Some suggestions for Software Updates - Page 9

tcv · 11-14-2006, 09:41 AM

Fonts are very expensive. I worked in the printing industry for 11 years and can tell you that most advertising agencies spend a small fortune on them.

The best one can do to find inexpensive fonts is to look at a computer store for those little multi-font packs. Usually they're TrueType and some of them will be absolute crap, but you'll find some gems.

Aprilbeginnings · 11-16-2006, 02:29 PM

I would like to see a back button as in if I am reading and accidently click on one of the bottom buttons 1-0 that moves my book into far away pages and then I don't know where I was unless I pay attention to my page, and then getting there is another thing. A back button somehow would make things easier for this type of error. As it is now, I try to set a bookmark every so often so it's easier to get back where I am at.

Kaitou Ace · 11-16-2006, 02:35 PM

The little joystick works as a back button. press it to the left, and it will jump you back to where you were.

Granted, it could be made easier, but it is there.

Aprilbeginnings · 11-16-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaitou Ace

The little joystick works as a back button. press it to the left, and it will jump you back to where you were.

Granted, it could be made easier, but it is there.

Thank you. I found that out after the fact...... I am glad the feature is there, because I have hit those little buttons about 3 times now within the week I have had the reader........ Yikes.....

NatCh · 11-16-2006, 04:33 PM

Only thrice in a week? You aren't trying very hard.

Aprilbeginnings · 11-16-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Only thrice in a week? You aren't trying very hard.

give me time, LOL....... I haven't been on it enough either..... been busy reading forums, ha ha ha... And I thought three times was bad <snicker>

jgbrut · 11-20-2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airlik

How about text search? I think their remarks on this were that they'd considered it, but decided against it based on focus group feedback. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks that's almost mandatory?

I think you need to rethink what this product was designed to do. It's not a computer, it's a book. So if you need to search you need to use the old fashion thing called an Index. In most cases I can find thengs faster in the index any way. Besides the search feature would have added $100's of dollars to the price because sony would need to add an input device (which is missing on the product to keep the price reasonable).

NatCh · 11-20-2006, 12:14 PM

Nice thought, jgbrut, but the index really isn't an option on the Reader either -- page navigation is cumbersome as there's no 'go to page' function, and the page numbers change depending on font size in the first place, so the usefulness of an index would be pretty limited.

On the other hand, most of the stuff I read (fiction) doesn't have indices in the first place, and I haven't missed the search so far.

If I got too desparate, I could always run my search in the Connect software on the PC side.

William Moates · 11-21-2006, 04:40 AM

We'll just have to wait for Google to write an add-on for the Reader.

scottcstoness · 11-22-2006, 12:29 AM

I'd love to see an option where when you hit the "Mark" button, rather than just setting a mark on the page, it would overlay the 1 through 0 arrows that you see in the reader's main menus, and would then place the bookmark at whichever of those ten locations which you select.

This has the effect of making the book-mark system much more like sticking a post-it in a book than of folding over the corner, and would be a huge improvement in terms of at least noting interesting passages; pinpointing several lines rather than an entire page would make life a lot easier in terms of annotating later.

HarryT · 11-22-2006, 06:33 AM

My "must haves":

1. Support for pictures in RTF files. There are many books for which pictures are an essential element, and many more which are greatly enhanced by them.

2. A rapid method of going to a specific page. This should not be difficult to implement, given the fact that the "number keys" can already be used for entering a password if you enable "screen lock". In a large book, the "moving through by 10ths" can still leave you hundreds of pages away from the desired location.

Lower priority:

1. Text searching. This would require the use of an on-screen "virtual keyboard" which would obviously be more effort.

2. Support for HTML files. This would be a great help. I know you can easily enough convert HTML to RTF, but you lose the hyperlinks by doing that. Hyperlinks make things like "Contents" pages a lot easier to implement.

HarryT · 11-22-2006, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgbrut

Besides the search feature would have added $100's of dollars to the price because sony would need to add an input device (which is missing on the product to keep the price reasonable).

It could be done with an on-screen "virtual keyboard" where, say, each letter was accessed with a 2-digit code. It would be a little awkward to use, but should be good enough for entering short words of phrases for searching.

giedre · 11-22-2006, 03:14 PM

I do understand the e-ink is so much easier on the eyes, but I would love to see an optional backlight for the device. I would even forfeit longer battery life for such a thing. There are many instances when I would love to read, but many of them find me "in the dark"

NatCh · 11-22-2006, 03:44 PM

e-Ink is opaque, so you can't really backlight it. That being said, however, there are a lot of third party lights that work just fine with it. Better, actully, since they can't interfere with page turning.

