I like e-readers now • Hacker News Board

Re: I like e-readers now

#171

Post by diob » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:07 PM UTC

fnomnom wrote: post #119

morsch wrote: post #100

I finally found a way to do remote page-turning for Kindle -- something I was trying to do for years. It does mean I have to read books on my Android phone instead of the Paperwhite. With OLED and white on black, I find it's pretty all right though. But I can finally rest the reader somewhere, on my knees, on a pillow, whatever, and click a remote button to get to the next page. Freedom! You enable volume button page…

i didnt know that i really really want this. attach the kindle in soem kind of flexible arm on the headrest and turn the pages with a small remote control.

I already do the flexible arm, it's great for helping me to fall asleep at night! I read and read until I can't keep my eyes open.

Re: I like e-readers now

#172

Post by frakkingcylons » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:13 PM UTC

0des wrote: post #168

arsome wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main difference is they use e-paper displays which reflect light rather than emit it. Less eye strain due to less difference in amplitude to ambient light.

At least in the case of the new ereader amazon just released, some of them include LED backlighting.

LED backlights have been available in ereaders from Amazon, Kobo, and others for a while now. The first kindle paperwhite with LED backlights came out in 2012.

Re: I like e-readers now

#173

Post by stinkytaco » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:13 PM UTC

morsch wrote: post #109

stinkytaco wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've never understood how this isn't a standard feature with standalone Kindles. Is this an accessibility issue? I work fairly extensively with ebook devices and users in my job and this has never come up, I doubt it even occurs to most people, which probably answers your question. However, I also work quite a bit with accessibility (for which the Kindle is excellent for many common challenges that come with age) a…

No, for me it's just a laziness issue. ;) I just enjoy not having to hold the device. I can just rest my arms wherever they naturally would rest. Or put them under the sheets when the bedroom is cold. Etc.

Fair enough.

I can see this being useful for someone with Parkinson's or even someone who just has trouble regularly lifting their arm (they can lift a book and place it, but flipping the pages would just tire their arm out). I now wish there was a straightforward remote control you could buy with the Kindle.

Re: I like e-readers now

#174

Post by jorgesborges » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

morsch wrote: post #109

stinkytaco wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've never understood how this isn't a standard feature with standalone Kindles. Is this an accessibility issue? I work fairly extensively with ebook devices and users in my job and this has never come up, I doubt it even occurs to most people, which probably answers your question. However, I also work quite a bit with accessibility (for which the Kindle is excellent for many common challenges that come with age) a…

No, for me it's just a laziness issue. ;) I just enjoy not having to hold the device. I can just rest my arms wherever they naturally would rest. Or put them under the sheets when the bedroom is cold. Etc.

When I’m in bed I often turn the page with my nose, as one hand is holding the kindle and the other is holding hands with my SO, or petting the cat. So I understand the laziness and am interested in this but it’s a lot of work for a lazy person.

Edit: while we’re on the topic can we solve accidentally dropping phones on our face in bed?

Re: I like e-readers now

#175

Post by stinkytaco » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:17 PM UTC

dnilasor wrote: post #163

stinkytaco wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon has their hooks deep into Overdrive in exchange for supporting Kindle delivery for library books, so I doubt this will ever get better. Overdrive has moved its focus to its mobile app. I hope Kobo support will improve, but I am not optimistic.

It seems like they have deprecated their OD branded app in favor of the "Libby" app, right? Which does have better UX. It is really gross how Amazon feels the need to control the means of delivery used by most library systems :facepalm:

Yes, it's Libby going forward. It fairness, Kindle delivery is very easy if you are not a tech savvy person, which a lot of library users are not. They have a Kindle because they desire the accessibility tools (larger printer, lighter weight) or their kids bought it for them or whatever. Being able to do delivery just like they would buy a book is great. But Amazon requires prominent Kindle branding and locks the Libby app out of their app store, so it's also somewhat annoying if you are a librarian who doesn't want to promote a specific brand. But the Kindle is such a huge part of our user base, it's hard to go back now. Other methods work, there's just nothing as smooth as the Kindle.

