300ppi eNote device? Bigme Galy? Scribe? Other?

[blue_skies]

Hello. I currently have a Boyue Mimas 10.3" Mobius 227ppi display that I bought almost four years ago. Note-taking has just begun to malfunction - I can no longer write on part of the screen.

I would love a new eNote device with 300ppi, but it doesn't seem like there are very many options. I also prefer a device with speakers.

I am seriously considering backing the Bigme Galy kickstarter campaign. The screen is smaller at 8 inches, but it's the new 300ppi Gallery 3 color screen, which is very appealing for several reasons: 1) I've had trouble installing and using Android apps on the Mimas because the lack of color made it impossible to see app options. 2) I think it would be nice to see my book covers in color. 3) Being able to see photos, drawings, and graphs in color would be very nice.

I also like that the Bigme Galy has 6gb of RAM, a large battery, fast processor and 128gb of storage.

The Bigme Galy is open Android 11, I believe. I love the freedom of being able to use any Android app.

The big question and potential downside is the software. I don't expect their firmware will be as smooth and developed as Boox or Kindle. When I bought my Mimas, Boyue was still working out a lot of bugs with firmware updates. It wasn't too much of a problem, but mature software would be a big bonus.

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Kindle Scribe: I have many thousands of Kindle Books, and my super old Kindle Keyboard is still functioning. I like some of the reading features of the Kindles, and the Scribe is supposed to be the only note device with a 10" screen at 300ppi.

The major concerns for me are lack of user options (I returned a Paperwhite in part because of the lack of font size adjustments), inability to use Android apps, and potential note-taking issues -- will they be private and how can I back them up?

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Any other options? It didn't look like Kobo has any note devices with a 300ppi screen. Am I wrong about that?

Boox would probably be my first choice if they could tick all or most of my boxes. I've never had a Boox device, but it seems like they have mature software and the ability to create notebooks, and hopefully easily organize notes/notebooks in folders that are easy to navigate.

So that's where I am right now. I though I would be able to wait another year or two for better options, but my Mimas screen troubles are making me anxious. If I get the Bigme Galy, I have to make a pledge very soon, because it is already almost out of my price range. (I wish I had found the Kickstarter last month!)

I'm mainly looking for feedback on:

Kindle Scribe: Note privacy and exporting notes? -- I don't want to email Amazon any of my personal notes. Also, I think it has speakers, but I have read that they can only be used for Audible books and not your own music etc. Is that true?

Any Kobo or Boox 300ppi note device with speakers? Any other brands I'm missing? (I'm in the US.)

Thank you in advance for any advice!

[WillAdams]

If you're concerned about privacy, the Kindle Scribe is a non-starter --- when pressed, Amazon tech support admitted that there's no encryption for synching to their servers.

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

If you're concerned about privacy, the Kindle Scribe is a non-starter --- when pressed, Amazon tech support admitted that there's no encryption for synching to their servers.

Thank you WillAdams. I was afraid that was the case, but hoped I could just connect the Scribe to my computer and export my own notes that way. Sending anything through Amazon creeps me out, even if it's as innocuous as a grocery list.

I guess I will have to stick with Android devices, unless Kobo has a good option.

[Quoth]

The Gallery 3 screen is a bit slow on mono and terrifically slow doing colour. It's a tech intended for Retail premises display panels.

The Kobo Sage is 8″ and 300 dpi. Unlike Scribe it's private (even registration can use a fake email). Unlike Scribe no server or special files needed. It's also got usable conversion to text, shapes, check boxes and formula from handwritten input.
The Kobo Elipsa is 10.3″ but at 227 dpi has slightly less pixels.

Also Kobo is best for management and notes via Calibre.
I've various Kindles, a reMarkable (same Wacom EMR as Scribe), Sage and Elipsa.

The Sage is better than the Elipsa for epub novels or Advanced notes due to lighter weight and smaller size. The 4.35.x Firmware has the best support yet for crop of margins of PDFs on both. I only use the Eliipsa for PDFs now and if you can read smaller print easily the Sage would be as good for PDFs.

