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

[pkovak]

RobertB, I still don't understand why there is even that one screw securing the battery, anything that requires tool of some kind to open battery cover is in my oppinion too much - mobile phones surely don't have it, and they work. It would be much more simple if you could change battery using only your hand(s). Simplicity is the key to win, but you alredy know that.

[oggelbe2007]

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

Nice you are trying to keep everyone updated but at the same time do you really think airing your dialog or difficulties in contacting them is going to help things? As a potential customer, it is somewhat off-putting.

Also, I have a very, and I mean VERY, hard time believing that you were somehow unaware of this display tech.

What's he supposed to do? Follow every emerging display technology? including LCD, Plasma, DLP, LCOS, D-ILA, SED, OLED and even the overhyped but currently, non-existing, colored e-paper stuff? Cut the guy some slack!

I have a very, and I mean VERY hard time believing someone actually swallows all the bilge water these copywriters spew.

[aleks]

When, oh when are we going to see the 9.7 inch Mentor. Sigh, patience to try a Saint.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Shel:

You are phenomenal. Yes, driving the freeways here is akin to driving in a demolition derby except some of the cars have glass. It would not have been too bad except that they were doing road work and were backed up about 15 miles! Now, if I can only put some form of particle beam reorganizer in my eBook Readers so we all can get around.

I am glad that you (and I) are still loving our EZ Readers. Did you see the new "luxury" cases with the split beam lights for reading that I posted?

Robert B

*laughing* Thanks, Robert, my husband tells me that all the time. It's actually how I got this nickname, AND my website URL. (phenomenal-webmistress.net).
I missed the luxury case reference, will go back and check the thread.

[Alan V.]

Hi Robert.

My wife is starting a consulting firm and is very interested in purchasing a touch-screen, large-screen eBook devise within the next couple of months. To my knowledge, there is only one currently available and it is rather pricey. If I can get a spec sheet, together some assurance of the approximate price and the availability date, I might be successful in convincing her to wait until the Astak Mentor Electra can be bought. Are there plans for a Pre-order capability? If so, when will this be possible?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Robertb

Hello community. My name is Robert and I work for Astak in San Jose, California. Astak is introducing three new eBook devices at the IDPG show in New York on May 14. The eBook devices are known by the name "Mentor". Mentor will come in three sizes: 5 inch, 6 inch, and 9.7 inch. They all use E-ink technology and have stereo headphone/earbud jacks. You can do slide shows on them. WiFi (802.11g) and Touchscreen will be options. Resolution is 800 x 600 pixels. One charge lasts for about 8,000 pages. All will have SD card slots expanding the memory up to 4GB. The 5 inch is projected to sell at about $159.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by snipenekkid

Nice you are trying to keep everyone updated but at the same time do you really think airing your dialog or difficulties in contacting them is going to help things? As a potential customer, it is somewhat off-putting.

Also, I have a very, and I mean VERY, hard time believing that you were somehow unaware of this display tech. But this tech has been mentioned on this site I have no idea how many times and also has been in almost every hardware oriented tech periodical I read more than a few times in the past year. I mean good gawds man this is the business you are in, stay on top of the curve. Maybe get a Kindle and a few journal subscriptions?

Dear Snipenekkid:

Nope, sometimes there is so much going on with trade shows and business trips and lectures and choosing designs and features that we miss things. This company is NOT large. There are essentially three of us trying to stay up to date on what is promising while trying to get business accomplished also.

You have no remote idea of how hard it is for three people to run an entire eBook Reader division. Astak has numerous other divisions and eBook Readers is one of the new divisions. To our credit we do a good job of building sturdy, rugged, and very trouble-free product. Some things to go by unseen. We do not have 100 people who do little everyday but trace down new technology that may or may not pan out. I wish we did and I take your comments good-naturely. We will try to do better.

Robert B

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Alan V.

Hi Robert.

My wife is starting a consulting firm and is very interested in purchasing a touch-screen, large-screen eBook devise within the next couple of months. To my knowledge, there is only one currently available and it is rather pricey. If I can get a spec sheet, together some assurance of the approximate price and the availability date, I might be successful in convincing her to wait until the Astak Mentor Electra can be bought. Are there plans for a Pre-order capability? If so, when will this be possible?

