Friday, September 9, 2011

Android FAQ Sheet


Can I use OverDrive?
Yes! There is an OverDrive app for the Android operating system.

Do I need a separate computer to use OverDrive?
No. You will only need to install the OverDrive app. In most cases you will not need to install Adobe Digital Editions (it's already installed), but you will still need to enter an Adobe ID and register the device.

How many books will it hold?
Most Android tablets have a slot for an SD or microSD card, so the number of books it can hold will vary considerably, depending on how much built-in memory is available for user content, and how much memory is on the SD card. For example, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is 453KB in the EPUB format, so an Android tablet could hold about 2,207 copies of The Help in 1GB of memory.

How long does the battery last?
Most Android tablets will run for several hours on a single charge, in constant use, depending on what features are in use. Turning off the WiFi and setting the display timeout to one minute instead of one hour will conserve the charge, for example.

Can I read the screen in sunlight?
The LED backlit display gives an effect that is more like a computer monitor than a page in a book, and can be hard to read in strong daylight. However, there are anti-glare screen protectors that can be purchased separately, and the brightness of the display itself can be adjusted from within the reader applications. The background can be changed from white to a pale sepia.

Screen resolution?
Varies. The 10" Acer Iconia A500 pictured here has a screen resolution of 1280x800 pixels.

Size? Weight?
Varies. Right now there are two screen sizes that predominate: 7” and 10”, as measured diagonally. The weight varies as well, but the 10” Android tablets are about as heavy as the iPad (1.3 lbs), and most are heavier.

How large / how many sizes can I make the words display?
There is a choice of seven (7) font sizes in the OverDrive app, as well as font styles and color and brightness settings.

How do you turn the page?
Touch or swipe the screen from right to left to turn to the next page, or from left to right to go to the previous page.

Does it remember my place?
Yes, when you reopen a book you were reading, it opens at the last page you were reading. You can also set bookmarks and go to the beginning of any chapter.

How much does it cost?
Varies. A new 7” tablet from a lesser known brand can be bought for as little as $150, but won’t have access to the full range of Android applications (apps) and won’t have the latest version of the Android operating system. A new 10” tablet such as the Motorola XOOM, WiFi-only, starts at $499, but has the latest Android o/s release, uses the full range of Android features, and is upgradable to the next Android release. The 10" Acer Iconia, pictured here, currently sells for $399 with 16GB of permanent storage and the Android 3.0 o/s.

Do I have to subscribe to a service?
Your choice. The WiFi model works with any wireless network. The WiFi+3G model works with both wireless and with the 3G cellphone network, but you’ll need a contract with a cellphone carrier.

Are the batteries self-replaceable or does it need to be sent in when they die?
The batteries are generally not user-replaceable. If the batteries stop holding a charge, you’ll have to get a factory replacement or discard it and purchase a new tablet.

Can I use it with multiple formats?
Yes. You name it, the Android tablet probably supports it: TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG.

Can it connect to the Internet?
Yes, the Android o/s includes a browser, and there are other browsers available for download.

Can I use it to watch video?
Yes. You can watch YouTube and, depending on the Android version and the manufacturer, you can watch Netflix and Amazon streaming video.

What else does it do?
Almost anything a general purpose notebook computer can do: email, text messaging, web browsing, display maps. If the tablet hardware supports it, and if you subscribe to a 3G service, it can also serve as a GPS. There are apps for the Nook, Sony Reader, and the Kindle, so you can purchase e-books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony’s ebookstore. You can also purchase e-books from a number of other sites like Fictionwise.com. There is an Audible app, to purchase and listen to e-books from Audible.com. You can also borrow and play audiobooks from OverDrive. There are apps to read and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations that are compatible with Microsoft Office Suite. Articles from our EBSCO subscription databases can be read, whether they are in PDF or HTML format. Some tablets have a true multi-touch screen and the web browser display can be zoomed in and out easily by “pinching” the display with two fingers.

Conclusion?
Excellent general purpose computer, in addition to offering a good reading experience.

