Internet Buzzing about K2's LIGHTER TEXT

[Betsy the Quilter]

OVerall, this thread has been very good, with posters recognizing that different people have different experiences, and that their own experience is not necessarily typical.  Overall, we really only have one major rule on KindleBoards that the rest derive from:  respect for the other person!  Keep up the good work.  I find the lighter font discussion fascinating although I don't have the problem on my K1!

Betsy

[DD]

OVerall, this thread has been very good, with posters recognizing that different people have different experiences, and that their own experience is not necessarily typical.  Overall, we really only have one major rule on KindleBoards that the rest derive from:  respect for the other person!  Keep up the good work.  I find the lighter font discussion fascinating although I don't have the problem on my K1!

Betsy

And, Betsy, this attitude makes you one of the majority here of caring, accepting, and helpful people.

[tedsan]

Another updated font available for testing - "Tall".

The LARGE font was posted earlier at the request of one user with vision issues who wanted a super-large/bold font. The "tall" font is more subtle for those who requested a slightly larger font with more delicate proportions. I took the original Kindle font, stretched it vertically to increase its size 15% (a couple points) and horizontally 5%. In this way, it allows a little less text per line, but in a larger size for greater legibility. I've also reduced the boldness of the type and hand-tuned some of the curvier characters to maintain boldness at small sizes without making the rest of the characters too bold.

Testers can find it at the usual location. Feel free to send suggestions for improvement.

[Leslie]

Harvey blogged about your font fixes, Ted.

http://www.kindleboards.com/blog/2009/04/hack-your-way-to-darker-kindle-fonts/

L

[Law. Sorreneson]

Ted-San's work with the font enhancements has been a revelation.  It deserves its own thread, and as we speak a new one has been started. I encourage all of you to post your font hack/font enhancement related thoughts on his excellent thread:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,7233.0.html

We can still continue following the internet buzz surrounding the LIGHTER TEXT. Please keep the community apprised of press, blogs, and threads about the contrast issue.

-Law. Sorreneson.

[tedsan]

New font available for testing: Georgia Bold

Some folks indicated a preference for true serif fonts, so I searched through the font libraries for one that would be suitable. Georgia looks pretty good, so I stretched and bolded it just enough to increase its clarity on the K2 display.

The font is a true, book-like serif font. While I personally am not a huge fan of these fonts on the K2, I can see the appeal of the familiar typography.

Note too that I upscaled it one size, so reading in size 1 results in about the same size as the other fonts in size 2. I found normal size 1 to be too difficult make clear without overbolding the rest of the sizes. The added benefit is that the text on the home screen is larger.

The font has one glitch that I can't figure out - apostrophe's don't display properly. If I ever figure that one out, I'll post an update to the font file.

[DD]

New font available for testing: Georgia Bold

Some folks indicated a preference for true serif fonts, so I searched through the font libraries for one that would be suitable. Georgia looks pretty good, so I stretched and bolded it just enough to increase its clarity on the K2 display.

The font is a true, book-like serif font. While I personally am not a huge fan of these fonts on the K2, I can see the appeal of the familiar typography.

Note too that I upscaled it one size, so reading in size 1 results in about the same size as the other fonts in size 2. I found normal size 1 to be too difficult make clear without overbolding the rest of the sizes. The added benefit is that the text on the home screen is larger.

The font has one glitch that I can't figure out - apostrophe's don't display properly. If I ever figure that one out, I'll post an update to the font file.

Ted, Just tried the Georgia font and it's great.  This and the Large font you put out could make the difference for my Mom who can't read the Kindle text (either K1 or K2) as it is because of macular degeneration. 

I checked out Georgia in several books on K2 and the apostrophe's are displaying fine for me at all font sizes.

My favorite so far is the cMod Bold font.  Thank you for all the work you are doing.

[tedsan]

It will be very interesting to learn if your mother is able to read any of the new fonts.

Anyone out there who is suffering from visual disorders and are trying to use the K2, please share your thoughts. Are any of the new fonts allowing reading where none was possible before? If you have any suggestions for how to create fonts that are readable, please pass them along. I'm happy to do experiments to help those with disabilities.

[auntmarge]

On a related problem, Ted and all - is there any chance a hack could be done to lighten the background to what was available on the K1?  I began to think it was all in my head, but yesterday I had a chance to again compare my K2 with my K1, which I'd given to my niece.  Even with her 18-year old eyes she was shocked at how much the lighter background and darker text made reading easier. 