Thanks!

Dear Alan:

I KNOW that you and many others want the 9.7 eBook Reader. Research at two factories is daily trying to get something good. The problem is that the factories have one timetable and Astak has another (more along with your wishes). In between, we and they are researching power-saving technology for it, trying to get PVI to develop and them manufacture the Flexi panel, and now look at bringing out the first COLOR 9.7 inch while maintaining good time in between charges.

Add to this that the factories are secretive as hell about everything. NONE of them wants a browbeater like Astak pushing them, condemning them, or pushing before they are ready.

Honest to God I do not know whether it will be the EZ Reader or Mentor lines out with the first 9.7 inch for us. The latest timetable from both seems to be roll-out in September, 2009. Could be sooner and could be later. YES, I hate not knowing also and please understand that being translucent on timelines is not my cup of tea either.

There are no plans for pre-order yet. This is because pre-orders only cause aggravation for end users when things are not pretty close. In simple fact, we do not know enough yet and treat factory road-maps on release dates akin to trying to predict the weather three months from now.

SO, Alan, they are indeed coming and we are getting closer. BUT, I do not know enough to give you the answer you want to hear.

Robert B

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pkovak

RobertB, I still don't understand why there is even that one screw securing the battery, anything that requires tool of some kind to open battery cover is in my oppinion too much - mobile phones surely don't have it, and they work. It would be much more simple if you could change battery using only your hand(s). Simplicity is the key to win, but you alredy know that.

Dear Pkovak:

We DO give you the screwdiriver in the box to open the one screw. However, your point is a good one. Cell phones almost always have hand locking battery doors (however, this is more likely to reboot or replace the sim card than about the battery). One thing I have learned, the Asians do things a bit different than the average run-of-the-mill North American (no offence to anyone... there are just some differences in our cultures). I have no idea WHY Jinke did this and will ask. To me, your approach is a better approach... but the Chinese culture MAY have something to do with it. Remember, the EZ Reader is boxed and shipped WITHOUT the battery inserted. That is Chinese law. Perhaps that enters into it.

Robert B

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by oggelbe2007

What's he supposed to do? Follow every emerging display technology? including LCD, Plasma, DLP, LCOS, D-ILA, SED, OLED and even the overhyped but currently, non-existing, colored e-paper stuff? Cut the guy some slack!

I have a very, and I mean VERY hard time believing someone actually swallows all the bilge water these copywriters spew.

Monday of this week, right as promised, we had a great conference call with Pixel Qi. We now have an NDA in place and I cannot say a lot or I would violate the terms of that NDA. Pixel Qi is very much "for real" in Taiwan and has a great technology. We are entering into a project with them. Their California office is not much... but they NEED to be in Taiwan to get their technology built; and that is where they are focused. We talked with the two top people in the company, recieved their info sheets, and came away VERY impressed. This could be very good!! As least give us credit for moving quickly WHEN we caught on.

Essentially, their technology is a combination you might call "Backlit E-Ink" in a way. It involves far more than this... but they have taken all the problems with E-ink (no color, not great in the dark) and the problems with backlit (battery drain is ridiculous) and the compromise is a sweet spot that gives the end user what they need when they need it and only to the degree they need it.

They are for real!!

Robert B

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Monday of this week, right as promised, we had a great conference call with Pixel Qi. We now have an NDA in place and I cannot say a lot or I would violate the terms of that NDA. Pixel Qi is very much "for real" in Taiwan and has a great technology. We are entering into a project with them. Their California office is not much... but they NEED to be in Taiwan to get their technology built; and that is where they are focused. We talked with the two top people in the company, recieved their info sheets, and came away VERY impressed. This could be very good!! As least give us credit for moving quickly WHEN we caught on.

Essentially, their technology is a combination you might call "Backlit E-Ink" in a way. It involves far more than this... but they have taken all the problems with E-ink (no color, not great in the dark) and the problems with backlit (battery drain is ridiculous) and the compromise is a sweet spot that gives the end user what they need when they need it and only to the degree they need it.

They are for real!!

