Convert eBookwise 1150 annotations to iLiad?

nekokami · 12-07-2006, 02:12 PM

The eBookwise 1150, like the iLiad, supports stylus-based written annotations, albeit into its own format only. Based on the discussions in the "Legacy Devices" forum, the .imp file used by the eBookwise gets pulled apart on the eBookwise itself into a number of smaller files; presumably one of those files created during this process is the annotation file. Depending on the format of that file, it could be possible to create a utility to convert the annotations to a format usable on the iLiad. Does anyone here have both devices and an interest in testing this idea? It would also be nice to have a way to feed the 1150 annotations to the Vision Objects PC software designed to work with the iLiad, especially if later on the annotations could be converted to PDF/other file annotations or could be otherwise searchable.

I'm asking because I'm considering getting the 1150 for now, while I save up for the iLiad (and wait a bit for the power, DRM, etc. issues to be resolved), but if I create a lot of annotations, I don't want to lose my work if/when I upgrade.

jæd · 12-07-2006, 02:18 PM

Do you have an example of a file with these annotations from the eBookwise...?

nekokami · 12-07-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jæd

Do you have an example of a file with these annotations from the eBookwise...?

No, I don't own the device yet. I might be able to get one from one of the "Legacy Devices" posters, though.

nekokami · 12-19-2006, 03:43 PM

Moonraker uploaded a compressed folder showing how the eBookwise splits up the .imp file-- I don't know if there are any annotations in the books, but the file is in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9082

scotty1024 · 12-19-2006, 04:42 PM

I've written software to format .imp files and understand the file format/history of it. I still have my Softbook Reader, REB-1200 and a stack of .imp files.

The .imp file is actually a packed up Macintosh file, the original Softbook Reader device was to have run a version of the Mac OS. They got a license from Apple back went Apple went "crazy" and licensed 3rd parties to use Mac OS.

Then "sanity" returned to Apple and the Softbook Reader, which had yet to ship, decided to get a new OS. They didn't want to re-write their book reader software so they simulated the original Mac OS multi-resource fork file structure via the .imp file. The little files are named by the resource code letters they held as resources in the Macintosh HFS file.

Someone could write a .imp file viewer for the iLiad. But without permission to implement the DRM... what real use would it be as an upgrade path?

The annotations can certainly be extracted, I've done it myself. But the resolution of the touch screen on the 1150 is, putting it gently, very low. One of the features of the iLiad is that the Wacom has a resolution high enough to yield usefully accurate HWR. You could get high lighting though, that's character level.

henkvdg · 12-19-2006, 05:48 PM

Power back up again, Scotty?

scotty1024 · 12-19-2006, 07:57 PM

Yes sir, thanks for asking.

Still 200,000 people with out power tonight and they're getting desperate. One guy apparently thought someone would steal his generator if he put it outside so he set it up in his living room. They weren't able to save him.

Moral of the story, when you buy a generator, buy a big chain and a big padlock: it could save your life...

nekokami · 12-20-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

The annotations can certainly be extracted, I've done it myself. But the resolution of the touch screen on the 1150 is, putting it gently, very low. One of the features of the iLiad is that the Wacom has a resolution high enough to yield usefully accurate HWR. You could get high lighting though, that's character level.

Thanks, it helps to get a comparison by someone who's used both. I guess I should keep saving my pennies for an iLiad. (Fascinating history about the .imp format, too.)

scotty1024 · 12-22-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henkvdg

Power back up again, Scotty?

The folks at Amazon just filled my "suggestions" page with portable generators for "winter storms". No chains and padlocks though...

12-07-2006, 02:12 PM	#1
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Convert eBookwise 1150 annotations to iLiad? The eBookwise 1150, like the iLiad, supports stylus-based written annotations, albeit into its own format only. Based on the discussions in the "Legacy Devices" forum, the .imp file used by the eBookwise gets pulled apart on the eBookwise itself into a number of smaller files; presumably one of those files created during this process is the annotation file. Depending on the format of that file, it could be possible to create a utility to convert the annotations to a format usable on the iLiad. Does anyone here have both devices and an interest in testing this idea? It would also be nice to have a way to feed the 1150 annotations to the Vision Objects PC software designed to work with the iLiad, especially if later on the annotations could be converted to PDF/other file annotations or could be otherwise searchable. I'm asking because I'm considering getting the 1150 for now, while I save up for the iLiad (and wait a bit for the power, DRM, etc. issues to be resolved), but if I create a lot of annotations, I don't want to lose my work if/when I upgrade.

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12-07-2006, 02:18 PM	#2
jæd Evangelist Posts: 458 Karma: 293 Join Date: May 2006	Do you have an example of a file with these annotations from the eBookwise...?

12-19-2006, 03:43 PM	#4
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Moonraker uploaded a compressed folder showing how the eBookwise splits up the .imp file-- I don't know if there are any annotations in the books, but the file is in this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9082

12-19-2006, 04:42 PM	#5
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	I've written software to format .imp files and understand the file format/history of it. I still have my Softbook Reader, REB-1200 and a stack of .imp files. The .imp file is actually a packed up Macintosh file, the original Softbook Reader device was to have run a version of the Mac OS. They got a license from Apple back went Apple went "crazy" and licensed 3rd parties to use Mac OS. Then "sanity" returned to Apple and the Softbook Reader, which had yet to ship, decided to get a new OS. They didn't want to re-write their book reader software so they simulated the original Mac OS multi-resource fork file structure via the .imp file. The little files are named by the resource code letters they held as resources in the Macintosh HFS file. Someone could write a .imp file viewer for the iLiad. But without permission to implement the DRM... what real use would it be as an upgrade path? The annotations can certainly be extracted, I've done it myself. But the resolution of the touch screen on the 1150 is, putting it gently, very low. One of the features of the iLiad is that the Wacom has a resolution high enough to yield usefully accurate HWR. You could get high lighting though, that's character level.

12-19-2006, 05:48 PM	#6
henkvdg Groupie Posts: 180 Karma: 66830 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: IREX iLiad, Pocketbook Pro 903	Power back up again, Scotty?

12-19-2006, 07:57 PM	#7
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	Yes sir, thanks for asking. Still 200,000 people with out power tonight and they're getting desperate. One guy apparently thought someone would steal his generator if he put it outside so he set it up in his living room. They weren't able to save him. Moral of the story, when you buy a generator, buy a big chain and a big padlock: it could save your life...

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