If you're looking for a general purpose computer, as opposed to a single-purpose e-reader, the choice really comes down to the iPad or an Android tablet. If you've always been a Mac fan, you'll buy an iPad. If you like the iPad but don't want to spend that much, or if you'd like to have the capability to view Flash video, you'll buy an Android tablet.

Where can I get more information?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/
http://www.buy.com/
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.bestbuy.com/
and
manufacturers’ websites: Motorola, Samsung, Acer, Asus, etc.

Nook Color FAQ Sheet


Can I use OverDrive?
Yes!

Do I need a separate computer to use OverDrive?
Books in the “Always Available” collection can be downloaded directly to the Nook Color. Other EPUB books require a separate computer running the OverDrive Media Console program and Adobe Digital Editions. Books are downloaded to the computer and then transferred to the Nook Color. A separate computer is also needed to delete expired books from the Nook Color.

How many books will it hold?
The Nook Color comes with 8GB of memory (expandable to up to 32GB with a microSD™ memory card). Approximately 5GB are available to store content, of which up to 4GB may be reserved for content purchased from the Barnes & Noble NOOK Store, which leaves 1GB free for your own content. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is 453KB in the EPUB format, so the Nook Color could hold about 2,207 copies of The Help in that 1GB if you only borrowed them from OverDrive. If you purchased a copy from Barnes & Noble, it could hold about  4 times that many copies.

How long does the battery last?
Read for up to 8 hours without recharging with wireless off.

Can I read the screen in sunlight?
The LED backlit display gives an effect that is more like a computer monitor than a page in a book, and can be hard to read in strong daylight. However, there are anti-glare screen protectors that can be purchased separately, and the brightness of the display itself can be adjusted from within the reader application. The background can be changed from white to a pale sepia.

Screen resolution?
1024 x 600 at 169 pixels per inch (PPI)

Size? Weight?
Height: 8.1 inches, Width: 5.0 inches, Depth: 0.48 inches; 15.8 ounces

How large / how many sizes can I make the words display?
There are 6 text sizes, with selectable font styles, background colors, line and margin spacing.

How do you turn the page?
Touch or swipe the screen from right to left to turn to the next page, or from left to right to go to the previous page.

Does it remember my place?
Yes, when you reopen a book you were reading, it opens at the last page you were reading. You can also set bookmarks and go to the beginning of any chapter.

How much does it cost?
The Nook Color with WiFi currently lists for $249.

Do I have to subscribe to a service?
No. The Nook Color comes with built-in WiFi. There is no 3G option.

Are the batteries self-replaceable or does it need to be sent in when they die?
The batteries are not self-replaceable. The Nook Color must be returned to the factory for a battery replacement.

Can I use it with multiple formats?
The Nook Color supports these formats for eBooks, graphics, audio, and other file types, transferred from your computer using the USB cable, or from a microSD card, or downloaded from the Web: EPUB (including Non- or Adobe DRM); PDF; Other documents: XLS, DOC, PPT, PPS, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM, DOCX, XLX, PPTX; Graphics: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP; Audio: MP3, MP4, AAC; Video: MP4, Adobe® Flash®; Not Supported: LIT, AMZ (Amazon), LRZ/LRX (Sony). The Color Nook works with our subscription EBSCO database, which includes many popular full-text magazine titles in PDF and HTML format.

Can it connect to the Internet?
Yes, there is a web browser built-in. Books can be purchased from Barnes & Noble and downloaded immediately anywhere there is a WiFi signal.

Can I use it to watch video?
You can play videos at YouTube. Amazon streaming video also works, but it’s not really full screen.

What else does it do?
Pre-loaded apps include Email, Pandora® Internet radio, Chess, Crossword, Sudoku, Media Gallery, and NOOK Friends™. You can loan purchased books to your friends who have a Nook Color. The Nook Color will store and display your photos, music, and videos in the supported formats, either downloaded from the Web or transferred via USB cable. Because of the large format and the screen resolution, the Nook Color works comfortably with many websites without having to resort to a special mobile app. It has a true multi-touch screen and the web browser display can be zoomed in and out easily by “pinching” the display with two fingers, but I found the response to be sluggish at times. It’s better than typing on a 12-key phone keypad, but I wouldn’t want to use the on-screen keyboard for typing anything lengthy. More games can be purchased online from the Nook store.