The other privacy issue is the workflow on Scribe for full PDF annotation feature. The PDF has to be sent to Amazon. Even if the connection was totally secure can sensitive legal documents or patents in preparation be sent to Amazon? I can't imagine any serious lawyer allowing that. Amazon has give info to Police in USA without being served with a warrant.

There is no handwriting conversion on Scribe. The Kobo stylus is MS Surface compatible and the cheap battery lasts about 6 months of use (longer shelf life). I find the official Kobo pen and the "Adrawpen" model sold for MS Surface to be identical to use and nicer to write with than Wacom EMR on reMarkable.

The Kobo Advanced Notebook uses Nebo and exports to docx, text (converted text only) or html, also you can copy the Nebo files. Nebo is also on Mac, Windows, iOS (with Pencil) and Android (models with digitiser).

[Quoth]

I have ancient Kindles with speakers.
My 7.8″ Mars Android eInk has 3.5mm jack and BT, but inferior to current Kindles or Kobo for reading & annotation. Only advantage is ereader App Bolinda Borrow box for Irish Libraries, Google Books, Kindle App, Kobo App and KOReader all on one eink. But all apart from Library books can be converted via Calibre. It can run Android audiobook/music players. The Meebook P78 pro might be similar but with a digitiser/stylus.

The Sage and Elipsa can sort of do 3rd party audio on BT. Too much bother.

IMO even a cheap Android phone is better for mp3s and audiobooks. The eink are too large as players and lose advantage of battery life playing audio. The phone will play with screen off.

[salamanderjuice]

Boox also has a couple 300 PPI 7.8" readers that support writing on the screen. The B&W Nova Air 2 and the color Nova Air C. They both have speakers though if they're like the ones in my Note Air probably pretty bad ones. Color cuts the contrast though. Nothing in the 10"+ space yet though.

Android does offer a lot of benefits beyond just Irish libraries...can't read a Marvel Unlimited subscription on a Kobo or the newspaper or that random textbook stuck in its publisher's app. And you can easily use whatever cloud storage provider or Android Nearby Share to easily move documents from one device to the reader without going through a PC.

[Quoth]

If you can afford it a Kobo and an Android eInk is good if you read more than novels enough to make a decent regular tablet annoying.

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Gallery 3 screen is a bit slow on mono and terrifically slow doing colour. It's a tech intended for Retail premises display panels.

Yes, I've seen that color pages are slow to load with the Gallery 3 screens, but the majority of my usage will be black and white, so I don't think it will bother me. (But it would be nice to have the option to see color as needed.)

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Kobo Sage is 8″ and 300 dpi. Unlike Scribe it's private (even registration can use a fake email). Unlike Scribe no server or special files needed. It's also got usable conversion to text, shapes, check boxes and formula from handwritten input.
The Kobo Elipsa is 10.3″ but at 227 dpi has slightly less pixels.

I am looking at the Kobo Sage right now. I love the 10.3 size of my current Mimas, but I think the sharper text of a 300ppi device will lessen any eye strain and be a much better choice for me.

I've heard that Amazon likely has exclusivity for the 10" 300ppi screens for a certain amount of time. I wish I knew how long it will be before other manufacturers can use it.

Originally Posted by Quoth

Also Kobo is best for management and notes via Calibre.
I've various Kindles, a reMarkable (same Wacom EMR as Scribe), Sage and Elipsa.

You manage the notes you make on your Kobo with Calibre? Interesting.

My questions about the Kobo Sage: 1) Can I use the basic, unpowered Wacom pen I already have for my Mimas? 2) With the foldable Kobo Sage sleep cover, how do I store my pen? It doesn't look like there is any place to attach it. 3)Does the Kobo stylus, available separately, attach to the sleep cover by magnet?

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Kobo stylus is MS Surface compatible and the cheap battery lasts about 6 months of use (longer shelf life). I find the official Kobo pen and the "Adrawpen" model sold for MS Surface to be identical to use and nicer to write with than Wacom EMR on reMarkable.

