Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Apologies to all. I rarely have weekend access, and much of the discussion was during the weekend. I had assumed this was a discussion, and not an argument. I never attempted to come off as argumentative, simply informative and questioning.

If I was perceived as otherwise, then I neglected my ability to choose my words carefully. For that I apologize.

-------

So, Robert! Will we receive a shipment notification on the PocketPro when they have been sent out?

Griffonwing,

You were not argumentive and no apology is neccessary.

Robertb, any word on when your Book Web Site will be opening?

I've got $30 coming back to me I'm looking to spend!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Robertb, I would sincerely appreciate it if you could reduce the sales pitch and focus more again on the functionality of Astak devices. Thanks!

To keep the focus of this thread to Astak devices, I moved the discussion on sales pitches over here.

Dear Alexander:

I am answering questions basically, but most of the questions involve the new release and are about where and how they buy, how they get notified, how soldiers can buy, shipping FPO/APO, shipping internationally, shipping domestically, and the features and benefits.

I AM trying to talk about the finctionality of Astak devices... but right now the big query is about obtaining the Pocket PRO and getting noted by the Press.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Musicman

Griffonwing,

You were not argumentive and no apology is neccessary.

Robertb, any word on when your Book Web Site will be opening?

I've got $30 coming back to me I'm looking to spend!

Yes, you will be notified by email when the Pocket PRO is shipping, which is still projected for end of August!!

The changes to the contract for the new website are now before Barnes and Noble. Let us hope we can live with their requirements.

Word soon!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

I am not going through every post now. Fact is, we contacted Robert a month ago. Fact is also he didn't bother to respond. If you talk about fairness, ask Robert why he acts the way he does without showing us any sign of respect.

Dear Alex:

My comments and specifics were causing an incredible problem during very delicate talks with our factories. They were extremely worried that my big mouth was leaking info that helped our competitors. As such, I was given strict orders to stay out of MobileRead Forum for a while until the riot act could be read to me.

I DID email to Dale DePriest during this time to keep him aware... but my big mouth was causing problems and I got shut up quickly. We were VERY fortunate to gain release at all of the Pocket PRO and I thank the factories for giving us a chance to change.

Certianly, there has never been anything but love and respect for MobileRead Forum and its members. What you took as lack of respect was me being told "shut up"! I had no choice.

Can you please understand that what I was viewing as "answering questions" and aiding members to understand our new releases was seen by the factory as insolence and leaking confidential info.

I swear, I cannot win!

[Alexander Turcic]

Hello Robert, it makes me very happy to see how you feel about this community. There was some confusion and misunderstanding from a few MobileRead members who felt very strong about your products, but despite the different perspectives we had, I hope that we can look forward and focus the discussion on your current and future devices again.

Cheers,
Alex

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Enough! If this continues, I must conclude that you became tired of talking about Astak products and rather like to use this thread for arguing, in which case I am more than happy to close this thread. Everybody else who is still interested in Astak, give your gratitude to the few who feel like it's their obligation ruin this thread.

Consider this as my last warning. There is no more argument in this thread.

Thank you very much.

Dear Alexander:

I have explained that I could not post or read on MobileRead Forum during some very delicate negotiations. It was not insolence or disrespect on my part. My friend, you simply did not know what was going on and I could not tell you!

Shutting this thread down would hurt a lot of people. Not near as much me as all the members who enjoy this thread and Astak products.

Griffonwing is a friend and came to my defence. He is one of many friends on this forum. Instead of being worried... I would hope you would realize that this thread has now gone 205 pages and people enjoy coming here and discussions are good. I do not blame you for your anger and threat of retribution... but, my friend, you did not have all the facts and I could not give them to you. Please acceopt my most humble and sincere apology. BUT... please realize that Griffonwing was only trying to answer you.

Also, please relalize that I am Business Development. Very little of my job is MobileRead Forum... and I have members of the press and speaking engagements and press releases that take my time. Frankly, my boss wants me to have a lot less presence on here during these times!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Hello Robert, it makes me very happy to see how you feel about this community. There was some confusion and misunderstanding from a few MobileRead members who felt very strong about your products, but despite the different perspectives we had, I hope that we can look forward and focus the discussion on your current and future devices again.

Cheers,
Alex

I love this forum and have come to know the good people that are here!! I hated to be away.

I know we can focus on discussion of current devices. I am surely curtailed on discussing future devices until they release, unfortuantely. There are too many snooping eyes that read this thread and could injure the plans of our factories.

Thank you for your understanding. I am appreciative of you!!

