BeBook claims 30k sold e-reader units, adds Mobipocket

Alexander Turcic · 09-15-2008, 05:49 AM

User BeBook, who we assume works for the company BeBook, has just announced a firmware upgrade for their e-book reader. The upgrade adds support for the MobiPocket format, including for purchased Mobipocket e-books that are protected with DRM.

They also announced that they've sold over 30k e-reader units so far, which would translate to revenues in excess of 10 Million Euros. Keep in mind that the BeBook made its debut in April this year, so that gives us what... less than six months?

Slite · 09-15-2008, 09:40 AM

Still not released on the BeBook homepage tho.... Hope there isn't any problem with the upgrade, as I have REALLY wanted the Mobi support for this device

grooks · 09-15-2008, 01:58 PM

The announcement is not on BeBook's website. I would be skeptical of user BeBook's original posting. Sounds like someone either releasing information before it's ready or someone not associated with the company.

Argel · 09-15-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

The announcement is not on BeBook's website. I would be skeptical of user BeBook's original posting. Sounds like someone either releasing information before it's ready or someone not associated with the company.

Sorry, but that's wrong. There are several references on mybebook.com to the imminent arrival of a Mobipocket update. In fact it's behind time since it was promised for August 2008. Best to google before expressing skepticism about someone's postings.

ebookreaders · 09-15-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

The announcement is not on BeBook's website. I would be skeptical of user BeBook's original posting. Sounds like someone either releasing information before it's ready or someone not associated with the company.

Endless Ideas (the company behind the BeBook OEM) has confirmed that from now on, all BeBooks leaving their distribution facilities do have Mobipocket support. The firmware will be released later for download (but no date mentioned).

dutchy · 09-16-2008, 04:39 AM

I ordered a BeBook yesterday and have received an email today advising that shipping will be delayed as the technical department is updating the BeBook with Mobipocket software. They expect it to be ready to ship within 2 weeks. So longer wait but will be happy to have the Mobipocket support.

Slite · 09-16-2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutchy

I ordered a BeBook yesterday and have received an email today advising that shipping will be delayed as the technical department is updating the BeBook with Mobipocket software. They expect it to be ready to ship within 2 weeks. So longer wait but will be happy to have the Mobipocket support.

2 weeks? Geez, do they need to hardwire the mobi-support or what? Most likely they jumped the gun with this and it wasnt ready like they claimed. Last minute bug anyone?

bbusybookworm · 09-16-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

2 weeks? Geez, do they need to hardwire the mobi-support or what? Most likely they jumped the gun with this and it wasnt ready like they claimed. Last minute bug anyone?

Well I think it was mentioned in the initial press release that they've secured quiet a few big orders, so they may have a lot of devices to reflash.

Also, if the devices are in a warehouse somewhere, they would have to take each one out of its physical packaging, and no matter how fast you do it, Its still going to take some time to physically flash the devices.

After all unless its in a factory assembly line, the process does take some time.

Another thing might be that after signing all the new large orders, they have a tight deadline, and they may be giving priority to those large customers over individual customers.

I know it sucks to be pushed to the bottom of the queue, but it does happen.

Slite · 09-16-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Well I think it was mentioned in the initial press release that they've secured quiet a few big orders, so they may have a lot of devices to reflash.

Also, if the devices are in a warehouse somewhere, they would have to take each one out of its physical packaging, and no matter how fast you do it, Its still going to take some time to physically flash the devices.

After all unless its in a factory assembly line, the process does take some time.

Another thing might be that after signing all the new large orders, they have a tight deadline, and they may be giving priority to those large customers over individual customers.

I know it sucks to be pushed to the bottom of the queue, but it does happen.

Well, I already have my BeBook, so I don't need to wait 2 weeks for the update to be posted on their website... I hope. I mean, how long should that take? alla of like 5 minutes, post a news item, and put up a download link... Come on already. Need my Mobi

bbusybookworm · 09-16-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

Well, I already have my BeBook, so I don't need to wait 2 weeks for the update to be posted on their website... I hope. I mean, how long should that take? alla of like 5 minutes, post a news item, and put up a download link... Come on already. Need my Mobi

Well its probably a matter of priorities

.

you've already bouht their product, they know that while you may complain a little you'll wait the couple of weeks till they get around to posting the firmware online.

