Kindle 2 video review

MobileTechReview · 02-24-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi guys and gals, we've posted a video review of the Kindle 2 that focuses on demonstrating the text-to-speech voices and comparing it to the Sony Reader PRS-505 and PRS-700. It will take a few days to finish the full written review (I've got to read Ur first

), but in the meanwhile hope you enjoy.

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbt...p?Number=32750

desertgrandma · 02-24-2009, 07:03 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, MobileTechReview.

MobileTechReview · 02-24-2009, 08:22 PM

Thanks

pengrus · 02-24-2009, 09:31 PM

The male voice sounds incredibly good and easy to understand. Thanks for the review.

MobileTechReview · 02-24-2009, 09:57 PM

Indeed! I was pleasantly shocked to hear something so natural by machine standards. It's really listen-able and it even did a great job with a variety of African place names and etc. mentioned in the NY Times article we had it read aloud. Imagine, it pronounced Swahili correctly...

detacht69 · 02-24-2009, 11:00 PM

TanZANneeA

Alisa · 02-24-2009, 11:01 PM

Thanks for the review. I noticed you said that the screen is whiter on the Sony product. It isn't, actually. It's the same screen. This is why I'm really not a fan of the white case on the Kindle. It throws so much light back at you, it lessens the contrast of the screen. It looks more grey on the Kindle. I notice the same thing looking at a silver Sony 505 versus the navy model. That's why I have a skin on mine. It's a shame because I prefer the feel of the Kindle case material and I'd rather not have the gloss or the pattern on the skin. However I do appreciate having all that white covered up.

Ervserver · 02-24-2009, 11:01 PM

does the text to voice pronounce naughty words ? just curious

Dragoro · 02-24-2009, 11:05 PM

yep it sure does lol

MobileTechReview · 02-24-2009, 11:27 PM

I don't think they're the same screens given the different specs: 16 grayscale shades on the Kindle 2 and 8 on the Sony 505. The original Kindle had the same (or quite close) screen as the 505. My SLR camera meters the 2 screens (with spot metering on the display not bezel) differently too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alisa

Thanks for the review. I noticed you said that the screen is whiter on the Sony product. It isn't, actually. It's the same screen. This is why I'm really not a fan of the white case on the Kindle. It throws so much light back at you, it lessens the contrast of the screen. It looks more grey on the Kindle. I notice the same thing looking at a silver Sony 505 versus the navy model. That's why I have a skin on mine. It's a shame because I prefer the feel of the Kindle case material and I'd rather not have the gloss or the pattern on the skin. However I do appreciate having all that white covered up.

wallcraft · 02-24-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileTechReview

I don't think they're the same screens given the different specs: 16 grayscale shades on the Kindle 2 and 8 on the Sony 505.

There is quite a bit of variation between EInk screens even on the same kind of device. The Sony and Kindle probably are using the same screen (both from PVI), and they are using the same controller. I'm not sure why Sony did not upgrade from 8 to 16 grey levels on the PRS-700. It seems likely that all future devices using the Epson controller will have 16 grey levels. The controller on the Kindle 1 only supported 4 grey levels, so 8 or 16 was not an option for it.

Alisa · 02-25-2009, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileTechReview

I don't think they're the same screens given the different specs: 16 grayscale shades on the Kindle 2 and 8 on the Sony 505. The original Kindle had the same (or quite close) screen as the 505. My SLR camera meters the 2 screens (with spot metering on the display not bezel) differently too.

Number of grayscales is a function of the controller. There may be some individual variation between individual units but they're the same Viziplex generation screen component from PVI.

MobileTechReview · 02-25-2009, 01:22 PM

Here's a comparison taken in the studio with a dSLR: Sony 505 and Kindle 2. Extreme close up but with the bezels covered with white foam core to reduce the influence of color reflection. Both units had the same spot in the room for the photo, with abundant natural lighting.

