Sony's Reader team to present something August 25

[ahi]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you think this dictionary support update will work with the 505 or just the 700?

For that, I think the question is whether they have developed any non-touchscreen-dependent dictionary functionality. If they have, then having it show up in the 505 is a possibility... if they have not, I would not expect them to spend extensive programming resources on an outdated device.

I just wish the bastards would open source the firmware, so that all the features they can't be bothered to provide for us, someone else could.

Speaking of which... has OpenInkpot basically given up on trying to support the PRS-505? The last time I tried to inquire in the appropriate subforum, I had only "I think development is stopped" responses from (I believe) non-project-members. (Seemingly having had my inquiry about Sony PRS-505 support overlooked or ignored by project members altogether?)

- Ahi

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

justification without a reasonable hyphenation scheme is simply atrocious. You're adding totally erratic wordspacing into the mix for the sake of having a "pretty" box of text. I like to read my books, not look at pretty boxes of text. And ... having ... random ..... white ... spaces .... between ....... the .... words ........ does ...... not ..... work ... towards .... the ..... goal .. of ..... readability. But if you think that's more pleasing to read, then more power to you.

Exactly.
I have tried to read a few lrx e-books that are available on Sony store for $0 and the layout is absolutely atrocious! And do not get me started at default serif font that is absolutely unsuitable for reading on a low resolution screen. Why couldn't they use Droid, or Caecilia or other heavily hinted slab serif that was designed specifically for small screens with low resolution. And 167 dpi is pathetic resolution from typographical point of view.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by ahi

For that, I think the question is whether they have developed any non-touchscreen-dependent dictionary functionality. If they have, then having it show up in the 505 is a possibility... if they have not, I would not expect them to spend extensive programming resources on an outdated device.

If they plan to have dictionary support for the 300 then they will have a non-touch screen solution, however going back to support the 505 is something they might not want to since they no longer sell 505.

=X=

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it till I'm blue in the face: justification without a reasonable hyphenation scheme is simply atrocious.

Does it depend on the font size?
I prefer full justification, but I use a small font.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by =X=

If they plan to have dictionary support for the 300 then they will have a non-touch screen solution, however going back to support the 505 is something they might not want to since they no longer sell 505.

=X=

Well... it's all about walking the fine line, I think.

They could offer big improvements for the 505, so long as it doesn't make it as good from a software perspective as the 300. (Which, of course, being smaller is not really in the same class anyways.)

It's the carte blanche cloning of software that I don't see from the 600 to the 700.

- Ahi

[Madam Broshkina]

They will probably announce that Zelda's Birthday is only a month away and that we should all be thinking about what we are going to get her. They also might unveil some suggestions.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Does it depend on the font size?
I prefer full justification, but I use a small font.

It depends on a myriad little things that a software/machine automation cannot consistently get right... but yes, having a smaller font size helps to get it right.

This page gives some limited insight into the difficulty of the problem.

- Ahi

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

They will probably announce that Zelda's Birthday is only a month away and that we should all be thinking about what we are going to get her. They also might unveil some suggestions.

seems like a 600 would be a great pressie.

[Abecedary]

Thanks to ahi for answering the font size question.

And one more thing that I really truly wish they would add (assuming they announce an updated firmware) is a set of typefaces that have true italics and bolds. That would make reading lrx files that much less painful. Thankfully I can work around that issue with ePub, but Sony would gain a decent number of book sales from me if I found their default book format to at least be tolerable to look at.

[igorsk]

The dictionary support is not mentioned for PRS-300 so I doubt it will be made available for PRS-505. As for what else they'll announce, I'll throw in my idea: Sony eBook Store is going to switch to EPUB and possibly open in other countries (in addition or as replacement to Waterstone's and other such shops).

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

And one more thing that I really truly wish they would add (assuming they announce an updated firmware) is a set of typefaces that have true italics and bolds. That would make reading lrx files that much less painful. Thankfully I can work around that issue with ePub, but Sony would gain a decent number of book sales from me if I found their default book format to at least be tolerable to look at.

GOD yes ! that would be a huge improvement. i use my own fonts for all my files mainly because of that.

Originally Posted by igorsk

As for what else they'll announce, I'll throw in my idea: Sony eBook Store is going to switch to EPUB and possibly open in other countries (in addition or as replacement to Waterstone's and other such shops).

that wouldn't surprise me, haven't they been hinting about it recently anyway ?

[porkupan]

No one promised any dictionary support for PRS-300, so the dictionary support for PRS-505, I am afraid, is out of the question. It's OK to dream, but I cannot see any incentive at all for Sony to come up with any firmware improvement for a two-year old device. Unless it's a small little fix that is just absolutely needed.

[mickitaz]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

The moment they do that is the moment I go through my epubs and add a 'text-align: left;' line to all of them. I've said it before and I'll continue to say it till I'm blue in the face: justification without a reasonable hyphenation scheme is simply atrocious. You're adding totally erratic wordspacing into the mix for the sake of having a "pretty" box of text. I like to read my books, not look at pretty boxes of text. And ... having ... random ..... white ... spaces .... between ....... the .... words ........ does ...... not ..... work ... towards .... the ..... goal .. of ..... readability. But if you think that's more pleasing to read, then more power to you.

I second that notion. I personally try to refrain from purchasing ebooks from other sites for that main reason. I find the books on the Sony site are not formatted quite so poorly. Having the alignment feature on the new reader will expand my purchasing possibilities.

[Tuna]

They could announce that wireless support will be through a wireless enabled SD card, that can be used with any of the existing Sony readers with suitable firmware.

Technically possible, but I'm not sure a non-integrated solution would be Sony's style.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by =X=

If they plan to have dictionary support for the 300 then they will have a non-touch screen solution, however going back to support the 505 is something they might not want to since they no longer sell 505.

=X=

The specs for the 300 do not mention dictionary support.