Another thing just occured to me: if the ads are drawn the whole time it is in suspend/sleep mode, that is a reason to keep the processor out of the lowest-power states, and also refresh the display. Now I wonder if the ad-free versions don't also offer better battery life.
@UnimplementedTrap With eInk display you don't need any power to keep the screen state. If the ads are changed in suspend mode, then I guess the processor is woken up every hour for couple of milliseconds - for this they can use some low frequency clock anyway.
@jpelczar I was referring to the case where the ads change more frequently or are animated (animated GIF, for instance). In such a case, bettery life could be considerably worse than ad-free versions that show a completely static display. At the very least, they would have to bring the RAM, parts of the main processor and integrated E-Ink controller out of low-power state, as well as powering the display to refresh on each change. Am I missing something?
As someone already mentioned, infra-red touch technology does not use an overlay or panel, so you get the full benefit of the clarity of the E-Ink display.
The Kindle DX has auto-rotation. I think it was the only one in the Kindle line-up to have that feature. Sadly, the large-display Kindle seems to be abandoned now. None of the more recent updates were ever released for it, and it had less memory than others, despite costing several times as much.
Time to put E-Ink in the closet & use an LCD. It was a valiant attempt to copy Apple on the E-Ink display, but it's too slow. It reminds us of the early attempts to copy Microsoft Office in Java.
@heroineworshipper Why does someone always have to claim that other companies are copying Apple? Apple has /never/ shipped anything resembling an E-Ink display in the history of the company. The Kindle was a shipping product /years/ before the iPad was announced. If anything, Apple stole the "iBooks" idea from Amazon.
E-Ink is kinder to the eyes for extended reading than LCDs, and more power-effecient. iPad/iPhone won't last 24 hours on a charge with the display on; a Kindle can last /weeks/.
The Touch isn't done with overlay, it's IR done with essentially IR lights and cameras positioned all around the edge. That's why the screen looks the same -- it is the same, except illuminated in infrared.
@deelkar@d0gpant No misunderstanding, I appreciate the work of Dave very much and like to view his videos. It doesn't even bother me if he makes "easy videos" once in while. It's understandable. The main subjects of his videos are product design and measurement equipment. But reviewing consumer devises doesn't meets my expectations of his blog.
Again? Don't bother us with that Kindle rubbish. Maybe it better you start a consumer electronics blog and keep the EEVblog followers interrested in electronics free from this kind of nonsense.
@meettechniek As someone who has theirself created videos for YouTube like you are, I would think you could appreciate more the amount of work David puts into his EE Videos. I totally can understand why he would create some "easier" Videos now and then, that are still relevant to a good portion of his followers. Besides that nobody forces you to watch the video all the way through or at all for that matter, it's not that the title was misleading or somesuch.
@meettechniek There will always be some parts of a channel that you will not be interested in. I assume you know that Kindle reviews are not your thing -- then read the title and skip the video.
Very comprehensive review. The only thing I have remaining to ask is how do footnotes work? These are excessively irritating on any of the previous versions.
Since it has dual point touch tracking, have you tried a twist gesture? I'm glad to see a real improvement in pdf handling, though I'm sticking to my 9.7" reader myself.
I'd say that that PDF functionality is still the same ... they just mapped pinch gesture to zoom... they really should have added pdf reflow ... many Android pdf viewers do have that and it is really usefull for small displays... although it ruins the formating of the book...
@EEVblog Plus you can upgrade it later if you arent happy with the ads.. and if you think about it.. you are getting it for a lower price .. so in a sense .. they ARE paying you to look at the ads.. ;-)
@hla27b They *do* pay you to see the ads. YOu get $30 or 40 off if you buy the one with ads. And you can always pay the difference in price to turn the ads off later (at least for kindle 4 & Touch, not sure for Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard).
@JohnM3D To be clear, they sell TWO versions of the Kindle now. The normal one that does not have ads, and this one which is cheaper but "ad sponsored", your choice.
Haha, that actually sounded like Stephen Hawking... I'd love to see a teardown of the non-touch version 4 some time, as I just bought one a couple of weeks ago, and I don't want to rip my one apart :) Cheers!
I thought about getting one of these to save printing out pages of datasheets and electronics diagrams when wiring up components, yet I'm not sure if it would be worth it.. bit disjointed that the web browser doesn't have Proxy Settings, suppose it is just experimental.. The text to speech and MP3 Playing seems very nice how ever.