Questions about the Kobo Sage stylus: Is the battery rechargeable? Does the battery (or the whole pen) have to be replaced every six months?

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Kobo Advanced Notebook uses Nebo and exports to docx, text (converted text only) or html, also you can copy the Nebo files. Nebo is also on Mac, Windows, iOS (with Pencil) and Android (models with digitiser).

That's good to know, thank you.

The Kobo Sage looks like it ticks a lot of my boxes, other than not having built-in speakers. I like to listen to a meditation recording before I go to sleep, for which I can use an old Android phone, but it would be nice to have that capability in one device like I do with my Mimas. The recording is mostly voice, so the speakers don't have to be particularly good, but it is a very useful feature for me.

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Meebook P78 pro might be similar but with a digitiser/stylus.

I will take a look at the Meebook P78 too. They are related to Boyue, so the firmware is very familiar.

I also saw this brand Hyread, made in Taiwan, that is very similar -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzewqeSJirk

It looks like it's a little more expensive than the Meebook P78. GoodEReader sells it, but I'm wary of buying anything there -- https://goodereader.com/blog/product...lus-7-8-e-note

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Boox also has a couple 300 PPI 7.8" readers that support writing on the screen. The B&W Nova Air 2 and the color Nova Air C. They both have speakers though if they're like the ones in my Note Air probably pretty bad ones. Color cuts the contrast though. Nothing in the 10"+ space yet though.

Android does offer a lot of benefits beyond just Irish libraries...can't read a Marvel Unlimited subscription on a Kobo or the newspaper or that random textbook stuck in its publisher's app. And you can easily use whatever cloud storage provider or Android Nearby Share to easily move documents from one device to the reader without going through a PC.

You and Quoth both mentioned Irish Libraries. Are you both in Ireland, or is that something that's available elsewhere? (I think people used to get free memberships to the Singapore library system worldwide, or something like that, which is why I'm asking.)

I'm in the US so Kobo Overdrive integration would probably be a big perk. I've seen people mention the Libby app, so I hope Overdrive will continue to be available for library borrowing if I do get a Kobo.

Thank you Salamanderjuice and everyone else who has replied with advice. I am still searching and trying to sort out all of the options. The choices and details are overwhelming.

I like the idea of Boox, which I always thought had very nice software, but I've been getting confused about the similar names and features. I will take a closer look at Boox Nova Air2 and Nova Air C.

If I recall correctly, the color screen in the Nova Air C is faster but more muted, which doesn't bother me... but I do like the higher ppi of the color in the Bigme Galy (I don't think the slower speed will be an issue for my use.)

The price for the Nova Air C is high enough that I think I would probably be better off to just pay a little more for the higher specs of the Bigme Galy. (If I end up going the color route.)

[salamanderjuice]

Kobo devices aren't compatible with Wacom EMR pens. You don't have to replace the whole pen just the battery (AAAA size?). Boox devices are though.

I just mentioned Irish libraries as Quoth gave it as basically the only reason to use Android which I thought was funny.

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Kobo devices aren't compatible with Wacom EMR pens. You don't have to replace the whole pen just the battery (AAAA size?). Boox devices are though.

I just mentioned Irish libraries as Quoth gave it as basically the only reason to use Android which I thought was funny.

Oh, I see. Thank you for clarifying about the Kobo pens not being compatible with Wacom EMR pens. That's good to know that the battery-only needs to be replaced.

I just finished watching this review/demo of the Onyx Boox Nova Air C and it looks very appealing to me -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB4shircB_s

That meets all of my requirements other than the lower color ppi and the battery which is much smaller than my Mimas battery. I don't want to be charging it all the time. (I use my Mimas every day and usually only charge it every few weeks, which is nice.)

This video does a comparison between the Boox Nova Air C and the Nova 3 Color https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moAdGOmlChY The improved screen technology in the Nova Air C makes a big difference to my eyes. I think the Boox Nova Air C looks really great, even better than I expected after reading complaints about muted colors.

