Internet Buzzing about K2's LIGHTER TEXT

[K.L. Christy]

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.

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

TIME Magazine picked up the story and has written an article about this HUGE demographic that Amazon seems to discount in its efforts to LURE the ipod/stanza crowd:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895251,00.html

The article states, "Amazon may be bothered by the fact that the public knows that Kindle buyers are not all young and fresh-faced like many of the people who own Apple (AAPL) iPhones."

I agree with Anthony about Amazon's catering to the younger audiences at the expense of solving/fixing readability issues of older folks. Anyone ever see an elderly/senior person in ANY of those promotional pics? Anyone?? Amazon probably sees the over-40 crowd and their light text/poor contrast concerns as so much dead weight. I think they want to move on...so by providing a fix to the light text would be a "step back" in their playbook since it would be catering to the demographic that (sorry, folks, but you're going to have to hear this) EMBARRASSES THEM.

It ain't so "cutting edge"/revolutionary when granny & grandpa start carrying Kindles in their Oberons or imitation leather FANNY PACKS...

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895251,00.html

[Law. Sorreneson]

A great audio presentation by Len Edgerly:

UPDATE (5/1/09): Len Edgerly of the podcast, Kindle Chronicles, speaks at MIT. Among other topics, he discusses the lighter text/poor contrast of the Kindle 2 (23:10 -- 31:00).

http://www.thekindlechronicles.com/
(Episode "EXTRA - Boston PDA Users Group Presentation"; 23:10 min -- 31:00 min)

[FlannelE]

If anything, I believe that our being VOCAL about this readability issue probably finds a solution in the Kindle 2.5 to be announced 2 days from now (5/6/09). It's more than likely that Amazon has heard our complaints about the light text/poor contrast and implemented a fix in the Student/Newspaper Version. Who knows, it might also have a choice of fonts, a touchscreen, and folders!

Anyone want to make any predictions on this thread or create a new one? My predictions: 1) darker text 2) whiter screen 3) touchscreen 4) folders 5) stylus for students to write notes 6) improvements in web browsing 7) improvements in Text to Speech

Dark Horse Improvement: Font Selection

[Anthony34]

Anyone want to make any predictions on this thread or create a new one? My predictions: 1) darker text 2) whiter screen 3) touchscreen 4) folders 5) stylus for students to write notes 6) improvements in web browsing 7) improvements in Text to Speech

Dark Horse Improvement: Font Selection

I wouldn't be suprised if the Jumbo Kindle had color. Magazines and newspapers tend to be more of a "short-form" reading experience so an LED "color option" could complement the e-ink technology.  Users might be able to switch between black-and-white and color. 

But I do agree that keeping vocal and providing feedback is the only way that Amazon will improve future generations of Kindles.  Just look at those smaller page-turn buttons!

[Anthony34]

2.5 or 3.0, whatever is announced this week won't have it. Color e-ink is still a ways off. The prototypes that are available now look pretty lousy. Not sure what you mean by an LED option but any attempt to add color at this stage will send the price through the roof. I'd say at least another year or two before we see a color Kindle.

The smaller buttons are a plus but they still get in the way. I'd like to see them placed a little higher on the device so that I can grip right where the buttons are currently located....or have the keypad disabled on the K2 while reading. With the K1 we had to deal with accidental page turns, with the K2 I'm finding myself accidentally bringing up the search feature just as often because the keyboard isn't disabled like it is with the K1.

I meant color like the iPod, Zune, or blackberry - backlit and battery-guzzling. But maybe there will be a "switch" to turn that mode off and read with black-and-white e-ink.  Again, I'm just saying "I wouldn't be surprised" if it had a color feature.

I think most users would agree that smaller buttons for the K2 was the right move.  I think it was the original Kindle's #1 consumer complaint.  But I also agree that the placement of the buttons isn't ideal. 

[Sweet-P]

How many people have gotten the fonts edit from Ted-San? He has done quite an outstanding job of providing readable fonts for us who have had problems with the lighter text of the Kindle 2. He has many fonts to choose from to suit just about anyone's need for improved readability on the Kindle. He has helped make my Kindle perfect, and I think it would be nice to make a contribution to Ted for his time and effort in making our Kindle reading experience so much more enjoyable, something Amazon has fallen short of and should have done for us.

So I'd like to encourage all you people who now have a better Kindle, thanks to Ted-San, to consider sending a little *thank you contribution* to him for his generosity. Come on--let's show him our appreciation!

Contact information for Ted can be found at his web site:
https://sites.google.com/a/etccreations.com/kdesignworks/Home/font-install-files

Thanks, Ted! 

[tedsan]

Thanks P, you're too kind!