Use an iPad for PDF viewing???
bulby130 2 months ago
Another thing just occured to me: if the ads are drawn the whole time it is in suspend/sleep mode, that is a reason to keep the processor out of the lowest-power states, and also refresh the display. Now I wonder if the ad-free versions don't also offer better battery life.
UnimplementedTrap 2 months ago
@UnimplementedTrap With eInk display you don't need any power to keep the screen state. If the ads are changed in suspend mode, then I guess the processor is woken up every hour for couple of milliseconds - for this they can use some low frequency clock anyway.
jpelczar 2 months ago
@jpelczar I was referring to the case where the ads change more frequently or are animated (animated GIF, for instance). In such a case, bettery life could be considerably worse than ad-free versions that show a completely static display. At the very least, they would have to bring the RAM, parts of the main processor and integrated E-Ink controller out of low-power state, as well as powering the display to refresh on each change. Am I missing something?
UnimplementedTrap 1 month ago
the whole UI looks so similar to IOS
robingchann 2 months ago
you can change PDF to .mobi and will works like a kindle book. A good software is Calibre calibre-ebook com
Mydrac 2 months ago
As someone already mentioned, infra-red touch technology does not use an overlay or panel, so you get the full benefit of the clarity of the E-Ink display.
The Kindle DX has auto-rotation. I think it was the only one in the Kindle line-up to have that feature. Sadly, the large-display Kindle seems to be abandoned now. None of the more recent updates were ever released for it, and it had less memory than others, despite costing several times as much.
UnimplementedTrap 2 months ago
Take it apart! I too am very interested to see how this new infrared touch works.
iticory 2 months ago
What about a Sony PRS-T1 review? That would be a great comparison to the kindle touch
Braati 2 months ago
Could you pleeeeease rip the kindle touch appart and show us how the infrared touch works? :)
pcbdev 2 months ago 2
The Sony PRS-T1 is 164g! :)
pcbdev 2 months ago
The god delusion. Are you a Richard Dawkins fan? I love the guy. Great review as always.
fingerboy18 2 months ago
Time to put E-Ink in the closet & use an LCD. It was a valiant attempt to copy Apple on the E-Ink display, but it's too slow. It reminds us of the early attempts to copy Microsoft Office in Java.
heroineworshipper 2 months ago
@heroineworshipper Why does someone always have to claim that other companies are copying Apple? Apple has /never/ shipped anything resembling an E-Ink display in the history of the company. The Kindle was a shipping product /years/ before the iPad was announced. If anything, Apple stole the "iBooks" idea from Amazon.
E-Ink is kinder to the eyes for extended reading than LCDs, and more power-effecient. iPad/iPhone won't last 24 hours on a charge with the display on; a Kindle can last /weeks/.
UnimplementedTrap 2 months ago 2
hey Dave, I dont like this kind of rewievs, your an EE, just take it apart.
Albinorama 2 months ago
Have you tried double-tap-to-zoom in PDFs?
JRJ1979 2 months ago
The Touch isn't done with overlay, it's IR done with essentially IR lights and cameras positioned all around the edge. That's why the screen looks the same -- it is the same, except illuminated in infrared.
JRJ1979 2 months ago
Hi Dave,
Apparently the Kindle 4 has JUST been Jailbroken. Google Kindle4 Jailbreak ( Sorry Youtubhead will not allow links Grr!)
Very early doors yet but looks promising!!
KeeFCrook 2 months ago in playlist eBook Readers Review/Teardown
So, what happened to your thumb?
F3tusRape 2 months ago
Do you all suffer from OCD? You don't have to watch this, you know.
Ephabia 2 months ago
I understand the teardowns, but what this has to do with electronics?
Srbinarodnajstariji 2 months ago
@deelkar @d0gpant No misunderstanding, I appreciate the work of Dave very much and like to view his videos. It doesn't even bother me if he makes "easy videos" once in while. It's understandable. The main subjects of his videos are product design and measurement equipment. But reviewing consumer devises doesn't meets my expectations of his blog.
meettechniek 2 months ago
Awesome device. Good review Dave!
PoirierMike 2 months ago
hey dave, ive never found my 3rd gen kindle to be heavy at all. surely your being picky considering it didnt get heavier?
ryantheleach 2 months ago
Djvu is 10 times better format than pdf.
rapsod1911 2 months ago
Crack the software and the adds are gone.
