First video footage of BeBook 2 and BeBook mini

ebookreaders · 05-14-2009, 03:49 AM

A video has surfaced on a Dutch website, in which the BeBook mini and BeBook 2 (with wifi and 3g) are discussed:

http://www.dik.nl/c/bebook

The interview is with the BeBook ceo, unfortunately it's in Dutch. The BeBook mini offers exactly the same specs as the first BeBook, but only with a 5" screen. Price: EUR 199,-. The device should become available after the summer.

BeBook 2 will offer wifi and 3g connectivity. The BeBook guys are negotiating with wireless carriers about mobile plans, but no details were given. Expected price tag of BeBook 2 will be somewhere between 350-400 euros.

Update: the BeBook 2 will also feature text2speech (via BeBook twitterfeed)

brecklundin · 05-14-2009, 04:00 AM

interesting to see. While I did not understand a word, I did notice one thing...the mini is awful glossy, including the display. That is not a planned part of the design I hope?

I did seem to sense that one nice feature is it uses a user replacable SIM card? If so, that is the ideal solution to wireless anywhere access. If they are adding wifi also that's a pretty complete product in terms of connectivity.

Thanks for the video...

hekkel · 05-14-2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebookreaders

BeBook 2 will offer wifi and 3g connectivity. The BeBook guys are negotiating with wireless carriers about mobile plans, but no details were given. Expected price tag of BeBook 2 will be somewhere between 350-400 euros.

He mentioned a bit more, he said the device comes with a SIM card and there would be no monthly fee. All was included just like with the Amazon Kindle.

Another cool remark was about wifi, all devices already have support for SD-wifi cards and software support for these will come this summer. That means that if you buy a BeBook now you will be able to have wifi using an add-on card later.

-maarten

mtravellerh · 05-14-2009, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hekkel

He mentioned a bit more, he said the device comes with a SIM card and there would be no monthly fee. All was included just like with the Amazon Kindle.

Another cool remark was about wifi, all devices already have support for SD-wifi cards and software support for these will come this summer. That means that if you buy a BeBook now you will be able to have wifi using an add-on card later.

-maarten

Well yes, that's what he said concerning the connectivity, but I guess he was only talking about specific countries (Netherlands and France f.ex.) and that he didn't guarantee the free GSM for all of Europe.

I love that Mini thing and I guess I will get me one as my second reader as soon as it's available, especially with the tried software it features, the OI software that will run on it without any problem and the multiple formats that it supports.

Sweetpea · 05-14-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

I love that Mini thing and I guess I will get me one as my second reader as soon as it's available, especially with the tried software it features, the OI software that will run on it without any problem and the multiple formats that it supports.

Yes, me too!

Now, I just have to wait till august...

kamm · 05-18-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hekkel

He mentioned a bit more, he said the device comes with a SIM card and there would be no monthly fee. All was included just like with the Amazon Kindle.

that's not going to fly here I think, at least not with AT&T, this uber-greedy, most disgusting cell provider ever...

Quote:

Another cool remark was about wifi, all devices already have support for SD-wifi cards and software support for these will come this summer. That means that if you buy a BeBook now you will be able to have wifi using an add-on card later.

-maarten

That's a must-have on my list too if there's no free 3G...

Sweetpea · 05-14-2009, 05:02 AM

The mini will have a faster processor, more memory and more levels of grayscale.... 199 euro, somewhere in August...

About that glossy on the bebook2, I think there's some cover over it... If i look at the reflection, it's not really flat as you would expect from a flat cover, but rather bumpy...

And they'll be available at Libris as well soon.

TadW · 05-14-2009, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the video!

(Not sure what kind of Flash software they are using, but it sure brings down my dual core CPU when playing the clip.

)

keng2000 · 05-14-2009, 09:25 AM

New firmware for Bebook will support SD-Wifi and costs $40.

TadW · 05-14-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keng2000

New firmware for Bebook will support SD-Wifi and costs $40.

The firmware upgrade itself costs $40?

Sweetpea · 05-14-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keng2000

New firmware for Bebook will support SD-Wifi and costs $40.

What is your source for that? Nothing like that was mentioned in the video...

msundman · 05-14-2009, 10:14 AM

How do they manage to get these things so horribly unresponsive? Even the 5" version takes almost 2000ms to turn the page (half of which it seems to be doing nothing at all), which is over 10 times more than what I, and many UI specialists, would consider acceptable.

tibiafry · 05-18-2009, 04:09 AM

Isn't it just another Hanlin clone?

BTW Hanlin is the worst eReader I've had the horror to experience.

wallcraft · 05-18-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibiafry

Isn't it just another Hanlin clone?

