Hacks Alternate Kindle 2 Font Hack - Page 2

S.Canton · 04-27-2009, 06:37 PM

I don't mind the "hacked" font, but I prefer the look of the original. They just need to make it a bit darker and it would be perfect, which I'm sure they've received more than a few complaints about.

nremondelli · 04-27-2009, 11:48 PM

I installed the Bold Narrow Native and it makes a world of difference. I love it now.

Slow_hand · 04-30-2009, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nremondelli

I installed the Bold Narrow Native and it makes a world of difference. I love it now.

I agree totally - makes a world of difference.

Talldog · 05-01-2009, 08:00 PM

I loaded the Bold Narrow Native too, and I agree with nremondelli and Slow_hand.

ted-san · 05-03-2009, 07:42 PM

Thanks for trying things out. I've simply taken Andrei's font hack and replaced the reading fonts (as noted in a previous post).

Some (potentially) interesting info from my Kindle 2 studies:
- There's wide variation in screen quality. The best of the screens show no ghosting. The worst show so much ghosting that pages are only easily readable after pressing alt-G.
- The 'good' units have dark, sharply defined pixels. Most readers with good eyes find these units to be very readable, when well lit, with the original font.
- In dimmer lighting, some of the modified fonts are popular, even for those with good eyes and a good unit. Georgia has been very popular. It's a serif font that I've tweaked slightly to be bolder, yet maintain the fine features of a good serif font.
- Those that like sans-serif fonts favor the different flavors of Helvetica.
- Some of the varieties put on the site were designed for those with poorer vision. Conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts. These read like a large print book. Super bold and large.
- Others I've just adjusted aspect ratios or tweaked individual characters for maximum legibility on the K2. Typically the "tall" varieties maintain the normal width, so as to keep the characters per line, but stretch the height 10%-20%.

Based on feedback, I am unsurprised that there's a wide variety of opinions. People even say they switch from day-to-day based on how their eyes are feeling or based on reading situation. I.e., switching to a bolder font for nighttime reading.

I don't check these postings often. If you have feedback or requests, please join my beta-testers feedback group

Also, if you find a font you like, please participate in the poll posted on kindleboards. We're trying to put together as much useful information as possible regarding the fonts so that if/when Amazon implements a fix, they do it in a way that people will find useful.

daffy4u · 05-03-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ted-san

- In dimmer lighting, some of the modified fonts are popular, even for those with good eyes and a good unit. Georgia has been very popular. It's a serif font that I've tweaked slightly to be bolder, yet maintain the fine features of a good serif font.

You must be psychic. Georgia is the font that I really wanted to try on my K2. I'll give it a go. Thanks!

daffy4u · 05-03-2009, 08:34 PM

I believe I have found my perfect Kindle 2 font and it is the Georgia 2.

I'm adding screen shots instead of scans to show that the font sizes are the same on both Kindles (3). I made sure to use alt+shift+3 on both so that the line spacing is the same. I used the same letter from Jeff Bezos (though they have different dates, it's the same letter.

The new Georgia font is much larger than the factory installed font. I normally read at 4 and I can now drop down to 2 (which is nearly equal to the factory installed 3).

1 = control kindle font at 3
2 = Georgia font at 3
3 = Georgia font at 2

Edit: After going back to my regular book, I've decided reading at 3 with line spacing of 4 or 5 works better for me.

ted-san · 05-04-2009, 12:07 PM

I've posted a comparison of all the fonts in a single PDF file. There are also individual image files posted of screen grabs for the fonts.
This should let you see what the fonts look like in form without having to install them.
Important note: they will look very different on the Kindle screen because of the difference in screen technologies. All these fonts look overly bold on a conventional LCD monitor.
For some reason, that link isn't working, sorry.
Go to this page:
https://sites.google.com/a/etccreati...-install-files
and click on the link there for the PDF file

AnemicOak · 05-04-2009, 02:19 PM

I just installed Georgia, very nice.

Thanks for all your work Ted.

DotComCTO · 05-06-2009, 03:12 PM

That was excellent work! I had read the original Kindle 2 font hack info some weeks ago, but I was dragging my feet on testing it. I stumbled onto this forum posting and went ahead installing "Helvetica 2". I have a preference for non-serifed fonts, so I find it to be excellent for reading at size 3 (though size 2 is great, too).

Thanks a million!

--DotComCTO

P.S. Anyone have a good source for a Simplified Chinese font? It would be nice to read some of my study material on the K2 - especially in class!

crusader666 · 08-06-2009, 01:45 PM

Thanks, I was worried I'd be stuck with Kindle factory fonts only and from what I saw on their website, they don't work well with the visually impaired. The info on this blog provides a great way to bypass that. Thanks!

andrys · 08-10-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

The line spacing could change the location numbers as well. And the file is too small for the location numbers to be very precise. But I do agree on further viewing that it's the line spacing that's different.

Also, the 2nd one hurts my eyes, because the letters are vertically elongated and fuzzier (due to thickness) than the original on the left.

The lighter bezel is overexposed so the lettering is also of course.

hal_9000 · 09-19-2009, 12:42 PM

can you guys please tell me how each of these 3 factors influence the readability of the kindle:
-font type
-lighting
-font size

of these 3, do you guys think its 75% due to font size/type? and 25% lighting?
or is lighting more important than font size/type? hence, would the "mighty bright" light help if my house doesnt have bright conditions?

i downloaded the helvitca2 font and it helped, just trying to see if the lighting conditions matter as much as the font does...

fugazied · 09-19-2009, 07:51 PM

Excellent, I tried a different variation of Arial, looks better to my eye.

