Built-in-Light, TTS, good font options - possible?

[Shadowplay]

Hi everyone! I wanted to see if my "perfect" ebook device exists yet This is similar to other "Which one should I buy?" threads on here, but a little different I think. My K3 (Kindle Keyboard) is doing ok, but the screen has developed some permanent artifacts in the display and I'd like a built-in-light instead of just the kindle cover light I have.

Here's what I'd like to have in my perfect ebook reader:

• Built-In-Light - like the Paperwhite
• TTS - I actually use this a LOT to listen to books during my commute to work and then I can just continue reading where the TTS left off. Real audiobooks are of course vastly superior to listen to, but I don't want to buy my books twice *and* have to keep them in sync while reading.
• Good font control - I'd prefer in-device options at this point, but I'm used to doing whatever it takes through rooting the device and/or Calibre formatting.
• Good Dictionary - I find the dictionary on my K3 ok, but lacking words I would expect a dictionary to have.
• Touch Screen - This is the least important feature, but it would be nice to have.

The Paperwhite would be perfect, except Amazon has killed off TTS I'm sure they'd say I should buy a Kindle Fire for that, but I already have a tablet and while it's fantastic for PDFs or comics, eInk is the only way to go for pure reading for me.

Is there a good device that covers all this right now? Since I'm ok with my K3 is there anything "coming soon" I should wait for?

Thanks!

[meeera]

I don't know that there is currently an e-ink device in the majors with frontlight and good text-to-speech. Maybe if the consortium of eink manufacturers loses their application for exemption to accessibility laws in the USA, TTS might come to the next Paperwhite, but that's up in the air right now.

Poke around the Onyx and Pocketbook specs - you might find something usable there, but I don't know the TTS quality.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by meeera

Poke around the Onyx and Pocketbook specs - you might find something usable there, but I don't know the TTS quality.

I agree. For TTS & a front-light, I think you'll need an Android device with audio capability. Both FBreader and Coolreader support TTS.

TTS will work on a rooted T1.
http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...reader-prs-t1/
But it has no light.

All the other stuff you want is there.

[Shadowplay]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I agree. For TTS & a front-light, I think you'll need an Android device with audio capability. Both FBreader and Coolreader support TTS.

TTS will work on a rooted T1.
http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...reader-prs-t1/
But it has no light.

All the other stuff you want is there.

Thanks for the replies. What you're saying matches what I found when I went looking. It seems like *almost* everything is there, but I can't quite find that one device that does everything.

I've got various other devices at this point that could do the TTS, but then I'd need to manually find my place on my eReader if I got something like a Paperwhite. Not the end of the world certainly, but not ideal

I'll stick with my K3 for the time being then.

[HarryT]

If you can live with everything except the light, the Kindle Touch would be a good choice. Not currently made, but easy to find, and at very low prices, too.

[Shadowplay]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you can live with everything except the light, the Kindle Touch would be a good choice. Not currently made, but easy to find, and at very low prices, too.

Gotcha. I guess I hadn't thought about that one since it's not *that* much different from my current Kindle Keyboard. I'm frugal enough that I can't justify buying yet another device unless it's a significant upgrade or if an existing device breaks.

Part of my looking around right now is because I was reading in bed over the weekend and was using the cover light on my Kindle. I realized it just wasn't a good solution when I know there are some good built-in light models out there. The only thing that's kept me from getting a Paperwhite or similar is that I know I'd be giving up TTS.

There was a big thread on here a while back talking about whether or not people used or cared about TTS on an ebook device. It seems like the majority really don't use it and I'm in the minority of those that use it regularly. Makes sense that manufacturers aren't catering to my wants, but it's still frustrating.

[AnemicOak]

The closest thing I can think of that might meet all your requirements to one extent or another is the Onyx Boox i62HD Firefly/Angel Glow. I don't know however if they come with any dictionaries. I know they support them, but I'm not sure if they're included or a separate purchase. You would have to get it from Europe AFAIK and it is a bit more expensive than many other devices.

http://ereader-store.de/en/onyx-boox...refly-8gb.html
https://onyx-boox.com/shop/onyx-boox-i62-hd-angel-glow/



Not sure if the Pocketbook Lux would meet your requirements or not, haven't really looked into it.

[danicca]

I think someone mentioned kindle apps now have tts, and they can be synced so you won't lose your place. Sadly, I don't remember where I read it or what device it was.

[susan_cassidy]

No, the Kindle apps do not have TTS. There is some kind of setting you can do on iOS devices that can allow TTS, though, I understand. The new Kindle Fires have TTS, too.

[Shadowplay]

Ok I had heard the Kindle app *could* do TTS, but now I getcha with the iPhone-only and it's not even enabled by default.

Of course... I had to be different and get a Windows Phone so even that's not an option for me. I'm researching WP8 ebook apps to see if any of them can do TTS, but so far no luck.

[danicca]

Thanks for correction. I knew there was something.