I have not been actively looking at the BeBook website lately, so when I noticed that they had released new firmware for the Neo a little while back I was shocked as well as hopeful for some nifty fixes...WOW, was I shocked!

This new firmware totally blew me away! It makes the Neo into the device that I had hoped it would be when I first got it. The TTS feature is great, the seperate dictionary function is something that I never thought I would see, the new icons are great, etc.

It makes me feel like I have a brand new device. I just can't say enough good things about this new firmware.

Just thought I would share. :D

Is this the "July 2010" firmware download that you're referring to?

yes, I know that it's been out for a while now, but as I said, I just recently downloaded it.

I wasn't criticizing you. I haven't updated my Neo either and I just wanted to make sure that this was the latest firmware before I did so :).

It seems like this firmware sort of flew under the radar...no one really mentioned it here and there was no big buzz at bebook, so I didn't even realize it was out until recently. That seems odd to me considering how much of a step forward it was.

Could you explain what new functionalities or improvements it conveys ?
I installed it but I am not sure I could find something new when using my Bebook Neo...

Beyond the new and spiffy icons this new firmware makes the dictionary available as a separate function(previously it was only available while viewing a book), adds basic .doc support, adds a text to speech function, adds some system languages, and improves on several functions (the web browser is faster, touchscreen more responsive, etc.).

Thanks !
Beyond the new and spiffy icons this new firmware makes the dictionary available as a separate function(previously it was only available while viewing a book), adds basic .doc support,
Good news.
But, as for dictionaries, the main problem remains : when reading the definition of a word while reading a book, what to do if you want to get the dictionary explanation for a word included within the explanatin of a word ? It is impossible... and when reading in a language which is not your native language that is really annoying...

adds a text to speech function,
Does'n work with me.

adds some system languages
What do you mean exactly, are you speaking of a programming language or do you mean some natural language was added to the system (in this case : not mine, unfortunately) ?
and improves on several functions (the web browser is faster, touchscreen more responsive, etc.).
Maybe. But the fact is that to select a word - to annotate it or to find its dictionary explanation - is still a crux.

Could you explain what new functionalities or improvements it conveys ?
I installed it but I am not sure I could find something new when using my Bebook Neo...Firmware version 1.4 (9.07.2010):
* Added basic .doc support
* Optimized .pdf support
* Updated user interface
* Improved web browsing speed
* Added persistent cookies in browser
* Fixed some online keyboard issues while browsing
* Improved web security options (delete sessions/cookies)
* Improved bookmarking functionality in browser
* Extended WiFi setup and connection options
* Fixed some online .epub download problems
* Improved Mac connectivity
* Added text-to-speech functionality (English only)
* Added system languages
:)

This is too much of an "official" and quite "abstract" listing.
I mean, concretely, what differences did you experience in real life ?
As I said above, text>to speech for instance, don't sem to work on my Bebook with this new firmware.

i just got an onyx boox and am having some pretty big troubles with TTS and annotations, i think i read somewhere that maybe they haven't gotten TTS for english yet? in any case i am really interested in installiing the beebook neo software as they are essentially the same ereader. does anyone know how to go about installing the beekbook neo firmware on the onyx boox 60?
thanks!!

any idea of how to install the bebook firmware on the onyx boox?? since your post i am really interested in going with beebook rather than onyx because i am having some big issues with the TTS and annotations
thanks!
-Aimee

Have a look at http://booxusers.com. There you'll find all information about firmware versions, what's in them and how to install them.

In addition to the excellent BooxUsers forum http://booxusers.com/ have a look at the official site : http://mybebook.com/index.html

See these information about the Bebook Neo firmware installation :
"http://mybebook.com/a44/bebook-neo-firmware/article_info.html"

Thanks!! I updated it by jsut putting the bebook firmware on my SD card and doing an update, it seems to be working but hte TTS does not work at all and the dictionary doesn't seem to work, any suggestions?

Check the Bebook website (www.mybebook.com). There is December 2010 firmware update for the Neo. I will be installing shortly.

Thanks for that! I'll go and get it myself.

Thanks for sharing. I've just updated Onyx firmware 1.51 some days ago. Don't know if there are many differences.

I also updated yesterday but i still can't get the TTS working, are you doing the english tts? It has never worked for me and i have tried onyx and neo firmware. I have also never had the hand writing recognition nor the dictionary work... not completly necessary but frustrating considering the price of the product
I do not notice any huge changes so far in the new neo software but i do think it is a bt faster and smoother and i do like being able to rename and move files on the device
any advie on how to get the tts and other features working?
thanks!!