Re: I like e-readers now

#176

Post by kenmacd » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:20 PM UTC

admax88qqq wrote: post #122

grlass wrote: post #92

Worth highlighting the Open Book Project [1], an open source e-reader hardware design and software stack. The design is open, and you can make your own with commodity parts. People are starting to sell PCBs, and complete devices. It has its own open software stack, and I hope will have a variety of vendors in the coming years. Ofc the e-ink patent issues remain, but this goes some of the way to solve things at the e-…

Super cool. I feel like the bigger struggle will be getting actual books. Unless you pirate them, most books are encumbered with DRM.

It's very easy to remove that DRM. Personally I don't log in to my kobo so library books get stripped before being copied over (the kobo acts as a usb storage device).

Re: I like e-readers now

#177

Post by koof » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:23 PM UTC

I resonate with the author preferring to read an e-reader than a book when their mind is more amped up. Why is it easier to read from a mutable screen than paper when I'm frazzled?

Re: I like e-readers now

#178

Post by acomjean » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:24 PM UTC

stinkytaco wrote: post #106

morsch wrote: post #100

I finally found a way to do remote page-turning for Kindle -- something I was trying to do for years. It does mean I have to read books on my Android phone instead of the Paperwhite. With OLED and white on black, I find it's pretty all right though. But I can finally rest the reader somewhere, on my knees, on a pillow, whatever, and click a remote button to get to the next page. Freedom! You enable volume button page…

> I've never understood how this isn't a standard feature with standalone Kindles. Is this an accessibility issue? I work fairly extensively with ebook devices and users in my job and this has never come up, I doubt it even occurs to most people, which probably answers your question. However, I also work quite a bit with accessibility (for which the Kindle is excellent for many common challenges that come with age) a…

Another use case is musicians.

There is a whole market of foot pedals for tablets/e-readers to flip music scores and now can do so with their feet.

Re: I like e-readers now

#179

Post by mdp2021 » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:24 PM UTC

ojagodzinski wrote: post #121

sharikous wrote: post #68

I really like e-readers and e-books, mainly for the reasons commenters pointed out (much lighter than physical books, configurable font size, etc..). But there are big downsides too. Mainly the market discourages ownership on the one hand and encourages piracy on the other hand. The result is that DRM protections are everywhere and some authors like Jonathan Lewin were burned up by e-book piracy and reverted to only…

> The result is that DRM protections are everywhere Not everywhere, in Poland ebooks are only watermarked, there is no DRM protection and you get epub/mobi/pdf copies of every ebook you buy.

From which reseller / publisher?

Re: I like e-readers now

#180

Post by sandyarmstrong » Tue, Sep 21, 2021, 5:27 PM UTC

UncleOxidant wrote: post #128

f0e4c2f7 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish there were a Netflix like model for books. I think Amazon has a service like that, but without very much content (last time I checked). If the selection was good I would be happy to pay monthly for what is effectively a library card (which is basically how you do that today with ebooks but for free. Much worse user experience than piracy unfortunately) I too love ebooks by the way. Between that and audiobooks…

> If the selection was good I would be happy to pay monthly for what is effectively a library card Libraries offer this service for free. Our local library has a huge and increasing number of ebooks available.

They do, yes. However, libraries typically have a very small number of "copies" of ebooks available to loan, which means there can be quite a queue. Add to this that there is literally no incentive for the person who checked it out to "return" it when finished, which means ebooks are always kept out for their maximum borrowing time. As a result, it can be months before a popular book is available to borrow.

It's a very frustrating situation for an artificially-constrained supply.

Putting physical books on hold at the library is a much faster experience. You can still initiate it online, but you get your copy much faster. And you naturally return the book when finished because this lines up with when you go in to get your next book.

I use Overdrive for both ebooks and audio books, and I really appreciate the service, but it's really not a "Netflix for books". This is like saying Visual Source Safe, which prevented you from editing files a coworker had "checked out", is just as good as git. :-)