[DD]

It will be very interesting to learn if your mother is able to read any of the new fonts.

Anyone out there who is suffering from visual disorders and are trying to use the K2, please share your thoughts. Are any of the new fonts allowing reading where none was possible before? If you have any suggestions for how to create fonts that are readable, please pass them along. I'm happy to do experiments to help those with disabilities.

Ted, I just posted about this in the other thread about the font hack. 

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,7233.msg148672.html#msg148672

I won't see my Mom until June, but am anxious to try the new fonts with her.  I will let you know.

[tedsan]

Notes posted on K1 vs. K2
https://sites.google.com/a/etccreations.com/kdesignworks/Home/kindle-1-vs-kindle-2

Thanks to member DD for the screen grabs from the K1 and K2!

[DD]

Notes posted on K1 vs. K2
https://sites.google.com/a/etccreations.com/kdesignworks/Home/kindle-1-vs-kindle-2

Thanks to member DD for the screen grabs from the K1 and K2!

Excellent analysis, Ted.  I hope Amazon takes heed.

(No problem at all providing the screen grabs.  Only took me a few minutes.)

[DawnOfChaos]

GASP!  OH MY!!!!

I'm coming late to the font hack party.  Thank you Ted SO MUCH! I have loaded arial narrow and love it!  I really appreciate your efforts, and hopefully the Kindle 2 brain trust at Amazon will wake up and take notice as well.

[wilsondm2]

Ok - I saw Luv's tweet about the font hack and had to try it out.


hmmmm - it is easier to install than the screen saver hack - AND - omg - it makes the screen look beautiful again - the fonts are awesome.

And - I'm not sure if this is just me - but my pictures look more contrasty now - has anyone else seen this?

[FlannelE]

Hi Ted-san,

Just wondering what the difference is between Arial Round Narrow (@ size 4) and Helvetica 2 (@ size 3). They look very similar, but I wanted to make sure, appreciate the subtle differences...More words per line? lines per page? A change in darkness? 

Sorry for the barage of questions, but many of us are tracking your font changes like brokers check NASDAQ!

- thanks!

[tedsan]

I had to go back and look at them.
The Arial narrow is a bit, um, narrower (no sarcasm, I'm just looking at the fonts blown up for inspection). I'd say it will give you quite a bit more characters per line for a given font height.  Arial is also about 20% bolder - that is, the lines making up the characters are about 20% wider. This probably isn't noticeable because they're all roughly 1 pixel wide. Also Arial is rounder around the edges.

That said, they're a similar style. Perhaps our graphic designer member could contribute more meaningful feedback?

[artsandhistoryfan]

Excellent analysis, Ted.  I hope Amazon takes heed.

(No problem at all providing the screen grabs.  Only took me a few minutes.)

  But you got it together for him!

  I don't know if blogs and, hopefully, online tech news, have been picking
up on Ted's latest work but I did an entry yesterday about his newest findings
and then, to support his findings that it's the way individual units render the
same basic configuration of pixels and only 4 shades, meaning it's a problem
with the circuitry, I linked (again) to 3 photos or sets of photos from people
here, showing clearly how bad the situation can be and no figment of the
imagination of "a few" as that "Communications" person dismissed that with,
even saying that those people wanted only 4 shades.

 Good gracious.  I hope Jeff Bezos doesn't really back up that kind of treatment
of customers with real concerns. 

  The photos tell the story well, as do several forum threads detailing how
many replacements have been made, with some people, before an acceptably
dark-font or light-gray-screen was received.

  It's near the top of my blog and has Ted's name in the title.

  http://kindleworld.blogspot.com

They'd be so wise to just make Ted's replacement fonts part of the official
3rd party recommendations. 

[DD]

  But you got it together for him!

  I don't know if blogs and, hopefully, online tech news, have been picking
up on Ted's latest work but I did an entry yesterday about his newest findings
and then, to support his findings that it's the way individual units render the
same basic configuration of pixels and only 4 shades, meaning it's a problem
with the circuitry, I linked (again) to 3 photos or sets of photos from people
here, showing clearly how bad the situation can be and no figment of the
imagination of "a few" as that "Communications" person dismissed that with,
even saying that those people wanted only 4 shades.

 Good gracious.  I hope Jeff Bezos doesn't really back up that kind of treatment
of customers with real concerns. 

  The photos tell the story well, as do several forum threads detailing how
many replacements have been made, with some people, before an acceptably
dark-font or light-gray-screen was received.

