And it HAS bookmarking, jump to page, the ability to add in other TrueType fonts as well as MP3 support!

Yes, Bookeen created a fully-functional bookmarking interface as well as a way to specify an exact page number for Goto Page! I'll be posting pictures today.

Derek

:yahoo: :clap: Jolly good show, Bookeen!

Yep. You heard me. I take it all back! (Okay, I'm *NOT* taking back the whine I was going to make about the changed shipping dates. December is way far off an 'end of October' timeline.)

But I have *seen* the future and it is firmware release 1.00!!!

I'm now in the middle of a MASSIVE re-write of my review because so much that frustrated me, was missing or just didn't work the way I thought it should has been *FIXED*!!!

Yes, I can now play my MP3s - while reading an ebook! (I loathe dangly earbuds, so I'm going shopping for a set of earbuds with over-the-ear clips.) (Hint, hint, Bookeen... Make it so the user can return to the currently open ebook after starting the music instead of just allowing the user to go to the Library.)

Yes, I have tried out the Bookmarking function and it works great! Just bring up the contextual menu within the ebook and setting, removing, jumping to a bookmark is a single button-press choice!

And they've set it up so that a user can enter (under the Go To menu) a specific page number and jump straight to that page! If the user re-sizes the font or chooses a different font, the Go To Page option will show the *new* 'last page' number to ensure the user doesn't enter too large a number. And, yes, there is always a Go To First, Go To Last and Start Reading option on the main Go To menu.

I haven't tried the RSS functions, but the rest works as promised.

One thing they still haven't added is a nested folder (what Sony calls 'collections' and others deem 'hierarchy') display of titles to allow the user to only see selected titles at a time. (Yes, wading through 16 pages of 5-titles-per-page, 8 pages of 10-titles-per-page or the 25-icons-per-page grouping gets rather tiresome.)

But I can now state that I *like* my Cybook and would strongly recommend it for those who don't want to be tied to Sony's, Hanlin's or STAReBOOK's proprietary ebook formats - or have to shell out the big-bucks for an iRex iLiad.

But, dang, a total re-write of my review sucks!

Derek

WOW, great news ! Looking forward to this thing more and more!!!

Hope the Sound quality of the Bookeen is anything like my mp3 player... delphidb96, I'm a head-fi member ( headphone forum) and if you are looking for some earclip headphones, don't look at anyting other than koss ksc75... they are the king of budget headphones . if you want something with a normal headband, the sennheiser px100 are great as well. (have both)

WOW, great news ! Looking forward to this thing more and more!!!

Hope the Sound quality of the Bookeen is anything like my mp3 player... delphidb96, I'm a head-fi member ( headphone forum) and if you are looking for some earclip headphones, don't look at anyting other than koss ksc75... they are the king of budget headphones . if you want something with a normal headband, the sennheiser px100 are great as well. (have both)

I'm . . . NOT . . . a 'head-fi' person. As long as it's in stereo and sounds decent, I'll go with it. (Yes, I'm one of *those* people, the kind who bellow along with the radio whilst in the shower - not necessarily on key.) :)

Derek

Ok, understood :) It's a dangerous forum ;)

but the ksc75 are cheap and good.

Wow, this is a real bonus. I was expecting them to just change the firmware version number to 1.0 and not actually modify the code. ;-)

Ok, understood :) It's a dangerous forum ;)

but the ksc75 are cheap and good.

*Grin*

And here they are.

I've included a shot of the basic page with a bookmark added, one of the bookmark menu, one of the Go To menu, one of the page number specifier for Go To Page, one of the new About screen, one of the main (Library level) menu, one of the Font Family menu, one of the main (1st level) menu within the ebook and one of the Advanced submenu.

Note that there is a Language setting on the Advanced menu. Right now that means the user can choose between French and English menu names. I would presume other languages will be added for localization.

Note also that the Library-level menu allows for the thumbnail images to show text (PRC, PDB, and so forth) indicating the file type.

Further, the Font Family shot demonstrates that I successfully (It's all drag-and-drop on the PC) added Berlinger Antiqua, Bookman Old Style and Frutiger Linotype fonts to my Cybook.

And the page specifier is a dream to use!

Derek

This is a great set of photos, but it prompted me to ask for at least one more.

One shortcoming of the Java MobiPocket Reader (e.g. on the iLiad) is that it does not allow customization of margins and line spacing. The Windows version does (see the attached image), although the "settings" pop-up is hard to find (tiny arrow next to ? button). I would actually prefer a line spacing less than "single", because more text per page means fewer page turns, but at least larger spacing is available for those who prefer that.

So, what does the Cybook MobiPocket Reader support? I see your first photo includes a "layout" option, which looks promising.

What are the choices for font size? It has always seemed to me that a big advantage to an ebook reader is the ability to increase the font size. Are there limited options like the Sony(small, medium, large), or can you specify the actual font size?

This is a great set of photos, but it prompted me to ask for at least one more.

