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Amazon Kindle
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ironjade
28-07-2011
Originally Posted by DotNetWill:
“You don't seem very tolerant of things you don't know, but a UX dev is someone works on the workflow and user interaction elements of a piece of software. Lots of software houses have them.”

Sorry if I seemed intolerant but I just didn't have a clue what it meant. "Cognitive burden" is still brilliant though.
badcompany3004
28-07-2011
Originally Posted by DotNetWill:
“Cognitive burden is a technical term used by user experience developers to convey how complex, in terms of clicks, steps, options, settings, etc, an operation is that a user performs and can remember. It's one Calibre fails on quite hard.

Also, don't forget Calibre is a library management system for people to organise their collections with and manage eBook readers. The service I created is purely for converting books and does not offer any library features. This scratches my itch quite nicely.”

Erm, my mum who isn't that brilliant with computers can use calibre it is not a hard software to get to grasps with. How is a few clicks and it is uploaded onto your Kindle so difficult?

Edit: I am not having a go, I just don't find Calibre a software that is overly difficult to use. If someone wants to use your system fair enough, but I am of the mindset "teach a man to fish..." I have always found that a better way to support users
alsmama
28-07-2011
So what exactly does Calibre do? Do I need it?!
JasonWatkins
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by alsmama:
“So what exactly does Calibre do? Do I need it?!”

It's like your own personal library. It organises and manages your ebook collection and lets you sync with your ereader of choice.

I don't use it as I found it a lot simpler to just drag and drop the ebooks across to the reader.
Lemonhunny
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by alsmama:
“So what exactly does Calibre do? Do I need it?!”

I don't use it for the library because there is other, far superior software for anyone wanting covers and synopsis for their ebooks. I bought an excellent one when I started collecting.

I use Calibre to convert books from lit, pdf, txt, epub etc to mobi so that they are formatted to read on the Kindle.

It's extremely easy to convert, and you set your preference (mobi in my case) so that it always remembers it and converts to that automatically. Drag an epub (for instance) onto the Calibre screen, select to convert to mobi, let it do it's work. One book conversion takes approx 60 seconds. Then you simply drag the converted file onto your Kindle.

The best thing about Calibre is that it's free software, and definitely worth a try if you have books for different formats.

Obviously, it will also convert to epub for those who have a Sony ereader.

Just Google Calibre and read up about it - it really is a good tool for those who find ebooks in a format they want to change.
DotNetWill
29-07-2011
I didn't mean to come across aggressive.

The reason I created it was because I personally don't like calibre but it is a very capable application. The site actually uses calibre underneath to do the conversion. I don't see the need to install Calibre just to convert the odd book before I email it to my Kindle. (Which is how I mostly get things on). It has a lot of features I simply don't need and will never use

So I took the best bit for me, conversions, wrapped it in a simpler UI, email, and created it. The original workflow I had for it and use myself was email book to service => service converts to mobi => emails to Kindle free address => appears on Kindle. Simpler and quicker than manually converting and has no extra steps over how I would get a mobi or pdf book on there.
Lemonhunny
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by DotNetWill:
“I didn't mean to come across aggressive.

The reason I created it was because I personally don't like calibre but it is a very capable application. The site actually uses calibre underneath to do the conversion. I don't see the need to install Calibre just to convert the odd book before I email it to my Kindle. (Which is how I mostly get things on). It has a lot of features I simply don't need and will never use

So I took the best bit for me, conversions, wrapped it in a simpler UI, email, and created it. The original workflow I had for it and use myself was email book to service => service converts to mobi => emails to Kindle free address => appears on Kindle. Simpler and quicker than manually converting and has no extra steps over how I would get a mobi or pdf book on there.”

I've been and had a look at the link you gave, and over the weekend intend to give it a go, as I ONLY use Calibre for the conversions. As I said, there are much better programmes for creating a library if you want one.

I'll let you know what I think
DotNetWill
29-07-2011
I think I'm going to get rid of that horrible template and summarise what I wrote above instead of what is there Thanks for the input
this_is_me
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by alsmama:
“So what exactly does Calibre do? Do I need it?!”

I mostly use it to get a free copy of The Guardian / Observer delivered to my Kindle every morning. Many other newspapers are also available through it.
ironjade
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by this_is_me:
“I mostly use it to get a free copy of The Guardian / Observer delivered to my Kindle every morning. Many other newspapers are also available through it.”

Is it legal? If so how do you do it?
this_is_me
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by ironjade:
“Is it legal? If so how do you do it?”

I think so, Its just another way of reading a free website. For papers behind a paywall like The Times you need an account name and password, so its not free for them.

There's a Fetch News facility in Calibre, currently with 965 news sources. You pick the news source you want and schedule it to download at a regular time. You also configure Calibre to email it to your Kindle. Then just make sure your PC is on and Calibre is running at the specified time.

I do The Guardian at 5:30am daily, so its ready when my alarm goes off at 6.
ironjade
29-07-2011
Originally Posted by this_is_me:
“I think so, Its just another way of reading a free website. For papers behind a paywall like The Times you need an account name and password, so its not free for them.

There's a Fetch News facility in Calibre, currently with 965 news sources. You pick the news source you want and schedule it to download at a regular time. You also configure Calibre to email it to your Kindle. Then just make sure your PC is on and Calibre is running at the specified time.

I do The Guardian at 5:30am daily, so its ready when my alarm goes off at 6.”