It's not a huge difference and wouldn't lead me to buy or recommend one over the other, but it is noticeable. Of course, the Sony PRS-700 looks sad next to either of them *sigh*

bwaldron · 02-25-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileTechReview

It's not a huge difference and wouldn't lead me to buy or recommend one over the other, but it is noticeable.

Could this possibly be due to variation in the screens produced by the vendor, rather than differences between the two devices? (i.e., I don't know the manufacturing/QC tolerances involved.)

MobileTechReview · 02-25-2009, 01:52 PM

Our other 505 looks identical to the one used for the photo, so I don't think the variation is among the Sony readers. However, we don't have another Kindle 2 handy-- one drawback of not being able to hit the local store to check them out.

Again, it is a pretty small difference. Looking at the two side by side you can see it, but it's not in any way as pronounced as the difference between the PRS-500 and 505 for example. My senior editor didn't even see the difference (she was too busy being enamored by the Kindle 2's nicer font!). I am in contrast a stickler for whiter grays

.

02-24-2009, 06:59 PM	#1
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Kindle 2 video review Hi guys and gals, we've posted a video review of the Kindle 2 that focuses on demonstrating the text-to-speech voices and comparing it to the Sony Reader PRS-505 and PRS-700. It will take a few days to finish the full written review (I've got to read Ur first ), but in the meanwhile hope you enjoy. http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbt...p?Number=32750

02-25-2009, 01:22 PM	#13
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Here's a comparison taken in the studio with a dSLR: Sony 505 and Kindle 2. Extreme close up but with the bezels covered with white foam core to reduce the influence of color reflection. Both units had the same spot in the room for the photo, with abundant natural lighting. It's not a huge difference and wouldn't lead me to buy or recommend one over the other, but it is noticeable. Of course, the Sony PRS-700 looks sad next to either of them sigh Attached Images

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02-24-2009, 07:03 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, MobileTechReview.

02-24-2009, 08:22 PM	#3
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Thanks

02-24-2009, 09:31 PM	#4
pengrus Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: kindle	The male voice sounds incredibly good and easy to understand. Thanks for the review.

02-24-2009, 09:57 PM	#5
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Indeed! I was pleasantly shocked to hear something so natural by machine standards. It's really listen-able and it even did a great job with a variety of African place names and etc. mentioned in the NY Times article we had it read aloud. Imagine, it pronounced Swahili correctly...

02-24-2009, 11:00 PM	#6
detacht69 Still Amazing-Only Better Posts: 45 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Howston, TX Device: New K3 Owner	TanZANneeA

02-24-2009, 11:01 PM	#7
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	Thanks for the review. I noticed you said that the screen is whiter on the Sony product. It isn't, actually. It's the same screen. This is why I'm really not a fan of the white case on the Kindle. It throws so much light back at you, it lessens the contrast of the screen. It looks more grey on the Kindle. I notice the same thing looking at a silver Sony 505 versus the navy model. That's why I have a skin on mine. It's a shame because I prefer the feel of the Kindle case material and I'd rather not have the gloss or the pattern on the skin. However I do appreciate having all that white covered up.

02-24-2009, 11:01 PM	#8
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	does the text to voice pronounce naughty words ? just curious

02-24-2009, 11:05 PM	#9
Dragoro Lovecraft Fan Posts: 414 Karma: 539914 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Michigan Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Kindle Touch	yep it sure does lol

02-25-2009, 01:52 PM	#15
MobileTechReview eBook Reader Junkie Posts: 136 Karma: 19205 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas Device: Kindle Oasis 3	Our other 505 looks identical to the one used for the photo, so I don't think the variation is among the Sony readers. However, we don't have another Kindle 2 handy-- one drawback of not being able to hit the local store to check them out. Again, it is a pretty small difference. Looking at the two side by side you can see it, but it's not in any way as pronounced as the difference between the PRS-500 and 505 for example. My senior editor didn't even see the difference (she was too busy being enamored by the Kindle 2's nicer font!). I am in contrast a stickler for whiter grays .

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