One shortcoming of the Java MobiPocket Reader (e.g. on the iLiad) is that it does not allow customization of margins and line spacing. The Windows version does (see the attached image), although the "settings" pop-up is hard to find (tiny arrow next to ? button). I would actually prefer a line spacing less than "single", because more text per page means fewer page turns, but at least larger spacing is available for those who prefer that.

So, what does the Cybook MobiPocket Reader support? I see your first photo includes a "layout" option, which looks promising.

Layout has menu options for "Show Header" (shows the book title), "Show Pageometer" (shows the progress bar along the bottom), "Justify Text" and "Emboldened Text" (I don't like the Justified text or the bold text, but that's just my opinion.)

I've got to get a picture re-sized of it.

Derek

What are the choices for font size? It has always seemed to me that a big advantage to an ebook reader is the ability to increase the font size. Are there limited options like the Sony(small, medium, large), or can you specify the actual font size?

Well... You have a wide range of font sizes in the typical TrueType font. But that's not always clear, so I'm including an image of the menu.

Derek

Thanks for all the photos. They really give a good idea of how versatile is the Cybook. What about the dictionary lookup function? Does it also work with non-mobipocket books? And how well does the screen's brightness and contrast compare to those of the Sony PS-500 and PS-505? Thanks again.

Thanks for all the photos. They really give a good idea of how versatile is the Cybook. What about the dictionary lookup function? Does it also work with non-mobipocket books? And how well does the screen's brightness and contrast compare to those of the Sony PS-500 and PS-505? Thanks again.

Haven't tried the lookup function lately - I don't really use it - but I'll re-install the dictionaries and try it out tomorrow.

As for screen brightness, brighter and crisper than a 500 but about the same (*I* couldn't tell the difference) as a 505.

Derek

As a matter of curiosity, I assume left and right presses of the little box at the bottom of the device change pages. How does that 'feel' compare to the two sets of controls on the Sony reader?

What's up with that tinny vertical blank line in the middle of the screen?

It's a hardware fault on Derek's reader. (Probably) one of the perils of getting an early engineering prototype.

As a matter of curiosity, I assume left and right presses of the little box at the bottom of the device change pages. How does that 'feel' compare to the two sets of controls on the Sony reader?

Horseyride,

Actually, the navigation control uses the Left/Top edges to move back and the Right/Bottom edges to move forward. The center button acts as the Enter button and, while in the ebook, also brings up the contextual menu. Of course, one could always use the 'Contextual Menu' button along the left edge of the Cybook. (I've got them posted in one of the threads here.)

Derek

It's a hardware fault on Derek's reader. (Probably) one of the perils of getting an early engineering prototype.

More like Derek's clumsiness!!! (Man, I may never live down dropping it!) :D

Derek

More like Derek's clumsiness!!! (Man, I may never live down dropping it!) :D

Derek

Come on Derek, you can admit that you tried to fold it shut.
:grin2:

Come on Derek, you can admit that you tried to fold it shut.
:grin2:


What?!? Who said that?!? Who's got my *HOUSE* bugged!!! :D

Derek

What?!? Who said that?!? Who's got my *HOUSE* bugged!!! :D

Derek


That would be General Failure. He is also reading your hard disk :cool:

I'm . . . NOT . . . a 'head-fi' person. As long as it's in stereo and sounds decent, I'll go with it. (Yes, I'm one of *those* people, the kind who bellow along with the radio whilst in the shower - not necessarily on key.) :)

Derek

Derek be careful, remember it takes 2.5mm headphones not 3.5 mm. Look in the cellphone isle.

Derek be careful, remember it takes 2.5mm headphones not 3.5 mm. Look in the cellphone isle.

Thanks for the reminder. Yeah, I'd already *had* that problem with an MP3 player. :)

Derek

Any additional words on the PDF support?

:knife: from PRS500 PDF reading.

Any additional words on the PDF support?

:knife: from PRS500 PDF reading.

I've seen the newest version of the firmware and it offers the menu options to:

Fit Page
Fit Width
Fit Height

Portrait
Landscape
Flipped (Yes, it flips the page top for bottom.)

Go To... (uses the same Go To as regular ebooks on the Cybook)
Show Status Bar (Shows the PDF title, page of and page count and how much the 'Fit' options have 'zoomed' the page - no way to zoom.)
Advanced... (standard 'Advanced' menu - no zoom/pan controls)

Back to Library

And if the document is a standard letter/A4 page using typical printed font sizes, it looks crappy in Portrait and barely readable in Landscape.

Derek

Thanks, Derek. Pretty soon we won't need your review because you have already told us everything about the Cybook... :grin2:

Thanks Derek!

Does that mean that you can go into landscape mode and "fit width" to make an A4/Letter sized PDF more readable?

Thanks Derek!

Does that mean that you can go into landscape mode and "fit width" to make an A4/Letter sized PDF more readable?

