What I would like in firmware v1.2

[HarryT]

I think that's rather unlikely, given that reading Mobi books is really the Gen3's primary purpose. PDFs were very much an afterthought - as you may remember, when the Gen3 was initially launched, it was to have been without PDF support; a very basic level of support for the format was squeezed in at the last minute.

[Krystian Galaj]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think that's rather unlikely, given that reading Mobi books is really the Gen3's primary purpose. PDFs were very much an afterthought - as you may remember, when the Gen3 was initially launched, it was to have been without PDF support; a very basic level of support for the format was squeezed in at the last minute.

I vaguely remember reading something about it in archives when I started reding this forum in November last year; did I miss the generally known fact? I think many people may be misguided by the fact that Bookeen doesn't advertise the PDF support as basic, and PDF reading is generally bulletproof on every platform, supporting every kind of document you may want to throw in the reader

Personally, I read PDF and TXT and HTML formats on Gen3, but the only Mobi books I ever read on it were a few from this site.

[Prospect]

It is also my experience that the firmware update has reduced battery lifetime.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think that's rather unlikely, given that reading Mobi books is really the Gen3's primary purpose. PDFs were very much an afterthought - as you may remember, when the Gen3 was initially launched, it was to have been without PDF support; a very basic level of support for the format was squeezed in at the last minute.

I tend to agree. I'd love to see something that actually *WORKED* at reformatting PDF files to a standard 6" e-ink display - not just 'trimming' whitespace, but a true re-format of any and all text in even the most basic PDF files. I've tried all the recommendations and they all fail in some form or another. Right now, if I simply *must* have a PDF ebook on my Cybook, I go through the laborious process of converting to Word and thence to mobi, editing out conversion errors - such as spurious page headers and footers - as I go.

Derek

[UTAlumnus]

The ability to read while charging. Trigger the connected screen by data being sent through the usb instead of power.

Edit: Also, actual page numbers instead of the bar across the bottom of the page. This is on the it would be nice list where reading while charging would be a major improvement.

[memoryjar]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think that's rather unlikely, given that reading Mobi books is really the Gen3's primary purpose. PDFs were very much an afterthought - as you may remember, when the Gen3 was initially launched, it was to have been without PDF support; a very basic level of support for the format was squeezed in at the last minute.

Landscape view isn't uncomfortable. The Gen3 just need to be more stable with PDF.

[Over]

Besides what has been mentioned before, I would like Cybook to support ZIP files.

Sure, if they fix the directory view, it won't be as necessary. But it would still be useful, as instead of having hundreds of files to read, update and make thumbnails... There would be a single file. (I'm talking about using ZIP format to contain image files).

[Striking Claw]

What I would like to see in 1.2:
1. Battery indicator while reading
2. Reading while charging
3. Decent library management
4. Search/goto function in library

An improvement of page turning would also be nice, but I'm not sure if a software update will help, or if it's a hardware problem. 10-20% of the time
I need to press the button twice for a page turn. It's the worst four way button I've ever seen in a Ebook reader, PDA of handy.
For the next hardware update they also should get rid of the cheap plastic
casing. Luckily when the CyBook is in the cover you don't have to look at
the cheap plastic.

[Ortep]

Originally Posted by Striking Claw

An improvement of page turning would also be nice, but I'm not sure if a software update will help, or if it's a hardware problem. 10-20% of the time
I need to press the button twice for a page turn. It's the worst four way button I've ever seen in a Ebook reader, PDA of handy.

The 'problem' is that most people don't press long enough. There is not need to push hard, but slightly longer. So: Push...release will do the trick.

The cybook has to wake up and react. If the push is to short, it wakes up, but does not know which button you pushed. The impoved it in de last software, but the result was also an enormous power drain. So I went back to the last firmware.

[bbusybookworm]

Hmm, With my whole 24hrs of usage, I wish

1) Better Library navigation. While Folder Navigation would be best, would at least like the ability to get a list view of the files. I tend to name files as Author - Series - Book Name. In any view except 5 to a page, all I can see is the beginning of the title. And when you put on some 200 books onto the device and SD card , its a pain to have to navigate 5 at a time, to get to a specific book.

Would at least like the ability to skip forward 5 to 10 pages of listings in one go, so that if I have to go 5 at a time, I can at least speed it up a little.

2) The ability to search for a file on the device. As above, if we can't get folder navigation, a search by title, should solve a large part of the problem.

3) Sort according to File size, recently read, etc. I miss the Sony's integrated Bookmarks page, where I can see all my recent bookmarks in all my books.

4) Search for a word directly in the dictionary. Would help a lot, and probably lead to me spending a fortune on dictionaries and thesaurus's as I could have reference library with me at all times.Would completely replace my Franklin Speaking Language Master which is getting a bit long in the tooth, and a bit heavy to carry around all the time or even my laptop in some cases.

5) Clock and Battery indicator when reading. I hacked my PRS-500 and came to depend upon the clock to let me know when I had read enough, and that it was time to Put the Book Down and get back to work.

6) As mentioned by many, the ability to charge and read at the same time. Is it really hard to check whether or not any data is being transferred. iPod's, Pocket PC's all manage to work when just being powered by an external USB charger.

7) The ability to suspend the device as opposed to powering it down. Sometimes, I can only snatch a couple of minutes of reading at a time, and waiting 20 seconds for the device to start would be a bit of a pain. Also while I could leave it switched on all the time in such cases, Don't want my co-workers to see what I'm reading every time they pass by.

Well, that all that comes to mind immediately. And while I do Like the device on the whole, these niggles tend to break the otherwise smooth experience.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

3) Sort according to File size, recently read, etc. I miss the Sony's integrated Bookmarks page, where I can see all my recent bookmarks in all my books.

You can do. Change the sort order on the library screen.

7) The ability to suspend the device as opposed to powering it down. Sometimes, I can only snatch a couple of minutes of reading at a time, and waiting 20 seconds for the device to start would be a bit of a pain. Also while I could leave it switched on all the time in such cases, Don't want my co-workers to see what I'm reading every time they pass by.

Why not just close the cover?

[UTAlumnus]

Support for rich text files (.rtf)

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You can do. Change the sort order on the library screen.



Why not just close the cover?

Could, But I just like the ability of having the screen blank, so I can act innocent if someone asks me what I'm doing.

The boss dosn't mind, as my job tends to be hours of waiting, followed by busts of intense excitement. It's the nosy co-workers, and as we are all volunteers, can't bite their heads off when they get too irritating, especially if they are older then you .

[Spellbot 5000]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why not just close the cover?

So it's true the reader is never really "off", it's just displaying a blank screen when you turn it "off"?

If that's the case, what's the point of the initial Cybook screen and the loading screen? Is the reader actually doing something, or is it just there as an advertisement? If it's just an advert, someone should hack the firmware so the unit goes directly to the library when you turn it on and bypasses the intro screens.

[HarryT]

No, if you turn the Gen3 off, it really is off.