  It's near the top of my blog and has Ted's name in the title.

  http://kindleworld.blogspot.com

They'd be so wise to just make Ted's replacement fonts part of the official
3rd party recommendations. 

Great article, Andrys!

[Anthony34]

no figment of the
imagination of "a few" as that "Communications" person dismissed that with,
even saying that those people wanted only 4 shades.

 Good gracious. 

Good gracious is right.  And a good product now turned GREAT.

10/10 Stars... Important to note the many people who were complaining about LIGHTER text and poor contrast still LOVED their Kindles.  We just wanted Amazon to work on this one flaw.  They never did.  Ted-San has.  How many people can say that they've actually made the world a better place?  It's not hyperbole to say that Ted-san has improved the quality of many kindle users' reading experience, and I dare say quality of life (yup, my life gets better when I dont' get eye strain) - whether by a decimal point, fraction, or a whole number. 

I keep hearing Amazon Reps/CS say, "A few," "figments of our imagination," "there is no problem."  Amazon can't keep using the low-tech strategies of the 1970's in this wired, tweeter-linked, blog-go-go world. Just because someone says it's fine doesn't make it so, anymore.  The font hacks confirm that the text could be better. Truly a stark contrast (no pun intended) to Amazon's lethargic, tone-deaf, out-of-touch response...

Back to the POSITIVE:  What I like best about Ted-sans' stellar contributions is that the man is STILL HARD AT WORK.  I really appreciate the detailed notes, descriptions that follow each choice of font.  Such a nice, professional touch! And speaking of "professional," how has this guy flown under Amazon's HR radar?  HIRE THE MAN, already! (or consult with him as you might learn a thing or two):

https://sites.google.com/a/etccreations.com/kdesignworks/Home/font-install-files

[K.L. Christy]

Good gracious is right.  And a good product now turned GREAT.

10/10 Stars... Important to note the many people who were complaining about LIGHTER text and poor contrast still LOVED their Kindles.  We just wanted Amazon to work on this one flaw.  They never did.  Ted-San has.  How many people can say that they've actually made the world a better place?  It's not hyperbole to say that Ted-san has improved the quality of many kindle users' reading experience, and I dare say quality of life (yup, my life gets better when I dont' get eye strain) - whether by a decimal point, fraction, or a whole number. 

I keep hearing Amazon Reps/CS say, "A few," "figments of our imagination," "there is no problem."  Amazon can't keep using the low-tech strategies of the 1970's in this wired, tweeter-linked, blog-go-go world. Just because someone says it's fine doesn't make it so, anymore.  The font hacks confirm that the text could be better. Truly a stark contrast (no pun intended) to Amazon's lethargic, tone-deaf, out-of-touch response...

Back to the POSITIVE:  What I like best about Ted-sans' stellar contributions is that the man is STILL HARD AT WORK.  I really appreciate the detailed notes, descriptions that follow each choice of font.  Such a nice, professional touch! And speaking of "professional," how has this guy flown under Amazon's HR radar?  HIRE THE MAN, already! (or consult with him as you might learn a thing or two):

https://sites.google.com/a/etccreations.com/kdesignworks/Home/font-install-files

You stole my thunder, Anthony! 

Many thanks to Ted-san and to the entire Kindle community who firmly believe that if you love something, then it doesn't stop there. We want the Kindle to be so much more, to realize its potential (anyone out there with kids?). It's been a community effort, and Ted-san, Vellum Publishing, Law. Sorreneson (you go, with your press clippings!), Len Edgerly, Andrei Pushkin, Helenita Jacobs (aka, readnswim who started the Contrast Petition), Harvey Chute ALL desrve credit for understanding an important truth:  had we stayed quiet and complacent, these FABULOUS FONTS would never have been realized.  That's progress for ya...It takes the love, toil, and persnickity third eye (critical gaze) to improve things.

And improve things we did. From petitions, to podcasts, to emails to Amazon Execs, experiments, letters to the press, forum postings, tweets, blogs, more experiments, phone calls to Customer Service, replacements, more emails, final experiments, and that pulsating, palpable DEMAND for better contrast/darker text, TO THE FONT HACKS...

Progress feels kinda good, huh? 

[Law. Sorreneson]

It's been a community effort, and Ted-san, Vellum Publishing, Law. Sorreneson (you go, with your press clippings!), Len Edgerly, Andrei Pushkin, Helenita Jacobs (aka, readnswim who started the Contrast Petition), Harvey Chute ALL desrve credit for understanding an important truth:  had we stayed quiet and complacent, these FABULOUS FONTS would never have been realized. 

