I have a SGT 7.7, it has a 7.7 inch SuperAmoled display and is running ICS. When I read on it I always read white on black. For epubs I currently use Aldiko and for pdfs I use RepligoReader. I recently started to read a lot again and was thinking of getting a dedicated reading device.
Main reason being the e-ink screen to ensure I don't get eye cancer too soon. Second being the battery life, so I dont waste the battery on my 7.7 just staring at text for hours. Third I don't like (physical) books, because they are heavy, get dirty, bend and stuff.
I'm from Germany, I can get the Glow for about 150€ on eBay and the NST for like 120 AUD (I'm stil in Australia till next Wednesday ).
Does the B&N store work in Germany?, if it doesn't where can I buy books from?
I own a SGT 7.0 myself, and still use my NST. Mine is not a glow. Those have some apparent issues with light "hotspots" developing, so I'm waiting until those are resolved. The NST has several advantages:
1. The eInk screen is very easy on the eyes, and is quite usable outdoors, even in sunlight. If you do not have good lighting, it won't work without some light, or you opt for the Glow version. It is far easier to read outdoors than a color glossy screen, even in the shade. Contrast is excellent.
2. The NST is very light, and easy to handle for an extended period without the hand cramping up. My SGT 7.0 is significantly lighter and smaller than the NOOK Color or Tablet, so this isn't so big a deal. I'm not sure how the 7.7 compares.
3. The NST is cheap, or at least cheap enough that I'm not scared to take it with me to the beach, or outdoors. Obviously, it's not waterproof, and I do put it in a case outdoors, but it's not the end of the world if it is killed, whereas my SGT is much more important to me.
4. Battery life on the NST is phenomenal. I don't get anywhere near the "2 months" that B&N advertises, but I'm easily good for a week to 10 days of regular use. It also charges quickly from any USB power source, so there are no big wall adapter concerns. YMMV, of course.
5. Once rooted, the NST does many of the key things my SGT and my laptop do. I can check email, calendar, todo list, travel plans and even some light web browsing on it with few problems. It's not as nice to use as a bigger color device, but it works well enough that I can take it along as my sole device where a bigger device would be awkward.
From everything I'm reading at the B&N forums, you can only purchase books from B&N if you have a credit card with a US billing address. This seems to change from time to time, but a lot of Canadian buyers are upset. However, this needn't matter to you. Root the thing, and you can use the reader of your choice and just shop for ebooks where they're cheapest. I much prefer Mantano Reader myself, since it handles both epub and PDF formats well. B&N's library is famous for losing shelving (organization) data.
I find the NST a useful complement to my SGT. I wouldn't call it an essential, but it is definitely nice to have.
I own a tablet (HP Touchpad CM9) and a large-screen smartphone (Galaxy S3).
I prefer reading on my rooted Nook Glowlight.
It's thin. It's light. I can read it in sunlight. I can read it in the dark. It lasts a LONG time on a charge. It acts as a low-end Android Tablet in a pinch (for web searches, etc).
The glowlight LED "flashlighting" effects at the top of the screen are minimal. The light zones are neatly negated when using a reader like Cool Reader that places the reader status bar on the upper portion of the screen.
I only have 2 complaints:
1. Sometimes the lighting changes slightly in intensity when you have it at the lower-end of its brightness settings and you do something like turn a page.
2. Until you get used to it, holding it can be a problem. Your thumb may hit the screen. (Solution? Turn off touch-zones in whatever reader program you use.)
If you root your Nook and use Calibre to de-DRM and convert your books, you can read anything you buy anywhere.
Back in Germany, about to order a Nook. Looking at the prices on eBay I can get the NST for 79€ and the Glowlight for 139€. Getting a LED clip on light for 8 bucks should also do the job, right. It would save me 50 bucks to get NST + LED-light instead of the Glowlight.
{Diemex} said:
Back in Germany, about to order a Nook. Looking at the prices on eBay I can get the NST for 79€ and the Glowlight for 139€. Getting a LED clip on light for 8 bucks should also do the job, right. It would save me 50 bucks to get NST + LED-light instead of the Glowlight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Over on the B&N forum, there have been a number of reports of early NSTG screens developing "bright spots", not all of which are due to scratches or dents. Apparently, there's some concern about the manufacturing process causing some separation between the "screen protector" and the screen itself. Others have reported significant screen contrast issues, or banding.
Personally, I'm waiting for B&N to perfect the process of building the NSTG before buying one. I'd also like to be able to fully utilize Nook Touch Tools capabilities on it. For this reason, I'm sticking with a NST (non-glow) for now. The Glow is awesome and lighter, but I don't want to worry about return issues, even living near a B&N store. I honestly don't find myself reading in the dark that often, and when I do, my Samsung tablet is better anyhow.
I read the NST only has only 250mb availible for sideloaded books, can one unlock the remaining 750mb somehow?
Does anyone know the Sony PRS T1? It runs Android aswell and can be rooted too. Its only 15€ more, at least in my case.
This is a similar dilema that I went through recently. I have a Galaxy Tab 8.9 with the same screen as the 7.7.
I have read nothing but ebooks going back to about 2005, first on windows mobile then moving to Android in 2010. I chose the 8.9 because I thought it would be better than a 10" screen for book reading. I was not disappointed, it still works great.
I was planning a beach vacation for this summer, and was worried about outdoor reading on the 8.9. I bought a matte finish screen protector to help with outdoor glare, and while it was an improvement, it was not a cure. Looking into ereaders, I knew I did not want the Kindle, because I get my book from alternate sources, not Amazon. Came across the NST GL, found you could sideload books, and it has the back lighting. I have read the reports about the hotspotting, but there is no contest to the flexibility of a backlit e-ink screen. Since the first e-ink readers, I always stood up for LCDs, because of available active back lighting and continuously variable brightness. I could always find a comfortable and pleasant contrast level, in bright or dark areas.
