Re: (review) The Flowers of Vashnoi by Lois McMaster Bujold

On Wed, 9 Apr 2025 05:19:46 -0000 (UTC), "Default User"
<defaultuserbr@yahoo.com> wrote:

WolfFan wrote:
>

I read ebooks on my iPad. The Kindle app is annoying but usable.
Apple’s own Books is better that the Kindle app, not a high bar to
pass. Other ebook readers are available. My favorite, Marvin, is now
dead.

>
I also use Books (formerly iBooks) on an iPad mini, I got that as an
anniversary gift from Megacorp in like 2017. The Kindle app I don't
care for. Actually, Overdrive browser app isn't bad at all. I use that
sometimes when I have checked out a book from the library but haven't
downloaded it and transferred to Books.
>
One advantage to e-books is the ability to look up words or phrases.
That's especially useful with some UK books that have vernacular I
don't fully understand.

It can also be useful in distinguishing OCR errors/typos in the
original from actual words or constructions used in the past that are
no longer in use.

In Dumas, it can also help with the historical personages and
geographical locations by providing some additional background.
Sometimes from the Dictionary, sometimes from Wikipedia. But sometimes
both pretend you meant a completely different person/place.

X-Ray, in my experience, is basically hopeless: either you get the
text you are looking at or the text you get from the Wikipedia pane.
Sadly, it does not appear to be deactivateable. It isn't as common in
books as it used to be in films/TV shows.

Although very few Prime films have X-Ray nowadays. Perhaps the fad is
over. Some Prime films have two levels of enhanced dialog -- I've
never used it, but it might help some people or anyone with some
films.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"