I've had my V3 for a while now and it's proven itself a great tool for reading, the proof is in the fact that I take it everywhere and spend large amounts of time enjoying reading on it. Nothing is perfect of course and so what ideas do people have for making it even better? Software is under control of course, so leaving hardware improvements to another discussion, what software changes would people like?

I'd like to see a few of the following
1) Options to choose fonts for plain text files (most formats will define the font and I know I could easily change the font on my computer and save as a DOC/PDF/etc. but it shouldn't be hard to add this ability

2) Saving bookmarks to memory when you set them, not just when you exit from reading view (seems to do this anyway, I've lost some bookmarks)

3) A clock in the status bar at the bottom of the screen (maybe not a good idea as the updating of the display is difficult?)

Hmm, quite hard to think of anything specific. There are little bugs that should be fixed too of course like not removing files from the recent viewed list after they are deleted (just get a note saying "file does not exist").

I would say:

1. Switch the next/previous page buttons when in landscape mode!!!

2. Fonts yes. Let us have a system font folder where we can put our own fonts that we can use throughout the system.

3. PDF margin restriction. A lot of PDF files have a huge horizontal margin that restricts the current zoom mode. Either have the option to set the margin that is ignored by the zoom mode, or have the option for a custom zoom ratio. We might be able to use the 9 and 0 keys to move the PDF to the left or right to get it properly centered.

4. Mobipocket support. The majority of downloadable content and in the ebook shops comes in mobipocket format. I believe support is in the works, but better sooner then late.

5. Small GUI enhancement in FB2 reader. When going to settings like page orientation or font size, it would be nice to have the current setting high-lighted.

6. Better HTML/CHM handling. More complex HTML files are messed up with the layout.

7. Big DOC file support. Have a 12Mb word file that gets rejected with a file size error. The same document converted to RTF with the same file size opens fine, just layout messy.

About the suggested clock in the task bar: Don't think it's a good idea, as mentioned it requires a screen refresh of some sort and at least every redraw/processor activity leads to battery drain. My primary reason for getting a dedicated ebook is battery life, beside the fact it's cool :D

To add to the list:
- Ability to choose font size for DOC and RTF files and reflow. DOC files are not PDF's and are not fixed like that.
- Better support in DOC files for drawings (sometimes they just don't show up when you have a flow chart for example)

- Add a T9 type interface (like we all know from SMS tekst message input) so we can use the 0-9 hardware buttons to search for text or files.

I am not sure whether this is the proper thread to discuss problems with V3. But, my doc files when opened show file length error i used a 10 mb file.FB2 seems to be the best bet, so far, but pdf docs when converted, with BD,do not retain their tables and that is painful .RTF files do not open at all. but most text only files in whichever format ,when converted to FB2 with BD ,make a pleasant reading. The wish list, might take a longtime being fulfilled , unless more people join in this effort. but all in all this is an affordable good device as far as hardware is concerned(barring placement of buttons), but leaves a lot to be desired on the software side, IMHO.

About clock:
Apart screen refresh there is another problem: hardware. I think Hanlin doesn't have clock inside.

yeah, I think the t9 interface would be great, I'd love to be able to search my books for quotes, and that seems like it should be one of the big advantages of ebooks in general. I haven't bought an ebook reader yet, but I think I'm going to get a hanlin next weekend. I'd also like to see some way to navigate to a word in a book, so it can be looked up in a dictionary... apparently there's currently no way to do this in the hanlin right?

yeah, I think the t9 interface would be great, I'd love to be able to search my books for quotes, and that seems like it should be one of the big advantages of ebooks in general. I haven't bought an ebook reader yet, but I think I'm going to get a hanlin next weekend. I'd also like to see some way to navigate to a word in a book, so it can be looked up in a dictionary... apparently there's currently no way to do this in the hanlin right?

Correct, right now you can only:
- Use the index to navigate to a specific section of a book
- Use bookmarks
- Use the go to page xxx option

I am not sure whether this is the proper thread to discuss problems with V3. But, my doc files when opened show file length error i used a 10 mb file.FB2 seems to be the best bet, so far, but pdf docs when converted, with BD,do not retain their tables and that is painful .RTF files do not open at all. but most text only files in whichever format ,when converted to FB2 with BD ,make a pleasant reading. The wish list, might take a longtime being fulfilled , unless more people join in this effort. but all in all this is an affordable good device as far as hardware is concerned(barring placement of buttons), but leaves a lot to be desired on the software side, IMHO.