The NST GL is on another level. The wonderful contrast, good (not perfect) back lighting and light weight make it a winner. All of the add-on lights for Kindles are a poor substitute for true back lighting. I am not sure a regular e-ink screen would have worked for me, but I am converted. I will keep the 8.9 as I use it for many other things, but when I really want to read, the NST GL is all but perfect.
B
Related
http://gizmodo.com/5686161/samsung-galaxy-tab-review-a-pocketable-train-wreck
Apologies if this is a repost -- searched, and didn't find this reference.
Scathing review by Gizmodo. Judging by their review (and much of it is simply fact-based, not spin -- for example the issues with Swype), I'd never go near this thing.
Basically, it sounds like the Galaxy S phone ROM put on the Tab. I.e., everything designed for the phone screen size simply on a larger screen, with a few exceptions.
What a disaster of an idea. Many things that work with the finger interface on a 3.7" screen become impossible to "thumb-swipe", or become annoying to finger-swype with any finger when it is simply larger. Swype seems to be a poster-child for this.
I agree that this idea of Samsung's to "tween" a tablet between a phone and the iPad was an idiotic idea. Gizmodo makes the point that a Tablet is all about size, not compactness. That's the point. You want something compact, you get a smartphone on steroids, like the Epic. You buy a tablet to supplement a phone, not replace it. It replaces books, notepads, folios, etc. -- not your phone.
Samsung, are you listening? Here's the ultimate tablet, better than the iPad: Same size or even a little bigger than the iPad screen, higher resolution. Linux/Android OS, redesigned (as well as apps) from the ground up for the larger screen experience, not simply scaled up because they're on a larger screen.
And here's the key, something that's been a complete mystery to me about cell phones, the only explanation I can think of is cost: An LCD screen using the same technology Garmin uses for their Vista Cx handheld GPS.
This technology is the absolute best, most versatile, most readable color screen technology that I have ever encountered, anywhere. It is like a kindle -- except in color -- in direct sunlight... the brighter the incident light on the screen, the sharper and brighter the display. In darker environments, the adjustable backlight produces just as awesome results.
I don't know how this LCD display is constructed, but it accomplishes well the task of reflecting back through the display incident light, as well as allowing backlighting to achieve the same effect.
It's amazing. White is bright and very white in sunlight.
Probably quite expensive. Is it justified for a phone? While we'd probably all have a technogasm to have such a phone, I can see that it probably isn't justified from a cost perspective and whatever market analysis they've done.
A tablet is a very different proposition. It needs to be used in the same environments as a Kindle and that where a self-lit laptop would be. The perfect display tech is what I describe above. Even Apple is moronic not to incur the extra cost for this, maybe in a high-end model, and charge the extra $100 or so for it. Then market the hell out of the feature.
I believe they'd make a killing.
So, back to the thread topic, I can stomach an iPad, given all the objectionable aspects to it (iOS being enough). However, looks like it'll be a year or two wait before someone really does an Android tab even close to right, and it won't be Samsung, their software arm being such an incompetent bunch of Keystone Cops (like we didn't know that already).
And, I have no hope of my display technology wet dream. But I needed to get it off my chest.
Can some help me out with how the PixelQi screen compares to E Ink? So far, the reviews I have read have stated that the screen is pretty bad for indoor reading without specifying how bad. Apart from PixelQi, I guess the Xoom is a far better tablet than Adam though obviously more expensive (rumored). If the PixelQi screen is as bad as the reviews state it to be, I guess the wait for the best PDF e-reader continues.
Secondly, I wonder why none of the big companies have taken a liking so far to PixelQi. Hopefully, the Lattice Innoversal will come out soon and provide a second glimpse of PixelQi in action on a tablet.
Someone posted a video of it in action and it looked good to me. It requires light on the screen to reflect back the picture, so it may need more than an ereader.
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
As I have a pixelQi enabled adam in my lap right now, I can state that while the pixelQi in the adam is /not/ a perfect replacement to e-ink
(The extra glossy glass layer added to the top of the pixelQi display removes some of it's benefit, sadly, as light has to travel further to hit the actual pixelqi display, so it doesn't diffuse right, if I'm thinking of the right word)
It is, however, pretty awesome if you've got the right lighting. I work in a very well lit office, and actually prefer reading off the kindle app with the pixelQi mode enabled (backlight off) and it works ok. However, under normal lamp light, it's not as good as the kindle is.
I wonder how out would work under airplane light. Also, is it only greyscale our is there color with just the pixel qi screen on?
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
I am guessing that is one of the reasons why it has not been adopted by any major player...most of them seem more interested in Mirasol. My question was rather related to flights - I wonder how easy it is to read on flights with Adam.
If this is the case, I wonder why there is so much enthusiasm over Adam. It has terrible support if not for XDA folks and the hardware is similar to Xoom. I guess that's what happens when a bunch of engineers try and run a company. I guess I will have a bunch of Solomon Adamites running wild on me for my comments but most of my words come from experience with startups. Adam for the present is just acting as a stop gap solution to the non iPad tablet market. It has potential but they better hire a business guy.
Again, the PixelQi screen is still pretty great, it just seems the glass layer ontop of it from the adam is a bit too thick to use it to its full potential.
Unfortunately, I cannot say as far as airplane light, as my next flight won't be until march. If you mean as in light from the windows, yes, that will be more than bright enough to light it up for great visibility. If you mean the dinky little overhead lamp you push in to turn on when the rest of the plane is dark, I'm not sure.
As far as enthusiasm over the adam, I agree, so far there has been a bunch of missteps from the company, with them having blog posts about finding matte glass, then it ending up as a matte screen protector, a bunch of shipping debacles and misinformation about dates, and other issues. However, I can say the hardware itself is quite solid. If you ignore the eden UI (which, when working is pretty great), the pure android experience is great.
If you consider that the adam has the identical hardware to the xoom (with possibly a different/unique/betterdependingonopinion screen), and the fact the Xoom is currently looking to be launched at $800 after contract, the adam is a /waaay/ better deal for the cash.
