New Firmware

I am looking at picking up the edge and have a few quick questions...

dingo is version 2.1 or 2.0?

Is there going to be a hardware refresh sometime soon? I would have to buy and then a refresh comes out and im stuck...

I have a nook color rooted and i would use this to replace my againg ebook reader and pdf reader due to the great size....

For what it is worth, the eDGe is currently running Android version 1.6. Froyo (version 2.2) is (supposedly) coming soon.

As for the hardware refresh, there has been some speculation by members of this Forum, but nothing from the administrators suggests that it will be happening anytime soon. In fact, nothing "new" was shown at CES this year.

My completely uninformed guess would be that with all the attention devoted to the awaited software (Android 2.2 and the e-ink features we keep requesting), there probably hasn't been much effort devoted to hardware considerations. But I could totally be wrong.

I'm thinking it's one way or the other. Either they're actually working on a 2.x upgrade for the current products, or they're about to discontinue support and release new products. As you rightly point out, they probably don't have the manpower to be doing both. I hope it's the former, but the dwindling supplies of the current models on Amazon (they're all almost out of stock), and the much larger profit incentive from selling new products makes me suspect it might be the latter. *fingers crossed*

p.s. The most convincing argument that they are in fact working on a new software release is, as Dr. T points out, that they showed the same stuff at CES this year as last. However, that could be because they're trying to exhaust supplies of the current models and don't want people to be scared off by an upcoming "hardware refresh" as the original poster mentions.

Originally Posted by thenzero

I hope it's the former, but the dwindling supplies of the current models on Amazon (they're all almost out of stock)...

Hmmm... that is interesting. Walmart is out of stock also, and it has been removed from BestBuy's and HSN's websites. Other retailers like Staples, J and R, and the enTourage site itself seem to have them available.

This is a little concerning...

Not necessarily. TigerDirect.ca had it as "Not Available" for about a week, but it came back into stock recently. It could just be a new batch has been received from manufacturing and is making its way onto shelves.

I just checked TigerDirect.ca again and it now says "Available While Supplies Last". The explanatory popup says this means they have a limited quantity and once sold out may not get more.

Glass Half Full: There's an imminent hardware refresh and they want to clear out existing inventory (always a good thing for a company to do).
Glass Half Empty: TigerDirect.ca will no longer be carrying the PE (not a good thing )

Rest assured enTourage will not be telling us anything about the situation

I just checked the Dutch website. There were 5 or 6 original resellers. Now there are only 2 left.
prices are dropping: € 639 - 599 - 579 - 546 - 509 - 475.

I was just thinking to myself, "Gee, it's March and it'd be nice to hear some update regarding Froyo." Then I read this thread and I'm just hoping that Entourage isn't closing shop. A little doomer of me, but the competition is pretty fierce out there.

Originally Posted by StevenP

I was just thinking to myself, "Gee, it's March and it'd be nice to hear some update regarding Froyo."

bmoc originally said end of February at the earliest, but likely in March. Then they had the setback regarding some partner. Given this, I won't be asking for an update until the end of April.

Originally Posted by thenzero

p.s. The most convincing argument that they are in fact working on a new software release is, as Dr. T points out, that they showed the same stuff at CES this year as last.

Pretty sure they didn't show the Pocket Edge at CES 2010.

But Amazon says "more on the way" after the low - stock warning. I'm not sure if that's what it always says or actually means they're expecting to buy more.

Originally Posted by Corpulent One

Pretty sure they didn't show the Pocket Edge at CES 2010.

But Amazon says "more on the way" after the low - stock warning. I'm not sure if that's what it always says or actually means they're expecting to buy more.

I'm not sure either, but I do know that it has said that for the last two months, and since I've been watching, the numbers have only gone down.

Originally Posted by Corpulent One

Pretty sure they didn't show the Pocket Edge at CES 2010.

Oh, right you are. I think the gist of the argument is still valid though- they didn't show anything new at CES 2011, and that lends one to think there isn't anything in the immediate pipeline.

Let's all hope that this isn't another iRex type situation.

Bottom line for original poster: Wait at least another month before making this purchase.