Aluratek Libre just got Adobe DE support

[Nate the great]

I just got off the phone with Aluratek. They confirmed that the firmware update released on Friday did indeed add Adobe DE support to the Libre. The update includes DRM and reflowable PDFs.

I was caught a little flatfooted by this announcement. Like many people, I had assumed that Aluratek had simply rebranded the Ectaco Jetbook (which is itself a rebranded JCNIP M218). I was wrong; Aluratek had licensed the hardware and been developing the firmware independent of Ectaco.

As of this moment, the Jetbook does not have this firmware update nor can it use the firmware. (I tried.)

*********

I have a Libre, and I can heartily recommend the hardware. Newegg is currently selling it for $179.99, and I think it's worth it.

[GA Russell]

Hallelujah! I expect that this competition between Ectaco and Aluratek will boost the awareness of ePaper in general as an alternative to eInk.

[nikkie]

Thanks for that comment, Russell. I had no idea. For those like me: here's the difference.

I had completely written off the Aluratek and Jetbook just because their hardware design was so ugly. Has anyone done any refresh speed comparisons?

[hamfitz]

tried out the pdf reflow and and also adobe digital edition books. works for both. The reflow cut off a few sentences on one book at the start of each chapter(not sure why) but the other book worked fine.
Is reflow working correctly a book to book basis?

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by nikkie

Thanks for that comment, Russell. I had no idea. For those like me: here's the difference.

Now I owe you thanks, Nikki! I had no idea that is how ePaper works.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Aluratek had licensed the hardware and been developing the firmware independent of Ectaco.

Has there been confirmation of which DRM scheme will be supported by the Jetbook? ECTACO jetBook-Lite product page says:

Support of DRM format through Barnes & Nobles

I initially took this to mean eReader, but now I'm not so sure. ECTACO's own forum mentions ePub, but that could be via FBReader (DRM-free ePub).

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I just got off the phone with Aluratek. They confirmed that the firmware update released on Friday did indeed add Adobe DE support to the Libre. The update includes DRM and reflowable PDFs.

I was caught a little flatfooted by this announcement. Like many people, I had assumed that Aluratek had simply rebranded the Ectaco Jetbook (which is itself a rebranded JCNIP M218). I was wrong; Aluratek had licensed the hardware and been developing the firmware independent of Ectaco.

As of this moment, the Jetbook does not have this firmware update nor can it use the firmware. (I tried.)

*********

I have a Libre, and I can heartily recommend the hardware. Newegg is currently selling it for $179.99, and I think it's worth it.

Does it mean that jetBook can be reprogrammed with Aluratek firmware and
will have Adobe DE support?

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Has there been confirmation of which DRM scheme will be supported by the Jetbook? ECTACO jetBook-Lite product page says: I initially took this to mean eReader, but now I'm not so sure. ECTACO's own forum mentions ePub, but that could be via FBReader (DRM-free ePub).

jetBook-Lite has eReader support

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by hamfitz

The reflow cut off a few sentences on one book at the start of each chapter(not sure why) but the other book worked fine.
Is reflow working correctly a book to book basis?

The easiest way to check is to try the same PDFs in Sony eBook Library, because eBL implements mobile ADE on a PC or a Mac. If eBL displays the PDF with reflow correctly, then this is a Libre bug and otherwise it is an ADE bug.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by nikkie

Thanks for that comment, Russell. I had no idea. For those like me: here's the difference.

I had completely written off the Aluratek and Jetbook just because their hardware design was so ugly. Has anyone done any refresh speed comparisons?

So Aluratek uses different screen hardware from Jetbook?

Jetbook is reflective lcd while Aluratek is epaper?

Dale

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

So Aluratek uses different screen hardware from Jetbook?

Jetbook is reflective lcd while Aluratek is epaper?

Dale

No, same screen but different name.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Kris777

No, same screen but different name.

Ah, so they are lying. ePaper is bistable and jetBook is not so Aluratek should not say they have an ePaper screen.

Dale

[GA Russell]

Dale, the NewEgg site says: "The Libre is soft on the eyes utilizing an exclusive ePaper LCD technology."

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20Libre%20Pro

The Aluratek site says the same.

http://www.aluratek.com/product_info...02&display=All

[nikkie]

As I understand it, Aluratek and Ectaco use exactly the same hardware. Their screens are not eInk, however. This makes them different from the Kindles and Sony Readers of the world. I stumbled on that page describing how they work while googling for info about ePaper. Specific information is very hard to find since most people refer to eInk as epaper. Strikes me as a terrible name for a competing technology.

I would be very interested to see a comparison of eInk to ePaper screens, if anyone owns both. Ideally a video and some high-res pics.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by nikkie

As I understand it, Aluratek and Ectaco use exactly the same hardware. Their screens are not eInk, however. This makes them different from the Kindles and Sony Readers of the world. I stumbled on that page describing how they work while googling for info about ePaper. Specific information is very hard to find since most people refer to eInk as epaper. Strikes me as a terrible name for a competing technology.

I would be very interested to see a comparison of eInk to ePaper screens, if anyone owns both. Ideally a video and some high-res pics.

you can check this page. It has many examples:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45593