04-01-2021, 05:43 PM | #46 |
Evangelist
Posts: 401
Karma: 1597305
Join Date: Mar 2010
Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3
|
I don't often use my phone for reading but I do have a nobbled ipod touch that I use (everything turned off, no apps except the reader). But it'll only last for about 8 hours. They'll be my last iThings because I get annoyed trying to upload things onto it (among other things).
I have recently bought a Pocketbook reader and I haven't had to charge it since I bought it. It even coped with having almost my whole library downloaded onto it. For me, it's nicer to read on. It even has a not too bright back light for night reading. Noice! |
04-01-2021, 07:28 PM | #47 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,464
Karma: 25996225
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3
|
I think it is safe to say that Mobileread participants are heavily skewed to prefer eReaders, as this discussion suggests. We are self-selected device enthusiasts.
However, in the general population of ebook consumers, there are reasons to think that is not the case: Reading can happen on a variety of devices: desktops/laptops, tablets, smartphones, eReaders. Of these categories, eReaders are the least ‘popular’ by far. Ebook consumers are more likely to have one, but given proliferation of smartphones, are likely to have a mobile device as well. Customers buying from Apple or Google are very unlikely to be reading those on eReaders. Perhaps this represents 5-10% of ebook consumption worldwide. That leaves Amazon, Kobo, and B&N (Pocketbook in EU?) as the major storefronts tied to eReader devices. B&N is US - only, but Kobo and Amazon have pretty decent availability worldwide (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and India). (AFAICT, China has a rapidly expanding ebook market, but is mostly closed to ‘outsiders’ — and they have their own brands of eReaders and storefronts). Kobo and B&N customers probably still favor eReaders: both companies continue to design and release new ones, while the mobile apps have not evolved a lot. The Kobo app in particular is uninspiring. The Nook app is better, and lately has been getting more substantive updates, it has been awhile since a new eReader shipped, and a new Nook-branded tablet is shipping, so perhaps they are changing emphasis based on the consumption patterns of their customers and the expense of designing their own devices. By contrast, despite the early success of Kindle, the Kindle platform soon expanded to other platforms: Kindle apps for iOS, Android, Blackberry, webOS, macOS, Windows and Windows mobile, and later, of course, FireOS. Today, iOS and Android apps are updated monthly and new features tend to arrive there first. Kindle updates roll out more slowly (part of that may be due to constraints of eReader hardware). And it has been 20 months since the latest model shipped, the longest interval in the history of Kindle. What this all suggests is to me is that the majority or at least plurality of usage happens on mobile platforms, not eReaders and therefore eReaders cannot be characterized as ‘popular’. |
Advert | |
|
04-01-2021, 10:39 PM | #48 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,738
Karma: 26006874
Join Date: Sep 2017
Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26
|
I have a smartphone, an eReader, a tablet, a super small MP3 player and a computer. Each excels in it's own niche. I also have a laptop, but that gets very infrequent use, since it doesn't excel at anything (in most every case, a different device is better).
I prefer a dedicated device that does it's thing extremely well, rather than a jack of all trades, master at none device. The Smartphone is the jack of all trades. But it does excel at one specific task - phone calls - for everything else, it is a compromise. It's one claim to fame is that it's small - actually huge compared to the old flip phones - but you tend to have it with you all the time. However, it's small size is also it's downfall IMHO - it sucks for reading books or doing web surfing. The only thing I have that is smaller is that MP3 player (about 1"x1.5"x0.5") and it excels at audiobooks and listening to music on the go. A smartphone is like a multi-tool. It'll get you by in a pinch, but you really wish you had your real tools. Many people seem to worship their smartphone. Never taking their eyes off it - not while walking, not while in a group with others, not in bed, not in a restaurant, not in a theater, not while driving. Incessantly taking selfies and typing away on the thing. I'm not like that. And I don't understand that neurosis either. It's bizarre. They don't seem to know how to exist without the smartphone leading the way. For them, yes, I can see why they'd question the need for a separate eReader. They don't need anything EXCEPT a smartphone. It's their whole life. |
04-01-2021, 10:56 PM | #49 | |
Diligent dilettante
Posts: 3,416
Karma: 48736498
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: in my mind
Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra H2O
|
Quote:
I'm not contesting the "uninspiring" description of the Kobo app, as I hardly ever use it. I am, though curious to know in what ways the current Kindle app is less uninspiring. I have the latest versions of both on my Android tablet, and not struck by a huge difference in functionality. What am I missing? |
|
04-02-2021, 06:36 AM | #50 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,157
Karma: 63764653
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Glo HD
|
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
04-02-2021, 07:51 AM | #51 | |
o saeclum infacetum
Posts: 20,210
Karma: 222235366
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New England
Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5
|
Quote:
|
|
04-02-2021, 09:02 AM | #52 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,013
Karma: 19767610
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Device: ipad, Kindle PW, Kobo Clara; iphone 7
|
Quote:
|
|
04-02-2021, 09:24 AM | #53 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 73,897
Karma: 128597114
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Quote:
There are still things that can be done such as plastic backed screens for all devices, 32GB standard, 10.3" screen, the color light allowed to be whatever color the user wants, waterproof for all devices, faster processor, larger capacity battery, and more. |
|
04-02-2021, 10:22 AM | #54 |
Fanatic
Posts: 538
Karma: 13511506
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Cleveland, OH
Device: Voyage, Oasis, Kobo Glo HD,iPad Pro, Sony 350 and T2
|
That's a very good point. But I'd imagine even reading a regular book would be difficult with arthritis in the hands. But I do see the advantage of having a larger screen, as then you could have a larger font (if needed) but still fit more words on the page and have less taps/swipes, thus aggravating your arthritis less.