William Moates · 11-22-2006, 08:40 PM

They could try to light the screen from the sides, like on wristwatches, but I think the screen is too big for that. I think a clip-on light is better.

Here's another idea: What about those USB-powered lights? They won't fit into the USB-b slot on the Reader, but maybe with an adapter...

11-22-2006, 12:29 AM	#130
scottcstoness Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 24 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500	More precise bookmarks I'd love to see an option where when you hit the "Mark" button, rather than just setting a mark on the page, it would overlay the 1 through 0 arrows that you see in the reader's main menus, and would then place the bookmark at whichever of those ten locations which you select. This has the effect of making the book-mark system much more like sticking a post-it in a book than of folding over the corner, and would be a huge improvement in terms of at least noting interesting passages; pinpointing several lines rather than an entire page would make life a lot easier in terms of annotating later.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Software to batch update PDF metadata/ substitute software for Sony eBook library	ksri99	Sony Reader	6	05-20-2012 01:53 PM
Classic Firmware/Software updates - overseas Nooks	Ad2	Barnes & Noble NOOK	3	07-23-2010 01:34 AM
What library management software/sync software to use with 505? (No DRM files)	techie_007	Sony Reader	4	02-21-2009 08:22 AM
Bookeen email about future software updates ..	Loopy65	Bookeen	5	12-20-2007 07:07 AM
Kindle software updates in the works?	tsgreer	Amazon Kindle	4	12-06-2007 08:09 PM

11-14-2006, 09:41 AM	#121
tcv Addict Posts: 330 Karma: 596 Join Date: Oct 2006	Fonts are very expensive. I worked in the printing industry for 11 years and can tell you that most advertising agencies spend a small fortune on them. The best one can do to find inexpensive fonts is to look at a computer store for those little multi-font packs. Usually they're TrueType and some of them will be absolute crap, but you'll find some gems.

11-16-2006, 02:29 PM	#122
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	I would like to see a back button as in if I am reading and accidently click on one of the bottom buttons 1-0 that moves my book into far away pages and then I don't know where I was unless I pay attention to my page, and then getting there is another thing. A back button somehow would make things easier for this type of error. As it is now, I try to set a bookmark every so often so it's easier to get back where I am at.

11-16-2006, 02:35 PM	#123
Kaitou Ace Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 1352743 Join Date: Oct 2002	The little joystick works as a back button. press it to the left, and it will jump you back to where you were. Granted, it could be made easier, but it is there.

11-16-2006, 04:33 PM	#125
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Only thrice in a week? You aren't trying very hard.

11-20-2006, 12:14 PM	#128
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Nice thought, jgbrut, but the index really isn't an option on the Reader either -- page navigation is cumbersome as there's no 'go to page' function, and the page numbers change depending on font size in the first place, so the usefulness of an index would be pretty limited. On the other hand, most of the stuff I read (fiction) doesn't have indices in the first place, and I haven't missed the search so far. If I got too desparate, I could always run my search in the Connect software on the PC side.

11-21-2006, 04:40 AM	#129
William Moates Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 35 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Device: Sony Librie / Sony Clie / Sony Reader	We'll just have to wait for Google to write an add-on for the Reader.

11-22-2006, 06:33 AM	#131
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,548 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	My "must haves": 1. Support for pictures in RTF files. There are many books for which pictures are an essential element, and many more which are greatly enhanced by them. 2. A rapid method of going to a specific page. This should not be difficult to implement, given the fact that the "number keys" can already be used for entering a password if you enable "screen lock". In a large book, the "moving through by 10ths" can still leave you hundreds of pages away from the desired location. Lower priority: 1. Text searching. This would require the use of an on-screen "virtual keyboard" which would obviously be more effort. 2. Support for HTML files. This would be a great help. I know you can easily enough convert HTML to RTF, but you lose the hyperlinks by doing that. Hyperlinks make things like "Contents" pages a lot easier to implement.

11-22-2006, 03:14 PM	#133
giedre Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 4850 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Carolina Device: Sony 500,505, Kindle, 1150	I do understand the e-ink is so much easier on the eyes, but I would love to see an optional backlight for the device. I would even forfeit longer battery life for such a thing. There are many instances when I would love to read, but many of them find me "in the dark"

11-22-2006, 03:44 PM	#134
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	e-Ink is opaque, so you can't really backlight it. That being said, however, there are a lot of third party lights that work just fine with it. Better, actully, since they can't interfere with page turning.

11-22-2006, 08:40 PM	#135
William Moates Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 35 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Device: Sony Librie / Sony Clie / Sony Reader	They could try to light the screen from the sides, like on wristwatches, but I think the screen is too big for that. I think a clip-on light is better. Here's another idea: What about those USB-powered lights? They won't fit into the USB-b slot on the Reader, but maybe with an adapter...

Advert

Advert