Emphasis on the word 'more'. If the document uses a 16pt or larger font, that actually transforms to 'definitely'. If the document uses a 12pt or smaller font, all but the best of eyes will have problems still. 14pt is still a bit 'iffy', in my opinion. Someone *has* to make a cheap, reliable PDF file reformatter available!

Derek

Thanks, Derek. Pretty soon we won't need your review because you have already told us everything about the Cybook... :grin2:

Don't give up hope!!! I'm about half-way through the re-write of my review and should have it posted by this evening. Ummm... even though I'm a NAEB officer and a Cybook user, I try to not hide the warts. Don't know if that's going to play well with Bookeen.

Derek

I've seen the newest version of the firmware and it offers the menu options to:

Fit Page
Fit Width
Fit Height

Portrait
Landscape
Flipped (Yes, it flips the page top for bottom.)

Go To... (uses the same Go To as regular ebooks on the Cybook)
Show Status Bar (Shows the PDF title, page of and page count and how much the 'Fit' options have 'zoomed' the page - no way to zoom.)
Advanced... (standard 'Advanced' menu - no zoom/pan controls)

Back to Library

And if the document is a standard letter/A4 page using typical printed font sizes, it looks crappy in Portrait and barely readable in Landscape.

Derek

So, when you "fit width" in landscape mode, you can't zoom the text to get rid of the margins? If not, then Bookend needs to add this in a future firmware.

So, when you "fit width" in landscape mode, you can't zoom the text to get rid of the margins? If not, then Bookend needs to add this in a future firmware.

I'm not sure I'm understanding the question. First, yes, the page, either Portrait or Landscape, will chop off the bottom of the page as it moves the PDF document page edge to the edges of the display. No, it does *NOT* move the text right to the edge of the display. Nor does it have user-specified 'zoom' or 'pan' capabilities.

Yes, these are features that *must* be added if one wants to do a lot of Letter/A4 PDF reading!

Derek

I've got some LIT files on my computer that i'd like to use, how can I read those on the cybook?

I've got some LIT files on my computer that i'd like to use, how can I read those on the cybook?

I just tested if conversion from lit to mobigen worked on Linux and it did. You "explode" the lit file with clit (ConvertLit). Then you can use mobigen to build a Mobipocket file. In Linux you can run mobigen with wine as described in another thread here.

I just tested if conversion from lit to mobigen worked on Linux and it did. You "explode" the lit file with clit (ConvertLit). Then you can use mobigen to build a Mobipocket file. In Linux you can run mobigen with wine as described in another thread here.

And under BookDesigner (Windoze) you can just open the LIT file and re-compile it to Mobi. All the ConvertLit stuff is run by BD.

Derek

Then you can use mobigen to build a Mobipocket file. This works well; give mobigen the .opf file as its starting point: mobigen.exe file.opf -c1 -s0 -jpeg

thanks a bunch :)

Tomorrow is going to be a great day for some of us

This works well; give mobigen the .opf file as its starting point: mobigen.exe file.opf -c1 -s0 -jpeg

You can also import the .opf file into Mobipocket Creator; that seems to be less picky about the contents than mobigen is.

There is a discussion about how the Sony displays Gutenberg TXT files here: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15780. In particular, see post #12 by Kacir. Note how the Sony displays the file as-is, with all the line breaks in the original text file.

This brings up a good question. How does the Cybook handle this? Does it have any additional smarts about displaying text files like the Gutenberg ones, or does it do like the Sony and display them as-is?

I have attached the Gutenberg text of Grimms Fairy Tales, which is what Kacir used. Would someone with a Cybook please try this and let us know how it looks, using the same part of the text? A picture would be really nice, if you could manage it.

The Gen3 won't be any better for text files. The lin breaks are still going to be as they are on the Sony. Sorry, but if you are expecting to kae most PG text or HTML and read as is without any cleaning up, you will be sadly mistaken that it will look nice. A lot of the html has page numbers which will make the HTML on the gen3 look not so good. Text as was just said won't look so good. The best solution is to run the text or HTML though Book Designer and clean it up from there. That goes for the 500/505 and Gen3.

Why don't you choose a font size that can display 80 character per line or so? Then it should look OK.

Why don't you choose a font size that can display 80 character per line or so? Then it should look OK.
Because then you'll end up with a rather small font unless you go landscape.

The Gen3 won't be any better for text files. The lin breaks are still going to be as they are on the Sony. Sorry, but if you are expecting to kae most PG text or HTML and read as is without any cleaning up, you will be sadly mistaken that it will look nice. A lot of the html has page numbers which will make the HTML on the gen3 look not so good. Text as was just said won't look so good. The best solution is to run the text or HTML though Book Designer and clean it up from there. That goes for the 500/505 and Gen3.

I appreciate your opinion on this, but I was hoping that someone with a Cybook would test this and let us know for sure. As the device and firmware are still very new, we don't know for a fact how it will handle this problem until someone with a unit in hand tells us.

I appreciate your opinion on this, but I was hoping that someone with a Cybook would test this and let us know for sure. As the device and firmware are still very new, we don't know for a fact how it will handle this problem until someone with a unit in hand tells us.