I of course can only speak from my experience, but so far I'm really enjoying the adam. Only real complaint I've had is that the GPS is either not working or somehow calibrated wrong, as it thinks I'm in China.
Edit: Sirchuk, to answer your question, depending on the light, there is still some color to be visible. We're talking /slight/ color, as far as I can tell, but it's there. If you don't have enough light you'll really only see white/grey, as far as I can tell.
The original CES video showed that with direct sunlight the screen was full color to the point of almost HD quality. I don't think that is the case anymore.
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
I also think one of the reasons NI can afford to price it so less is because they don't have to worry about Service, Support, Marketing, Legal, etc.,
The Matte and Glossy goof up is unforgivable. I was seriously hoping that NI would solve my PDF e-reader problem but I guess I will need to wait
The Xoom and the Adam don't have the same hardware -- they just have the same SoC. While it does make the similar, they are not the same. It's the same comparison with the ViewSonic G-Tab... same SoC != Same Hardware. There's a number of other things to consider...
(Storage, Screen, RAM, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G/2G, Materials, Build Quality, Support, etc, etc.)
True, they aren't the same, but should deliver the same/similar functionality. Sure, the Adam doesn't have as high a resolution LCD (close) but it's also about half the price.
$425 shipped for the base model Adam, vs a rumored $800 shipped for the Xoom? I think Verizon will sell it for $700 after a subsidy, but that's still a steep price difference.
Honestly, I was set on a Xoom, until I compared the two and judged that the differences weren't worth almost twice the price.
Yep, I guess even am going in for the Adam mainly for the hardware but the FCC pics did look scary
Sirchuk said:
True, they aren't the same, but should deliver the same/similar functionality. Sure, the Adam doesn't have as high a resolution LCD (close) but it's also about half the price.
$425 shipped for the base model Adam, vs a rumored $800 shipped for the Xoom? I think Verizon will sell it for $700 after a subsidy, but that's still a steep price difference.
Honestly, I was set on a Xoom, until I compared the two and judged that the differences weren't worth almost twice the price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like joshua.lyon said, the viewsonic g tablet has the "same" (similar) hardware. It is available at your local Kmart or Sears, so no waiting and it's about half the price of the xoom at $399. It already has hacker/developer support, etc..
But then again that "same" (similar), isn't similar enough... IMHO Xoom<Adam just because it's 1 or 2 hardware differences, mainly the option of PQi, lack of USB Host (both rather huge differences)..
Shoot, you want really cheap "similar" hardware, eLocity A7...
-CC
Comparables: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacom...&id5=2577&id6=2747&id7=2290&id8=2291&id9=2609
clockcycle said:
Like joshua.lyon said, the viewsonic g tablet has the "same" (similar) hardware. It is available at your local Kmart or Sears, so no waiting and it's about half the price of the xoom at $399. It already has hacker/developer support, etc..
But then again that "same" (similar), isn't similar enough... IMHO Xoom<Adam just because it's 1 or 2 hardware differences, mainly the option of PQi, lack of USB Host (both rather huge differences)..
Shoot, you want really cheap "similar" hardware, eLocity A7...
-CC
Comparables: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacom...&id5=2577&id6=2747&id7=2290&id8=2291&id9=2609
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, I'm hearing mixed reviews of the PQi display. Granted, USB host is pretty nice. The Xoom does have twice the memory though and higher resolution. I still don't see how they think they can price it at $800 though.
My main concern is the longevity of the Adam. I don't even know if it has a warranty. It's open though, and that counts for something.
The thing that sealed the deal for me was watching the video of full HDMI output. Phones don't even do that, and it's a feature I will take advantage of.
Hulu, YouTube, Netflix (soon) and anything else online or offline output to my TV? heck yeah...
Sirchuk said:
I don't know, I'm hearing mixed reviews of the PQi display. Granted, USB host is pretty nice. The Xoom does have twice the memory though and higher resolution. I still don't see how they think they can price it at $800 though.
My main concern is the longevity of the Adam. I don't even know if it has a warranty. It's open though, and that counts for something.
The thing that sealed the deal for me was watching the video of full HDMI output. Phones don't even do that, and it's a feature I will take advantage of.
Hulu, YouTube, Netflix (soon) and anything else online or offline output to my TV? heck yeah...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 DVDs, self made recordings, Anime, HUGE eReader... endless options, heck yeah!
Eujin said:
As I have a pixelQi enabled adam in my lap right now, I can state that while the pixelQi in the adam is /not/ a perfect replacement to e-ink
(The extra glossy glass layer added to the top of the pixelQi display removes some of it's benefit, sadly, as light has to travel further to hit the actual pixelqi display, so it doesn't diffuse right, if I'm thinking of the right word)
It is, however, pretty awesome if you've got the right lighting. I work in a very well lit office, and actually prefer reading off the kindle app with the pixelQi mode enabled (backlight off) and it works ok. However, under normal lamp light, it's not as good as the kindle is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in the Adam for reading lots of PDF files during the day in an office environment. Can you give some more details on what type of lighting that works well with the backlight off mode of Adam? Do you with normal lamp light mean for example a 60W bulb in a desktop office lamp with the light source positioned about 1 meter from the Adam screen. Would that not be good enough lighting for a good reading experience on Adam?
A second question to anyone with an Adam, since there's also been some talk about HDMI output here. Is there some HDMI to VGA adapter that works with the Adam? Most projectors at my work are still VGA only and I'm very interested in using Adam for powerpoint-like output.
joshua.lyon said:
The Xoom and the Adam don't have the same hardware -- they just have the same SoC. While it does make the similar, they are not the same. It's the same comparison with the ViewSonic G-Tab... same SoC != Same Hardware. There's a number of other things to consider...
(Storage, Screen, RAM, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G/2G, Materials, Build Quality, Support, etc, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must also take into consideration the adams abundance of ports, the XOOM only offers one micro usb, one micro hdmi, and a 3.5mm jack. so you have to either get them from Motorola or get some adapters. that mean no thumb drives or normall usb powered devices.