JoeC · 09-19-2009, 08:47 PM

I can't recall which Font I ended up using but with the Kindle 2 I found the standard font irritating. I experimented with some fonts with the hack and use the Verilux night light and my eyes are much happier.

05-03-2009, 07:42 PM	#20
ted-san Member Posts: 15 Karma: 424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle 2	Thanks for trying things out. I've simply taken Andrei's font hack and replaced the reading fonts (as noted in a previous post). Some (potentially) interesting info from my Kindle 2 studies: - There's wide variation in screen quality. The best of the screens show no ghosting. The worst show so much ghosting that pages are only easily readable after pressing alt-G. - The 'good' units have dark, sharply defined pixels. Most readers with good eyes find these units to be very readable, when well lit, with the original font. - In dimmer lighting, some of the modified fonts are popular, even for those with good eyes and a good unit. Georgia has been very popular. It's a serif font that I've tweaked slightly to be bolder, yet maintain the fine features of a good serif font. - Those that like sans-serif fonts favor the different flavors of Helvetica. - Some of the varieties put on the site were designed for those with poorer vision. Conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts. These read like a large print book. Super bold and large. - Others I've just adjusted aspect ratios or tweaked individual characters for maximum legibility on the K2. Typically the "tall" varieties maintain the normal width, so as to keep the characters per line, but stretch the height 10%-20%. Based on feedback, I am unsurprised that there's a wide variety of opinions. People even say they switch from day-to-day based on how their eyes are feeling or based on reading situation. I.e., switching to a bolder font for nighttime reading. I don't check these postings often. If you have feedback or requests, please join my beta-testers feedback group Also, if you find a font you like, please participate in the poll posted on kindleboards. We're trying to put together as much useful information as possible regarding the fonts so that if/when Amazon implements a fix, they do it in a way that people will find useful. Last edited by ted-san; 05-03-2009 at 08:06 PM. Reason: changed email notification

05-03-2009, 08:34 PM	#22
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I believe I have found my perfect Kindle 2 font and it is the Georgia 2. I'm adding screen shots instead of scans to show that the font sizes are the same on both Kindles (3). I made sure to use alt+shift+3 on both so that the line spacing is the same. I used the same letter from Jeff Bezos (though they have different dates, it's the same letter. The new Georgia font is much larger than the factory installed font. I normally read at 4 and I can now drop down to 2 (which is nearly equal to the factory installed 3). 1 = control kindle font at 3 2 = Georgia font at 3 3 = Georgia font at 2 Edit: After going back to my regular book, I've decided reading at 3 with line spacing of 4 or 5 works better for me. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by daffy4u; 05-03-2009 at 08:41 PM.

05-04-2009, 12:07 PM	#23
ted-san Member Posts: 15 Karma: 424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle 2	comparison of all fonts I've posted a comparison of all the fonts in a single PDF file. There are also individual image files posted of screen grabs for the fonts. This should let you see what the fonts look like in form without having to install them. Important note: they will look very different on the Kindle screen because of the difference in screen technologies. All these fonts look overly bold on a conventional LCD monitor. For some reason, that link isn't working, sorry. Go to this page: https://sites.google.com/a/etccreati...-install-files and click on the link there for the PDF file Last edited by ted-san; 05-04-2009 at 02:44 PM. Reason: bad link

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04-27-2009, 06:37 PM	#16
S.Canton Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle 2	I don't mind the "hacked" font, but I prefer the look of the original. They just need to make it a bit darker and it would be perfect, which I'm sure they've received more than a few complaints about.

04-27-2009, 11:48 PM	#17
nremondelli Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 52 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	I installed the Bold Narrow Native and it makes a world of difference. I love it now.

05-01-2009, 08:00 PM	#19
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	I loaded the Bold Narrow Native too, and I agree with nremondelli and Slow_hand.

05-04-2009, 02:19 PM	#24
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I just installed Georgia, very nice. Thanks for all your work Ted.

05-06-2009, 03:12 PM	#25
DotComCTO Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Westchester County, NY Device: Kindle 2	That was excellent work! I had read the original Kindle 2 font hack info some weeks ago, but I was dragging my feet on testing it. I stumbled onto this forum posting and went ahead installing "Helvetica 2". I have a preference for non-serifed fonts, so I find it to be excellent for reading at size 3 (though size 2 is great, too). Thanks a million! --DotComCTO P.S. Anyone have a good source for a Simplified Chinese font? It would be nice to read some of my study material on the K2 - especially in class!

08-06-2009, 01:45 PM	#26
crusader666 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 11 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Palm Springs, CA Device: Sony PRS-505; EB-1150	Thanks, I was worried I'd be stuck with Kindle factory fonts only and from what I saw on their website, they don't work well with the visually impaired. The info on this blog provides a great way to bypass that. Thanks!

09-19-2009, 12:42 PM	#28
hal_9000 Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 84 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Orlando FL Device: Kindle 2	can you guys please tell me how each of these 3 factors influence the readability of the kindle: -font type -lighting -font size of these 3, do you guys think its 75% due to font size/type? and 25% lighting? or is lighting more important than font size/type? hence, would the "mighty bright" light help if my house doesnt have bright conditions? i downloaded the helvitca2 font and it helped, just trying to see if the lighting conditions matter as much as the font does...

09-19-2009, 07:51 PM	#29
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	Excellent, I tried a different variation of Arial, looks better to my eye.

09-19-2009, 08:47 PM	#30
JoeC Evangelist Posts: 407 Karma: 2257942 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 2 and 3, Scribe, reMarkable Pro	I can't recall which Font I ended up using but with the Kindle 2 I found the standard font irritating. I experimented with some fonts with the hack and use the Verilux night light and my eyes are much happier.

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