I should add, while I'm happy to take donations to support covering the cost of buying a font editor for all this work, I want to make sure that this isn't being construed as accepting payment for the font files which are either in the public domain or fall under the ownership of others. Should Amazon decide to incorporate any of these fonts, they may need to license the fonts from their respective owners.

It's been very gratifying to see that people are finding this research project to be helpful.

Best to all,
-T

[Anthony34]

It's "Official," Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Amazon Kindle DX with 9.7 inch display (with PICS!):

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/04/amazon-kindle-dx-to-feature-9-7-inch-display/

I'm happy, but I'm not thrilled...Kind of looks like a Kindle 2 with a bigger screen. I guess I was expecting something as sleek as the Plastic Logic model. Also, I had REALLY hoped that the screen would be whiter. If these pics are for real, then we might STILL have to contend with the light text/poor contrast issue.

[KindleKay (aka #1652)]

I just did the font hack just to see....I thought that my K2 font was a-ok but I also read that there were others who didn't think that it was light either, but just tried the hack and were amazed at the difference.

My contrast was fine....but I tried the hack because it is easy and reversable.

AMAZING difference! AMAZING!!  (I did the Hevelica 2 and I like it!)

[cleee]

Edited again:

Okay, so I downloaded the bolder "this might be too bold" Helvetica font to see how it would look and noticed that it does look much better but the book that I am currently reading was showing up in a serif font and now shows up in this Helvetica font instead.  Not sure I like that too much.

Can I install all of those available fonts? How does the book know which font to use? I don't see anywhere that you can change it. 

Also, if I want to put all of these fonts on my Kindle, do I download one font, drag it to the top level, update, then drag another, update.... and so on or can you dump them all in there and update?

Thanks.
 

[Chloista]

This is an interesting thread because it never occurred to me that there were any problems with reading the Kindle2.  I read for long periods of time, am over 40, and only wear "cheater" glasses for reading (from the drug store).  And I read outside and see the screen clearly.  Guess I've been lucky -- no eyestrain and no problems with seeing the print ever.

[mobelby]

Thank you Tedsan.  Myriad is beautiful and works wonderfully on the K2.
And yes, I tried ALL your fonts.  I was certain Verdana would be my favourite but I was wrong

[drenee]

mobelby,
I noticed this is your first post.  Welcome to the Boards.  We have an introduction thread.  If you've got a minute, stop over there, start a thread and tell us a little about yourself.  We love giving a hearty welcome to all new members.
deb

[tedsan]

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

The latest update of the Kindle software (after V2.0.3) does not allow using these font install files. If you update, you will no longer be able to use the fonts!
I will convert the fonts once the developers of the "font hack" come up with a version that works with the new firmware.

Please be patient. It's going to take some time for me to go through the conversion process for three different platforms. I'll do my best.

[Ann in Arlington]

Thanks for the update Ted. . . . .we'll be patient.

[Pushka]

Wow, Ted, you are awesome the way you spend time doing this for us.  I love the screensaver hack so much there is no way the wireless is being turned on!

[Leslie]

Ted, thanks for the update! I love the font hack and I think I am just going to wait on the software upgrade. No big deal for me to have the rotating or the PDF support. I can make do for the time being.

Thanks for all you do to help the Kindle community!

L

[sebat]

Thanks for the notice, Ted.  I'm holding off on my update until the new font hack is up and running.

[auntmarge]

I'm holding off on my update until the new font hack is up and running.

Me too.  Ted, you're the man!

[Betsy the Quilter]

Wow, Ted, you are awesome the way you spend time doing this for us.  I love the screensaver hack so much there is no way the wireless is being turned on!

Note that if you have the font hack installed (or the screensaver hack, for that matter), the Kindle software will not update, so you can turn Whispernet on at will.

Betsy

[Pushka]

Thanks letting me know my hacks are protecting me Betsy.   I know I would have remembered today, and maybe tomorrow, but after that pffft - the memory just isnt as good anymore.

[911jason]

I uninstalled both the font & screensaver hacks and upgraded to 2.3 today. Then I reinstalled the new Georgia font hack that was posted on Mobileread and the screensaver hack as well. Everything works perfectly! Although, I don't like this version of the Georgia font nearly as much as the one I had previously installed. I'm hoping that Ted's updated version will be better than this one. In the meantime, I'm going to try one of the other fonts to see if I like it better than this version of Georgia.

[Pushka]

Ah Jason, glad it wasnt just me not liking the new Georgia.  I tried Droid last night and liked it much better.

[911jason]

Edge777 over on Mobileread posted a new version of the Georgia2 font hack that looks just like the old one. Here's the file for K2/K2i/KDX:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=40109&d=1259217600

[happyblob]

That's awesome, Jason. Thanks for the heads-up guys. And Ted knows his stuff.