Sony Preparing New E-Book Reader to Challenge Amazon

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Why can't an e-reader have both options?

I'd much rather it display pages by screen, not by characters. A book does it the same way. It doesn't count characters for page numbers; it just numbers whatever happens to be on each page.

A pBook doesn't allow for changing the font size. So when you go to page 20, you get the same text. If the page number changes based on the text size on the screen, it's useless. I cannot then go to page 20 on my Reader and page 20 on the computer and be at the same page.

[vishcompany]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Why can't an e-reader have both options?

I'd much rather it display pages by screen, not by characters. A book does it the same way. It doesn't count characters for page numbers; it just numbers whatever happens to be on each page.

For me anyway, I think it's a much better indicator of how much is left in a book if I knew the pages by screen, because I can estimate how fast I'm reading each page to estimate how much longer the book will take. True, I can do that with pages by characters, but it's more complicated.

I can see how some who read on multiple platforms may like pages by characters, but I generally use just one, and I'd much rather pages by screen.

Actually pocketbook readers (at least my 302, but I guess, the new models as well) do this, when opening a book with fbreader (when using ADE reader, it shows you the "ADE-page"). So it is possible. When you change the size in fbreader, it recalculates the number of "pageturns", let's call it "screens".

There is a workaround for Sony though, I discovered by chance just a few days ago: As all my books go through calibre first, I converted a few to LRF before uploading them to the reader, just for the fun of it, and to see, how this looks like on the reader. Besides looking good, pagination works just the way you want it to ("screens"). It takes a few seconds, though, when you open the book first time, and when changing the font size.

I have to say, although I perfectly understand the reason, why counting is done the way it is done in ADE (quotations), I still prefer to see the actual screen count, whatever the fontsize. Why not implement both possibilities and let the customer choose, whether to have "pages" or "screens" displayed in the counter?

EDIT: Anyway, any kind of number is still much, much better the the "progress bar" an early mobi/prc-reader would give you. I liked my Gen3 a lot, but this "feature" was quite a drawback.

[elcreative]

Funnily enough, there were complaints about the Sony and lrf files when changing font size and they were that people didn't want to wait while the reader recounted the page numbers based on characters/page count... you may get lucky but you're probably in the minority as things currently stand...

[Asawi]

I would hate to have the page number recalculated when changing font size! I do that quite often, depending on reading conditions, and I much prefer to have the page numbered in something somewhat resembling the paper book. Makes it easier for me to estimate time. I'm guessing those that want number of screens count instead don't change font size much. Or go between devices for that matter.
To have it as an option would be a good thing though. I'm all for options!

[vishcompany]

Pocketbook does this quite cleverly: When changing the font size, you get the text immediately. While you go on reading, it recalculates in the background, showing only "..." until it updates the page numbering in the bottom line.

Originally Posted by elcreative

... you may get lucky but you're probably in the minority as things currently stand...

I guess you are right, but - honestly - it's not such a big issue to me.

ereaders have come to a stage of development, that it really does not make such a big difference whether you get a Sony or Pocketbook (and I guess Kindle, kobo, nook, although I don't have any of these). They all cover the basic necessities pretty well, all the rest is a mere matter of taste.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I must admit that I've never seen the use of that. Don't you know what book you're reading?

Harry, I tend to read 5 or 6 books simultaneously and occasionally I forget which one I'm reading (my mind drifts to another thought plane ).

[Timoleon]

Originally Posted by cassidym

I'll probably grab one of these as soon as they come out as my 505 is really starting to show its age (mainly battery issues).

One feature I'd like to see is a note next to the page number at the bottom of each page stating how many pages to the end of the chapter. The iPad has that feature and I'd like to see it on the T 1.

I gave my 505 a complete resurrection with a battery replacement:

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Replac.../dp/B003SB1D7W

[Squirsier]

Kind of hoping the new Sony eReader would use this type of screen :

http://www.eink.com/display_products_triton.html

Which would warrant the more expensive price already "announced"...

[Squirsier]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sony has been releasing Readers in October and announcing in September. So if Sony sticks to this, wait for October to buy.

Not exactly accurate. I pre-ordered my PRS350 last year and it shipped on September 9th.

OTOH I seem to remember that we Canadians got them first tho, anyone remembers?

Edit : In any case, since the filings at the FCC are under a short-term confidentiality for 45 days following the Grant of Equipment Authorization, and since I am no expert in those but if I take the July 20th date of that filing at the date from which the 45 days count, we're looking at a picture date of around September 5th. Very curious myself...!

[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by rhadin

I don't care about the number of pages to the end of the chapter; if it is added that's fine, if not added, that's fine too.

What I would like to see is the book title and possibly the author displayed, perhaps in the same area as the page number information. I'd be happy even if it was just the book title.

Posting from an iPhone so forgive.

LRF showed title and could do chapter too... I still use my pielrf because it can make LRFs so easily with this feature.

And indeed KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE in a book is a big deal.

There is a hack that causes ADE to do the same, but it's FAR from automatic. I remove DRM from ePUBs just so I can have this feature.

-Pie

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by Squirsier

Kind of hoping the new Sony eReader would use this type of screen :

http://www.eink.com/display_products_triton.html

Which would warrant the more expensive price already "announced"...

Trouble is that's just one of the usual "look at this wonderful new tech" company puffs (the page is dated 2010) rather than an announcement of things in production and use... ah well, one day...

[Rizla]

FYI last week a Sony rep in the UK said that the 650 is discontinued and will be replaced by a wifi version. They had one grey 650 in the store.

[ersott]

Originally Posted by Rizla

FYI last week a Sony rep in the UK said that the 650 is discontinued and will be replaced by a wifi version. They had one grey 650 in the store.

Is the only improve allow wifi?

[Pinecone]

Is or will be?

Only having one in the store has no bearing, not long ago there were none in entire countries.

[Kolenka]

Originally Posted by ersott

Is the only improve allow wifi?

I doubt folks in the stores themselves have any more information than we do. Odds are he read the same FCC article on Engadget as folks on this forum did.

Considering the veil of secrecy around the PRS-T1, there's little to no chance anyone in the trenches has been told about it directly by Sony. It's a giant leak that would have happened already.