kindle X-ray

bZkindle · 09-28-2011, 11:49 PM

I think this is brilliant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbzOLua2baw

OtterBooks · 09-29-2011, 01:08 AM

Is X-ray only for the touch version? That would be unfortunate. I can see how the touch version would make it easier, but it should still be doable with the d-pad.

JeremyR · 09-29-2011, 02:29 AM

I wonder if this is why the touch has less room for books than the keyboard version? (3000 vs 3500 on the comparison chart, though both are listed as 4GB)

Some of that info is stored on it on the 4GB of storage? Like a encyclopedia?

And probably has a faster CPU, which would help search. The dictionary can be a little sluggish on mine

bZkindle · 09-29-2011, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I wonder if this is why the touch has less room for books than the keyboard version? (3000 vs 3500 on the comparison chart, though both are listed as 4GB)

Some of that info is stored on it on the 4GB of storage? Like a encyclopedia?

My understanding of it, based on Bezos presentation, is that it will be incorporated into the ebooks themselves, but I could be wrong.

beckywc · 09-29-2011, 03:22 AM

From watching and listening to the video, it is sidecar file, like the apnx, phl, etc.

rollercoaster · 09-29-2011, 03:39 AM

For X-Ray, when a new book is purchased/downloaded then this additional information is also downloaded but in a separate/side-by-side file.. That means no connectivity required. Conversely it may also mean that the data is fixed and if they missed something then you have to go searching manually.

What I am really interested is in, perhaps custom methods can be used to create these files of side-by-side content with books(calibre plugin anyone?), unless amazon restricts is to DRMed ebook purchases.

I can imagine how awesome this would be when reading a popular title (only popular title will have information that goes beyond 'facts'). All the extra info would make it worth re-reading the favorites/classics. There can be various features like writer/critics commentary, and all sorts of story/book/meta related information.

eg, Teachers could create this side-by-side data to aid students by linking various topics and what not.

Very exciting.

tubemonkey · 09-29-2011, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Is X-ray only for the touch version? That would be unfortunate. I can see how the touch version would make it easier, but it should still be doable with the d-pad.

Yep; sure looks like it.

tubemonkey · 09-29-2011, 03:55 AM

My question - who chooses the terms and links available for this detailed search?

max99 · 09-29-2011, 04:32 AM

i like kindle because it's distraction free....you and the book in direct contact. all this extra fluff is unnecessary imho.

JeremyR · 09-29-2011, 04:39 AM

Ah, okay, so basically like an annotated version of the book? (only have to tap to see the notes).

Nice idea, but considering that a lot of publishers can't even proofread/format their books properly, it seems like creating a file full of notes is going to be unlikely, especially since it's only for a subset of Kindle owners/users.

bZkindle · 09-29-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My question - who chooses the terms and links available for this detailed search?

I'm presuming it's some kind of computerized algorithm that just plucks entries from Wikipedia.

bZkindle · 09-29-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max99

i like kindle because it's distraction free....you and the book in direct contact. all this extra fluff is unnecessary imho.

Normally, I might agree with you.
This I think, while not as useful as an encyclopedia, does a good job of coming close.
You wouldn't call the dictionary feature 'extra fluff' would you?
I call the social networking features 'fluff' myself, and am thankful I never see them.

OtterBooks · 09-29-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yep; sure looks like it.

That sucks imo. Yes the navigation via d-pad would be clunkier, but so what? So are word lookups. I see no reason why not to let the d-pad navigate Xray. Let me decide if it's worth the effort. I hope they add it in a software update, or I may just be sticking with my K3.

tlrowley · 09-29-2011, 01:15 PM

I don't know that the data is publisher provided. One of the videos I watched talked about getting the data from Shelfari (not getting it on-the-fly, but sourcing it from Shelfari)

I echo the hopes for a Calibre plugin

One of the things that might make me cancel my pre-order is the thought of losing all the Calibe/plugin goodness that I currently use on my K3

ETA - yes, Shelfari does seem to be the source. In this video, at about the 2:05 mark he starts demoing x-ray, and a few seconds later he mentions Shelfari.

jswinden · 09-29-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Nice idea, but considering that a lot of publishers can't even proofread/format their books properly, it seems like creating a file full of notes is going to be unlikely, especially since it's only for a subset of Kindle owners/users.