I have done this. Lord knows I have enough TXT files laying around. And, if I choose for hard-returned line length, then the font size is a bit too small for me when I'm using my distance glasses - but quite decent with my reading glasses. This is, of course, in Portrait mode. In Landscape mode, the problem of too-tiny font size goes away.

However, I've found that Ebook Tidy does a really good job of eliminating these in-paragraph hard-returns and it's free to use. Oh sure, there will be *some* editing involved, but not nearly as much as cleaning these TXT files up by hand.

:)

Derek

Derek if you take the text file, load it into BD and convert titles and subtitles to paragraphs and output it to LRF and it worked fine. Same could be done to PRC as well.

Derek if you take the text file, load it into BD and convert titles and subtitles to paragraphs and output it to LRF and it worked fine. Same could be done to PRC as well.


I prefer leaving the titles, subtitles, beginning-of-chapter hard-page-breaks in place. So, even after Ebook Tidy I have a bit of clean-up. Takes me about 15 minutes per ebook file. Not bad, really.

Derek

I have done this. Lord knows I have enough TXT files laying around. And, if I choose for hard-returned line length, then the font size is a bit too small for me when I'm using my distance glasses - but quite decent with my reading glasses. This is, of course, in Portrait mode. In Landscape mode, the problem of too-tiny font size goes away.

However, I've found that Ebook Tidy does a really good job of eliminating these in-paragraph hard-returns and it's free to use. Oh sure, there will be *some* editing involved, but not nearly as much as cleaning these TXT files up by hand.

:)

Derek

So you're telling us that the Gutenberg texts (like the one I posted) do indeed display exactly as-is with the mid-line breaks and not any better than the Sony? I just want to be clear on these things before making a purchasing decision.

So you're telling us that the Gutenberg texts (like the one I posted) do indeed display exactly as-is with the mid-line breaks and not any better than the Sony? I just want to be clear on these things before making a purchasing decision.

If you're not going to take out the hard line breaks inside the paragraphs and you choose a font size that doesn't display 80+ characters per line, then, yes.

However, many of these PG files are in HTML format and can be run through BD or Mobigen and turned into PRC files without any real problem. Just a matter of a couple of minutes effort. And the number of current Mobi titles is far greater than those available for the PRS. If you want a Sony, then go for a Sony... But I like my Cybook.

Derek

If you're not going to take out the hard line breaks inside the paragraphs and you choose a font size that doesn't display 80+ characters per line, then, yes.

However, many of these PG files are in HTML format and can be run through BD or Mobigen and turned into PRC files without any real problem. Just a matter of a couple of minutes effort. And the number of current Mobi titles is far greater than those available for the PRS. If you want a Sony, then go for a Sony... But I like my Cybook.

Derek

Thanks for the clarification. Actually, I'm leaning towards a Cybook, myself. I just wanted to get some additional information before purchasing.

question, where exactly is the font folder?
in the root? under system?

Can one of those who already have a Cybook please do me a favor in downloading this pdf (http://service.spiegel.de/digas/servlet/epaper?Q=SP&JG=2004&AG=25&SE=1&AN=PDF&DID=31182742,31182743,31182744,31182745,31182746) display it at the Cybook and post a photo of how it is rendered?

The pdf contains the index of a digital edition of the Spiegel, which is one of the newspapers i'd like to read at this device.

thanks

If you're not going to take out the hard line breaks inside the paragraphs and you choose a font size that doesn't display 80+ characters per line, then, yes.

However, many of these PG files are in HTML format and can be run through BD or Mobigen and turned into PRC files without any real problem. Just a matter of a couple of minutes effort. And the number of current Mobi titles is far greater than those available for the PRS. If you want a Sony, then go for a Sony... But I like my Cybook.

Derek
Actually, using ConvertLIT and lit2lrf you get many many many books available and the conversions are easy. Plus you still have the books from the Connect Shop as well. So I don't see how mobipocket has an advantage in this case. In fact, converting MS Reader to LRF is easier then converting a PG text.

Can one of those who already have a Cybook please do me a favor in downloading this pdf (http://service.spiegel.de/digas/servlet/epaper?Q=SP&JG=2004&AG=25&SE=1&AN=PDF&DID=31182742,31182743,31182744,31182745,31182746) display it at the Cybook and post a photo of how it is rendered?

The pdf contains the index of a digital edition of the Spiegel, which is one of the newspapers i'd like to read at this device.

thanks
I do not think that PDF is going to display well on a 6" screen be it the Gen3 or the 505. The best device for displaying that PDF is the iLiad.

If you're not going to take out the hard line breaks inside the paragraphs and you choose a font size that doesn't display 80+ characters per line, then, yes.

However, many of these PG files are in HTML format and can be run through BD or Mobigen and turned into PRC files without any real problem. Just a matter of a couple of minutes effort. And the number of current Mobi titles is far greater than those available for the PRS. If you want a Sony, then go for a Sony... But I like my Cybook.

