Interview with Wizpac, creators of the txtr at Leipzig Book Fair

CommanderROR · 03-13-2009, 05:23 PM

Dear Mobileread.com members,

I have exciting news for you today! We were invited to do an Interview with representatives from German ebook startup Wizpac about their new eink based reading device, the txtr (www.txtr.com).
The interview was done today, live at the Leipzig Book Fair and I've got it all on video. The original material is HD 720p .mov which we unfortunately can't upload to the server without compression, so you will have to make do with Youtube HQ. I'll try my very best to preserve as much quaility as I can.

In addition to the interview we have a little bit of footage from the device in action, however, the two devices on display in Leipzig were early prototypes so you really only get a short glimpse. The information in the interview should be enough to keep you happy for a while though...

To round things off I took a few snapshots of the txtr in comparison to my STAReBOOK and iRex iLiad.
When I first saw the device I thought it's a 5" screen, but it's actually 6" just like the Cybook and Sony Reader. It looks smaller because the shape of the "frame" is different. Very interesting effect.

I'm uploading this in stages, the short demonstration clip and the photos first, the long interview video (approx. 20 minutes) will be up a little later.
Leave comments and ask questions, the guys from Wizpac are keeping an eye on this forum and anything you have to say might help them make the device even better...and might give us another excellent eink device to spend our hard-earned money on!

Pageturning Video

Video on Youtube in HD quality.

Interview Part 1 (thanks to Moejoe/typewriterhead for the conversion!)

Video on Youtube in HD quality.

Interview Part 2 (thanks to Moejoe/typewriterhead for the conversion!)

Video on Youtube in HD quality.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-13-2009, 05:25 PM

nice !! it looks much better in black !!! can't wait to see the video. and for the release date.

Druidsbane · 03-13-2009, 05:31 PM

It is truly a beautiful device

I hope the interview will be translated to English at some point. I agree that the black is beautiful as well. The speed is extremely impressive. Did he mention at what stage they are at in development? Are they ready to manufacture these devices? How soon can we get our hands on them? That's probably the question on everyone's mind. Thanks so much for this interview though

CommanderROR · 03-13-2009, 05:34 PM

We did the interview in english so that we would not have to translate it later on.

tompe · 03-13-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druidsbane

It is truly a beautiful device

I hope the interview will be translated to English at some point. I agree that the black is beautiful as well. The speed is extremely impressive. Did he mention at what stage they are at in development? Are they ready to manufacture these devices? How soon can we get our hands on them? That's probably the question on everyone's mind. Thanks so much for this interview though

What I want to know is how open the reader will be. Will you be able to add functionality and on what levels? Is the goal to get a user community that extends the functionality and how will this work?

Moejoe · 03-13-2009, 05:40 PM

Now I want one even more! It's a beautiful design, and has everything I would want. Go Wizpac!

zelda_pinwheel · 03-13-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

We did the interview in english so that we would not have to translate it later on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

What I want to know is how open the reader will be. Will you be able to add functionality and on what levels? Is the goal to get a user community that extends the functionality and how will this work?

in the other txtr thread, someone from the team said they wanted a very open format and will be releasing an sdk for people to create new apps with.

CommanderROR · 03-13-2009, 05:49 PM

Please be patient...all the juicy info is in the interview. Many questions you are asking now are answered there.

Amalthia · 03-13-2009, 05:56 PM

I'm kind of iffy on the design. I like the idea of buttons on both sides to page turn..does this one have touch screen?

arit · 03-13-2009, 06:03 PM

That's a fast refreshing one

Need money, now. Accepting donations!

Moejoe · 03-13-2009, 06:04 PM

The suspense is killing me!!

Druidsbane · 03-13-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amalthia

I'm kind of iffy on the design. I like the idea of buttons on both sides to page turn..does this one have touch screen?

I don't think it does. It appears to have capacitive controls that let you turn pages and navigate the menus. Hopefully the simpler schema will help bring the price down.

zelda_pinwheel · 03-13-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druidsbane

I don't think it does. It appears to have capacitive controls that let you turn pages and navigate the menus. Hopefully the simpler schema will help bring the price down.

i think it can be rotated so the buttons can be used by either hand.

