When Amazon announced a new feature for the 12th Generation Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, and the Kindle Colorsoft, people thought it would finally eliminate those third-party Bluetooth page-turners. The new system allows you to turn the pages of an e-book by double-tapping the sides or back of the e-reader. You can also use a double-tap on any system screen to move down the page, which helps you browse the bookstore. However, things are not what they seem.
The Double-tap feature only allows you to turn a page forward of an e-book; you cannot go back. In menus, sub-menus, or the bookstore, you can only use double-tap to scroll down a page; you cannot scroll up. This is not a sound system because it will get people into the habit of using double-tap, but then they will have to rely on the touchscreen to go up in a menu or bookstore or turn back to a previous page in an e-book.
Amazon should use a double tap on the right side to turn a page forward and return to a page on the left. This is an easy fix. After all, Kobo and Pocketbook have employed similar systems for years. Kobo goes one step further and uses rapid page turn technology, where you can quickly go forward or backward in an e-book.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.