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awesomedeluxe

macrumors 6502
Jun 29, 2009
262
105
It seems that the first Pixel Qi screen is 10" and 205 dpi in epaper mode.

Seems like a great fit for Apple--the resolution is even the same. One problem is that the viewing angle is apparently not so hot right now, and Apple went IPS LCD, so that's a hard sell.

205dpi is really excellent, though.
 

anthonymoody

macrumors 68040
Aug 8, 2002
3,116
1,210
SOrry for crossposting, but does anyone know if the iBook app will allow you to download a free sample of a book before purchasing? It's a MAJOR feature for me on my K2. You get quite a bit - sometimes the first 10% of a book; more than enough to make an informed purchase decision.

I guess I could use the Kindle app on the iPad to continue this...but it'd be nice to know for sure if Apple's app allowed it.
 

calderone

Cancelled
Aug 28, 2009
3,743
352
SOrry for crossposting, but does anyone know if the iBook app will allow you to download a free sample of a book before purchasing? It's a MAJOR feature for me on my K2. You get quite a bit - sometimes the first 10% of a book; more than enough to make an informed purchase decision.

I guess I could use the Kindle app on the iPad to continue this...but it'd be nice to know for sure if Apple's app allowed it.

Yes it will.
 

PhoneI

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2008
1,629
619
SOrry for crossposting, but does anyone know if the iBook app will allow you to download a free sample of a book before purchasing? It's a MAJOR feature for me on my K2. You get quite a bit - sometimes the first 10% of a book; more than enough to make an informed purchase decision.

I guess I could use the Kindle app on the iPad to continue this...but it'd be nice to know for sure if Apple's app allowed it.

I remember seeing in the keynote screens yesterday a "Sample" button. I am assuming that mean a sample chapter. Agreed that its a great feature (in fact I have read about 150 first chapters of books on my iPhone Kindle app).
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
Seems like a great fit for Apple--the resolution is even the same. One problem is that the viewing angle is apparently not so hot right now, and Apple went IPS LCD, so that's a hard sell.

205dpi is really excellent, though.

What resolution? It is based on LCD technology, so there's one resolution with backlight and a high resolution reflective black and white mode. Not so hot.

The Mirasol has no backlight mode.

The Liquavista color display has no backlight mode, at least for now. Something like 160 dpi, I think. The first model is 6", but that would be enough for an iPad mini.
 

dcnblues

macrumors member
Oct 23, 2007
38
0
I care less about e-ink than I do about inverting the user interface. For paper that reflects light, dark text on light background is most efficient. For a screen projecting photons into your eyes, for the love of god GIVE ME AN OPTION FOR LIGHT TEXT ON DARK BACKGROUND. A black screen. Nice green text. Ahhh, much better.

From OS X's Universal Access system preference: "...to make items on your screen easier to see and your display easier to read... Option... Switch the screen to white on black"

I'd actually be interested in a good e-reader. But this is a deal breaker for me. On Kindle, on iPad.
 

awesomedeluxe

macrumors 6502
Jun 29, 2009
262
105
What resolution? It is based on LCD technology, so there's one resolution with backlight and a high resolution reflective black and white mode. Not so hot.

The Mirasol has no backlight mode.

The Liquavista color display has no backlight mode, at least for now. Something like 160 dpi, I think. The first model is 6", but that would be enough for an iPad mini.

brightsideofnews:
Ryan explained that Windows treats Pixel Qi’s 3qi display as a 1024 x 600 pixel screen, it’s actually a 3072 x 600 pixel screen. Those extra pixels help make the text easier to read if you’re using Roman, Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic, or a number of other languages. For Chinese, Pixel Qi is working on higher vertical and horizontal resolutions.
 

PhoneI

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2008
1,629
619
I care less about e-ink than I do about inverting the user interface. For paper that reflects light, dark text on light background is most efficient. For a screen projecting photons into your eyes, for the love of god GIVE ME AN OPTION FOR LIGHT TEXT ON DARK BACKGROUND. A black screen. Nice green text. Ahhh, much better.

From OS X's Universal Access system preference: "...to make items on your screen easier to see and your display easier to read... Option... Switch the screen to white on black"

I'd actually be interested in a good e-reader. But this is a deal breaker for me. On Kindle, on iPad.

Doesnt the Kindle iPhone app already do that?
 

okrelayer

macrumors 6502a
May 25, 2008
983
4
really wish we could find out if the kindle app, or stanza will be aloud on the iPad. I have bought a handful of kindle books, and i use stanza to convert other books to be readable on the device. I love the idea of reading on a 10inch device, and i will buy books off of Apple's iBook store, but i also wan't to not loose what i have already.
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
Sony said they will wait for good color e-paper before making such a reader.
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Sony said they will wait for good color e-paper before making such a reader.