Thanks for the kind words, Christy.  Your work with the contrast petition has been impressive as well.  And I agree, it all adds up.  David (CNET) and Priya (Wired) probably grew weary with all my emails, but hey, people had to know.  Turns out our tight-knit Kindle community worked out a solution on its own with the darker fonts.  Hopefully, my next press clipping will be about Amazon's release of a firmware update to fix the light text/contrast issue.  I am still optimistic.

[Anthony34]

I'm beginning to think that Amazon is trying DESPERATELY to move away from its older demographic base (users over 40 years old), and appeal to younger customers. To that end, the page turns are 20% faster (young people...sooo impatient!), the body is ultra slim (ipod nano, anyone?), and the text, well, the text got lighter and crisper (how it looks vs. how it reads). It didn't matter that the actual words on the screen were harder to read since the younger demographic tends to have better vision.

So basically, Amazon is probably willing to take a PR hit with the OLDER market, many of whom have more trouble with the lighter fonts of the K2 (compared with the K1). If Amazon wins over just ONE twenty-something Kindle fan for every 10 senior readers it alienates, I would imagine that Amazon would sign up for that everytime. Anything to make the Kindle 2 hip & hyped, instead of an orthopedic shoe.

I'm speaking as a 34 year-old man who is right on the cusp, but has experienced the same irritation, mild headaches, and eye strain (from the lighter text) that older folks have complained about. That is until the Ted-san font hack. Anyway, if you'd like to question/delve into this theory some more, check out this CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10230969-1.html

[DD]

I'm beginning to think that Amazon is trying DESPERATELY to move away from its older demographic base (users over 40 years old), and appeal to younger customers. To that end, the page turns are 20% faster (young people...sooo impatient!), the body is ultra slim (ipod nano, anyone?), and the text, well, the text got lighter and crisper (how it looks vs. how it reads). It didn't matter that the actual words on the screen were harder to read since the younger demographic tends to have better vision.

So basically, Amazon is probably willing to take a PR hit with the OLDER market, many of whom have more trouble with the lighter fonts of the K2 (compared with the K1). If Amazon wins over just ONE twenty-something Kindle fan for every 10 senior readers it alienates, I would imagine that Amazon would sign up for that everytime. Anything to make the Kindle 2 hip & hyped, instead of an orthopedic shoe.

I'm speaking as a 34 year-old man who is right on the cusp, but has experienced the same irritation, mild headaches, and eye strain (from the lighter text) that older folks have complained about. That is until the Ted-san font hack. Anyway, if you'd like to question/delve into this theory some more, check out this CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10230969-1.html

If that is indeed what Amazon is going for, then they are forgetting that the older demographic,on the whole, is better able to afford to buy the Kindles (and even multiple Kindles).

[FlannelE]

In the absence of any murmur, statement, or acknowledgment of the problem by Amazon, speculation is bound to fill the void.  I'm not sure that I enitrely buy your theory, Anthony.  But Amazon's complete stonewalling of the issue lends some credence to this explanation. It's not difficult to see how some people would think Amazon simply doesn't care about this segment of users' reading experience.

Personally, I think Amazon's more concerned about capturing the Stanza/Apple Ipod crowd (who can read on those tiny screens!) than satisfying the early adopters, who just so happen to be older.   

[artsandhistoryfan]

Whatever the reasons, I've done yet another blog entry on it and am hoping Wired will follow up on the story as they indicated they might when, on the first write-up at
 http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/04/kindle-2-displa/
they asked that people send them side-by-side photographs of the differences between their Kindle 1 and Kindle 2 screens.  Mine don't do much good since mine used a good K2 but at least they show it's possible to produce good K2's  :-)

  I don't think I've seen people post that they're sending these when they have Kindle 1s but unsatisfactory K2's  Have we given up a good opportunity there?   Did any here send any?
I know we have some very good photographers here.  It could be the luck of the draw that they have good K2's or didn't keep their K1's.

  At any rate, I've tried to cover most of it in the latest, and I especially like Ted's animated replacement-fontset examples that rotate.  The rave reviews of Ted's fonts by customers with unsatisfactory K2's should be a wake-up call to Amazon and of interest in general.

  That's at the top of the blog at the moment, but here's the permalink in case people look later on, at:
  http://kindleworld.blogspot.com/2009/05/amazon-customer-fixes-kindle-2-dim-font.html

  - Andrys