and white pigments. No way to change that in firmware. You could get better sharpness though firmware with a better rendering algorigthm.

As others have mentioned in this thread, different fonts appear to give different contrast. That is most likely what has happened.

Also, a check of the B&N site shows that they do not claim any contrast increase in the new update(1.1.0).

Larry

[taming]

Larry, there are some differences that are firmware related. We have a current beta build that has improved the contrast--something that has happened along the way a few times with the Touch. One of the developers would have to talk about what actually changes. I'm clueless.

I am always amazed though at how much difference/improvement can happen by choosing font and size. I currently use Delima at the 8th "stop". I find it has amazing clarity and definition.

[filmo]

When Kindle came out with Pearl E-ink screens I read they some how pulsed polarity changing the oil with pigment bubbles to get faster better pigment change. Don't know if this is Kindle exclusive or all Pearl screens use this improvement.

[murr4y]

Hey,
I bougth a Kobo last week and I find that the font/the writing is a bit blurry. Is this what you are all talking about?
I compared it to the Kindle and I think it's a bit sharper on the Kindle. Like it has better anti-aliasing.
Maybe I should try the Kindle font!

[PeterT]

Murry; on the Touch, when reading a book go to the menu (touch the middle / bottom of the screen), then the "wrench" and finally "Advanced Settings". Here you can try adjusting the "refresh" setting to see if you can find a value you like.

What the refresh setting does it adjust how often the Kobo does a full refresh of the eInk screen; ie every 1 up to 6 page turns.

[murr4y]

Yes I did that already, it certainly helps!

[YukonTrooper]

If you watch MobileTechReview's Sony PRS-T1 review, Lisa (the reviewer) mentions that she had been reading a Kindle 3 instead of the Nook ST or Kobo Touch until she acquired the PRS-T1 because she found the contrast better on the Kindle.

Also, if you watch EEVblog's Kindle 4 review, the reviewer mentions that the screen on the Kindle 3 appears whiter than on the Kindle 4. You can notice the difference in the video; the Kindle 4's screen appears to have a cooler, blue appearance. I thought this was relevant to mention, considering that screen variations may affect contrast levels, and that supposedly all of these devices have the same screen. Perhaps it's just the matte layer on top that makes the Kindle 4 appear cooler.

[ghiavert]

yeah, definitely a problem with a Kobo. All these suggestions for tweaking the fonts and going bold or not bold and finding different fonts are nothing more than hacked attempts to get the Kobo to perform almost as well as the Nook, Kindle and, apparently, Sony, straight from the box!! Aren't we tired yet of making all these tradeoffs for Kobo? It was a good concept and one that truly tried to stick with, but they prove with each new model and half-baked update that they simply can't get there. I am and I'm hoping Santa brings me a Nook or even a Kindle this year.

[taming]

The ability to choose a font according to personal preferences is one of the best things about the Kobo. In the January 2012 edition of Wired, the Touch was the Editors Pick--not the Nook, the Kindle, or the Sony Reader.

This is what Wired said about the Kindle display, btw:worst-in-test screen--dim and blurry, with horrible artifacts.

For links to the WIRED article: http://blog.kobobooks.com/kobo-touch...+International

[robko]

Originally Posted by taming

The ability to choose a font according to personal preferences is one of the best things about the Kobo. In the January 2012 edition of Wired, the Touch was the Editors Pick--not the Nook, the Kindle, or the Sony Reader.

This is what Wired said about the Kindle display, btw:worst-in-test screen--dim and blurry, with horrible artifacts.

I'll be curious to read the entire thing. I realize there are personal preferences involved, but once again you have to question how many of these reviewers the page change flash bothers. I wonder how many of them have spent any time outside the review reading on an e-reader.
I also have to question the whole tied into it's own store comment. Even without stripping DRM they seem to imply with Kobo you're stuck to their store. That's not true as they talk about in the Sony talking points.
And they seem to be hung up on having buttons being essential.
I was also disappointed they didn't talk about Kobo options to change spacing, font etc. like they did in the Nook (although that may be elsewhere in the article).
In fairness to Kindle they should have mentioned that they were comparing the Special Offers edition.

[The Terminator]

Originally Posted by YukonTrooper

If you watch MobileTechReview's Sony PRS-T1 review, Lisa (the reviewer) mentions that she had been reading a Kindle 3 instead of the Nook ST or Kobo Touch until she acquired the PRS-T1 because she found the contrast better on the Kindle.

Also, if you watch EEVblog's Kindle 4 review, the reviewer mentions that the screen on the Kindle 3 appears whiter than on the Kindle 4. You can notice the difference in the video; the Kindle 4's screen appears to have a cooler, blue appearance. I thought this was relevant to mention, considering that screen variations may affect contrast levels, and that supposedly all of these devices have the same screen. Perhaps it's just the matte layer on top that makes the Kindle 4 appear cooler.

In that review the Kobo looks slower than the Kindle, but the Kobo is running what looks like the first firmware version. The newer ones are way faster.