Tomorrow ill make a full review of it in all conditions
Sent from my Adam using XDA App
LeviathanPT said:
Tomorrow ill make a full review of it in all conditions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. The best video of the e-reader capacity of Adam that I have so far found is by the goodereader team (google "Notion Ink Adam vs. Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle" to find it; my user account don't allow posting direct links yet)
That video still has a few problems that I hope some other video review will avoid:
1. doesn't say if the have applied the matte screen sheet or not. And if there are any drawbacks to using the matte screen sheet?
2. does not show what types of background light they have and does not compare different background lights
3. moves around the camera and/or Adam to much to quickly for the viewer. To shoot it with a fixed camera for 10+ seconds at a time and then change zoom mode and/or lighting and repeat the 10+ second shot, making sure to let it focus before counting, would be much more useful.
4. the reviewer hasn't actually done much reading on the device, e.g. tried reading a few book chapters in various use enviroments -- at an office table in sunlit indoors environment, outside, at night with an office table lamp, at night with a bedside lamp. Is it really important to position the lightsource just right to avoid reading-worsening reflection?
5. isn't shot in 720p or 1080p
My Adam has not arrived yet (I am a 5.31% factionalist)
but I use a Pixel Qi screen daily and have for the last six months. I can give you some insight into it's use on a laptop.
All screens reflect strong light to some extent. Your laptop does it. What do you do? You turn it to an angle that does not reflect light or reflects as little light as possible. You will do the same thing with the tablet. Many people are showing videos and photos that show how much light the Adam reflects, not how little light you can get it to reflect by just changing the angle a bit like you do now with your laptop. Your laptop screen is probably more reflective than the Adam screen and you wouldn't send it back because of it.
I am sure the contrast of the Adam Pixel Qi screen is not going to be as dramatic as your dedicated e-reader, but it is perfectly acceptable and has the advantage of being more of a full service device. I use mine to read in full sunlight by the pool for hours at a time frequently. The advantage of being able to watch videos, surf the web, read books, RSS, and emails and use thousands of programs (spelled Angry Birds) over weighs a greater degree of contrast on the screen. The only downside is that the black parts get too hot to hold. Don't even think about touching the touch pad! We need a terricloth Adam case please!
E-ink is probably better if all you are going to do is read books and documents. If you are living in the real world and do not want multiple devices, you need a Pixel Qi tablet or laptop. You can buy a laptop from ebay, and buy and install a Pixel Qi screen for less than a top of the line Adam.
The Pixel Qi screen needs different color correction profiles to enhance it's view-ability. I have three different profiles that change brightness, gama and contrast that can be employed with one click depending on the environment I am in. I hope we will have that capability on the Adam. Usually this would not be a big deal in Android, but with the Pixel Qi it is.
To get a nice white/black screen in reflective mode you need to use one profile. For full saturation in a dark room in transmissive you need another. Transflective mode is variable, and so can use a profile of it's own to your taste. This screen is not the old on/off you are used to. It will take some getting used to, but then you will never look back.
Hope this helps!
johnboatcat: thanks, very useful feedback.
I plan to read a lot on the device I end the end buy. But mostly PDF files with graphics or text that can't be easily reflowed. I am under the impression that Kindle type devices don't support that very well. I also have need for quickly jumping back and forth between pages while reading the PDF documents and the slowness of Kindle refresh rules it out.
So I am definitely waiting for an Adam-like device with decent e-ink-type screen mode, fast refresh and that also can fits common netbook use cases: emailing, writing shorter texts, browsing and so on.
Adam seems the most promising candidate at present. But the glossy glass above the screen looks worrying to me. From the videos I've seen it looks much more glossy than any laptop I have owned. So I'm awaiting more videos I guess. When you do receive you Adam please post some new feedback on this topic. With your experience with a PQ screen in another device you'll be in a very good position to judge just how much the Adam glass sheet changes the reading experience.
I should also say that I plan to do my reading on it mostly indoors: at an office desk and in bed. So positioning it to avoid distracting light source reflections might be much easier in those situations.
Hello everybody,
I would like know opinions from users about Adam as an e-book reader.
I've seen all the videos in the archive about that, and i've seen that the screen looks pretty poor as an ereader vs a true e-paper, so my question is:
I would use it for academic books in pdf or djvu that i need for my university exams and academic papers.
considering that Adam is a tablet and can do a lot more than an ebook reader, i could be satisfied with a poor e-reading experience,
so i would like to know from whom of u who already owns it if u would suggest it or not for my pourpose.
In other words, if i have to spend about 400 € for good ereader, but i can have an adam for 500 € considering that i would use it for a lot more thing than studying, if the pixel qi technology is quite satisfieing i would chose an adam..
Here is a review from a site that does nothing but talk about and review ereaders, it is a bit long but it probably has the info you are looking for:
hxxp://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-slates/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-review/
Thank u, i've already seen that, but i would like to hear some user opinion since that review doesn't speak in terms of e-reading experiece but more of powersaving possibilities with the pixel qi.
I don't want a tablet, i want an e-reader, but for those prices, since i need it for reading big pdfs of scanned books (and i would need a 9" expensive e-reader for a sporadic use) i would like to understand if Adam could do the trick of giving me a decent e-reading experience.
In that case i would justify the price paid since i would use it for more much things than only studying and reading academic papers.
No one out there does use it for reading manuals and academic books that they can't afford to print?
Thanks
First, I haven't yet ordered an adam, due to the Mastercard issues, but when I finally do, I plan on getting one with the Pixel Qi screen, and one of it's uses will be as an ereader. I don't plan to do all my reading in the Pixel Qi mode, but there are many situations where a standard LCD just won't cut it for me, so I need the option.
Here is my take on it judging by what reviews are out there in reference to the Pixel Qi and the experience viewing documents on my 4" android phone...