Conclusion
A good value as an eReader, with many of the additional features that you’d expect from a WiFi-enabled device. In a completely informal, not anywhere near random survey I conducted at a techie workshop I went to in March, the predominant large format device was the iPad, followed closely by the Nook Color.

Sony eReader FAQ Sheet


Can I use OverDrive?
Yes!

Do I need a separate computer to use OverDrive?
Yes, a PC or a Mac with the Sony Reader software, OverDrive, and Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) installed is required for most Sony Readers. Books are transferred from your computer to the Reader using Adobe Digital Editions, and a copy also stays on your computer. The Daily Edition has built-in WiFi and 3G capablility and can download books directly from the Sony store and from other online vendors.

Where else can I get books besides OverDrive and the Sony store?
Any vendor that sells ebooks in the EPUB and PDF formats.

How many books will it hold?
The Reader Touch Edition and the Reader Daily Edition can be expanded up to 32GB, with an SD card, so the number of books it can hold will vary. For example, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is 453KB in the EPUB format, so the Sony Reader could hold about 2,207 copies of The Help in 1GB of memory. The Reader Pocket Edition has 2GB of onboard memory (not all of which is available for user content) and is not expandable; it holds approximately 1,200 books.

How long does the battery last?
Up to 14 days on the two models without WiFi; from 11 days to 22 days on the model with WiFi.

Can I read the screen in sunlight?
Yes, the Sony Readers uses the E Ink® Pearl technology.

Screen resolution?
Not stated, but is probably the same as other 6” E-Ink screens such as the Kindle: 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi (pixels per inch)

Size? Weight?
Three models: measured diagonally, the screens are 5”, 6”, and 7”; they weigh from 5.47 to 9.6 ounces.

How large / how many sizes can I make the words display?
There is a choice of seven (7) font sizes in the OverDrive app, as well as font styles and color and brightness settings.

How do you turn the page?
Touch Edition: touch or swipe the screen from right to left to turn to the next page, or from left to right to go to the previous page. Pocket Edition and Daily Edition (and older models): buttons on the front of the reader.

Does it remember my place?
Yes, when you reopen a book you were reading, it opens at the last page you were reading. You can also set bookmarks and go to the beginning of any chapter.

How much does it cost?
The Reader Pocket Edition is currently selling for $179 at the Sony website. Also at the Sony website, a refurbished Daily Edition sells for $239, and a refurbished Pocket Edition for $153. The Reader Touch is out of stock on the Sony site, but can be found at other online retailers, both new and refurbished, for between $199 and $300. Older editions of the Sony in the PRS-500 series can be found online both new and used.

Do I have to subscribe to a service?
No. The Daily Edition is both WiFi and 3G-capable, and the 3G access is free.

Are the batteries self-replaceable or does it need to be sent in when they die?
The batteries are not user-replaceable. If the batteries stop holding a charge, you’ll have to get a factory replacement.

Can I use it with multiple formats?
Yes. The Sony readers support two important standards for e-books: Adobe® PDF, and EPUB. They also support Microsoft® Word and other text file formats, as well as ACS4 for audiobooks.

Can it connect to the Internet?
Daily Edition connects to the Internet to get the latest edition of newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals you may subscribe to.

Can I use it to watch video?
No.

What else does it do?
Bookmark + Highlight; Freehand notes with stylus; Intelligent zoom; Periodical navigation options; 10 translation dictionaries

Conclusion?
The Reader Pocket Edition is a good dedicated reader for the passionate reader, constant traveler, or daily commuter. The small controls, and the need for a separate computer, may be issues for some people.

Where can I get more information?
http://ebookstore.sony.com/reader/

Comparison Chart:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplayView?cmsId=reader_kindle_comparison