Astak's website is still flashing

[JSWolf]

http://www.astak.com/ still has yet to be fixed. It's still using flash for the main menu and that will make it fail big time on an iPad and android based devices. Plus, using flash for the main menu is a really bad idea. I have flashblock installed so I can tell that the main menu is flash.

This was supposed to have been fixed, but it's not and I think it never will be. So all those Apple mobile devices and Android devices won't work with the Astak site.

[nimblem]

yup... I tried to get today from my phone but was unable to do so

[slm]

Originally Posted by nimblem

yup... I tried to get today from my phone but was unable to do so

there is a secondary entrance at http://theezreader.com/html/ which does not use flash

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by slm

there is a secondary entrance at http://theezreader.com/html/ which does not use flash

Not the same site at all. Not even close. Why not just replace the flash menu with a non-flash menu and then the site will be ok? For now, the site is rather poorly made. It's way too busy on the front page. It's the sort of site that I'd want to go away from once I get there.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Not the same site at all. Not even close. Why not just replace the flash menu with a non-flash menu and then the site will be ok? For now, the site is rather poorly made. It's way too busy on the front page. It's the sort of site that I'd want to go away from once I get there.

Dear JS:

I hear you. I happen to agree.

Realize, please, that we introduced our new eBook Store (www.EZread.com) and it has no flash. That is an incredible potential for us. On that site will go the fortunes of Astak. EVERY effort by our webmaster is towards that site right now making changes, adding eBooks, doing a lengthy list of wants by MobileRead people, and installing PayPal and a new interactive form on there.

YES. I also hate FLASH and want it removed from the Astak site. I definitely hear you and others. Please be a bit patient on this. I do not run the company and I am pushing for the change to non-flash. I am sure they have caught my drift.

[Joebill]

I didn't see any Astak ereaders for sale on the ezread.com site, but I did create an account there.

Looks like the Purple 5" EZPro is out of stock on the Astak.com site, I was going to get one for my sister for her birthday. I emailed her a list of the other colors so I can still get her one.

[Solicitous]

JSWolf, I must ask (I'm not a big fan of Flash either) but the iPad/Touch/Phone market is realistically small on the global scale. Why should companies start changing their websites to allow compatibility with a small market of devices whose manufacturer refuses to install the necessary software to interact with a common web tool?

What I am asking is, why should everyone bend to Apple's wants?

[jusmee]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

JSWolf, I must ask (I'm not a big fan of Flash either) but the iPad/Touch/Phone market is realistically small on the global scale. Why should companies start changing their websites to allow compatibility with a small market of devices whose manufacturer refuses to install the necessary software to interact with a common web tool?

What I am asking is, why should everyone bend to Apple's wants?

My dislike of flash on websites has nothing to do with Apple. I don't own an apple gear. It's just a proprietory technology that's unnecessary and causes bloat and problems. I see it misused so many times when the job could be done better, more consistently, and would be smaller and much faster without flash.

Just look at how many times people find the download page on Astak's website to be broken and won't let them download new firmware.

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by jusmee

My dislike of flash on websites has nothing to do with Apple. I don't own an apple gear. It's just a proprietory technology that's unnecessary and causes bloat and problems. I see it misused so many times when the job could be done better, more consistently, and would be smaller and much faster without flash.

Just look at how many times people find the download page on Astak's website to be broken and won't let them download new firmware.

Oh I agree with you, flash is misused and a very poor choice to use at times, but by the same token you can experience issues with webpages just as frequently with .asp or python etc.

What I don't agree with (and not starting a flame war, just curiosity) is not using a technology specifically because one company refused to adopt compatibility with that technology on one of their products. If a company is not going to use a technology, then don't use it for the right reasons (such as not the best solution).



It actually quite amazes me that with flash for example, some people are so opposed to its use, but don't blink an eyelid when they are forced to communicate with Microsoft .Doc format (a closed proprietary format), something which costs you money to purchase software to be fully compatible with that format, yet flash is free.

What also astounds me is the Linux-based devices which require a Windows OS to install firmware updates; Microsoft refusing to acknowledge Linux and other open sourced operating systems as platforms which people use, yet quite happily took the tcp/ip stack and several unix apps (ftp for example) and ported the code to run on Windows; Apple being a 'supporter' for open source, quite happily take code from these open source software platforms yet don't provide compatibility between their devices and these other platforms....oh the hypocrisy!!!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

JSWolf, I must ask (I'm not a big fan of Flash either) but the iPad/Touch/Phone market is realistically small on the global scale. Why should companies start changing their websites to allow compatibility with a small market of devices whose manufacturer refuses to install the necessary software to interact with a common web tool?

What I am asking is, why should everyone bend to Apple's wants?

I dislike any site that forces flash to have to be used to be able to use the site. It's not an Apple issue. It's a poorly designed website issue. Sure, some sites do use flash here and there. But those sites, you can still navigate. You cannot navigate a site with a flash menu without flash.

I'm not trying to bend to Apple's way of no flash. I just don't like site's you cannot use without having flash.

[Joebill]

I consider flash movies to be bloatware on a web site. If the site is any good, it doesn't need an intro flash movie.

I don't have a problem with Astak using flash, I just don't see the need for flash to exist.

Its like using 'banner' or flashing text on a web site to attract attention. What the web site maker doesn't realize, that use banner and flashing text or graphic spinners, is that folks don't see that until they get to the site. Web sites are not the same thing as store window displays. Store windows you see as you walk down the sidewalk, they attract attention to the store.

I don't mind rotating graphic dsplays on a web site to show what is available there, or sales, etc.

But spinners, no way.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Joebill

I didn't see any Astak ereaders for sale on the ezread.com site, but I did create an account there.

Looks like the Purple 5" EZPro is out of stock on the Astak.com site, I was going to get one for my sister for her birthday. I emailed her a list of the other colors so I can still get her one.

Dear JoeBill:

Because we want people who own other devices than just the Astak line on our eBook Store, we do not sell our devices on there.

Our regular device website is: www.theEZreader.com (North America) or www.astak.com (International).

The Metallic Purple was not selling much at all during the first 5 months of the Pocket PRO. Then, a few people ordered it, saw how beautiful the color was, and demand jumped to where it was the top seller. I am sorry we ran out.

Please don't forget the deadline for the sale price ($175) is May 16 at midnight! The Maroon is a gorgeous color that people really love.

I am really grateful that you became an eBook Store member and I hope you will be a frequent poster on our forum!!

Bob

[Joebill]

Okay. Thanks for the info.

One of my sisters said she wanted something else, sorry. But I will get the other sister an Astak. Maybe that will convert my other sister to wanting one.

[Joebill]

I went ahead and bought two 5" EZPros under the sale.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Joebill

I went ahead and bought two 5" EZPros under the sale.

Dear Joebill:

Thank you. I am happy you made the sale deadline. That way you will get the free 2GB card and 700 pre-loaded classics for them. This should pleasethem very much!!