I'm still considering the Bigme Galy, which has a much larger battery and 300ppi color and B/W (but slower to load pages) compared to the Boox Nova Air C. It also has twice the RAM (6gb vs 3gb for the Boox Nova Air C) though I'm not sure if that will make much of a difference in real world usage.

I wish I could find a video comparing the two, but I don't think many people have them both. I think GoodEReader does, but they haven't done a comparison video, probably because (if I understand correctly) they are partnered with Bigme for the Galy. If anyone finds a video or review article comparing the Boox Nova Air C and the Bigme Galy, please let me know.

Accessories:

The Boox Shop sells the Nova Air C as a bundle which includes the magnetic case and nibs. (I'm assuming the pen comes with the device.) My Mimas sometimes falls out of it's case, so I like that the Nova Air C case seems to have a strong magnet. I would prefer to order from Amazon (in the US), but it doesn't look like it includes a case.

I'm not sure what case is available for the Bigme Galy. I could be wrong, but I don't think the case is included in the Kickstarter deal.

Software:

If anyone has used eNote devices by Bigme and Boox, I'd love to read your opinions on the software/firmware.

Right now I am going to watch this video comparison of Boox and Bigme software -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCQIom9jDsg

Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to reply (and read my rambling posts). I really appreciate it!

[Quoth]

There are other reading apps where you might not be able to read on a non-android ereader, but if I buy a book, I can read it on anything. If it's only borrowed, then likely I need an app unless the reader can be registered with ADE or has Overdrive.

Obviously I use Calibre and have Kindle, Kobo, Sony (and now a Y-Ben P47L!), but during lock down I thought I'd read library books on eink instead of the table so bought the Mars. The basic meebook P78 seems a relaunch of it. It doesn't support a digitizer/stylus. I'm told the P78pro does support it,

There are at least 5 kinds of incompatible pens/pencil/stylus digitiser systems. Kindle Scribe and reMarkable use Wacom EMR. Some tablets & screens use the same Wacom as the add-on Wacom USB & serial tablets for PCs. I have both types of Wacom and they are absolutely incompatible.
The Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Sage and MS Surface can use similar or identical pens that take a cheap (20c for 6 months) AAAA cell. But some MS pens also have BT for One-note and are rechargable. Also 3rd party pens for Surface are about 1/4 price or less.
Of course the Apple Pencil is different. A 3rd party one is about 1/6th price and just as good. Both are rechargeable versions only.

Both common types of Wacom pens are powered by the host digitiser and have the flaw that they tend to signal position even if you are not pressing.

If you want colour, then a really good LCD or OLED and turn the brightness to suit the ambient light makes colour eink look stupid. There are LCD & OLED matt surface screens without stupid shiny finish. Refections cause headaches and eyestrain as you unconsciously change focus, especially if the thing reflected or the screen is moved.

Outdoors the colour eink will beat LCD & OLED but not Quantum film based panels. The newer better resolution and colour range eink-like digital papers are really very slow.

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by Quoth

There are at least 5 kinds of incompatible pens/pencil/stylus digitiser systems. Kindle Scribe and reMarkable use Wacom EMR. Some tablets & screens use the same Wacom as the add-on Wacom USB & serial tablets for PCs. I have both types of Wacom and they are absolutely incompatible.

Both common types of Wacom pens are powered by the host digitiser and have the flaw that they tend to signal position even if you are not pressing.

If you want colour, then a really good LCD or OLED and turn the brightness to suit the ambient light makes colour eink look stupid. There are LCD & OLED matt surface screens without stupid shiny finish. Refections cause headaches and eyestrain as you unconsciously change focus, especially if the thing reflected or the screen is moved.

Outdoors the colour eink will beat LCD & OLED but not Quantum film based panels. The newer better resolution and colour range eink-like digital papers are really very slow.

Thanks for the info Quoth. I didn't realize there were so many different, incompatible types of Wacom pens.