But in the mean time heres the PR series ? Sony :rolleyes: seriously their software support is useless and I ditched my PR5 because software and pricing of books was both badly implemented and over priced.

Device is also slow.......
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
But in the mean time heres the PR series ? Sony :rolleyes: seriously their software support is useless and I ditched my PR5 because software and pricing of books was both badly implemented and over priced.

Device is also slow.......

I don't know. Now there's the PRS-600.

But I want something with at least 300 dpi. Maybe I'll start looking at 200.

And I don't like the current ebook format chaos.
 

Epicurus

macrumors 6502
Apr 28, 2005
394
0
Minneapolis, MN
I have been using a Sony Reader for a few years now (505 model) and have read numerous books and articles on it. I have read for hours at a time, days in a row, all without charging it. The screen and the battery are truly compelling arguments for the eInk technology. That said, I have also read several books and articles on my iPhone using the Kindle reader, the Eucalyptus reader (Project Gutenberg books), the Classics app, Stanza, and even the Barnes & Noble reader (by far the worst reader I've tried). Given what I've seen with the color screen and the smooth capacitive touch controls, a 9.7" iPad will also be a very compelling reading device. Say what you will about reading for long stretches looking at an LCD screen, or that 10 hours is a weak compromise agains the weeks with eInk. The fact remains, if the iPhone is at all tolerable as a reader (which is a very defensible position given the popularity of such reading apps on the device), then the iPad will be at least as good. And given that the most common complaints I have against the iPhone are the battery life and screen size and that the iPad improves on both fronts, then the iPad should be a better reader than the iPhone.

I for one am eagerly anticipating getting an iPad that runs a fully optimized, iPad-sized Kindle app, or Eucalyptus app, or Classics app. That plus the iBooks app/store will pretty much kill off any need or want I might have for my old Sony reader.
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
I don't know. Now there's the PRS-600.

But I want something with at least 300 dpi. Maybe I'll start looking at 200.

And I don't like the current ebook format chaos.

The smaller PRS-300 has a 200 dpi screen.

But I want to be able to buy books from anywhere.
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
Well, it really looks like the 3G Kindles have captured the iTunes experience, but for books.

And contrary to compressed music, digital books seem a future-proof purchase that improves with time.
 

blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
I'm posting this question here because it is regarding using the iPad as an ebook reader. Also I asked this in a separate thread and no one answered.

Does anyone know if we will be able to purchase and read ebooks from the iBookstore on our Macs? The only element that appeals to me about the iPad is the iBookstore. I'm perfectly happy watching movies, browsing the web, etc, on my MBP. I'd also be happy to purchase and read books on my MBP if that is an option.

Some other thoughts regarding the iPad.......

As much as people are jonesing for digital newspapers on the iPad, I'd be just as happy to have full access to their paper in a web based format (essentially what most papers offer now, for the time being). Personally I don't care if it looks like I'm browsing an actual newspaper, as long as I still have full access to the articles I'd find in the NYT, etc.

As for magazines, it was a bit strange that they were not even mentioned in the keynote. I'm guessing it was because a mag publisher couldn't put together something to show at the keynote (as the NYT did). Yes, I like the idea of being able to download a mag and flip through it on an iPad, but honestly, as related to my newspaper argument, just give me full access to the pictures and articles that I'd find in your mag on your website (which I'd pay for) and I'm just as content.
 

mkrishnan

Moderator emeritus
Jan 9, 2004
29,776
15
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
As for magazines, it was a bit strange that they were not even mentioned in the keynote. I'm guessing it was because a mag publisher couldn't put together something to show at the keynote (as the NYT did).

Yes, I think it's widely assumed that magazines are going to be a gimme market. There is a company called Zinio that has offered a computer-based digital magazine format, that's used by some major magazines (National Geographic, Elle, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar). It hasn't attracted a lot of attention, even though it's been offering many of these magazines for years now, but they released an iPhone app recently, and it looks like they're gearing up to be serious about this again.

So even if Apple doesn't do it, it's pretty likely someone will.
 

r0k

macrumors 68040
Mar 3, 2008
3,612
76
Detroit
I'm posting this question here because it is regarding using the iPad as an ebook reader. Also I asked this in a separate thread and no one answered.

Does anyone know if we will be able to purchase and read ebooks from the iBookstore on our Macs? The only element that appeals to me about the iPad is the iBookstore. I'm perfectly happy watching movies, browsing the web, etc, on my MBP. I'd also be happy to purchase and read books on my MBP if that is an option.

Some other thoughts regarding the iPad.......

As much as people are jonesing for digital newspapers on the iPad, I'd be just as happy to have full access to their paper in a web based format (essentially what most papers offer now, for the time being). Personally I don't care if it looks like I'm browsing an actual newspaper, as long as I still have full access to the articles I'd find in the NYT, etc.

