Will 5-6 inch smartphones force . . .

[leebase]

Originally Posted by rcentros

When I was up in Idaho this spring, I got to read outside a lot in nice weather. But it doesn't happen much in Texas (though I did read out on the balcony when I was in Galveston -- before going to Idaho).

I live in the Midwest...when it’s nice outside, there is shade. I don’t sun bathe or just sit out in bright sunlight. Well, Imdid when my kids played soccer. But I read on my phone when my kids weren’t playing even then

No doubt eInk would look nicer in that situation. It’s just such a small amount of my reading time. Far more is in my home, in low to no light

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Older models lacked built-in lighting. That was a major deal breaker for me so prior to getting a tablet, I'd more often read on a 3.5" retina iPhone than on the Sony PRS-350.

They're also easier to use for browsing libraries and downloading certain content to (e.g. library books, Hoopla Digital borrows, fanfics, etc).

No problem downloading library books directly to my Kobo these days!

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by meeera

No problem downloading library books directly to my Kobo these days!

I thought only the Aura ONE had built-in OverDrive support?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I thought only the Aura ONE had built-in OverDrive support?

They've given it to all the current models ... Clara, Aura (Ed 2) and the new H2O (Ed 2?).

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by rcentros

They've given it to all the current models ... Clara, Aura (Ed 2) and the new H2O (Ed 2?).

That's good. Alas, mine is a Glo HD and to be honest, I rarely use it as I find the PW3's tapered, curved edges more comfy in hand.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

That's good. Alas, mine is a Glo HD and to be honest, I rarely use it as I find the PW3's tapered, curved edges more comfy in hand.

My brother got a Kobo Touch 2.0 (which I understand is the same size and shape as the Glo HD). I'm not convinced that smaller bezels are always better, though he has the Kobo Sleep Cover for it, which helps.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My brother got a Kobo Touch 2.0 (which I understand is the same size and shape as the Glo HD). I'm not convinced that smaller bezels are always better, though he has the Kobo Sleep Cover for it, which helps.

Personally I actually dislike bezels that are too small, because it becomes very hard to hold the device with one hand.

My phone has that problem. It basically balances in my hand (it's small enough to do so), and the KA1 has that problem to some extent as well. That device is too big for balancing, so if your thumb leaves the very small bezel (which it has to, to turn a page), there's always the risk of the device slipping and falling.

I don't like holding a device with my hand wrapped around the back, because anything bigger than a 5 inch phone with small bezels is too big already. I've got small hands for someone of my size and length.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My brother got a Kobo Touch 2.0 (which I understand is the same size and shape as the Glo HD). I'm not convinced that smaller bezels are always better, though he has the Kobo Sleep Cover for it, which helps.

The PW3 actually has bigger bezels than the Glo HD. What I meant by tapered edges is that the PW3's back curves thinner towards the edges kinda like what you see on some smartphones (e.g. Moto G). Meanwhile, the Glo HD is more boxy.

[John F]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

The PW3 actually has bigger bezels than the Glo HD. What I meant by tapered edges is that the PW3's back curves thinner towards the edges kinda like what you see on some smartphones (e.g. Moto G). Meanwhile, the Glo HD is more boxy.

Looking at my Glo HD, I would describe the back side edges as slightly tapered. Looking at pictures of a PW3, I would describe the back edges as rounded.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

the dedicated eReader hardware manufacturers into offering larger screen devices? (even the 'cheaper' ones?).

It used to be a terrible PIA to read on a smartphone. Not so much any more! Those 5 and 6 inch screens offer a fairly comfortable read for a non eInk device.

Does anyone see a 7 inch Paperwhite happening any time soon? I think that would interest me quite a bit.

I've had a 5" ereader and I have a 5.5" phone. The ereader is larger than the phone. Size alone doesn't say anything. Not even if you take bezels into account. Aspect ratio is also very important. That 5" ereader was 4:3, my phone is 16:9. And the current (in my eyes horrible) craze is not so much making phones larger, but rather make them longer. 18:9 is mostly standard by now, and the first 19:9 phones are out there also. I prefer either 4:3 or 16:10... (shorter, but wider, instead of longer but narrower).

Line length is getting too short on those narrow devices...

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I've had a 5" ereader and I have a 5.5" phone. The ereader is larger than the phone. Size alone doesn't say anything. Not even if you take bezels into account. Aspect ratio is also very important. That 5" ereader was 4:3, my phone is 16:9. And the current (in my eyes horrible) craze is not so much making phones larger, but rather make them longer. 18:9 is mostly standard by now, and the first 19:9 phones are out there also. I prefer either 4:3 or 16:10... (shorter, but wider, instead of longer but narrower).

Line length is getting too short on those narrow devices...

Yes, exactly. Personally I don't want my phone to be over 5'', because a larger phone would be too uncomfortable to use on the go. I wouldn't read on my phone anyway, I don't even watch movies or TV on my phone (except in a pinch), so a 6'' phone is IMHO a pretty pointless device. Of course other people have different opinions on the matter and obviously there is a market for huge smartphones. They're just not for me.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I've had a 5" ereader and I have a 5.5" phone. The ereader is larger than the phone. Size alone doesn't say anything. Not even if you take bezels into account. Aspect ratio is also very important. That 5" ereader was 4:3, my phone is 16:9. And the current (in my eyes horrible) craze is not so much making phones larger, but rather make them longer. 18:9 is mostly standard by now, and the first 19:9 phones are out there also. I prefer either 4:3 or 16:10... (shorter, but wider, instead of longer but narrower).

Line length is getting too short on those narrow devices...

I would guess this is done because there's a limit to how wide a phone can be and still be held comfortably as a phone (at least for those of us with small hands).

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I would guess this is done because there's a limit to how wide a phone can be and still be held comfortably as a phone (at least for those of us with small hands).

I don't understand the idea behind that reasoning. Yes, the screen is larger, but line width is shorter. I often already rotate my phone because I find the screen too narrow to read comfortably. And I have a 16:9 phone!

But I ordered a new phone (6", also 16:9), so, I'll have to see how it holds in my hand (not that I often hold my phone in my hand, I'm one of the few that doesn't always have her phone with her...)

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I don't understand the idea behind that reasoning. Yes, the screen is larger, but line width is shorter. I often already rotate my phone because I find the screen too narrow to read comfortably. And I have a 16:9 phone!

But I ordered a new phone (6", also 16:9), so, I'll have to see how it holds in my hand (not that I often hold my phone in my hand, I'm one of the few that doesn't always have her phone with her...)

My personal suspicion (And I am a pretty suspicious guy!) is that it is more about fitting into a pocket than it is fitting the hand.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I don't understand the idea behind that reasoning.

As screens get longer, the screen surface gets smaller when having the same diagonal. Compare:

width = 3 inch (900px, for example)
height = 4 inch (1200px, for example)
diagonal = 5 inch (1500px)
Total pixels: 1.080.000

Now imagine how huge the diameter of a screen would be, if it was one pixel wide, and 1.080.000 pixels tall. Keeping it at 5 inch when being one pixel wide, would lose a lot of surface area.

Thus, taller/wider screens are cheaper to make, because they contain less pixels as compared to 4:3 or 5:4 screens. (1:1 screens would have the most surface at a given diagonal.)