Hi,

Yeah.. this forum is not properly organized so far so we can have a dedicated bugs section on the Hanlin reader forum.. Anyway, what I did so far is on the firmware release thread mention the open bugs present in there.
For the 11-12-2007 firmware: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16062

To get the bug to the attention of the Jinke Hanlin developers I would suggest logging the issue at the developer forum:
http://www.jinke.com.cn/Compagesql/English/develop/index.asp

So far I can say that the issues I logged there are being picked up by Jinke quite fast.

For the issues you mention:
Yes, I get the file length error as well for 10Mb+ doc files.
I am able to open RTF files though with the 11-12-2007 firmware. However, the layout is not quite right to me.
I do agree that the reading experience is superiour with the FB2 format for me as well. However I am not thrilled with the results that BD is giving me. Instead I'm using the DOC2FB2 converter and that gives me excellent results so far. Might give that a try: http://home.arcor.de/fb.tools/

Add support for a USB keyboard. Include a simple utility for entering text into a .txt file. This would let people carry one of those mini-keyboards around with their ebook for entering notes. This enhancement should require only software changes.

Add support for a USB keyboard. Include a simple utility for entering text into a .txt file. This would let people carry one of those mini-keyboards around with their ebook for entering notes. This enhancement should require only software changes.

the USB is a slave device on this machine. A slave device cannot talk to another slave device (keyboard). You need a master device which means hardware changes.

Dale

Add support for a USB keyboard. Include a simple utility for entering text into a .txt file. This would let people carry one of those mini-keyboards around with their ebook for entering notes. This enhancement should require only software changes.

Really? Are you certain that the v3 has USB host hardware? I was under the impression that it could only act as a USB client, not as a host.

Simple improve: change the default sort order. Now it is by modification time - very frustrating when you have a lot of books in directory.

I think they should add user settings (the best way) or change it to more natural by title sort order.

Simple improve: change the default sort order. Now it is by modification time - very frustrating when you have a lot of books in directory.

I think they should add user settings (the best way) or change it to more natural by title sort order.

Hi Jeszmien,

Not sure what you mean by the sort order.. we already do have the option to sort by title, date or extention don't we?

Hi Jeszmien,

Not sure what you mean by the sort order.. we already do have the option to sort by title, date or extention don't we?

Yes, we do :)
But... default order is by modification date, so every time you change directory you need to press OK, and select another sort order.
Everyone (I think) expects that natural order by filename (title of book) is default, but not in Hanlin - here you have sort by modification time.

Yes, we do :)
But... default order is by modification date, so every time you change directory you need to press OK, and select another sort order.
Everyone (I think) expects that natural order by filename (title of book) is default, but not in Hanlin - here you have sort by modification time.

Ok, I understand.. Sounds like good request.

Simple improve: change the default sort order. Now it is by modification time - very frustrating when you have a lot of books in directory.

I think they should add user settings (the best way) or change it to more natural by title sort order.

Jeczmien, it looks from the description that the sort order is addressed in the 2007-12-19 firmware release. Please check it out.

I would improve the V3 by adding a DRMed ebook format that is actually supported like BBeB or Mobipocket or eReader.

I recall that one of the Hanlin devices was supposed to have dual screens. I spend lots of time proof reading OCR jobs. If a Hanlin ebook could show me the .jpg scan on one screen (with zooming abilities) and the text format on the other screen (with editing abilities) I'd buy one. There might need to be some slicker interface, or some easy sync with my OCR software (e.g., ABBYY FineReader 9.0.)

Andy

I recall that one of the Hanlin devices was supposed to have dual screens. I spend lots of time proof reading OCR jobs. If a Hanlin ebook could show me the .jpg scan on one screen (with zooming abilities) and the text format on the other screen (with editing abilities) I'd buy one. There might need to be some slicker interface, or some easy sync with my OCR software (e.g., ABBYY FineReader 9.0.)


Jinke has a "Future Products" (http://www.jinke.com.cn/Compagesql/embedpro/futurepro.asp) page (chinese), where they do show something similar to what you're after. No idea if they plan to release it or it's just a prototype.