Derek

But why would you want to run them through either? Mobipocket (and therefore I assume the Bookeen reader) does a perfectly reasonable job of displaying html. There's no particular advantage to having a prc beyond possibly a smaller file size and a TOC. I prefer to have my ebooks in html as so I can convert them to epub at some point.

It's also fairly straightforward to get rid of the carriage returns in PG texts. Or to convert Lit to html. HTML is the new ascii.

for the one who wanted to see the pdf file on the cybook

remember the photo's were made with a compact digicam, under bad lighting (high iso) out of the hand. :D

Can one of those who already have a Cybook please do me a favor in downloading this pdf (http://service.spiegel.de/digas/servlet/epaper?Q=SP&JG=2004&AG=25&SE=1&AN=PDF&DID=31182742,31182743,31182744,31182745,31182746) display it at the Cybook and post a photo of how it is rendered?

The pdf contains the index of a digital edition of the Spiegel, which is one of the newspapers i'd like to read at this device.

thanks

You can get the newspaper spiegel as RSS, via the mobipocket reader program. So it'll be allright :)

Thanks zandor, these pictures show pretty much what I wanted to see. I think i'm in love... *off ordering a cybook*

You can get the newspaper spiegel as RSS, via the mobipocket reader program. So it'll be allright :)
The RSS Feed is only about the additional daily News (freely available online), the "real" newspaper (the one with the much longer and more thoroughly written articles) is either sold as a hardcopy or as a softcopy pdf.

And using the Mobipocket Compiler (the desktop software used to collect the RSS Feed into a mobipocket ebook) is out of question anyway as I am using a mac.
I think I'm going to either write or use one of the already existing scripts to transform RSS Feeds into HTML and automatically put it on the cybook every morning so I can read them on my way to work... :)

Anyway thanks again for you help.

Take a look at what pdflrf can do to that PDF for the Sony Reader PRS-505. I know the black came out a little bit more bluish then it should have, but it is quite readable.

Does anybody knows how to add new fonts?

I made 'Font' directory in the root and put some fonts in there. When I do that I can select Font Family from the menu, but I cannot select anything. I don't even see the original font names

I must say they both look better than I had anticipated. I'm curious about how easy it is to match up the page numbers listed in the PDF for the various articles to pages in document on the reader. If I use a go-to-page function in either of these devices, is it how many screens ahead or can I tie that to the page of the original document?

Does anybody knows how to add new fonts?

I made 'Font' directory in the root and put some fonts in there. When I do that I can select Font Family from the menu, but I cannot select anything. I don't even see the original font names

The name must be "Fonts". "fonts" as it says in the Quick Start Guide is not working. I just got it to work with the liberation fonts.

The name must be "Fonts". "fonts" as it says in the Quick Start Guide is not working. I just got it to work with the liberation fonts.

After all, it is a unix (linux) system so case matters in all things.

Dale

Thanks for the Picture JSWolf, however there are some reasons for which I prefer not to take a Sony Device - though I have to say that the 505 Hardware is pretty nice and the pictures you made show a fine contrast (though that might be pdflrc's doing).

I think the differences between the respective devices is in detail and requires one to tinker with them personally. Unfortunately I haven't seen a store which sells these devices in Germany so far - and I certainly don't have the money to buy several of them. I just made the decision and ordered a Genbook and hope that this has been the right choice.

I'm curious about how easy it is to match up the page numbers listed in the PDF for the various articles to pages in document on the reader. If I use a go-to-page function in either of these devices, is it how many screens ahead or can I tie that to the page of the original document?
zandor's pictures show only a part of the actual page (in the second picture only roughly half the page) although they are labeled 2/3 and 3/3. I take it that the reader in the Genbook understand the counting of the different PDF pages and is able to differentiate between the next page and the next part of the same page - thus enabling a GoTo to jump to the propper page. However this is only guessing on my part based on the pictures presented since I do not own a Genbook at the moment.

But that presents another question: is there the possibility to display the current page when reading html or txt files - as this number might differ in relation to the currently used fontsize? It would be nearly useless to use a GoTo command when you don't even know what the current page number is...

The name must be "Fonts". "fonts" as it says in the Quick Start Guide is not working. I just got it to work with the liberation fonts.

I tried it an got only one of them visible. When removed all extra Fonts I also lost 'Verdana' GRRRR

Edit:

Ok...I found out how it works. For one reason or another I cannot add fonts tot this directory. They do not show up. But If I delete the Directory, I get Verdana back, and when I create it again and pul all fonts in there the show up after a reset.

And using the Mobipocket Compiler (the desktop software used to collect the RSS Feed into a mobipocket ebook) is out of question anyway as I am using a mac.
I think I'm going to either write or use one of the already existing scripts to transform RSS Feeds into HTML and automatically put it on the cybook every morning so I can read them on my way to work... :)

Anyway thanks again for you help.