TheEPROM9 2 months ago
Thanks for the review but do you know how does the Kobo touch compares with this one?
cyberlightbeing 2 months ago
Again? Don't bother us with that Kindle rubbish. Maybe it better you start a consumer electronics blog and keep the EEVblog followers interrested in electronics free from this kind of nonsense.
meettechniek 2 months ago
@meettechniek I'm not sure exactly why I even bothered to respond to your comment. WTF????
d0gpant 2 months ago
@meettechniek As someone who has theirself created videos for YouTube like you are, I would think you could appreciate more the amount of work David puts into his EE Videos. I totally can understand why he would create some "easier" Videos now and then, that are still relevant to a good portion of his followers. Besides that nobody forces you to watch the video all the way through or at all for that matter, it's not that the title was misleading or somesuch.
deelkar 2 months ago
@meettechniek There will always be some parts of a channel that you will not be interested in. I assume you know that Kindle reviews are not your thing -- then read the title and skip the video.
JRJ1979 2 months ago
Very comprehensive review. The only thing I have remaining to ask is how do footnotes work? These are excessively irritating on any of the previous versions.
Dibblah1900 2 months ago
lol the text to speech has the same voices as in those xtranormal videos.
artifactingreality 2 months ago
Since it has dual point touch tracking, have you tried a twist gesture? I'm glad to see a real improvement in pdf handling, though I'm sticking to my 9.7" reader myself.
0LoneTech 2 months ago 2
@0LoneTech Yep, tried twisting gesture, no joy.
EEVblog 2 months ago
I'd say that that PDF functionality is still the same ... they just mapped pinch gesture to zoom... they really should have added pdf reflow ... many Android pdf viewers do have that and it is really usefull for small displays... although it ruins the formating of the book...
shid007 2 months ago
death by black hole is a bad title : )
DanFrederiksen 2 months ago
Do a teardown mate!
flubba86 2 months ago 16
A 3rd gen can hold approx 3500 books x 240gram would = 840000 grams (840 kilo) equivalent of books, approx : )
rainbowsalads 2 months ago
25:58 It's... (takes on glasses) a bit touchy!
AP12uZvfvag 2 months ago
Are you still on WinXP?
AP12uZvfvag 2 months ago
Nice Dave :) About no ext audio control, most headphones have one
on the cord :)
YeOldeSpellbooke 2 months ago
The ads are fucking preposterous!!!
Why they don't pay YOU to see their ads?
Do they imply that this thing is not your property even though you paid for it?
In that case they know where to shove it.
hla27b 2 months ago
@hla27b This is the cheaper unit with ads, i.e "ad sponsored". You can buy one that is not, if that's what you want.
EEVblog 2 months ago 6
@EEVblog Plus you can upgrade it later if you arent happy with the ads.. and if you think about it.. you are getting it for a lower price .. so in a sense .. they ARE paying you to look at the ads.. ;-)
N2CUA 2 months ago
@hla27b They *do* pay you to see the ads. YOu get $30 or 40 off if you buy the one with ads. And you can always pay the difference in price to turn the ads off later (at least for kindle 4 & Touch, not sure for Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard).
JRJ1979 2 months ago
So you buy the thing and gets ads forever? lol
This is asking desperately to be hacked... or not bought at all.
JohnM3D 2 months ago
@JohnM3D To be clear, they sell TWO versions of the Kindle now. The normal one that does not have ads, and this one which is cheaper but "ad sponsored", your choice.
EEVblog 2 months ago
I did not realized at first that "The Art of INTERNET Dating" was written by you, really cool.
I see now why your channel has so much success :). Curios if you have more than 7.4% of the viewers Females?
electrodacus 2 months ago
Haha, that actually sounded like Stephen Hawking... I'd love to see a teardown of the non-touch version 4 some time, as I just bought one a couple of weeks ago, and I don't want to rip my one apart :) Cheers!
samgab 2 months ago
Does a two-finger twisting motion rotate the screen?
kcj1993 2 months ago
Thumbs up! if you like, Dave to do videos on internet dating....
menushadesanayaka255 2 months ago
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menushadesanayaka255 2 months ago
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menushadesanayaka255 2 months ago
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menushadesanayaka255 2 months ago
love to see u pull an asus zenbook apart 0_o
Zwank36 2 months ago
I thought about getting one of these to save printing out pages of datasheets and electronics diagrams when wiring up components, yet I'm not sure if it would be worth it.. bit disjointed that the web browser doesn't have Proxy Settings, suppose it is just experimental.. The text to speech and MP3 Playing seems very nice how ever.
BrettFX 2 months ago
Hopefully NPR doesn't steal this one!
hjohnson7801 2 months ago in playlist eBook Readers Review/Teardown