Branko from Teleread figured out (http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=4287) why the iRex ER 0100 (http://www.irextechnologies.com/shop/products/iliad.htm) (aka iLiad) e-book reader isn't suitable for surfing the Net despite wireless connectivity. One caveat of current E Ink technology is the relatively slow refresh rate of the display - current devices need between 0.5 and 1 second for a screen update - causing animated objects (such as drop-down menus) to blur or disappear. Nothing we can do about it except to hope for future third-gen devices to improve in this matter.

Another bummer: Although the iliad will run on Linux, only companies partnering with iRex will be able to develop third party tools for the reader. Given how Nokia is successfully using open source to give its gadgets (see Nokia 770) a first-mover advantage in the fiercely competitive consumer electronics market, it's totally beyond me why iRex would want to restrict access to the software development of its reader.

Related Sony Reader vs. iRex Iliad e-book reader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5664), Build an eink reader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5843), iRex Iliad will be available for around 400 Euro (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5916)

I was just having this conversation with a friend. I'm glad I picked up a used Litepad, though it needed some refreshening, because of the limitless opportunities.

Install any reader built for Windows platform.
WiFi and either socket Bluetooth or USB Bluetooth
30 Gb hard drive

These manufacturers are probably ignoring the tablet marketplace because of the price difference. However, I'd rather pay the difference to get the ability to hit a website while browsing a book... say, for research purposes.

However, they do have the quite impressive eInk on their side.

Really, Timmins. A simply and convenient reading pad does not even come close to the size of short battery life of a comparable tablet pc...even if the tablet pc might be able to do much more.

Another bummer: Although the Iliad will run on Linux, only companies partnering with iRex will be able to develop third party tools for the reader. Given how Nokia is successfully using open source to give its gadgets (see Nokia 770) a first-mover advantage in the fiercely competitive consumer electronics market, it's totally beyond me why iRex would want to restrict access to the software development of its reader.


Sounds like the same business strategy that killed Tapwave and the lovable Zodiac line of PDA's (mine is still going strong, but it's features are in danger of getting ignored by new software!).

Yes, I agree. Not terribly smart not to allow third party people to do things with it. It can only help the rapid proliferation of the device.

From a recent email to my "contact" on Irex:

"Developing applications and software: There are two ways:

- Developing using software tools, which is relatively difficult, and you'll need iRex intervention to make some types of software work, in some way. (please remember the device will handle encrypred content, and it will (should) not be possible to gain access to some parts of the code..)

- Developing using hardware tools. This way software can be implemented directly, but is only allowed to parties that are subject to the secrecy agreement and are trusted not to abuse the DRM"

I'm not a programmer, so does this mean no one will be able to make readers for the iRex, or that it will just be difficult?

Really, Timmins. A simply and convenient reading pad does not even come close to the size of short battery life of a comparable tablet pc...even if the tablet pc might be able to do much more.

That's probably where we differ. It's not like my needs have to be the same as yours. :wink:

If I know I am sitting for a period of time reading, there's probably an outlet nearby. Even on an airplane, I can plug in and not worry about my battery life. The only time I ever need battery power is when I need to use it for a short period of time which usually lasts considerably shorter than 2.5 hours. But the ability to multi-task, decide which format I want to read, and access network connections in my opinion is worth a lot more.

Of course. But during my reading of a book, I do not want to be accessing network connections. I most certainly do not want to check my fuel administration with excel while reading my novel. As you say, needs differ and this irex is meant at one or the other group.

From a recent email to my "contact" on Irex:

"Developing applications and software: There are two ways:

- Developing using software tools, which is relatively difficult, and you'll need iRex intervention to make some types of software work, in some way. (please remember the device will handle encrypred content, and it will (should) not be possible to gain access to some parts of the code..)

- Developing using hardware tools. This way software can be implemented directly, but is only allowed to parties that are subject to the secrecy agreement and are trusted not to abuse the DRM"

I'm not a programmer so i'm not certain if this are all bad aspects :P

Developers, if they want to make a program, do not went relatively difficult steps to get a program on the device. They certainly do not want to have to go through iRex to get a program working on it. This will kill any developer interest immediately. No developer needs to have access to the DRM libraries or anything alike. Developers simply want to get their own programs onto the device with access to the various subsystems. Screen, network and all.