Feedbooks should work too in this case, we just need a sync tool available on Mac/Linux (should be easy to turn the iLiad application for Feedbooks into such a tool).

I must say they both look better than I had anticipated. I'm curious about how easy it is to match up the page numbers listed in the PDF for the various articles to pages in document on the reader. If I use a go-to-page function in either of these devices, is it how many screens ahead or can I tie that to the page of the original document?
if you have it setup as one page per page then yes you can.

if you have it setup as one page per page then yes you can.

Or if you have it set to display half pages you can simply multiple the page number by 2. Note that in both cases and even with Adobe themselves on a pc with full screen display there is usually an offset based on the number of page before page 1 in th file. So you _always_ have to calculate PDF goto's,

Dale

if you have it setup as one page per page then yes you can.

Thanks. I had a feeling that might be the case.

Since this thread is about the 1.0 firmware for the Gen3, what sort of testing has it actually gone through before it was released? I've been reading about a lot of bugs and seeing that the font handling code can actually lock up the device.

Just a guess, but probably about as much testing as most vendors do, which means about five minutes :)

Programmer: "I just finished the new firmware and sent it to our QA dept."

Marketing: "Great! Send it over to manufacturing right away, so we can put it on our shipping units."

Bookeen do, however, seem to be extremely responsive about responding to issues. For a v1.0 I'd say it's pretty good.

Bookeen do, however, seem to be extremely responsive about responding to issues. For a v1.0 I'd say it's pretty good.

Yes, I'll have to agree that Bookeen seems very responsive, which is great. I was only half kidding with my post. There is a tradeoff between QA and getting updates out in a timely manner. No matter which way you go, someone will be unhappy.

It would have been nice of Bookeen if they had called the new firmware 1.0 beta. With all the bugs, I don't think it's past a beta stage at present.

All the bugs?

Don't you think that's a slight exageration, Jon? Reading this forum I'm only aware of one genuine bug, related to adding fonts to the machine, and there is (in most cases at least) a very simple workaround for it, involving deleting one file from the machine. That's hardly a catastrophic catalog of bugs, IMHO :). You seem to be determined to find negative points about the Gen3; I prefer to enjoy its positive aspects.

All the bugs?

Don't you think that's a slight exageration, Jon? Reading this forum I'm only aware of one genuine bug, related to adding fonts to the machine, and there is (in most cases at least) a very simple workaround for it, involving deleting one file from the machine. That's hardly a catastrophic catalog of bugs, IMHO :). You seem to be determined to find negative points about the Gen3; I prefer to enjoy its positive aspects.
What about others having problems reading Mobi format DRM books even though they supposedly have the PID for the Gen3?

Those are issues relating to the beta version of the MobiPocket Desktop Reader failing to see the Gen3 as a "reading device". AFAIK, nobody who has simply copied DRM-d books directly to the Gen3 has had any difficulty at all.

Those are issues relating to the beta version of the MobiPocket Desktop Reader failing to see the Gen3 as a "reading device". AFAIK, nobody who has simply copied DRM-d books directly to the Gen3 has had any difficulty at all.

Yes, I did. I dowloaded a book from the Libwise (http://www.libwise.com/fll/) library (Fictionwise lending library) after entering the PID for my Cybook, then transfered the book directly in the Cybook via the USB cable and... Woops ! "This e-book is not active yet" says the DRM... :angry:

My apologies, Irene, I must have overlooked your post. Have you checked to see that the PID is correct? I'm sure there must be a simple explanation for it - I've copied half a dozen DRMd books and they've all worked fine.

Yes, I did. I dowloaded a book from the Libwise (http://www.libwise.com/fll/) library (Fictionwise lending library) after entering the PID for my Cybook, then transfered the book directly in the Cybook via the USB cable and... Woops ! "This e-book is not active yet" says the DRM... :angry:

Thx for the info about Libwise I'm a Buywise member and didn't know about it, goner check it out.

My apologies, Irene, I must have overlooked your post. Have you checked to see that the PID is correct? I'm sure there must be a simple explanation for it - I've copied half a dozen DRMd books and they've all worked fine.


There are several people having problems with DRMd books on the Cybook. As far as I can tell all of them are related to timed books from libraries. I don't think I've seen anybody having problems with books they've actually purchased.

Presumably that's a consequence of the fact that the Gen3 doesn't "sync" with a PC, and hence has no mechanism for setting its real-time clock to the correct date and time? I'm sure you've noticed that any file that the Gen3 creates itself (eg the ".mbp" files which store your position in a book) end up with a seemingly random timestamp in early January 2007?

There are several people having problems with DRMd books on the Cybook. As far as I can tell all of them are related to timed books from libraries. I don't think I've seen anybody having problems with books they've actually purchased.
That's good to know. At least, the DRMs are only preventing me from reading an ebook the publisher is willing to let libraries rent for free, not one I bought... :D

Presumably that's a consequence of the fact that the Gen3 doesn't "sync" with a PC, and hence has no mechanism for setting its real-time clock to the correct date and time?