Software:
Will the adam work as a good e-reader? Sure, there are many apps available for android that provide for a pleasant reading experience. There are apps to view just about any format you want (many of them free), so you can choose to convert it to the best format, instead of possibly settling for another because of limited support. Combine that with a 10.1" screen, fairly low weight, and ergonomic weight distribution (concentrated on one side as opposed to spread out evenly, which makes it feel lighter) and it will make a great reader.
Hardware:
Is Pixel Qi as good as e-ink? No, not quite. In the 'e-ink' type mode, it is a reflective grey-scale lcd screen, and doesn't have as good of a contrast ratio as you will see on the newest e-ink screens, and therefore not as crisp. Is the Pixel Qi as good as a regular LCD? Again, not quite. It isn't as bright as a normal LCD screen, and again the contrast ratio is also a little lower, but it isn't that bad either. There are people looking into tweaking the display settings (like gamma and such) like you can in Windows, to optimize the experience. Also, while good, and with the software needing further tweaking to make it better, the battery life won't be as good a dedicated e-ink reader.
The pro's of this are that it is still an LCD screen, and while in transmissive/transflective mode, is full color, and can be taken out into the bright sunlight and still be read clearly (although with loss of color). Also, as you said, the adam is a tablet which can do a lot more than a dedicated ebook reader.
I mostly read novels, so these are some comments for a few paper-back sized readers, not for text books, but maybe there's some useful information here anyway.
Kindle3 (6"):
Good for reading outside. Super high resolution. Put it under a microscope and it looks like it was laser printed. Not so good if there is not a lot of ambient light. Expect to need a nice bright light nearby when using it indoors. This is my current book reader of choice for use outside. I pretty much hate the GUI. Anything beyond read, turn page, read, is an exercise in patience and frustration.
Dell Streak (5"):
Good for inside and under most lighting conditions. Nearly ideal size for reading novels. Very sharp text and great contrast. This is my current book reader of choice for anything but outside in direct sunlight. Great battery life you can read forever in airplane mode.
iPhone 4:
Similar experience to Streak. Even sharper text. You have to turn the page a lot. Not really a problem.
iPhone 3Gs:
Similar to iPhone 4, but text is a little blurry in side-by-side comparisons with the others. Still O.K. though. I read on one of these for 5 hours straight NY to LA and liked it, but it did need recharging for some reason.
I haven't used either the iPad or Adam PQi for much reading yet, but i did play with them side by side (my son has the Adam), and think I would prefer all of the above to either for extended reading. In fact a Kindle + Streak combo is still smaller, lighter and more readable than an iPad or Adam.
So maybe the take home message is 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'
Additional notes.
iPad:
Hard to hold. Too big and heavy for long reading sessions. If you keep it out of direct light, i.e., in your shadow its just as good as the PQi. Inside it is way better owing to greater contrast and seemingly higher resolution.
Adam PQi:
That rounded handle makes it way easier to hold than in iPad. Not so thrilled with the stability of the software so far. PQi in direct sunlight is better than iPad, but still no fun to read. It's not even close to e-ink for direct sunlight.
Other notes on the PQi:
I think people have been way too kind in describing how much of a compromise the PQi display really is. For somewhat better outdoor performance, you get the poorest LCD display quality I've ever seen.
The text looks more pixelated than I've have noticed on other 10.1" displays or the iPad. I expect this is because every other row of the LCD is dedicated to the reflective elements. I put it under a microscope and every other row of pixels is off in LCD mode, so I think that explains it. It probably also explains the lame contrast. In PQi mode it looks a little sharper, but still pixellated. I have a PQi Adam on the way and kind of wish it was an LCD version.
i don't mind lightness as i won't be using it for reading novels. Actually here in Italy e-books are almost nonexistent. I read novels on paper mostly because of that and also because i don't think reading on 4" backlit display is a good experience (i've a Nexus One)
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
And no, i don't want to buy a book on the cost of 50€ for using it 2 months of my life for a specific exam. Yes i could lend it from a library and that's the way i go for now, but a lot of texts aren't available, not for speaking of manuals regarding things like digital art or photography, in which i'm involved but that are impossible to get in italian libraries near where i live.
I think th PQi is a good compromise on that since in the transreflective mode on indoor good lightining conditions i could get good non-eye-tiring reading. (Am i right?)
And i don't really mind a sharp display or with intense colors since i would use it for surfing the web, reading news, socials, mails, and leave to my laptop the multimedia things.
Actually i'm almost convinced that it will be a good choice for my pourpose.
ptok said:
Adam PQi:
That rounded handle makes it way easier to hold than in iPad. Not so thrilled with the stability of the software so far. PQi in direct sunlight is better than iPad, but still no fun to read. It's not even close to e-ink for direct sunlight.
Other notes on the PQi:
I think people have been way too kind in describing how much of a compromise the PQi display really is. For somewhat better outdoor performance, you get the poorest LCD display quality I've ever seen.
The text looks more pixelated than I've have noticed on other 10.1" displays or the iPad. I expect this is because every other row of the LCD is dedicated to the reflective elements. I put it under a microscope and every other row of pixels is off in LCD mode, so I think that explains it. It probably also explains the lame contrast. In PQi mode it looks a little sharper, but still pixellated. I have a PQi Adam on the way and kind of wish it was an LCD version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you basing this analysis on? You don't have an Adam PQi as of yet, did you get hands on someone else's to make this determination?
-CC
clockcycle said:
What are you basing this analysis on? You don't have an Adam PQi as of yet, did you get hands on someone else's to make this determination?
-CC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My son got his in the last batch. Mine is on the way. I get to play with it in the few moments when he is not using it.
zanzabros said:
i don't mind lightness as i won't be using it for reading novels. Actually here in Italy e-books are almost nonexistent. I read novels on paper mostly because of that and also because i don't think reading on 4" backlit display is a good experience (i've a Nexus One)
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
And no, i don't want to buy a book on the cost of 50€ for using it 2 months of my life for a specific exam. Yes i could lend it from a library and that's the way i go for now, but a lot of texts aren't available, not for speaking of manuals regarding things like digital art or photography, in which i'm involved but that are impossible to get in italian libraries near where i live.