To be honest, I think the whole question of allowing third-party development is irrelevant. This is a dedicated reading device. As long as it fulfills this function well enough, I don't see any reason to install other software.

To be honest, I think the whole question of allowing third-party development is irrelevant. This is a dedicated reading device. As long as it fulfills this function well enough, I don't see any reason to install other software.
Plucker for iRex and iSilo for iRex would be two reasons I could think of ;)

To be honest, I think the whole question of allowing third-party development is irrelevant. This is a dedicated reading device. As long as it fulfills this function well enough, I don't see any reason to install other software.

Dedicated devices have not been successful sellers in the marketplace.

The purpose of third-party development is to allow content that does not come from iRex approved sources, and to be able to use content you have already collected. Nobody wants to own an iRex for their newspaper, the Sony e-reader for their books, their Palm Pilot for their schedule, their cell phone for their contacts, their iPod for their tunes, their dedicated GPS device for their map...

Dedicated devices have not been successful sellers in the marketplace.

iPod? Cellphones??

The iRex does allow for a variety of formats. As long as it handles at least HTML and PDF and allows you to also view your own content it's fine with me. Your content does not have to iRex-approved or anything.

Let me ask you this way, Laurens: would it hurt the consumer if third-party development was encouraged for the iRex?

Let me ask you this way, Laurens: would it hurt the consumer if third-party development was encouraged for the iRex?

Well, first I would ask whether that question would actually be relevant. The iRex is meant as an alternative to paper. It's not good for much else due to its e-ink display. If the on-board software is good enough for its intended purpose, why would third parties actually be interested in developing other software for it? As long as it supports a variety of open formats (HTML and PDF being two) and allows you to load your own content on it, it fulfills its purpose well enough.

Of course. But during my reading of a book, I do not want to be accessing network connections. I most certainly do not want to check my fuel administration with excel while reading my novel. As you say, needs differ and this irex is meant at one or the other group.

I'm not countering you in any way :happy2: , just wanted to add that what I meant by network connection brings me to an example last night. While reading there was something that I just had no idea about, I flipped on Wifi and went to Wikipedia. I did another 2-3 minutes of reading there, and then hopped back into my book.

Excel? There's no way my little tablet, "biblio", would ever see the likes of Office. My tablet is dedicated to two sole tasks... reading and in a rare moon note-taking.

From the company's point of view, it's possible there's a "good" reason for them to prohibit unauthorized third-party software. There are two ways to make a profit on devices: selling the hardware, and selling a platform. Selling the hardware means you want to get the actual device in as many hands as possible, and you don't care what they do with it. It also means you have to have a price point somewhere above the manufacturing/distribution costs in order to make a profit.

Selling the platform means you get the hardware in as many hands as possible, but use the platform to sell something else. Video game consoles use this approach; the manufacturers make money by licensing game developers to produce content and selling the content, they don't make much of a profit on the hardware. In fact, usually they lose money on the hardware for a while.

So, based on the statements about development and the huge number of expensive features they packed into the hardware, my guess would be that iRex is subsidizing the cost of the device by selling the platform - the newspaper subscriptions are one way to do that, and they might have other things lined up. So they don't want people doing something with the platform that doesn't make them any money, perhaps. Or perhaps they're worried about unlicensed developers competing with the licensed ones, making companies less willing to pay for the license.

Sony will probably go the same way, since they already announced their intention to sell content, and since that's the way Sony works.

In any case, it seems like the Hanlin device is going to be the hackers' choice, since Hanlin is probably selling the hardware, not the platform. They will be eager for people to buy the device for any reason, whether they're planning on just reading books, porting DOOM, or just blowing it up with explosives. That's kind of a refreshing attitude these days...

I'm not so sure what iRex is playing at...