I might give it a whirl although I wasn't very taken with the Guardian's Kindle edition (no crossword) and cancelled my sub.
this_is_me
29-07-2011
Well you don't get the crossword this way either, though you do get the suduko and kakuro. But then again, I don't think writing the answers on a Kindle screen is a very good idea.
alsmama
31-07-2011
Another question about the Kindle ... someone told me that the battery should last up to a month ... mine lasts about a week, which is plenty but I wondered if I am doing something wrong. When I have finished reading I just slide the switch and get the picture of a famous writer ... should I actually be doing more than that? Thanks.
Granny Weatherwax
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by alsmama:
“Another question about the Kindle ... someone told me that the battery should last up to a month ... mine lasts about a week, which is plenty but I wondered if I am doing something wrong. When I have finished reading I just slide the switch and get the picture of a famous writer ... should I actually be doing more than that? Thanks.”

Slide the switch and hold it for about 5 seconds, that shuts it down completely. I always do that and my battery lasts at least a month.
alsmama
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by Granny Weatherwax:
“Slide the switch and hold it for about 5 seconds, that shuts it down completely. I always do that and my battery lasts at least a month.”

Wonderful thanks - dunno why I didn't think of that!
ironjade
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by alsmama:
“Another question about the Kindle ... someone told me that the battery should last up to a month ... mine lasts about a week, which is plenty but I wondered if I am doing something wrong. When I have finished reading I just slide the switch and get the picture of a famous writer ... should I actually be doing more than that? Thanks.”

Turn off the wireless connection when you're not using it as that can drain the battery more quickly.
IvanIV
31-07-2011
They do not say how many hours per day they count to last a month. With ~3-4 hours a day my lasts 8-10 days. And yes keep wireless off, only turn it on to get purchased books delivered and turn it off again.
Granny Weatherwax
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by ironjade:
“Turn off the wireless connection when you're not using it as that can drain the battery more quickly.”

I forgot about that! I only switch mine on and off to download stuff.
IvanIV
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by Granny Weatherwax:
“Slide the switch and hold it for about 5 seconds, that shuts it down completely. I always do that and my battery lasts at least a month.”

What if there is an emergency and you need to read a few lines immediately I rather keep it on all the time, just put it to sleep instead of shutting it down, and charge it more often.
Havelock Vetinari
31-07-2011
I just slide my of so it goes to sleep. It still lasts around 2 or 3 weeks, and I read anywhere from 4 to 5 hours a day, sometimes more.
trinity2002
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“What if there is an emergency and you need to read a few lines immediately I rather keep it on all the time, just put it to sleep instead of shutting it down, and charge it more often.”

So do I - I usually get around a week and a half out of it.

I haven't the patience for it to load up every time if I were to switch it off after every use.
Havelock Vetinari
31-07-2011
Plus shutting it down totally each time, uses more power to start it up, so it's swings and roundabouts to be honest. Most, in fact I would say over 95% use the sleep method, it's easier, quicker if you want to read.
badcompany3004
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by Granny Weatherwax:
“Slide the switch and hold it for about 5 seconds, that shuts it down completely. I always do that and my battery lasts at least a month.”

I have read that it takes more power turning back on than it does if you store in sleep mode - because the eInk doesn't use any power until it is refresh/changed.

I could be wrong but that is what I saw once.

Also a poster on here (can't remember their name sorry) once told me that the reason mine doesn't last a month is because the estimate was based on, among other variables, 2 hours reading a day.

Other suggestion for conserving power is reduce the text size to the smallest but still comfortable reading size. This again is because the machine uses power when the eInk is in transition so the more you can fit on the page the less turning you will do and thus increase battery life.

I do have a question though, can you turn of the sleep mode/ screensaver - the screensaver is not required in the traditional sense as far as I am aware as there is little chance of screenburn, but since getting the kindle I seem to read whenever I get the opportunity - even in the ad breaks, but the problem is the screensaver comes back up before the next ad break which means I have to turn it back on and wasting power. So I was wondering if there was a way to turn it off so it only goes into sleep mode when I want it to or increasing the time period.
Granny Weatherwax
31-07-2011
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“What if there is an emergency and you need to read a few lines immediately I rather keep it on all the time, just put it to sleep instead of shutting it down, and charge it more often.”



I've never had one but now you've got me worried in case one creeps up on me!

Originally Posted by Havelock Vetinari:
“Plus shutting it down totally each time, uses more power to start it up, so it's swings and roundabouts to be honest. Most, in fact I would say over 95% use the sleep method, it's easier, quicker if you want to read.”

Evening your Lordship!

Originally Posted by badcompany3004:
“I have read that it takes more power turning back on than it does if you store in sleep mode - because the eInk doesn't use any power until it is refresh/changed.

I could be wrong but that is what I saw once.

Also a poster on here (can't remember their name sorry) once told me that the reason mine doesn't last a month is because the estimate was based on, among other variables, 2 hours reading a day.

Other suggestion for conserving power is reduce the text size to the smallest but still comfortable reading size. This again is because the machine uses power when the eInk is in transition so the more you can fit on the page the less turning you will do and thus increase battery life.

I do have a question though, can you turn of the sleep mode/ screensaver - the screensaver is not required in the traditional sense as far as I am aware as there is little chance of screenburn, but since getting the kindle I seem to read whenever I get the opportunity - even in the ad breaks, but the problem is the screensaver comes back up before the next ad break which means I have to turn it back on and wasting power. So I was wondering if there was a way to turn it off so it only goes into sleep mode when I want it to or increasing the time period.”

I was told that it does use more power leaving it in stand-by, to be honest powering it off completely has just become a habit for me now. However it is a habit I'll try to change, just switched my kindle on and put it into sleep mode.
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