As for the "easy sync", I totally agree - it should be like Macs & iSync - "Sync & go". However don't count on it being possible with a niche app like ABBY FineReader (never heard of that!) unless you ask the author or something.

I recall that one of the Hanlin devices was supposed to have dual screens. I spend lots of time proof reading OCR jobs. If a Hanlin ebook could show me the .jpg scan on one screen (with zooming abilities) and the text format on the other screen (with editing abilities) I'd buy one. There might need to be some slicker interface, or some easy sync with my OCR software (e.g., ABBYY FineReader 9.0.)

Andy

The Hanlin V2 (see the wiki) has dual screens as does the Hanlin V8 but the second screen is pretty small and intended for data entry. I think Jinke needs to offer some of these (like the V2) on the international market instead of just another me-to product like the V3. The V2t would also be a great choice as it has a full touch screen. If they also had eReader support it could make an interesting horse race. WOLF isn't much competition for Mobi or Sony.

A touch screen for data entry would be a great addition for notes and searching.

Dale

Jeczmien, it looks from the description that the sort order is addressed in the 2007-12-19 firmware release. Please check it out.

Nope.

In fact I cannot find any difference between 2007-12-07 and 2007-12-19 versions. They claims date format changes, but it looks the same for me.

Nope.

In fact I cannot find any difference between 2007-12-07 and 2007-12-19 versions. They claims date format changes, but it looks the same for me.

OK - you are right - it HAS new sorting settings, but first time I've tried I've found new bug :)

It works, but you need to set it for each folder separately (and don't forget about parent folders!) - look Jinkie forum for bugreport.

ugh.

yeah, ... It seems that the most important software new-features (aside from whatever bugs people have been experiencing) would be DRM support and some kind of button-navigated way to search for quotes, and button navigated dictionary lookup like the cybook seems to have.

My real problem now though is their marketing/sales. I just want to buy one! I'm even here, in China. I heard some of the people trying to by cybooks from Europe had to pay a jacked up price. Likewise here. I'm being told now that the hanlin is 100$ more if I buy from within China. I'd been waiting for some money being wired (to me from my US account), I was just going to go to their factory and buy on directly when I had the money. Finally my money arrived, but I'm not going to spend an extra hundred bucks for being closer.

So now what? To get the normal advertised prices, the Europeans will have to ship Chinese devices to Europe, and I'll have to ship a European devices to China? Can anyone explain the reasoning behind this kind of "product policy?"

My impression is that jinke has a pretty good product, but they could sell a LOT more devices just with simple improvements like a navigable web page, credit card support, and a reasonable marketing strategy. I really don't think it would be so difficult for them to be competitive... but... I was really excited about the hanlin and now I'm not even going to be able to buy one.

I'm feeling pretty frustrated... after finally straightening out my bank issues after all this time... now I don't know if I'll even be able to get an ebook reader at all... I'm not sure if I'm going to have an address much longer.

ugh... and my damn proxy is making every one of my posts re-post. ... this is an edit, ... just editing out my re-post.

I'm still shopping for a portable e-reader (this is my first post), and the smaller touchscreen on the V8 is highly appealing for searching, and for taking notes. I also like the idea of spinning a knob to turn a page, instead of pushing a button (much easier on my joints).

Combine these features with the Vizplex screen, and I would buy this in a heartbeat!

Sherri

Jinke has a "Future Products" (http://www.jinke.com.cn/Compagesql/embedpro/futurepro.asp) page (chinese), where they do show something similar to what you're after. No idea if they plan to release it or it's just a prototype.

As for the "easy sync", I totally agree - it should be like Macs & iSync - "Sync & go". However don't count on it being possible with a niche app like ABBY FineReader (never heard of that!) unless you ask the author or something.

jinkie do some awsome products if you looks at the pages in chinese (including the dual screen one), but whether you'll actually be able to buy them any time soon is very debatable. I'm in the uk and had been hoping the v9 would have been out ages ago, but as it is, we are only just able to buy v3 (and even then I've only found one European seller that is actually shipping v3). Considering how hard it is trying to buy the devices in uk, Im considering just going for the v3 . . .

However don't count on it being possible with a niche app like ABBY FineReader (never heard of that!)


I've only tried converting a few pdfs to text with abby finereader 9, but appears absolutely awesome. Bit expensive though, and you do need a good spec pc, and even then, the conversion for even a normal 300/400 page pdf can take a while.