I think you're right. That's what I was trying to say in the problem thread.

I'm sure you've noticed that any file that the Gen3 creates itself (eg the ".mbp" files which store your position in a book) end up with a seemingly random timestamp in early January 2007?

You've obviously looked closer than I have. It is going to be the first thing I do when I get home though.

At least, the DRMs are only preventing me from reading an ebook the publisher is willing to let libraries rent for free I'm sure the libraries are paying for the e-book, they just lend it out without cost to the borrower. I wonder how good a deal e-books are for libraries, e.g. vs a physical book. They probably are not paying the same price for the e-book as we do for a version tied to a single owner.

I'm sure the libraries are paying for the e-book, they just lend it out without cost to the borrower. I wonder how good a deal e-books are for libraries, e.g. vs a physical book. They probably are not paying the same price for the e-book as we do for a version tied to a single owner.


Looking at the actual books available, it's very minimal. The only extensive section is the classic literature section - many of the rest have less than 10 books available. And those seem to be many of the books that look like they're out of print, so it's a form of remarketing them.

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

There are several people having problems with DRMd books on the Cybook. As far as I can tell all of them are related to timed books from libraries. I don't think I've seen anybody having problems with books they've actually purchased.

Oh dear. I hope they get that fixed because that's a large part of why I was considering the Cybook.

Looking at the actual books available, it's very minimal. The only extensive section is the classic literature section - many of the rest have less than 10 books available. And those seem to be many of the books that look like they're out of print, so it's a form of remarketing them.

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

I was actually pretty impressed by the selection available at various public libraries.
http://overdrive.bpl.org/
http://dlc.clevnet.org/

I got one of the discworld books from BPL. I haven't been able to read it on the Cybook yet though, for the reasons discussed previously.

I was actually pretty impressed by the selection available at various public libraries.
http://overdrive.bpl.org/
http://dlc.clevnet.org/

I got one of the discworld books from BPL. I haven't been able to read it on the Cybook yet though, for the reasons discussed previously.

My local library's Overdrive collection is pretty good. Lots of newer titles. A fair amount in Mobipocket, too. Sadly it seems most of the new ones are Adobe Digital Editions and I despair of ever getting an e-ink device that will support them.

Oh dear. I hope they get that fixed because that's a large part of why I was considering the Cybook.

Bookeen has indicated in another topic that this is a high priority fix for them. I believe they only need to sync the time to get it to work properly.

Dale

Bookeen has indicated in another topic that this is a high priority fix for them. I believe they only need to sync the time to get it to work properly.

Dale

That, however, would presumably involve writing some syncing software that runs on the PC end of the connection, and that then opens the whole "can of worms" about which operating systems are supported, etc.

That, however, would presumably involve writing some syncing software that runs on the PC end of the connection, and that then opens the whole "can of worms" about which operating systems are supported, etc.

Just thinking out loud...

Being a Linux device, the Cybook could load a driver that uses its own USB port as a NIC. Could it then sync the time directly via NTP, using the attached computer's internet connection? Is this possible without needing to load software on the host computer?

If this is not possible, then the Cybook could still use NTP to sync with the host computer. Linux (and I think Mac) already come with NTP server software (it may need to be enabled). For Windows, there are several free NTP server packages and at least one Open Source one that I know of.

Of course, the easy, low-tech way is to allow the user to manually set the time on the Cybook. Depending on how bad the internal clock is, this may be enough for most users. I'd prefer some form of time syncing, myself.

Just thinking out loud...

Being a Linux device, the Cybook could load a driver that uses its own USB port as a NIC. Could it then sync the time directly via NTP, using the attached computer's internet connection? Is this possible without needing to load software on the host computer?

If this is not possible, then the Cybook could still use NTP to sync with the host computer. Linux (and I think Mac) already come with NTP server software (it may need to be enabled). For Windows, there are several free NTP server packages and at least one Open Source one that I know of.

Of course, the easy, low-tech way is to allow the user to manually set the time on the Cybook. Depending on how bad the internal clock is, this may be enough for most users. I'd prefer some form of time syncing, myself.

I don't think most systems would proxy between USB and Ethernet without some alteration. Being able to set the system time directly for the purposes of determining the expiration of your license for a DRM-ed book may not be in keeping with Mobipocket's requirements.

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

Does Sony's DRM have a time component like these particular Mobipocket books have? These are library books that expire in a number of weeks.

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

The problem would be of course that you can import the 'timed' DRM books that are valid until, lets say Dec 31st 2007. And then set the date on Jan 1st 1950. That will give you time to read them. I don't care, but I think some people or organizations will object

The problem would be of course that you can import the 'timed' DRM books that are valid until, lets say Dec 31st 2007.

Who would pay for such service? :huh:

Who would pay for such service? :huh:

I think most of these are actually from our public libraries through services like Overdrive. So we're not paying anything. It's free (unless you count our tax dollars).