Agree with first part about publishers not taking the time to do this, or at least do it right. Most of the books I've bought recently still don't even show page numbers!

I don't think I would consider the Kindle books a subset though. Publishers will quickly tell you that 67% of their eBooks are sold through Amazon and that eBook sales through all the other stores combined only account for about 33%. So I would say that all the other stores, including all the ePub books, are the actual subset.

09-28-2011, 11:49 PM	#1
bZkindle Fanatic Posts: 510 Karma: 1025024 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada City, Soviet Canuckistan Device: k2, k3G, kindle DXG, Sony T-1, iPad, iPhone, stone tablet	kindle X-ray I think this is brilliant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbzOLua2baw

09-29-2011, 01:15 PM	#14
tlrowley Quilt Geek Posts: 472 Karma: 91775 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA Device: Kindle	I don't know that the data is publisher provided. One of the videos I watched talked about getting the data from Shelfari (not getting it on-the-fly, but sourcing it from Shelfari) I echo the hopes for a Calibre plugin One of the things that might make me cancel my pre-order is the thought of losing all the Calibe/plugin goodness that I currently use on my K3 ETA - yes, Shelfari does seem to be the source. In this video, at about the 2:05 mark he starts demoing x-ray, and a few seconds later he mentions Shelfari. Last edited by tlrowley; 09-29-2011 at 01:26 PM.

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09-29-2011, 01:08 AM	#2
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	Is X-ray only for the touch version? That would be unfortunate. I can see how the touch version would make it easier, but it should still be doable with the d-pad.

09-29-2011, 02:29 AM	#3
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	I wonder if this is why the touch has less room for books than the keyboard version? (3000 vs 3500 on the comparison chart, though both are listed as 4GB) Some of that info is stored on it on the 4GB of storage? Like a encyclopedia? And probably has a faster CPU, which would help search. The dictionary can be a little sluggish on mine

09-29-2011, 03:22 AM	#5
beckywc Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 1050426 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Device: iPad Mini w/Retina, Kindle 3, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9, & Asus Transformer	From watching and listening to the video, it is sidecar file, like the apnx, phl, etc.

09-29-2011, 03:39 AM	#6
rollercoaster Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 1826 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle 2	For X-Ray, when a new book is purchased/downloaded then this additional information is also downloaded but in a separate/side-by-side file.. That means no connectivity required. Conversely it may also mean that the data is fixed and if they missed something then you have to go searching manually. What I am really interested is in, perhaps custom methods can be used to create these files of side-by-side content with books(calibre plugin anyone?), unless amazon restricts is to DRMed ebook purchases. I can imagine how awesome this would be when reading a popular title (only popular title will have information that goes beyond 'facts'). All the extra info would make it worth re-reading the favorites/classics. There can be various features like writer/critics commentary, and all sorts of story/book/meta related information. eg, Teachers could create this side-by-side data to aid students by linking various topics and what not. Very exciting.

09-29-2011, 03:55 AM	#8
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	My question - who chooses the terms and links available for this detailed search?

09-29-2011, 04:32 AM	#9
max99 Addict Posts: 201 Karma: 1300000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle DXG, PW	i like kindle because it's distraction free....you and the book in direct contact. all this extra fluff is unnecessary imho.

09-29-2011, 04:39 AM	#10
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Ah, okay, so basically like an annotated version of the book? (only have to tap to see the notes). Nice idea, but considering that a lot of publishers can't even proofread/format their books properly, it seems like creating a file full of notes is going to be unlikely, especially since it's only for a subset of Kindle owners/users.