[ahammer]

so I was just wondering if you can show us what the brakedown of colors solds so far.

no sales numbers needs just percentages. I want to know what colors are winning

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by ahammer

so I was just wondering if you can show us what the brakedown of colors solds so far.

no sales numbers needs just percentages. I want to know what colors are winning

Why even ask? We all KNOW it's Slate Blue.

gosh.. Silly Hammer!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by ahammer

so I was just wondering if you can show us what the brakedown of colors solds so far.

no sales numbers needs just percentages. I want to know what colors are winning

Dear ahammer:

Blue is just slightly in the lead followed by black. Much to our delight, ALL colors are selling well and there are no colors that are not wanted! I think Griffonwing ordered 30 blue so far (Hee hee).

Honestly, all six have been selling well!!

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear ahammer:

Blue is just slightly in the lead followed by black...I think Griffonwing ordered 30 blue so far (Hee hee).

Once the blue sells out, I will put up the 30 blues on ebay for a substantial profit. Muahahahahaha !!

[miki]

Hi RobertB,

I'll start by saying I LOVE the current EZ Reader. I use it everyday, and its directory, HTML, and Chinese support are very very useful for me!

I had some questions and suggestions, which hopefully you are allowed to answer/pass on:

1) Do you have any pics of the PocketPro displaying a JPEG or other image file? I was quite disappointed by the 6" not being able to display manga images well (because of the grayscale issue), and I MUST be able to read comic books on my next purchase of an EReader (I cannot justify the purchase otherwise, as I love my current EZReader and use it daily).

I am just wondering if there are any plans for a 16 level grayscale (such as the iRex iLiad), and also whether the 5 inch's 8 level grayscale is sufficient for displaying pictures. The 4 level grayscale is decidedly NOT sufficient.

I already have some reservations about the 5" screen size, as I think that's too small for me; my eyes are not good, and the font size the EZ Reader displays for Chinese-encoded HTML pages is only average size (at the medium font setting; the small font setting is unreadable, and the largest font setting orients the page horizontally); I am not sure how small it would get for the 5"

2) Could you pass on a request to add bluetooth support? I would prefer that over wireless, for file transfer purposes.

3) It would be nice to place the SD card on the side of the reader. Sometimes, if my reader falls off the table, or it gets dropped, the SD card pops out. If it was on the side of the reader, the case would keep it in. As it is, I have lost one SD card, which was very very upsetting for me, as the card contained a few hundred books that I no longer have a copy of.

edit: another advantage would be that a sideways placement would keep the dust from falling into the SD card slot -- this is a concern I mentioned a while back, that there's no cover on the slot to keep gravity from letting dust fall into the slot.

4) I complained a while back about not being able to navigate to a specific page in the directory view (that is, when you open an actual book to read it, you can choose "Go to page #" from the menu; that is not an option when you are in the directory view scrolling through the list of books). I was wondering if any of the recent firmware (or Jinke's version) now provided that navigation feature?

5) Are there any plans / places where I can shop for accessories (e.g. replacement EZ Reader book covers, screwdrivers, etc -- a screwdriver that will fit the screw used for the battery cover is amazingly hard to find! If you can provide specs on exactly what size the nail/screwdriver is, it would make it much easier the next time I go to the hardware store)

6) Anyone know where you can buy a screen protector/film for the EZ Reader screen (I know it's part of question #5, but it bugs me a lot).

7) Would it be possible to increase the number of font sizes available?

8) I like how the Sony Reader (at least the 700 version) lets you zoom in on a picture. It would be great if that feature was available on EZ Reader.

9) For the next version of the book cover for the reader, it would be nice to include a small space (at the top/bottom) to store the screwdriver. The reason I say that is because sometimes the reader freezes, and the only way to restart it is to remove the battery and then put it back in. You need a screwdriver to unscrew the cover It's annoying when you're on the bus, and the reader freezes. I'm always afraid of losing my screwdriver!

10) This is a pipe dream, but if Astak/Jinke could supply a text-to-speech optional component, that would be awesome! (You could provide that as an optional software available for download/purchase).

Anyway,
Thanks in advance RobertB!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by miki

Hi RobertB,

I'll start by saying I LOVE the current EZ Reader. I use it everyday, and its directory, HTML, and Chinese support are very very useful for me!

I had some questions and suggestions, which hopefully you are allowed to answer/pass on:

1) Do you have any pics of the PocketPro displaying a JPEG or other image file? I was quite disappointed by the 6" not being able to display manga images well (because of the grayscale issue), and I MUST be able to read comic books on my next purchase of an EReader (I cannot justify the purchase otherwise, as I love my current EZReader and use it daily).