Someone who's planning to buy may end up bypassing them altogether if the support isn't there.

Also, i'm no expert, but I figure that the firmware they'll have for the consumers will have to be packaged in a way that it is easy to implement and does not destroy the users on-board data. The new ones are blank, so they can just overwrite the ROM and get on with it.

ebookreaders · 09-16-2008, 01:30 PM

Did anyone notice the recently added "Fully support Mobipocket format and DRM" banner from Jinke/Hanlin on MobileRead? I checked the Jinke Hanlin V3 update page, but no word on their site about Mobipocket either.

HarryT · 09-16-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

Did anyone notice the recently added "Fully support Mobipocket format and DRM" banner from Jinke/Hanlin on MobileRead? I checked the Jinke Hanlin V3 update page, but no word on their site about Mobipocket either.

It's been there for a couple of weeks, at least. That's what started all the speculation about its forthcoming release.

torbich · 09-16-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Well I think it was mentioned in the initial press release that they've secured quiet a few big orders, so they may have a lot of devices to reflash.

I think the problem is more trivial - BeBook hasn't got new firmware with Mobi support from Hanlin yet, so it is nothing to reflash (maybe Jinke missed some deadlines?)

Trono · 09-18-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

Did anyone notice the recently added "Fully support Mobipocket format and DRM" banner from Jinke/Hanlin on MobileRead? I checked the Jinke Hanlin V3 update page, but no word on their site about Mobipocket either.

About the possibility of buying and reading DRMed Mobipocket-books: Is a firmware upgrade sufficient for all units? Or might there be issues regarding hardware as well (thought I read something somewhere about needing sim-card...)

HarryT · 09-18-2008, 06:06 AM

A firmware update will do it.

09-15-2008, 05:49 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 12,730 Karma: 71589 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Sony Portable Reader	BeBook claims 30k sold e-reader units, adds Mobipocket User BeBook, who we assume works for the company BeBook, has just announced a firmware upgrade for their e-book reader. The upgrade adds support for the MobiPocket format, including for purchased Mobipocket e-books that are protected with DRM. They also announced that they've sold over 30k e-reader units so far, which would translate to revenues in excess of 10 Million Euros. Keep in mind that the BeBook made its debut in April this year, so that gives us what... less than six months?

09-15-2008, 09:40 AM	#2
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,803 Karma: 16967 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Device: BeBook x 2 (Hanlin V3 rebrand), Samsung Omnia	Still not released on the BeBook homepage tho.... Hope there isn't any problem with the upgrade, as I have REALLY wanted the Mobi support for this device __________________ Jesus saves, Allah forgives, Cthulhu thinks you'd make a nice sandwich. Minister of The Large Dogs Of Infinite Peace And Absurdity.

09-16-2008, 04:39 AM	#6
dutchy Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: BeBook	New BeBook I ordered a BeBook yesterday and have received an email today advising that shipping will be delayed as the technical department is updating the BeBook with Mobipocket software. They expect it to be ready to ship within 2 weeks. So longer wait but will be happy to have the Mobipocket support.

09-16-2008, 01:30 PM	#11
ebookreaders wdejager Posts: 45 Karma: 110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Hanlin V3, Cybook Gen3, iLiad 2nd & Book edition, iPhone 3G, DR1000	Jinke/Hanlin Mobipocket banner Did anyone notice the recently added "Fully support Mobipocket format and DRM" banner from Jinke/Hanlin on MobileRead? I checked the Jinke Hanlin V3 update page, but no word on their site about Mobipocket either.

09-18-2008, 06:06 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 24,772 Karma: 43285 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Gen3, Opus, DR1000S, iPod Touch, Pocketbook 360, PRS-600, Kindle 2	A firmware update will do it. __________________ Harry

09-15-2008, 01:58 PM	#3
grooks Guru Posts: 720 Karma: 2220 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-600, iPod Touch, T-Mobile myTouch 3G	The announcement is not on BeBook's website. I would be skeptical of user BeBook's original posting. Sounds like someone either releasing information before it's ready or someone not associated with the company.

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