http://www.engadget.com/photos/the-swappable-gsm-radio/576223/

I've never seen it before. This seems to be a pic of the same device in a different color:

http://www.engadget.com/photos/the-swappable-gsm-radio/576219/

It has a brochure in the background ... does that say "groupsensa" on it? I don't find anything on Google for "groupsensa" and nothing reading device related for "sensa" ....

I thought that said Groupsense (with an "e").

It looks like either an LCD or Cholesteric LCD display, dunnit?

I thought that said Groupsense (with an "e").That sounds a bit promising, I've found an Asian company (not sure where, exactly) called GroupSense, Ltd. that makes PalmOS phones.

These folks, perhaps? http://www.gspda.com/index.htm

Sorry to start a mystery on here :D

We love mysteries. :yes:

Of course, Nate will probably have the CEO's shoe size for us by morning. :laugh4:

I don't have the shoe size yet, but I did find the exhibitor info:

https://myces.bdmetrics.com/Portal/ViewCompany.aspx?id=4101182

And the website:
http://www.gsl.com.hk/eng/index.asp

And a corporate statement from 2004. Not bad for only 40 minutes.

P.S. I also emailed them.

@guyananomous

This was very good work. I salute you.

See, this is why your karma keeps going up. :D

I knew I'd seen it somewhere. Shousa found a site in Chinese (I think).

http://www.ebooksee.com/price.htm
The one found at CES almost has to be the M218A. Here is some info:

显示： LCD TFT16 灰色
像素： 480 （ W ） *640 （ H ）
CPU ： ARM9 200MHZ
支持文件格式： EBA 、 EBAML （ EBA2.0 ）、 TXT 、 WOLF 、 PDF
支持图片格式： BMP 、 JPG 、 GIF 、 Animated GIF 、 PNG
语言：简体中文、繁体中文、英文
尺寸： 154*110*13.5mm
电池：锂电池 2800mAh
净重： 215g
操作时间： 22 小时以上
充电时间： USB ： 7 小时 交流电： 4 小时
传送文件方式： USB 端口、 SD 卡插口

内存： 1. NAND flash 128M*8bit(1 Gbit)
2. NOR flash 512K*16bit(8Mbit)
3. SDRAM 32MB

from:
http://www.ebooksee.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=302

It could also be the M218B.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14723&highlight=m218b

According to Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/11/the-swappable-gsm-radio/), Group Sense developed a GSM (cell phone modem) module that is compatible with many different devices including the M218B ebook reader, which is made by JCNIP.

So the device isn't new, but I for one didn't know that it had an expansion slot. Interesting.

All those luscious reading devices remind me of a story I heard once, and lends it some credence.

Basically, someone I know once said that over in the Land of the Rising Sun, there are so many ridiculously advanced gadgets that are never going to leave the island or revealed to gaijin that it would make us weep.

Maybe there will be a market for bootleg e-ink/cholesteric LCD devices. ;-

If somebody wants to buy it, here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Powerful-Ebook-Reader-EBA-TXT-HTML-PDF-16-Grayscale-5_W0QQitemZ230161482536QQihZ013QQcategoryZ88752QQr dZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcm dZViewItem

If somebody wants to buy it, here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Powerful-Ebook-Reader-EBA-TXT-HTML-PDF-16-Grayscale-5_W0QQitemZ230161482536QQihZ013QQcategoryZ88752QQr dZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcm dZViewItem

Thanks. I bought one.

Awaiting for review!

I am going to be in so much trouble. Through this seller I can get quite a few gadgets that wouldn't otherwise make it out of China. Personal bankruptcy might occur.

I bought this one, too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230166518900&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=013

i is drooling (and awaiting review !!!).

let us know when you get them !!

The Ebay seller is also a web retailer, and accepts Paypal. This is their website. http://www.rwhj.com.cn/html/category/class_34.html

So he can deliver all those goodies worldwide?

Does this unit have a backlight? Last I heard the M218 didn't but I see it say white backlight. What's the story? :)

I see all kinds of other ebooks at this place, some of them even appear backlit, which is what I'm looking for. Too bad I can't get more detail about it. :(

Does this unit have a backlight? Last I heard the M218 didn't but I see it say white backlight.


It also says it's LCD - so that would allow it to have backlighting.