These are Hanlin's, but new Hanlins. If you did not like the Hanlin V3, then your opinion of the Hanlin V5 (BeBook Mini) is unlikely to be much different. The BeBook 2 is going to have some new capabilities, but it is too early to tell how well these will work in practice.

Acreo Aeneas · 05-19-2009, 02:22 AM

Hmm, I'm liking the mini BeBook more and more. If only the device's potential list price for the United States would stay at $200 rather than $270 (after Euro-to-USD conversion). At $200 USD, I'd grab it over the Kindle, but at $270, it's not too far from a Kindle.

Additionally, did anyone else notice that the Mini looked like it had a touchscreen?

Also they showed the SIM card slot on the Mini, does that mean the Mini would also have 3G capability? What about WiFi.

On a side note, I really wish I could understand Dutch. Perhaps I should get my Dutch friend to translate the video for me.

05-14-2009, 03:49 AM	#1
ebookreaders wdejager Posts: 42 Karma: 110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Hanlin V3, Cybook Gen3, iLiad 2nd & Book edition, iPhone 3G, DR1000	First video footage of BeBook 2 and BeBook mini A video has surfaced on a Dutch website, in which the BeBook mini and BeBook 2 (with wifi and 3g) are discussed: http://www.dik.nl/c/bebook The interview is with the BeBook ceo, unfortunately it's in Dutch. The BeBook mini offers exactly the same specs as the first BeBook, but only with a 5" screen. Price: EUR 199,-. The device should become available after the summer. BeBook 2 will offer wifi and 3g connectivity. The BeBook guys are negotiating with wireless carriers about mobile plans, but no details were given. Expected price tag of BeBook 2 will be somewhere between 350-400 euros. Update: the BeBook 2 will also feature text2speech (via BeBook twitterfeed) Last edited by ebookreaders; 05-14-2009 at 01:36 PM.

05-14-2009, 05:02 AM	#7
Sweetpea Wizard Posts: 3,167 Karma: 5640 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocket Loox 720; JoinTech JE100; Mini	The mini will have a faster processor, more memory and more levels of grayscale.... 199 euro, somewhere in August... About that glossy on the bebook2, I think there's some cover over it... If i look at the reflection, it's not really flat as you would expect from a flat cover, but rather bumpy... And they'll be available at Libris as well soon. __________________ Fence sitter Extraordinaire Can't decide between the IRex Digital Reader, or Sony PRS600. That Plastic Logic device looks good too and the Hanvon WISEreader N518 as well. And don't forget about the Txtr reader! I could also wait for the BeBook2? Or should I go for the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS?

05-14-2009, 05:52 AM	#8
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,467 Karma: 8144 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	Thanks for the video! (Not sure what kind of Flash software they are using, but it sure brings down my dual core CPU when playing the clip. ) __________________ "It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don't read anymore." - Apple's Steve Jobs, Jan 15, 2008

05-19-2009, 02:22 AM	#15
Acreo Aeneas Netbook Lover Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: 5" BeBook (prospective), AA1/1000HE	Hmm, I'm liking the mini BeBook more and more. If only the device's potential list price for the United States would stay at $200 rather than $270 (after Euro-to-USD conversion). At $200 USD, I'd grab it over the Kindle, but at $270, it's not too far from a Kindle. Additionally, did anyone else notice that the Mini looked like it had a touchscreen? Also they showed the SIM card slot on the Mini, does that mean the Mini would also have 3G capability? What about WiFi. On a side note, I really wish I could understand Dutch. Perhaps I should get my Dutch friend to translate the video for me. __________________ Acreo Aeneas

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05-14-2009, 04:00 AM	#2
brecklundin Wizard Posts: 1,050 Karma: 2802 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: see sig...sigh...	interesting to see. While I did not understand a word, I did notice one thing...the mini is awful glossy, including the display. That is not a planned part of the design I hope? I did seem to sense that one nice feature is it uses a user replacable SIM card? If so, that is the ideal solution to wireless anywhere access. If they are adding wifi also that's a pretty complete product in terms of connectivity. Thanks for the video...

05-14-2009, 09:25 AM	#9
keng2000 CyberK Posts: 157 Karma: 352 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangkok, THAILAND Device: PRS505 iLaidSE DR1000s HanlinV3/V5 SmartQ5/Q7 ONYX60	New firmware for Bebook will support SD-Wifi and costs $40.

05-14-2009, 10:14 AM	#12
msundman Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 269 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Nokia E61	How do they manage to get these things so horribly unresponsive? Even the 5" version takes almost 2000ms to turn the page (half of which it seems to be doing nothing at all), which is over 10 times more than what I, and many UI specialists, would consider acceptable.

05-18-2009, 04:09 AM	#13
tibiafry Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 78 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Iliad	Isn't it just another Hanlin clone? BTW Hanlin is the worst eReader I've had the horror to experience.

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