News from Bookeen about firmware upgrade - Page 3

IceHand · 04-01-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pieter

I just ordered a Cybook, but I have to say that the amount of enthousiasm the announcement of a soon to be firmware update really is kinda telling about the machine. Most reviews comment on the "beta"-feel of the software on it, and this whole thread seems to underline that feeling.

Excitement! Finally! maybe now the product we paid a lot of money for will come out of beta! yeah!

I don't think that's the case. The software does not feel like it's in beta status, it only has some minor problems (IMHO), like bad library navigation and lack of page numbers.

tompe · 04-01-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceHand

I don't think that's the case. The software does not feel like it's in beta status, it only hase some minor problems (IMHO), like bad library navigation and lack of page numbers.

The problem her is that there is two versions of the software. The first one had some show stopping bugs. The unannounced firmware update and also the firmware shipped in new devices seems to fix most of these issues but not all.

Ortep · 04-01-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It happened with some dictionaries but not others.

So the problem is in the dictionary not in the reader. But it is true, the reader should not stop working when in encounters a problem..

tompe · 04-01-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortep

So the problem is in the dictionary not in the reader. But it is true, the reader should not stop working when in encounters a problem..

There is no reason to think the problem is in the dictionary. If I would bet money I would guess it is in the reader. Sounds like the reader does not handle some cases properly. I do not believe the reader is tested as much as the dictionary.

HarryT · 04-01-2008, 08:25 AM

I'm sure they tested the reader with some dictionaries, at least. Presumably, as you say, there was something in those particular dictionaries which the reader didn't handle correctly, resulting in a hangup or a reboot. From the sound of it, there's still something which it doesn't like in the Collins dictionary, resulting in a failure to find certain words.

rambler · 04-01-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceHand

I don't think that's the case. The software does not feel like it's in beta status, it only has some minor problems (IMHO), like bad library navigation and lack of page numbers.

Isn't the lack of page numbers rather an major annoyance though? It's the one thing that stops me from getting a Cybook over a Sony...

Any chance a firmware update will fix that?

Ebook lover · 04-01-2008, 09:20 AM

I love my Cybook, and I agree with Rambler that the lack of page numbers are quite annoying

slayda · 04-01-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Isn't the lack of page numbers rather an major annoyance though? It's the one thing that stops me from getting a Cybook over a Sony...

Any chance a firmware update will fix that?

Yes I would like to have page numbers on my Cybook but it was even more annoying on my Sony that the page numbers for bookmarks were related to the font size so sometimes I wasn't sure which came first. This may have been unique to me since as the day goes on, my eye sight worsens and I increase the font size.

I liked my Sony. I love my Cybook.

Ortep · 04-01-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Isn't the lack of page numbers rather an major annoyance though?

It depends on the person. I couldn'd care less. I have absolute no use for pagenumbers, it is a leftover from p-books. In e-books they change all the time when you modify font size of font type. The progress bar is good enough for me.

HarryT · 04-01-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Isn't the lack of page numbers rather an major annoyance though? It's the one thing that stops me from getting a Cybook over a Sony...

Any chance a firmware update will fix that?

I really couldn't give a damn about them myself. There is a progress bar which shows you how far through the book you are, and you can also find out the total number of pages in the book (although this could be made a little easier to get at). Remember that you can load any font you wish onto the Gen3 (unlike the Sony), and view it at any of 12 different sizes. The page number would change with every combination of font and size - ie my page 100 wouldn't be the same as your page 100 in a given book.

tompe · 04-01-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I really couldn't give a damn about them myself. There is a progress bar which shows you how far through the book you are, and you can also find out the total number of pages in the book (although this could be made a little easier to get at)

The progress bar does not work for short stories in a collection. And since you cannot see the current page number it is very hard to get a feeling of how long the short story is. For me this is a major annoyance and not knowing the length makes the reading experience worse.

The progress bar does not seem to be reliable always. It does not always start at zero.

bwaldron · 04-01-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pieter

I just ordered a Cybook, but I have to say that the amount of enthousiasm the announcement of a soon to be firmware update really is kinda telling about the machine. Most reviews comment on the "beta"-feel of the software on it, and this whole thread seems to underline that feeling.

I think you're overstating that case a bit. Many of us are quite happy with the Gen 3 in its current state. I find that it performs its core functions very well.

The only thing I am missing, and that I would love to see in an upgrade ASAP, is folder support (or even better, implementation of "reading lists" as in the Mobipocket desktop/PDA software).

bwaldron · 04-01-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Isn't the lack of page numbers rather an major annoyance though?

Not at all. The progress bar tells me all I need to know.

Sparrow · 04-01-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Remember that you can load any font you wish onto the Gen3 (unlike the Sony), and view it at any of 12 different sizes. The page number would change with every combination of font and size - ie my page 100 wouldn't be the same as your page 100 in a given book.

I'd definitely like page numbers - my CyBook often forgets where it was when it's powered up, and bookmarks often disappear.
If I knew what the page number had been, it'd make it easier to find where I'd got to. (I was reading a 1000+ page novel recently, and it was a nightmare trying to home in on where I'd left off

).
The fact that page numbers would alter with format isn't a problem , since I wouldn't be changing the format - so page numbers should stay consistent (more or less).

pieter · 04-01-2008, 10:56 AM

People can be "quite happy" with beta software as well. But when people are this excited about a new firmware, one can only wonder what exactly was wrong with the older one. As I said, I ordered one, and am planning to be very happy with it.

Having to upgrade software is one thing. But needing to upgrade hardware people paid 350 euros for is another. Obviously the first customers should have gotten this firmware to begin with. Actually the first customers should have gotten the firmware that will give us proper use of folders.

Most of us are just early adopters who don't mind to upgrade firmware on hardware or don't mind the occassional bug. As such we're cutting the Cybook a lot of slack. Also the other ereaders have problems of their own. As such I think the Cybook still is the best choice for most people wanting an ereader.

Anyway, I'll drop the negativity and share in the joy of anticipating the swift release of and upgrade to our machines. Now our Cybooks will be even better!
Hehe that doesn't sound very convincing, does it? But I genuinely am happy that they're still working on bettering the Cybook.

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04-01-2008, 08:25 AM	#35
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm sure they tested the reader with some dictionaries, at least. Presumably, as you say, there was something in those particular dictionaries which the reader didn't handle correctly, resulting in a hangup or a reboot. From the sound of it, there's still something which it doesn't like in the Collins dictionary, resulting in a failure to find certain words.

04-01-2008, 09:20 AM	#37
Ebook lover NUUT, Cybook Device Posts: 49 Karma: 11 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: O2	I love my Cybook, and I agree with Rambler that the lack of page numbers are quite annoying

04-01-2008, 10:56 AM	#45
pieter Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 501 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: CyBook Gen3	People can be "quite happy" with beta software as well. But when people are this excited about a new firmware, one can only wonder what exactly was wrong with the older one. As I said, I ordered one, and am planning to be very happy with it. Having to upgrade software is one thing. But needing to upgrade hardware people paid 350 euros for is another. Obviously the first customers should have gotten this firmware to begin with. Actually the first customers should have gotten the firmware that will give us proper use of folders. Most of us are just early adopters who don't mind to upgrade firmware on hardware or don't mind the occassional bug. As such we're cutting the Cybook a lot of slack. Also the other ereaders have problems of their own. As such I think the Cybook still is the best choice for most people wanting an ereader. Anyway, I'll drop the negativity and share in the joy of anticipating the swift release of and upgrade to our machines. Now our Cybooks will be even better! Hehe that doesn't sound very convincing, does it? But I genuinely am happy that they're still working on bettering the Cybook.

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