I think th PQi is a good compromise on that since in the transreflective mode on indoor good lightining conditions i could get good non-eye-tiring reading. (Am i right?)
And i don't really mind a sharp display or with intense colors since i would use it for surfing the web, reading news, socials, mails, and leave to my laptop the multimedia things.
Actually i'm almost convinced that it will be a good choice for my pourpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I look at an LCD all day long, It doesn't bother me.
The Kindle can zoom on a PDF but it's limited and frustrating. Like I said, turn page, read, turn page, read, that's what it's good for.
I don't think the PQi display is right for me, but it may be for you. I think the only way to really find out is to try it.
zanzabros said:
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to use the device fir a paper replacement while studying, you definitely need a tablet instead of an ereader.
Speed (searching and page turning) and possibility to annotate make a tablet a very good paper replacement.
Transflective display means you can use the tablet under more circumstances (especially in Italy where you DO have sun ;-D).
Re eye strain I tend to agree with tpok. LCD is not too bad on the eyes
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Up Close and Personal With the Pixel Qi Display
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/the-pixel-qi-display/
QI looks great the brighter the sun shines
Hi!
With Kindle-reading-mode ADAM's QI display looks very crisp, while you're reading in bright sun.
Compared to the iPad the LCD-Mode inside is not that good, but this is definitely better if you turn off the automatic-light-dimming. I use ADAM at 80% of it's available Backlight-power, then inside, sometimes it's already too bright for me.
QI is way better than iPad for outside-usability!! Also in the shaded areas iPad suffers already any contrast where ADAM looks much more crisp, but already without any regardable colour. In the sun, where I want to use a tablet-PC very often, there is nothing compareable, it's very nice to see and with "Kindle"-Mode books are very good to read, they weight of ADAM is not more than a big paperback and with it's curved edge it's good to hold. I wish the rubberized surface of the batterie-cover would be allover ADAM's backside, this would increase the good handling of ADAM.
I'm waiting for a solution to fix it to my bike, so there will be an readable(!) navigation for exploring "the wilderness" with my bike by using GPS-tracks
With honeycomb I think ADAM's lack of performance in some apps will be history...
best regards, Stefan
bestmichels said:
Hi!
I'm waiting for a solution to fix it to my bike, so there will be an readable(!) navigation for exploring "the wilderness" with my bike by using GPS-tracks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man that's crazy! and if u fall say goodbye to ur adam!
I use my desire for music and MyTracks for GPS Stats by i put it in a safe place in my backpack
Good e-reader
zanzabros said:
Hello everybody,
I would like know opinions from users about Adam as an e-book reader.
I've seen all the videos in the archive about that, and i've seen that the screen looks pretty poor as an ereader vs a true e-paper, so my question is:
I would use it for academic books in pdf or djvu that i need for my university exams and academic papers.
considering that Adam is a tablet and can do a lot more than an ebook reader, i could be satisfied with a poor e-reading experience,
so i would like to know from whom of u who already owns it if u would suggest it or not for my pourpose.
In other words, if i have to spend about 400 € for good ereader, but i can have an adam for 500 € considering that i would use it for a lot more thing than studying, if the pixel qi technology is quite satisfieing i would chose an adam..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the plain LCD model with a Skinomi screen protector (get rid of the matte protector it distorts) with FBReader and like it. My partner likes me reading in bed with night mode. I've used Kindle and Kobo and it isn't straightforward comparing them. Without going into great detail, I buy books from Amazon and get to read books as e-pubs on these devices. The Kobo is light and book-like, but the Adam is different ... I can read while I listen to digital radio (TuneIn) or music (3 by Fillipe Abrantes is a great player) via BT Jabra stereo headset. I need two devices if I try this with a Kobo or Kindle ... My N1 plus Kobo. As I stated earlier, the comparison is not straightforward .... In short, I am happy, and I am hard to please!
How are those Skinomi screen protectors?
DOEBeats said:
How are those Skinomi screen protectors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wondering about that too, because the original one really sucks :-D Removed it within the first 24 hours of application..
I am debating on whether to buy a NST to read manga on but before I do buy it I wanted to know if mangas look good on it. There are a few ways to view them like converting the manga with Calibre or using Mango (PocketManga). I was wondering if the text is legible or do you need to bring the tablet right near your eye to see anything? Please let me know how what manga experience you have on the NST if any at all.
I have several manga with each page in jpg format, and using a free tool I found I was easily able to convert each manga into a single epub file that can be used with the nook WITHOUT even rooting, using the stock reader.
There is no zooming in the stock reader, but I've found I don't really need it at all. Text is perfectly legible and I don't need to hold it up to my face and squint. Then again I do have excellent vision.
http://mangatoepub.codeplex.com/
link68759 said:
I have several manga with each page in jpg format, and using a free tool I found I was easily able to convert each manga into a single epub file that can be used with the nook WITHOUT even rooting, using the stock reader.
There is no zooming in the stock reader, but I've found I don't really need it at all. Text is perfectly legible and I don't need to hold it up to my face and squint. Then again I do have excellent vision.
http://mangatoepub.codeplex.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that is reassuring, I will probably buy it now.
I have PocketManga, the downloading for offline reading and all works like it should. Reading the manga requires you to scroll up and down the page because it doesn't fit the screen which is annoying. And it doesn't look THAT great, but passable.
With the NoRefreshToggle app the scrolling goes better, but then it looks very bad because it has no grayscale then, just "black" and white.
The text is very readable, even if it's small. And you need at least a little night lamp with a 7W compact fluorescent lamp or 30W regular.
Perfect viewer is also very good, you generally don't need to scroll with it
AStove said:
I have PocketManga, the downloading for offline reading and all works like it should. Reading the manga requires you to scroll up and down the page because it doesn't fit the screen which is annoying. And it doesn't look THAT great, but passable.