As for magazines, it was a bit strange that they were not even mentioned in the keynote. I'm guessing it was because a mag publisher couldn't put together something to show at the keynote (as the NYT did). Yes, I like the idea of being able to download a mag and flip through it on an iPad, but honestly, as related to my newspaper argument, just give me full access to the pictures and articles that I'd find in your mag on your website (which I'd pay for) and I'm just as content.

One of the things I don't like about Kindle is the need to "bring your own light". I haven't owned one so I don't know if I'd change my mind if I did, but that's my impression right now.

The best part is, I already own Kindle content and I view it on my iPod Touch. I think the 'Touch would be a fine ebook reader if only the screen wasn't so tiny. I think the iPad will do just fine, especially if Apple doesn't kick the Kindle app out of the app store for "duplicating" iBookstore (never mind the fact that Kindle got there first). But here's the thing. I can already read my Kindle books on my iTouch and on a windows pc. Rumor has it I will soon be able to read them on OS X. If Apple fails to offer iBookstore on OS X, they will hurt sales of ibookstore titles.

I predict Apple will offer iBookstore for Windows and OS X (they ignore Linux). They won't care if it hurts iPad sales. It isn't really (merely) iPads that Apple wants to sell. They want to become the world's largest e-bookstore. And to do that Apple will have to compete. Just like you can listen to your music on iTunes on Windows and OS X, if Apple stays true to their current business model, you should be able to read your ibookstore ebooks on those platforms as well.

BTW, you do remember that Jobs said they are using epub format right? There are a plethora of options for reading books in epub format even if Apple never "gets around to" writing their own windows or osx ebook viewer.
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,973
But who said the books you purchase from the iBookstore will be viewable in other devices?
 

samcraig

macrumors P6
Jun 22, 2009
16,786
41,983
USA
One of the things I don't like about Kindle is the need to "bring your own light".

On the flip side - it's great for beach and outdoor reading because if the sun is shining, it's not an LED screen.... It's really 6 of one, half a dozen of the other type argument.
 

yodaxl7

macrumors 6502a
Jan 25, 2010
768
0
well.. if iWork works, I'm quicken would come soon

I guess it's a good thing that the iPad isn't just an e-reader.

An e-reader definately has it's audience, but you gotta admit, it's a pretty small audience.

Apple's shooting for an entirely different audience. The iPad seems to be mainly a media device which is strong in a few areas.

The iPad (based on what I'm reading) seems to be strong for web-browsing, videos, music, games. It's passable as an e-reader and productivity device.

To me, it fills a desired niche for me, but one feature that I really want is the ability to run OS X ... perhaps I'm too greedy, but I want a small light machine that can run Quicken 2006 for Mac (and I'm not ready to switch applications).

ft
 

spydr

macrumors 6502
Jul 25, 2005
445
2
MD
The OP once probably said that computers are no email machines.

1. They are way more expensive than email machines
2. They are more complicated than email machines
3. They unnecessarily display too many colors​

I guess that's why there are a lot of email machines still being sold.

:rolleyes:
 

blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
rOK,

I really hope you are right. And I think it makes sense. Not only will the iBookstore cater to iPad users, it should give people who use Itunes the ability to read ebooks on their respective computers. I need to have my MBP with me at all times while commuting on trains and planes. Why not give me the ability to read ebooks on my MBP as I please? I also love the idea of opening the iBookstore and seeing all my books nicely lined on that brown shelf. So cool.

I think Zinio is garbage. Just give me all those articles and pictures without having to navigate in a magazine like format. I think the flip pages element of the iPad would work perfectly for mags, but I also have no desire to consume mags in that manner. I'd be perfectly happy paying, say, GQ for example, to access all their articles and photos via their website. Whether mag publishers create their sites to follow that model remains to be seen.
 

ac4lt

macrumors member
Sep 19, 2006
48
0
Broadlands, VA
I would need Cisco Press eBooks to be available before it would be useful to me. However, these currently carry the Adobe DRM which requires Flash, so I don't think I'll be getting an iPad, not least unless Cisco permit me to re-download my purchases in another eBook DRM format (unlikely).

I don't think Adobe DRM requires flash on the reader side. It does on the computer side because Adobe Digital Editions is a flash app and downloading DRM'd content is done via ADE.

Assuming ipad mounts as a disk and implements the reader side of Adobe's sdk then you should still be able to get content downloaded from ADE onto it as you would on a nook or Sony. That's two big assumptions, but neither one requires flash support on the ipad.

It would be even better if you do that downloading directly on the ipad and not need a computer but that likely would need flash support on the ipad so ADE could run as an ipad app.
 
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