|
04-02-2021, 10:28 AM | #55 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,013
Karma: 19767610
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Device: ipad, Kindle PW, Kobo Clara; iphone 7
|
Quote:
I do see why some people would like larger screens. But my point was just that at some point, new models won’t actually add to core the reading experience. They’ll just encourage consumerism through a policy of planned obsolescence. Last edited by Victoria; 04-02-2021 at 10:48 AM. |
|
04-02-2021, 11:35 AM | #56 | |
Guru
Posts: 603
Karma: 12345678
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada
Device: none
|
Quote:
However, other then enormous books (which I'd split if they hadn't choked my computer in the attempt), I prefer to read my liberated ebooks on Moon+ Reader or EBookDroid for PDFs. To go back to the original topic I do all my ereading on a small android tablet that fits handily in my purse being one of those people who mostly reads indoors, doesn't have eye ache reading on a tablet as long as it's set fairly dim, and is rarely far from a charging station. |
|
04-02-2021, 11:46 AM | #57 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,081
Karma: 224450762
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
Quote:
|
|
04-02-2021, 11:58 AM | #58 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,464
Karma: 25996225
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3
|
Quote:
- specifically about Kindle, I would like them to implement Immersion Reading (synchronized audiobook and ebook), and bring back TTS (VoiceView screen reader doesn’t really fulfill the same use cases). Again this might benefit from a more specialized CPU and chipset, and perhaps more RAM than the existing lineup has. I would also welcome display improvements (still contrast is not great compared to LCD/OLED etc) but it doesn’t seem there are any on the horizon. But even with such enhancements, would it be enough to entice people from reading on smartphones and tablets? Last edited by tomsem; 04-02-2021 at 12:04 PM. |
|
04-02-2021, 01:47 PM | #59 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,589
Karma: 20086276
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Central Florida
Device: Oasis 3, PW 3, 4, 5, Fire HD 2012, Fire HD 8 (8th Gen)
|
I can't think of anything worse than reading a book on my phone, and I don't enjoy reading on a tablet unless forced (like scribd ebook rentals or hoopla ebook rentals), it's way too limiting.
That said, I don't think every reader needs to invest in an e-ink device, especially if they don't actually read much. |
04-02-2021, 02:00 PM | #60 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,081
Karma: 224450762
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
My personal experience is that many people who have never seen an ereader in life think they're similar to tablets. So they see no point in getting one if they already have a tablet. When I offered my Oasis 2 to my niece (who admittedly doesn't read much), she wasn't interested at first. She said she prefers paper. But later, when she had actually tried to read with the Oasis, she liked it. I don't think she's unique in this.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Is anyone actually collecting dedicated ebook Readers? | Dr. Drib | General Discussions | 6 | 02-01-2011 09:21 AM |
Dedicated E-Readers: They're History | Pranananda | News | 176 | 07-02-2010 12:41 AM |
Dedicated E-Readers: They're History | honey | General Discussions | 9 | 06-23-2010 08:59 PM |
E-book readers mentioned... positively, no less... in Jan 09 Popular Science | Steven Lyle Jordan | News | 2 | 12-26-2008 06:54 AM |
How popular are ebooks? | vikrahm | Introduce Yourself | 1 | 05-23-2008 04:14 PM |