The Ideal eBook Reader: Features and Innovations Needed for Perfection
We’re familiar with the phenomenon from other areas of the electronic entertainment industry: a new device is presented, significantly better than its predecessor, and a wave of excitement sweeps through the blogger and news circles. But often, a sense of disappointment follows shortly after, as crucial features tend to be poorly implemented or completely missing.
This is especially noticeable in the fast-paced smartphone sector, but it seems that even the eBook reader market isn’t immune to this trend.
The German eReader Market Is Slowly Gaining Momentum
This was the case, for example, several years ago with the iriver Story HD (tested here): when it was announced, expectations were high. After all, the then-new eReader combined the form factor of the Amazon Kindle Keyboard with a next-generation E-Ink Pearl XGA display. What could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, a few things.
As good as the technical specifications were, the software unfortunately had some inexplicable quirks. How hard can it be to hire suitable translators? For an estimated 100 words across the entire operating system that needed to be perfectly translated, the costs shouldn’t be too high. But even some peculiarities in usability shouldn’t have made it past the manufacturer’s testing phase. After all, there were six months between the announcement and delivery. In the end, instead of an excellent device with a lot of potential to shake up the market, there was only a good device with some annoying flaws.
However, in the digital reading market, without a doubt, the ultimate missed opportunity is Sony. The Japanese electronics company was significantly involved in the development of E-Ink technology and was the very first to bring out a dedicated reading device with this now popular technology.
For many years, they impressed with innovations and the Japanese were even very bold in trying new things. With each new generation of models, it seemed they were getting closer to creating the ultimate “jack of all trades.”
The Standstill
Then Sony hit the brakes and the Sony PRS-650 and perhaps the PRS-T1 were the last truly innovative eBook readers from the company. Meanwhile, other market participants caught up and offered similarly good devices. The ultimate eReader was nowhere to be found.
What became apparent was a genuine technology and development stagnation. Almost every major manufacturer had an E-Ink Pearl device on the market in 2011 and 2012 with an 800×600 pixel resolution and infrared touchscreen. Technically, the devices were extremely similar – and functionally, the differences were shrinking more and more.
Even back then, voices were emerging saying that the eReader segment was fully developed. Noteworthy improvements were no longer expected.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
But then the first eBook readers with lighting hit the market and reignited the race for the crown and the “jack of all trades.”
Admittedly, the first lighting models had comparatively low contrast and were often not very evenly lit, but they still represented a very significant step forward.
The next technological leap wasn’t far behind. Just a year later, the E-Ink Carta display technology followed. It improved the already good readability of the Pearl displays even further, proving once again that the sky’s the limit.
The End?
Today, we’re once again at a point where the major manufacturers offer very similar devices. E-Ink Carta with 300 ppi and built-in lighting is standard. The quality of all models is excellent, and ultimately, they all offer really great readability.
The “jack of all trades” is still missing, though, as despite the excellent contrast values and uniform lighting, many manufacturers’ software still leaves room for improvement. Additionally, the two premium models Kindle Voyage and Kobo Aura H2O show us that there is still room for technical advancements.
A brightness sensor, page-turn buttons, SD card expansion, waterproof casing, even better reflectivity, and an open operating system are things that come to mind that could continue to improve. And so, many years after the launch of our website, we’re still waiting for the perfect eBook reader. It will be interesting to see if we’ll be surprised in the winter of 2016.
For this year, though, one can be quite satisfied with the available eReaders. Because even if the “jack of all trades” doesn’t (yet) exist, the current generation of models comes closer than ever before.
Original Report: Although the eBook reader market hasn’t developed at particularly high speed in recent years, it has undoubtedly been subject to constant change. Various manufacturers and technology developers have failed to meet the challenges – including the pioneer Sony – while others made a rapid start (Tolino) and managed to stand their ground against the longer-established competition.
Especially from 2010 to mid-2013, a homogenization of devices was noticeable: many eBook readers hit the market with almost identical specifications. Hardware buttons disappeared, screen size became predominantly limited to 6 inches, including lighting and the same resolutions, and eventually, prices were adjusted to very similar levels.
With the launch of the Tolino Shine, the price homogeneity was initially broken, followed by the Kobo Aura with a tablet-like design and the Kindle Paperwhite with the new E-Ink Carta screen technology, bringing renewed activity to the market by late 2013.
New Unique Characteristics and Higher Prices
However, these changes were obviously just the beginning, as this year the differences and focuses between individual manufacturers seem to be even larger. Kobo started with the Aura H2O and deliberately decided not to focus primarily on the dominant 6-inch segment anymore. The new eBook reader features a high-resolution 6.8-inch display and particularly uniform and high-contrast lighting. That’s the way it should be. Additionally, as a bonus, there’s an IP67 certification that allows you to use the eReader worry-free near water – the H2O is waterproof.
Amazon’s path looks different. The mail-order giant continues to focus exclusively on the 6-inch segment with its Kindle Voyage – contrary to expectations – but serves the market with some new features. Firstly, there’s the “Retina” display, offering the highest pixel density on the E-Ink market. The new eReader’s tablet-like design is similar to the Tolino Vision and Kobo Aura. Additionally, there are page-turn buttons again, which had been missing for the past three Kindle generations, and a new brightness sensor controls the built-in lighting.
The PocketBook Ultra is taking yet another new approach, focusing more strongly on proven virtues with modern technology, unusual innovations, and a new user interface. The built-in camera has already received mixed – mostly rather negative – reactions in advance, and the rear page-turn buttons offer another option for free button assignment within the already highly customizable PocketBook range. There’s also the PocketBook InkPad, which breaks with the 6-inch tradition and is supposed to hit the market as an 8-inch device (although it has been postponed several times).
All these devices come with relatively high entry prices, which is why I’ve often speculated beforehand that the potential for attracting new customers might be somewhat limited despite some important differences. In any case, this brief list already shows that manufacturers are increasingly trying to differentiate themselves and highlight unique features. The previously strong direct competition in the 6-inch segment, which is particularly fought out through a low price, seems to be becoming less attractive.
What Does an eBook Reader Need to Be Able to Do?
At the same time, the segment isn’t being completely neglected and continues to offer (and shortly will) some notable differentiation options. The Kindle Paperwhite, which we often praise, remains on the market at 109 Euros, the Tolino Vision 2 is set to appear at the end of November with nano coating, and the PocketBook Sense comes with a brightness sensor. Of course, the Tolino Shine, Kobo Glo, and Aura, as well as the excellent PocketBook Touch Lux 2 are also available (among several other devices).
As a customer, you now have more choices than ever before. However, the question arises: which eBook reader best matches your own ideas and requirements? Each device has its strengths and weaknesses, and basically, you almost always have to make some compromises.
We’d love to know how an eBook reader would have to look to be perfect in your eyes. Which features are particularly important to you, and which can you do without? Tell us in the comments or on the forum!
Update: I have broken down what the perfect eReader software should look like in this article.
