Touch Nook Simple Touch: First Impressions

[SCION]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

And to follow on to that, I think Whispersync only works with purchased books, so it's not like she can just convert her epubs to mobis and viola! sync.

Yeah, I'm not referring to sideloaded content. Going forward I want to purchases books and be able to sync across devices. The Sony is out because they don't carry many of the books I'm interested in (non-fiction). Amazon has always been my preference for content, but I was willing to go with B&N because the NOOK app allows you to change line spacing and margins, and it has the same magazine functionality of the NOOKcolor. Nothing beats it for magazines, not even Zinio.

I need to mark up my non-fiction stuff, but if there are bookmarks and annotations on one device and not the other, it's not really useful. If they were able to be exported (in the manner that Moon+ Reader does), that would be acceptable. B&N don't give you much to work with.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

And to follow on to that, I think Whispersync only works with purchased books, so it's not like she can just convert her epubs to mobis and viola! sync.

I believe I'm right in saying that Calibre has the capability of adding the necessary data to a Mobi file such that Amazon's servers think it's a purchased book, and hence will sync it. I've never tried this myself, but ISTR reading about it here at MR.

Originally Posted by HarryT

I believe I'm right in saying that Calibre has the capability of adding the necessary data to a Mobi file such that Amazon's servers think it's a purchased book, and hence will sync it. I've never tried this myself, but ISTR reading about it here at MR.

Using this method, I think it only syncs the current location. At least that is all I ever got it to do. I can say it works on the NC running Kindle for Android and the iPad running Kindle for iOS. It chokes on the iPod touch 4G, but I read that was due to a firmware issue introduced in one of the updates. On my iPt4 I get a sync error whenever I try it. I don't have an actual Kindle on which to check it.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by SCION

Yeah, I'm not referring to sideloaded content. Going forward I want to purchases books and be able to sync across devices. .

At this moment I think Kindle is your best choice on that. And Amazon has a decent collection of the books you said you like.

I'm sure you won't face any issues converting any ePub book you have, you know what I mean ...

[SCION]

Originally Posted by jocampo

At this moment I think Kindle is your best choice on that. And Amazon has a decent collection of the books you said you like.

I'm sure you won't face any issues converting any ePub book you have, you know what I mean ...

You're right. I just can't go back to doing the non-touch screen thing. I don't think Amazon are coming out with a Touch Kindle. Why would they be doing the Kindle Special Offers models? I've been waiting for them to come out with a touch screen. They've been sticking with that traditional Kindle look. Fine for many.

[EldRick]

Caliibre also allows you to remove the ridiculous margins created by the publishers. You can reduce the total R and L margins to as little as 1/8" or so, once you remove the margins built into the books.

[anamardoll]

SCION, I feel your pain.

I don't require WhisperSync because I just export my notes as much as possible, but I can see where syncing would be SO convenient.

I really have to think that Amazon will come out with a touch device at some point. I think the KSO was really chasing the price point, but doesn't indicate necessarily an intent to stick with the K3/keyboard model. I mean, isn't the KSO just a K3 with slightly different software (the screensaver + updating capability)?

I think Amazon almost HAS to announce touch and tablet models soon. Not because they're wonderful devices (DEAD HORSE) but because B&N has them and you can't really let a major competitor corner a market. Amazon is too competitive for that.... I think. :O

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SCION

You're right. I just can't go back to doing the non-touch screen thing. I don't think Amazon are coming out with a Touch Kindle. Why would they be doing the Kindle Special Offers models? I've been waiting for them to come out with a touch screen. They've been sticking with that traditional Kindle look. Fine for many.

Maybe Amazon are doing the special offers Kindles to try to get rid of stock so when they come to have a new touch model, they won't have so many of the old K3s left.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I think Amazon almost HAS to announce touch and tablet models soon. Not because they're wonderful devices (DEAD HORSE) but because B&N has them and you can't really let a major competitor corner a market. Amazon is too competitive for that.... I think. :O

Don't forget Sony & Kobo as well.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Don't forget Sony & Kobo as well.

Yeah, I included them, but then deleted them since my phrasing was "touch and tablet" and I'm not sure that either of them have put out a tablet?

I guess there's Pandigital, but I don't really know the details on that one.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Maybe Amazon are doing the special offers Kindles to try to get rid of stock so when they come to have a new touch model, they won't have so many of the old K3s left.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by tamzilla

It appears that the epub books I downloaded from the Library and books from Kobo and Sony all show their covers. PDFs don't appear to display their covers and some epubs I downloaded from Feedbooks and Manybooks also don't display their covers. The books that don't display their proper covers show a generic cover which does show the correct title and author.

Thank you! That is good news on the DRM'ed books. For your Feedbooks and Manybooks files, you might want to try doing an EPUB to EPUB conversion in calibre or an EPUB to MOBI to EPUB conversion. That was a necessary workaround on the NC initially to get covers to show before they improved it in a firmware update.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by negris123

The ghosting might be more noticeable in very bright or in direct sunlight conditions.

My experience as well. I didn't see any ghosting at all, until I read for a while in direct sunlight; the ghosting became pretty apparent in those circumstances, but that was the only time I saw it. More than direct sunlight, I believe it may be an issue with temperature, as it was very warm at the time.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

SCION, I feel your pain.

I don't require WhisperSync because I just export my notes as much as possible, but I can see where syncing would be SO convenient.

I really have to think that Amazon will come out with a touch device at some point. I think the KSO was really chasing the price point, but doesn't indicate necessarily an intent to stick with the K3/keyboard model. I mean, isn't the KSO just a K3 with slightly different software (the screensaver + updating capability)?

I think Amazon almost HAS to announce touch and tablet models soon. Not because they're wonderful devices (DEAD HORSE) but because B&N has them and you can't really let a major competitor corner a market. Amazon is too competitive for that.... I think. :O

These are my thoughts too. I think Amazon will announce a touch model soon for the same reasons. When Sony came out with the new touchscreen it really didn't get too much excitement. However, the Nook STR has prompted more articles in the media about how cool & modern the touchscreen is in comparison to the Kindle. Now that Sony, B&N and Kobo have gone that route it really seems to be setting a trend for future hardware developments.

Funny aside - yesterday I was reading on my K3, and I tried to swipe the screen to turn the page.

Originally Posted by jocampo

At this moment I think Kindle is your best choice on that. And Amazon has a decent collection of the books you said you like.

I agree. I read a report that estimated the Amazon share of the eBook market at 65%, B&N had 25% and was in a distant second place. Whether you like them or not, Amazon is still ruling the market and probably will for some time to come.

@Scion, The Kindle for Android app is not too bad. A bit lackluster in format customization, but it still has some good features. Also keep in mind that traditionally Amazon announces new readers around the July-August timeframe and ships them around the August-September timeframe. If you can hold off the urge to buy an eInk you might wait a month to see if anything new in the Kindle world develops. I know you love to read outdoors, but to be honest, I live next door to Dallas and I honestly think I would melt if I tried to read during the day outside this time of year. I went outside last night and read from about 10:30pm-12:00am and nearly melted then. And I've lived in Texas all my 53 years, so if I were ever going to acclimate I should have done so by now!

For those of you who don't live in Hell, it is now 1:00pm and 98 degrees. Our hottest time of year is typically mid-August, so we can expect to heat up quite a bit by then. Its pretty much like living on the Sun, except we have more smog, more people, and way more corrupt politicians!