04-22-2014, 07:12 PM | #1 |
Wizard
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Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014
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Has the Samsung Galaxy S5 made all the Kindles obsolete?
I've had a Samsung Galaxy S5 now for one week since its release. Now I hardly ever look at my two Paperwhites and my two Fires. Amazon limits us to 6 devices for eBooks and I will soon have to unregister some of those old devices and give them away.
The screen uses a different technology than Amazon or Apple and is super bright and super clear. The Kindle for Samsung app has a font much wider and sharper than any of the Kindle fonts. The screen is also much larger than any iPhones. I had to carry any of my Kindles in my wife's pocketbook. I can carry the new S5 in my pants pocket and it is so much lighter to hold. There is almost no glare in bright sun and is great in dark ambient light. Plus, it uses 4G LTE for data transfer, the fastest in the nation via the ATT network. It also has a new innovation, Ultra Power Saving Mode, whereby one can have a 100% battery charge last for 12.5 days. The downside of that mode is that it is in black and white and only runs 6 apps including phone and messaging. I use it every night when I sleep. I can play Shredder Chess on it and alternate with reading Kindle eBooks. If lost or stolen, it can be instantly found at the Android Device Manager site within 15 meters and then can be made to ring continuously, locked with a new password or wiped clean as the situation requires. My problem is the last PW and HDX are only SIX MONTHS old. I can't believe the rate of obsolescence with these readers. I have a hunch in 6 months my S5 will also be obsolete. I heard that Apple will introduce a "Phablet" in a few months which may have a larger screen than the S5 and still be light and small enough for a pocket. Amazon, as well, has a new smart phone which will be offered next October. Technology is forcing the consumer to spend more and more money for new eReaders every year. I sometimes long for the simplicity of the old print books. Last edited by sirmaru; 04-22-2014 at 07:19 PM. |
04-22-2014, 09:16 PM | #2 |
doofus
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Considering how you like to crank your PW light to the max, I can see how an emissive screen may suit you.
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04-22-2014, 10:02 PM | #3 |
eBook Junkie
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I have the Samsung Note 3, and while I do love that it has the ability to be used as a reader in sunlight and it has a larger screen than my old cell phone, it will never replace my paperwhite as my primary reader. I also do not see it replacing my Fire because I like the larger screen and having a native Amazon device for all my Amazon content.
Though I will say, I am surprised you would ask this question. You seem to always "love" whatever device is the newest for you. And being such a diehard Amazonite, I am surprised you would suggest such a thing since Amazon devices seem to compute on water, as far as you are concerned. |
04-23-2014, 12:15 AM | #4 |
Ex-Helpdesk Junkie
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Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity
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Has any tablet/smartphone ever rendered the dedicated e-ink reader obsolete? No.
Nor will they ever. People still buy clocks/watches and mp3 players, among others, even though a smartphone can do both, because there is still a market for dedicated devices -- although that is not necessarily the majority of people. There was a thread about this, though I seem to have lost track of it. |
04-23-2014, 01:57 AM | #5 |
Connoisseur
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Device: Kindle Paperwhite 1 and 2
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I agree. On normal day room light it might not matter, but night with dark room.. No way. Also, direct summer sun light is something which I wouldnt even start to compare.
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04-23-2014, 05:38 AM | #6 |
Guru
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For me smaller is NOT better. My eyes aren't good enough to read from anything smaller than a 6 inch reader. Even if you enlarge the text which means you see less there is the unreadable menues problem. And I dislike the tablet interface. It's lack of precision means I'm always selecting things instead of just scrolling so I spend a lot of time trying to go back to where I was before the accident. Very annoying.
The 6 inch eink reader fits my needs perfectly now, though if my eyes get worse even their menues might become a problem. |
04-23-2014, 06:08 AM | #7 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
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That is not true. I have more than 6 devices on my account and have had more than 6 Kindles on the same account. The "limit" refers to the maximum number of devices *one* book can be on at a time and even that isn't always true. Sometimes it's fewer or unlimited.
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04-23-2014, 10:21 AM | #8 | |
Wizard
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Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014
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True
Quote:
I did a factory reset of my Kindle Fire HD 2012 and my Paperwhite 2012 which will be gifted to others. If everyone follows this policy, each Kindle could end up passing down to several other folks than the original purchaser and spread it more through the population. My favorite "toy" today is my Samsung Galaxy S5 which I also purchased from Amazon. |
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04-23-2014, 10:25 AM | #9 |
Wizard
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Location: Tokyo, Japan
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Should have gotten a Nexus 5.
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04-23-2014, 11:42 AM | #10 |
Runs With Scissors
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I also have a Galaxy S5. Hasn't changed my reading habits a bit. A phone screen versus e-ink? It's no contest, IMHO.
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04-23-2014, 04:58 PM | #11 | |
Wizard
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014
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Quote:
I use white text on black background and the S5 with that particular App is great in text legibility. It beats my PW 2013 and the HDX 2013. The white text in that app is very wide and sharp. If you read in Landscape Mode, its a great reader. In very bright sunlight, you are right that the PW 2013 is better but just in that environment. |
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04-23-2014, 05:14 PM | #12 |
Wizard
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Since I am in the market for a phone at the moment ( no contract) I looked up what this one costs. Its $600 . Its not comparable to a e-ink reader, nor is it going to make anything obsolete. My basic kindle cost me $50, even the PW can be had for $119.
Gadgets can coexist. One doesn't make the other obsolete. I don't think a 5 inch screen would be enough for reading for me anyway. I think the 6 inch is about minimum for me to fit enough text on a page. |
04-23-2014, 05:32 PM | #13 |
Grand Sorcerer
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I've got an S4 now and I love it. I use the Kindle app for some books to read now. It won't replace my K3 as my happiest reading device, but on the go every now and then it is a joy. I can imaginethe S5 would be even better.
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04-23-2014, 05:45 PM | #14 | |
Connoisseur
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Quote:
So what is the real problem? I suspect you want to do more than reading, but that ain't very good reason to judge the reading experience. Or maybe you are just holding it wrong Oh well, anyway, there are good reasons to stick with proper readers, so no shame on that. |
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04-23-2014, 05:49 PM | #15 |
Nameless Being
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Some will never give up their eInks, but I did quite a few months ago. I read exclusively on my iPad mini Retina and iPhone 5. I only read on the iPhone 5 when away from home and waiting somewhere for an appointment. I do believe tablets, not smartphones, will become the goto device for most readers, if they haven't already. EInk is losing ground and falling farther behind in technology. IMO, eInks are dinosaurs waiting for the asteroid strike that will make them extinct.
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