I am just wondering if there are any plans for a 16 level grayscale (such as the iRex iLiad), and also whether the 5 inch's 8 level grayscale is sufficient for displaying pictures. The 4 level grayscale is decidedly NOT sufficient.

I already have some reservations about the 5" screen size, as I think that's too small for me; my eyes are not good, and the font size the EZ Reader displays for Chinese-encoded HTML pages is only average size (at the medium font setting; the small font setting is unreadable, and the largest font setting orients the page horizontally); I am not sure how small it would get for the 5"

2) Could you pass on a request to add bluetooth support? I would prefer that over wireless, for file transfer purposes.

3) It would be nice to place the SD card on the side of the reader. Sometimes, if my reader falls off the table, or it gets dropped, the SD card pops out. If it was on the side of the reader, the case would keep it in. As it is, I have lost one SD card, which was very very upsetting for me, as the card contained a few hundred books that I no longer have a copy of.

edit: another advantage would be that a sideways placement would keep the dust from falling into the SD card slot -- this is a concern I mentioned a while back, that there's no cover on the slot to keep gravity from letting dust fall into the slot.

4) I complained a while back about not being able to navigate to a specific page in the directory view (that is, when you open an actual book to read it, you can choose "Go to page #" from the menu; that is not an option when you are in the directory view scrolling through the list of books). I was wondering if any of the recent firmware (or Jinke's version) now provided that navigation feature?

5) Are there any plans / places where I can shop for accessories (e.g. replacement EZ Reader book covers, screwdrivers, etc -- a screwdriver that will fit the screw used for the battery cover is amazingly hard to find! If you can provide specs on exactly what size the nail/screwdriver is, it would make it much easier the next time I go to the hardware store)

6) Anyone know where you can buy a screen protector/film for the EZ Reader screen (I know it's part of question #5, but it bugs me a lot).

7) Would it be possible to increase the number of font sizes available?

8) I like how the Sony Reader (at least the 700 version) lets you zoom in on a picture. It would be great if that feature was available on EZ Reader.

9) For the next version of the book cover for the reader, it would be nice to include a small space (at the top/bottom) to store the screwdriver. The reason I say that is because sometimes the reader freezes, and the only way to restart it is to remove the battery and then put it back in. You need a screwdriver to unscrew the cover It's annoying when you're on the bus, and the reader freezes. I'm always afraid of losing my screwdriver!

10) This is a pipe dream, but if Astak/Jinke could supply a text-to-speech optional component, that would be awesome! (You could provide that as an optional software available for download/purchase).

Anyway,
Thanks in advance RobertB!

Dear Miki:

My boss is already not pleased that I am on the forum so often. He wants me on other things.

The screwdriver is readily available at ANY hardware store... such as Orchard Supply Hardware. It is just a small Phillips. FRY's electronics sells a special screwdriver set for small screws on small electronics.

Text-To-Speech is standard on the Pocket PRO.

You can change the font types on the EZ Reader or Pocket PRO by visiting the FAQ sheet under the support icon at: www.theEZreader.com

Side placement of the SD card might interfere with the case. I think that is why they do not do that!

Bluetooth is coming on new models that should be released in, hopefully, a few months.

16 level greyscale is also planned on some upcoming models. However, I have read from people who have eBook Readers with 16 levels that it is no better than the 8 level greyscale; and that 8 level greyscale is a huge improvement from 4 level greyscale. "Sufficient" is a subjective term that everyone will assess differently. I think it is sufficient (but your opinion may vary).

We will post, when we can get, them... more pictures.

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by miki

9) For the next version of the book cover for the reader, it would be nice to include a small space (at the top/bottom) to store the screwdriver. The reason I say that is because sometimes the reader freezes, and the only way to restart it is to remove the battery and then put it back in. You need a screwdriver to unscrew the cover It's annoying when you're on the bus, and the reader freezes. I'm always afraid of losing my screwdriver!

Miki,

You do not have to take the battery out to reset the Ez-Reader. The is a Reset Button in the back (there is a hole and you can insert a paper clip to reset it).

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Musicman

Miki,

You do not have to take the battery out to reset the Ez-Reader. The is a Reset Button in the back (there is a hole and you can insert a paper clip to reset it).

Dear Miki:

Musicman is absolutely right. A paper clip is ideal for resetting the EZ Reader or Pocket PRO without losing your data. The reset hole is right near the battery door on the back!