Bizkaia · 03-13-2009, 07:26 PM

Unfortunately the interview has been deleted from youtube for being too long.

Moejoe · 03-13-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bizkaia

Unfortunately the interview has been deleted from youtube for being too long.

Damn and double-blast! Try Vimeo guys, I'm not sure if they have the same liitations at Youtube.

03-13-2009, 05:23 PM	#1
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,021 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Interview with Wizpac, creators of the txtr at Leipzig Book Fair Dear Mobileread.com members, I have exciting news for you today! We were invited to do an Interview with representatives from German ebook startup Wizpac about their new eink based reading device, the txtr (www.txtr.com). The interview was done today, live at the Leipzig Book Fair and I've got it all on video. The original material is HD 720p .mov which we unfortunately can't upload to the server without compression, so you will have to make do with Youtube HQ. I'll try my very best to preserve as much quaility as I can. In addition to the interview we have a little bit of footage from the device in action, however, the two devices on display in Leipzig were early prototypes so you really only get a short glimpse. The information in the interview should be enough to keep you happy for a while though... To round things off I took a few snapshots of the txtr in comparison to my STAReBOOK and iRex iLiad. When I first saw the device I thought it's a 5" screen, but it's actually 6" just like the Cybook and Sony Reader. It looks smaller because the shape of the "frame" is different. Very interesting effect. I'm uploading this in stages, the short demonstration clip and the photos first, the long interview video (approx. 20 minutes) will be up a little later. Leave comments and ask questions, the guys from Wizpac are keeping an eye on this forum and anything you have to say might help them make the device even better...and might give us another excellent eink device to spend our hard-earned money on! Pageturning Video Video on Youtube in HD quality. Interview Part 1 (thanks to Moejoe/typewriterhead for the conversion!) Video on Youtube in HD quality. Interview Part 2 (thanks to Moejoe/typewriterhead for the conversion!) Video on Youtube in HD quality. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Mark Twain

03-13-2009, 05:25 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,828 Karma: 908606 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	nice !! it looks much better in black !!! can't wait to see the video. and for the release date. __________________ blog.ex-elibris.fr : les liseuses, les ebooks, nos lectures, la technologie… I don't want none of that mischief on my eels! - pdurrant since i would never want to disappoint wde and vr, we are thrilled to present the next exciting avatar in zelda's wardrobe, by vivaldirules himself.

03-13-2009, 05:34 PM	#4
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,021 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	We did the interview in english so that we would not have to translate it later on. __________________ In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Mark Twain

03-13-2009, 05:49 PM	#8
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,021 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Please be patient...all the juicy info is in the interview. Many questions you are asking now are answered there. __________________ In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Mark Twain

03-13-2009, 05:56 PM	#9
Amalthia Guru Posts: 837 Karma: 1960 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650	I'm kind of iffy on the design. I like the idea of buttons on both sides to page turn..does this one have touch screen? __________________ "Yeah, miracle of birth, my ass. I'll tell you what a miracle is, birth control that works." - Colonel Dave Dixon (SG-1 Heroes part 1) "Of all Unicorns she is the only one who knows what regret is and love." -The Last Unicorn "There are no happy endings because nothing ends." -The Last Unicorn Ebook Fan Fiction Archive

03-13-2009, 05:31 PM	#3
Druidsbane Member Posts: 24 Karma: 13 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New York Device: txtr	It is truly a beautiful device I hope the interview will be translated to English at some point. I agree that the black is beautiful as well. The speed is extremely impressive. Did he mention at what stage they are at in development? Are they ready to manufacture these devices? How soon can we get our hands on them? That's probably the question on everyone's mind. Thanks so much for this interview though

03-13-2009, 05:40 PM	#6
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,113 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Now I want one even more! It's a beautiful design, and has everything I would want. Go Wizpac!

03-13-2009, 06:03 PM	#10
arit Cybook Warrior Posts: 46 Karma: 446 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wiesbaden, Germany Device: Nokia E65, HTC Universal, Cybook G3	That's a fast refreshing one Need money, now. Accepting donations!

03-13-2009, 06:04 PM	#11
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,113 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	The suspense is killing me!!

03-13-2009, 07:26 PM	#14
Bizkaia Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Unfortunately the interview has been deleted from youtube for being too long.

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