TXT and HTML were the only formats that I recognize. Wonder how you get it to do anything else?

So he can deliver all those goodies worldwide?

I think so. He had no problem shipping to me.

It doesn't have a backlight. Just got confirmation from the seller.

Here is the link to Chinese e-readers forum (English translation by Google): http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=zh-CN%7Cen&u=http://www.handsee.com/bbs/list.asp%3Fbbsid%3D3

I'm so jealous. That forum shows all kinds of very nice LCD ebook readers available over there. Seems manufacturers over there are much smarter than here I guess. I want an LCD reader with backlight... Please read this and get to it. No backlight = no purchase from me. I'll continue to use my ebookwise-1150 until they come up with something more modern that supports what I need. :)

I thought everyone would want an update. The seller and I agreed to cancel one of the two auctions because the device doesn't have an English menu in the current firmware. The other device, the M218A, should ship today.

Can you ask him to provide list of e-readers from his web site that have English menu? He has quite interesting backlite devices there.

The seller and I agreed to cancel one of the two auctions because the device doesn't have an English menu in the current firmware.

pff, you don't mean you'll let a little thing like a menu in korean stand in your way ? ;)

I move this thread to the Hanlin sub-forum. Until there is a good reason to give this brand its own forum it will be left here.

But it is not e-ink. Why you moved it there?

But it is not e-ink. Why you moved it there?

Of all the sub-forums, this is the one that is the closest match. The M218A reads WOLF format.

Of all the sub-forums, this is the one that is the closest match. The M218A reads WOLF format.

By the way, it is now in the wiki (M218) as well. More information is needed on this product. It may be related to Jinke as well.

Dale

But it is not e-ink. I think it should be separate theme in forum devoted to readers from Asia. Now Panasonic words gear is discussed in "Which device shall I buy". 218 is mentioned here and in other threads. And how many devices are still unknown to us?

The moderators have been discussing the suggestion made by stasys and mrdini about adding a new "catch-all" forum for uncommon ebook reader. It's a good idea. Main reason we hadn't created one is we don't want to make a new forum until there is enough activity to justify it. There are now seven device specific forums as well as the future and legacy device forums. It just seems like it's getting a little crowded.

Instead, it looks like we might replace or rename the Starebook forum. This forum was created in late 2006, I think, and is not very active.

So, what do you guys think? I'm throwing this open for debate.

I like this idea. If you look at the dates and numbers, the Starebook forums sees almost no activity. It has half as many posts and a fifth of the threads of the next more active forum, the one for the eBookwise. I wouldn't be surprised if the various and sundry threads for other exotics like the Panasonic Wordgear, the Soribook, or this one for the M218 taken together had more activity than the Starebook forum in the last six months or so.

I say go for it.

Good idea! And now the theme name should be changed from eREAD STAReBOOK to "Other eReaders after 2005" or something like that.

agreed ..good idea...


The moderators have been discussing the suggestion made by stasys and mrdini about adding a new "catch-all" forum for uncommon ebook reader. It's a good idea. Main reason we hadn't created one is we don't want to make a new forum until there is enough activity to justify it. There are now seven device specific forums as well as the future and legacy device forums. It just seems like it's getting a little crowded.

Instead, it looks like we might replace or rename the Starebook forum. This forum was created in late 2006, I think, and is not very active.

So, what do you guys think? I'm throwing this open for debate.

I'm all for renaming the forum to "other readers" or something.

As I'm the only STAReBOOK owner here it seems, I don't think I need an entire forum, espec for one where the producing company seems to have vanished. Not like anyone else will be buying one, or getting firmware updates or anything.

So, as the lone STAReBOOKian, go for it :)

micro

I'm all for renaming the forum to "other readers" or something.

As I'm the only STAReBOOK owner here it seems, I don't think I need an entire forum, espec for one where the producing company seems to have vanished. Not like anyone else will be buying one, or getting firmware updates or anything.

So, as the lone STAReBOOKian, go for it :)


But you could have an ENTIRE forum, all to yourself! Think about that!

The Ebay seller is also a web retailer, and accepts Paypal. This is their website. http://www.rwhj.com.cn/html/category/class_34.html
Nate, can you pm me his e-mail - I want to ask about other readers on his website. Or maybe he told you already which of them has English menu? Thanks.