They have a nice product in the pipeline, but their information politic is...slightly lacking...and instead of offering an open reader (they do say that they want to support as many formats as possible) they restrict 3rd party apps to their "partners".
They then announce the IDS (or whatever) to bring content to the customers, but never give any details on what they will be offering. And in addition they want to focus on "business" customers...but are also open to private customers...so what will they be offering for the privates?
They state that they'll be selling their device in april, but never say what they will be charging, if there will be local distribuion in other european/american countries...no information about "subsidized" devices... :rolleyes5

and the funny thing is...according to the Teleread poll they are Nr.1 on the wishlist of the users at the moment...and I'm rather interested mayself...even though the device has obvious drawbacks as a "book replacement" in comparison to Sony and Hanlin...it just seems so...geeky...maybe that's it... :sleepy:

Okay, how long have they kept us waiting for this thing with NO contact! I was all set to buy one in April, then in May and look now it's September.

All I want is an intelligent pad, I want to be able to store books and make notes, I want to be able to make use of things like the WiFi and Linux environment to develop small apps to tie with a database or my own automated filing systems.

I'm sick of the unprofessional approach of iRex with regards to the launch of this product. They're going to kill the market for ePaper devices before it's even got off the ground and I am NEVER going to get my A5 tablet!

Get your act together iRex, you couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery!

Okay, how long have they kept us waiting for this thing with NO contact! I was all set to buy one in April, then in May and look now it's September.

All I want is an intelligent pad, I want to be able to store books and make notes, I want to be able to make use of things like the WiFi and Linux environment to develop small apps to tie with a database or my own automated filing systems.

I'm sick of the unprofessional approach of iRex with regards to the launch of this product. They're going to kill the market for ePaper devices before it's even got off the ground and I am NEVER going to get my A5 tablet!

Get your act together iRex, you couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery!

two words: nokia 770

Thats not, technically, 2 words.

And Shiggie was talking about epaper devices.

Thats not, technically, 2 words.

that is, technically, correct ;)

And Shiggie was talking about epaper devices.

from his description, the 770 is the closest thing to his needs. he won't get what he wants from any of the upcoming epaper devices.

that is, technically, correct ;)

Sorry I forgot to put a smiley on the end of that so.

It was meant to be "tongue in cheek", not "pedantic ass" :-)


from his description, the 770 is the closest thing to his needs. he won't get what he wants from any of the upcoming epaper devices.

True. But the Nokia is nowhere near a5 sized.

Added to that, we might not want something with backlight..we want ePaper. Nothing else.

What I am specifically after is a replacement for a notepad. I've owned a number of PDAs and tested tablet PCs and so far found nothing in the vain of what I want.

The reason that the iRex appeals to me is because it seems to be nearing the specifications I have longed for.

The Nokia 770 looks like an interesting gadget, but about as useful to me as a chocolate condom; it's trying to be too much, convergance is nice, but I already have a PC and I'm looking for a companion device, not a replacement. I may be misinformed, but I believe that it is going to fail in my expectations like most other pda's have. I don't require a colour screen since most of the books I have in PDF format are mono, and I never carry coloured pens around so I'm used to writing black. The absence of a backlit screen is also a bonus, since I've never been able to comfortably read those in sunlight, and although Britain is overcast 90% of the year, it can still be a major problem.

The wacom-based touch-screen appeals to me because I use a wacom tablet all the time and I love how solid it feels compared to standard touch-screen interfaces. Anyone who has written on the surface of a tablet PC knows how crap the text looks with jagged edges, and how difficult it is to write like normal on the zero-friction surface, (why the hell can't they just roughen the screen a little so the pen doesn't glide as effortlessly, clumsy people like me have real trouble with those!)

I don't want anything more than an electronic pad, so it's a means of recording and displaying data, but it seems to me that if you're going to put a 400mhz processor in something and you aren't going to use it to it's potential, you should allow others to further your efforts; unless they're afraid of giving away important copy-protection info.

... Everything else aside, I wish they'd just made the damned thing square... I HATE that slanted top edge.