With the NoRefreshToggle app the scrolling goes better, but then it looks very bad because it has no grayscale then, just "black" and white.
The text is very readable, even if it's small. And you need at least a little night lamp with a 7W compact fluorescent lamp or 30W regular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't PocketManga let you fit to height?
UnidH4x0r said:
Doesn't PocketManga let you fit to height?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't look like it. If anyone knows how, do tell.
AStove said:
With the NoRefreshToggle app the scrolling goes better, but then it looks very bad because it has no grayscale then, just "black" and white.
The text is very readable, even if it's small. And you need at least a little night lamp with a 7W compact fluorescent lamp or 30W regular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm norefresh takes away greyscale? That is a deal breaker. I'm sure if we looked around we could easily find an app, or configure an app to scroll with the hardware buttons. The nook's screen is big enough though that you don't really need to fit width; fitting by height is fine anyway.
Oh, and I have the nook simple touch glowlight. If you're going to get a nook, get that one; it's pretty insane that they didn't have a backlight to begin with. Probably a marketing ploy. I mean, I haven't seen a screen without a backlight since the gameboy advanced...
The glowworm does not have a backlight, and neither do any of the e-ink Kindles nor any other e-ink device that's currently being sold, as far as I know.
The glowworm has a bank of lights under the top bezel that shine down, and those are well implemented.
The only prior self-illuminated e-ink screen was in a Sony from a couple of years ago, and people hated it - the illumination was very uneven and the battery drain was apparently fierce.
You actually can't have a backlight on an eink screen, since the screen is opaque. This is part of why Amazon recently bought a company that manufactures ribbon lighting, so the next generation of eink kindles will also have onboard illumination.
The Mirasol technology displays are interesting - they are somewhat like e-ink in that they are highly readable in full light, but they are backlit for indoor reading. The battery life on that technology is better than on LCD screens but not as good as on e-ink, and the first reader using one commercially was released in Korea last year to generally mixed reviews. (These are color displays, but the colors are nowhere near as rich as on an LCD and refresh rate is also not yet up to par.)
roustabout said:
The glowworm does not have a backlight, and neither do any of the e-ink Kindles nor any other e-ink device that's currently being sold, as far as I know.
The glowworm has a bank of lights under the top bezel that shine down, and those are well implemented.
The only prior self-illuminated e-ink screen was in a Sony from a couple of years ago, and people hated it - the illumination was very uneven and the battery drain was apparently fierce.
You actually can't have a backlight on an eink screen, since the screen is opaque. This is part of why Amazon recently bought a company that manufactures ribbon lighting, so the next generation of eink kindles will also have onboard illumination.
The Mirasol technology displays are interesting - they are somewhat like e-ink in that they are highly readable in full light, but they are backlit for indoor reading. The battery life on that technology is better than on LCD screens but not as good as on e-ink, and the first reader using one commercially was released in Korea last year to generally mixed reviews. (These are color displays, but the colors are nowhere near as rich as on an LCD and refresh rate is also not yet up to par.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that explains why the technology wasn't implemented sooner; nonetheless, I was never really interested enough in an eink display to actually make the purchase until I saw the nook simple touch glowlight.
I've always thought eink was an interesting concept, but I could never justify investing in an electronic device with a screen that could not be seen in the dark (or even just in poor light); but I will say that the 1-2 month battery life was probably my biggest interest in purchasing this.
Does anyone know how to access kissmanga. I can't access it anymore.
carolineparker said:
Does anyone know how to access kissmanga. I can't access it anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two sites with nearly identical names... The one you seem to mean is .org and is unreachable with Opera Mobile. The other one, which has an "s" at the end of the name and is a .com can be reached using Opera Mobile.
Both sites can be reached with Opera Mini although I didn't try to access any material.
As for the first site and Opera Mobile, it uses a Cloudflare certificate for authentication and there is no Cloudflare certificate in our cacerts.bks. The second certificate it uses we do have. But...the last time I tried to add in a Cloudflare certificate it made no difference for the site someone was asking about. It may simply be that the page (which is crowded with stuff) is just too much for Opera Mobile to handle. If you want to try adding in the Cloudflare certificate, see https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/nst-g-how-to-managing-cacerts-bks.4197451/
This seem to be quite an issue for many people who received the HDX. You can look on this youtube to see what problem I'm talking about. If you have one now, please check if your is affected. Mine is. And don't bother contact via email, because even though it said you get a response in 12 hours, I have waited 2 days and still no response.
Superb response from Amazon
someone0 said:
This seem to be quite an issue for many people who received the HDX. You can look on this youtube to see what problem I'm talking about. If you have one now, please check if your is affected. Mine is. And don't bother contact via email, because even though it said you get a response in 12 hours, I have waited 2 days and still no response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I detected this issue on my new HDX this morning and went on-line to report it and file for a replacement. After some brief questions about my unit, the rep sent me a quick email with a return authorization and return shipping label. He stated that Amazon will send out my replacement today without waiting for my returned unit.
I will get it day after tomorrow.
Couldn't ask for better service. Here's hoping for a better unit.
Yeah mine has it too. Going to wait a week before I return it so maybe all the first ones that had the problem will be gone. I bought mine at best buy. Btw I told mayday about it as well lol.
Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk 2
weird
Hi, mine has the same issue, did the same procedure and got an "it's a feature not a bug, and we are not replacing any units" for an answer. I wonder how amazon is deciding which units to replace and which won't get a replacement.
zahir32 said:
I detected this issue on my new HDX this morning and went on-line to report it and file for a replacement. After some brief questions about my unit, the rep sent me a quick email with a return authorization and return shipping label. He stated that Amazon will send out my replacement today without waiting for my returned unit.
I will get it day after tomorrow.