I am not at all interested in OLED because of PWM flicker which gives me horrible migraines and eye strain. Same with many LED screens, plus I hate having to charge my device so often.

I pretty much have my heart set on color eInk, and have been anxiously awaiting the maturation of the technology.

Unfortunately I have now crossed the eInk Gallery 3 screen devices off my list (including the Bigme Galy Kickstarter) because, although I said I would mind the slow page display screens, that was when I was picturing the color pages appearing slowly but smoothly - kind of like my old Kindle Paperwhite loads each new page.

According to this demonstration video, the images repeatedly flash as a page loads, which I've learned is called dithering -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T94pVOFLiU

The video presenter is optimistic that they will be able to lessen the dithering before the Bigme Galy is released, but since I get horrible migraines from PWM flickering, I won't take a chance on having a device that flashes as the screen changes.

On the other hand, the demos of the eink Kaleido Plus screens looked very nice to me, even though the colors are muted and not as sharp.

Eink is supposed to release the next generation in 2023 - Kaleido 3 - which should have various improvements... so I think I will try to wait for that, if my Mimas holds up until then. -- https://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...per-Technology

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by blue_skies

The video presenter is optimistic that they will be able to lessen the dithering before the Bigme Galy is released, but since I get horrible migraines from PWM flickering, I won't take a chance on having a device that flashes as the screen changes.

On the other hand, the demos of the eink Kaleido Plus screens looked very nice to me, even though the colors are muted and not as sharp.

The Gallery-ACEP technology doesn't seem to be regular eink, though from the E Ink company. I'd be sceptical that it will ever be acceptable for a reader due to slow page refresh (up to 1.5 second) and "effects" while it happens.

Kaleido is simply regular mono eink with a colour filter. There are two main kinds possible.
Dots:
R G
G B
It gives 150 dpi in colour and sort of 300 dpi in mono
The older kind of layout is stripes
R G B
Thus its 100 dpi x 300 dpi colour and sort of 300 dpi in mono.

The problem is that real eink has black, white and 14 shades. So you only get about 4,000 different shades and hues.

You can make the filters good, and the colour is strong but it's dark, needs frontlight all the time.

Or if you make the colours pastel then the filters don't darken it so much, but it's still far darker than mono eink.

This is basic physics. So how can they make it better?
Perhaps higher resolution and paler colours mixed with mono?
R W G W B W G
W G W R W G B

Or the filter on inside front of cell
Or no filter, but cells with green & black balls, red & Black, blue & black instead of white & black balls.
Or red, green and blue liquid cells with only black balls.

It's hard to see how they can do a better Kaleido. The original was too dark because they wanted the colour more saturated. The newer one is brighter because it only has pastel shades (tints). All Kaleido have lower resolution than a mono panel.

It's possible to have LCD with less flicker than OLED at the same refresh because LCD can't change state quickly. Quantum film/dot LCD, usually called QLED have only blue instead of white backlight and are twice to four times brighter. All LCD and OLED can be at sufficient high refresh that there is no flicker.

Edit
Reading this https://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...per-Technology it seems to me the main difference with Kaleido 3 and earlier is built-in front light and their best mono panel. So like the best mono eink today but dimmer without front light and inhernetly the colour filter means you lose resolution. Just an incremental tweak. But better for reading than Gallery3 AECP which seems only fit for signage.

[blue_skies]

From what I've seen, Kaleido 3 looks great to me. As long as there's no dithering (which it shouldn't have since I didn't notice it in the Kaleido Plus demos)... I will be very happy to have a Kaleido 3 eNote device!

I'm leaning toward a device by Boox next year, or Pocketbook, or a Janpanese or Taiwanese manufacturer, if they make one with upgraded specs and Kaleido 3 screen. I love the 10.3 inch size of my Mimas, but I would enjoy using a smaller 8 inch device for a while.

I'm a little worried that all the manufacturers who will produce color eink next year are too enamored with Gallery 3. I hope I'll have a choice of Kaleido 3 devices and manufacturers. I was all ready to make a purchase, and now I'm back to waiting until next year.