I think most of these are actually from our public libraries through services like Overdrive. So we're not paying anything. It's free (unless you count our tax dollars).

Oh, I see. Nice feature then. I have heard that we have some sort of virtual libraries here as well. My colleague's wife is reading books in their 37" plasma. He told me she borrows the books from our library for a certain period of time. However she pays for it...

We have three virtual libraries in my local public library service: NetLibrary, Overdrive and Safari. Sadly Overdrive is the only one that supports downloading to mobile devices. The others have to be read online. Luckily all of them are free, though.

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

The trouble is, though, that unlike the Sony, one normally switches off the Gen3 at the end of a reading session. Unless it has some sort of battery-powered real-time clock which runs even when the machine is switched off, you'd then have to set the date and time every time you switched the machine on, which wouldn't be very practical.

We have three virtual libraries in my local public library service: NetLibrary, Overdrive and Safari. Sadly Overdrive is the only one that supports downloading to mobile devices. The others have to be read online. Luckily all of them are free, though.

Overdrive is a company that provides software to libraries, not a library themselves. Normally a traditional library is where the books are really checked out and you normally need a local library card to perform the checkout. Yes, like all libraries books these are paid for with tax dollars. For example the Boston Public Libary used Overdrive software to manage their book checkouts.

Dale

Overdrive is a company that provides software to libraries, not a library themselves. Normally a traditional library is where the books are really checked out and you normally need a local library card to perform the checkout. Yes, like all libraries books these are paid for with tax dollars. For example the Boston Public Libary used Overdrive software to manage their book checkouts.

Dale

All I know is that my library calls it the Overdrive Digital Library and I check out online and download books. I use my library card number and my PIN as a login and password. The site has Overdrive branding all over it.

The others have to be read online.

I forgot about this detail. You can only online in the library I was talking about.

I forgot about this detail. You can only online in the library I was talking about.

Ah, you go into your local library and then access the data from the Overdrive software. That is certainly one way to do it. Do you have to bring your device in to do the checkout? How is that performed?

Most sites in the US have a web presence so you don't have to visit the physical library site and can use them 24 hours a day but they still require a local library card since the tax dollars used to populate the library come from local funds. Some school and college libraries have a similar system using student id's. There are a few exceptions such as the Virginia University library but that site has restricted access to some of the resources and a free download for others.

Dale

Mobipocket 6.1 final will fix sync problem, so says Bookeen.
Tom

Ah, you go into your local library and then access the data from the Overdrive software. That is certainly one way to do it. Do you have to bring your device in to do the checkout? How is that performed?

Dale

I don't know the details.

All I know that when I showed my brand new sony reader to him, he told me that his wife is subsribed to online library where she can read online book for a certain fee for a limitited period of time. That she is reading books on their plasma TV :)

I did check out one of the Discworld books from Overdrive via the Boston Public Library. Whoever did the conversion really made a mess of the footnotes.

You get an * as the footnote number and then it takes you to a page with footnotes with * so you have to know which one goes with the * you came from. Plus it's very easy while looking for the appropriate footnote, it's easy to see the others (and get maybe spoiled). Plus, there is no link to go back. So unless Mobipocket has a go back feature, you either have to go to the page are play around trying to find where you were. What a mess.

I'm converting it to LRF using Book Designer and putting in proper footnotes.

I did check out one of the Discworld books from Overdrive via the Boston Public Library. Whoever did the conversion really made a mess of the footnotes.

You get an * as the footnote number and then it takes you to a page with footnotes with * so you have to know which one goes with the * you came from.

I wonder if there is a way to send corrections like that back to MobiPocket for inclusion in a future version. There are way too many errors in published ebooks.

Dale

I did check out one of the Discworld books from Overdrive via the Boston Public Library. Whoever did the conversion really made a mess of the footnotes.

You get an * as the footnote number and then it takes you to a page with footnotes with * so you have to know which one goes with the * you came from. Plus it's very easy while looking for the appropriate footnote, it's easy to see the others (and get maybe spoiled). Plus, there is no link to go back. So unless Mobipocket has a go back feature, you either have to go to the page are play around trying to find where you were. What a mess.

I'm converting it to LRF using Book Designer and putting in proper footnotes.


The Cybook has a back button that would work. Of course, it can't read library books at the moment and Aenea's(sp?) conversion tool strips out the links.

I did check out one of the Discworld books from Overdrive via the Boston Public Library. Whoever did the conversion really made a mess of the footnotes.

You get an * as the footnote number and then it takes you to a page with footnotes with * so you have to know which one goes with the * you came from. Plus it's very easy while looking for the appropriate footnote, it's easy to see the others (and get maybe spoiled). Plus, there is no link to go back. So unless Mobipocket has a go back feature, you either have to go to the page are play around trying to find where you were. What a mess.

I'm converting it to LRF using Book Designer and putting in proper footnotes.

This was a DRM-laden PDF?

@ Alisa: AFAIK, all the Discworld books are DRM'd.