Couldn't ask for better service. Here's hoping for a better unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon can issue the replacement if you push the issue. I did. You can always argue that it's not a feature to display the apps or websites in a way that those creators not intended. Also, it's kinda hard to say it's a feature that only some people get it and some people don't, especially when you can pick and choose to have that feature or not.
someone0 said:
Amazon can issue the replacement if you push the issue. I did. You can always argue that it's not a feature to display the apps or websites in a way that those creators not intended. Also, it's kinda hard to say it's a feature that only some people get it and some people don't, especially when you can pick and choose to have that feature or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a very good reply.
In the event, I didn't have to get pushy: it was enough to speak firmly, express my disappointment and describe the exact problem succinctly. I did have to confirm that the unit had not been dropped and wasn't broken in any other respect.
Blue glow
Amazon says blue light is normal. We may like or dislike it, but as they say, that's not a defect.
You may notice a very narrow, faint blue tint around the edge of the device when looking at items with a white background, such as books or web pages. All displays have some level of light emission around the edges, and the light on the Kindle Fire HDX 7" is blue due to the technology used to render perfect color accuracy. Most LCD displays use white LEDs, and then apply filters to extract the desired color. The result is oftentimes a compromise to tone and color accuracy, or—if attempting to address these compromises—an increase in battery consumption and, thus, device weight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, refer to "We want you to know" topic on HDX page for details.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BWYQ9YE/ref=r_kdia_h_i_gl
Is the hue evenly distributed around the edges?
I have no problem with the story that it's normal, except that how come it's normal to have the blue hue on the edge of the screen for some HDX and other don't? I'm OK with the "NORMAL" one w/o the blue hue like some other customer get also. In fact, Amazon is welcome to put that up as an option like whether people want 16/32/64GB, wifi/LTE or with/without special offer. Just one more option that ask whether you want the blue hue or not is fine by me. So I can pick the one w/o.
No replacements? Can you still return for a refund?
I just received the replacement, and it's still the same problem. I'll wait until Monday and decide whether to return or not. I most likely will return it.
Do not know if there are devices without blue glow. My HDX is with it but I did not find it irritating. BTW my previous KF had white glow. Of course on white background white glow is not as noticeable.
If we believe Amazon, we should rather regard HDX without glow as a defective one and ask for replacement.
I went to my local BestBuy and the demo had the hue. Went to Staples and the demo there was not as bad, but there. I am planning on getting the 8.9 and hope it does not have this hue!
Good One
Max-ML said:
Do not know if there are devices without blue glow. My HDX is with it but I did not find it irritating. BTW my previous KF had white glow. Of course on white background white glow is not as noticeable.
If we believe Amazon, we should rather regard HDX without glow as a defective one and ask for replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh..you're right. My replacement came in yesterday and, if anything, the blue fringe on white backgrounds is more noticeable. Still, I don't actually spend much time staring at the google home page or similar white screens, so in the end it doesn't bother me much. I use my Kindle for XBMC, Facebook, email, internet and the occasional Virtua Tennis session. And I love it as much as my 2nd Gen Nexus 7.
someone0 said:
This seem to be quite an issue for many people who received the HDX. You can look on this youtube to see what problem I'm talking about. If you have one now, please check if your is affected. Mine is. And don't bother contact via email, because even though it said you get a response in 12 hours, I have waited 2 days and still no response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it‘s a design issue.
LCM Backlight design issue.
but the lab126 guys seems not find a batter way to sovle it
Amazon explains the technology used on the HDX and why there is a bluish line on the HDX order page (under the In Stock line):
We want you to know...
The Kindle Fire HDX 7" has perfect color accuracy (100% sRGB), and we wanted to share more details around our display design decisions that helped us achieve this.
You may notice a very narrow, faint blue tint around the edge of the device when looking at items with a white background, such as books or web pages. All displays have some level of light emission around the edges, and the light on the Kindle Fire HDX 7" is blue due to the technology used to render perfect color accuracy. Most LCD displays use white LEDs, and then apply filters to extract the desired color. The result is oftentimes a compromise to tone and color accuracy, or-if attempting to address these compromises-an increase in battery consumption and, thus, device weight.
We've taken a different approach. To achieve the perfect color accuracy on Kindle Fire HDX 7" at the lowest possible battery consumption and device weight, we used blue, not white, LEDs. Blue LEDs allow for a much more accurate and rich representation of color and result in an up to 20% improvement in power efficiency.
The replacement I got is pretty bad, it bleed as much as 1/2 inch on one side and 1/4 inch on the opposite side. That's like 10% of the screen is not function properly or unable to display color properly. Forget the Amazon claim,
Perfect Color
Both the 7" and 8.9" Kindle Fire HDX displays feature perfect color (100% sRGB), displaying images and videos as the photographer or videographer intended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm an amateur photographer and I absolutely hate it. On a normal screen, although not 100% accurate, it's at least even out the entire screen, even if there is a light bleed it's very minimal that's unnoticeable. Imagine shooting a picture in the forest and the grasses near the front change from green to cyan. Or shooting a high key picture and it turn blue near the edge. That totally ruin the atmosphere. Try google for the 'high key photography' images and look that on the HDX screen. My other usage involve reading comic book which this HDX totally botched as well.
I really want to get the 7" HDX, but I'm going to hold off until this "Blue slice of death" issue is resolved. I have a 1st Gen HD and a 1st Gen Fire (Hacked). Between the BSOD, the battery issues, the angled inputs, I think this HDX was rushed to market and is not up to Amazon quality.
The reason for the blue hue was explained a few posts above. It's not a defect or rushed manufacturing. For better picture/battery it's a compromise I'm willing to make. This screen is gorgeous and the blue is barely noticeable.
Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk 2
huludical said:
The reason for the blue hue was explained a few posts above. It's not a defect or rushed manufacturing. For better picture/battery it's a compromise I'm willing to make. This screen is gorgeous and the blue is barely noticeable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I my case, I wouldn't call something that take 10% of the screen 'barely noticeable'. Both side combined, it's larger than the notification bar.