Robert B

In that case, I anxiously await more developments! I do love my EZ Reader but I'm not going to be averse to upgrading in a few years for that kind of sweet spot. Robert, I did look at the new covers with light - but think my current plan of indirect lighting to read in bed works even better. Of course that's not going to work for everyone, lots of people can't sleep unless a room is pitch black, which makes it hard for partners who like to read in bed.
I'm very excited that you and Astak are considering the female market with your accessories.

[DG25]

Robertb, i guess that you took a look at their screens. Does the NDA permits telling us if the quality of the screen is identical or not to an e-ink screen, when used in the same conditions (black and white, text only, under natural light)?

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by Robertb

This company is NOT large. There are essentially three of us trying to stay up to date on what is promising while trying to get business accomplished also.

Robert B

WOW! I knew you were part of a small division from previous comments, but just 3 to do everything? I imagine there may be a few super technical people to handle those aspects, but just 3 for everything else? You all do such an amazing job that I am certainly shocked it can be done with such little staff. Astak had better be careful or you all may become very burned out and they may lose such very valuable resources. Hopefully the project will begin making enough money to justify some more help for you soon.

for all you do!

[arioste]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Arioste:

Bonjour! Commen talle Vois?

Yes, I am remiss on the dictionary. We NEED a good one; and all I could find was a 1913 dictionary.

I will email my friends at Fictionwise NOW and ask them to research this. Jinke had the same 1913 Dictionary and that is lousy. If I can find something decent ALL future EZ Readers and Mentors will have a dictionary,

Thank you,

RobertB

ry

Hello Robert

Je vais très bien, merci. Et vous ?

1 - About dictionnary : It's the m.o. which seems important to me.
The dictionnary itself can easily be obtained from an editing company. What I should like to know it's how we can use it.
For example : Could we touch an english word on the screen and get the traduction in french (of this word, not all the sentence )

2 - Will your device be avalaible in Fr. ....At least through the web ?

3 - We are working on a project of magazine which should be pulished on portable readers. All the informations I get from Mobile read and specially around your site are very useful. Thanks a lot.

Jean durieux

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Yes, I am remiss on the dictionary. We NEED a good one; and all I could find was a 1913 dictionary.

I will email my friends at Fictionwise NOW and ask them to research this. Jinke had the same 1913 Dictionary and that is lousy. If I can find something decent ALL future EZ Readers and Mentors will have a dictionary,

So far as I know, there are only three large non-commercial English dictionaries. The MOBI versions are Dictionary, Webster's: Webster's Dictionary 1913, v1, 22 Nov 07, GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English, and Wordnet Dictionary for Mobipocket. I don't know of any similar dual language dictionaries which are definitely legal to distribute (there are some "freely available", but it is difficult to get their copyright status). These are in MOBI format for a reason, MOBI provides the best dictionary support that I have seen and there are many DRMed commercial MOBI dictionaries. It is even possible to use MOBI dictionaries in non-MOBI applications (as has been done by iRex on the Digital Reader - this obviously involves invoking the MOBI Reader as a "helper" app).

There are dictionaries for eReader, but I don't know how well they work.

The Kindle comes bundled with the New Oxford American Dictionary, which Amazon is presumably paying a licence fee for. Even though the Kindle software is MOBI-based, most MOBI dictionaries are not supported on the Kindle. One interesting thing about this dictionary on the Kindle is that it is in the firmware. This approach might allow a licensed commercial dictionary to be installed without DRM, which is important because there are DRM-free dictionary applications for Linux (and OpenInkPot is even writing their own).

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

There are dictionaries for eReader, but I don't know how well they work.

The Kindle comes bundled with the New Oxford American Dictionary, which Amazon is presumably paying a licence fee for. Even though the Kindle software is MOBI-based, most MOBI dictionaries are not supported on the Kindle. One interesting thing about this dictionary on the Kindle is that it is in the firmware. This approach might allow a licensed commercial dictionary to be installed without DRM, which is important because there are DRM-free dictionary applications for Linux (and OpenInkPot is even writing their own).

Good point, having dictionary support in the firmware is not predicated on the availability of a free dictionary. If support is there people can buy the dictionary of their choice. The eReader dictionaries are not free either but available. It is about choice. If there is no dictionary support then the choice isn't there.

Dale