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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I can think of lots of things. Color, for one. Pretty cases, covers, skins....
I love that I can customize the boot screen on the EZ Reader, I've got a very "girly" start up screen.
None of those things would be a deal breaker if it wasn't present, but having the option would be great.

Dear Phenomshel:

Thank you. Now that we have the statistics from IDPF we know that women moved up from 40% of the eBook market to 50%. Of $96 BILLION spent worldwide on electronics, $55 Billion is spent by women... so they are even stronger in the overall category.

I am the most avid "pusher" of color bodies for eBook Devices. Unfortunately, management's bean counters find it easier to stick with black and white temporarily. Your email confirms what the women speakers at IDPF said... get devices in color. I agree with the pretty cases penchent too. Maybe fine grained leathers is not enough. We need to dress the cases up a bit further for women. Maybe rhinestones or birthstones might be a possibility. We are working with female publishers to delineate more ideas. SKINS are popular and I want that. There is a fine line between pretty and slightly tacky in accessories. I do not want to go too far and appear overboard but I do want to design for WOMEN as well as men.

Thank you for the word on customizing the boot screen. Perhaps you can tell other EZ Reader end users how to do that in a post. I think people would love to do that and are unaware.

I also wanted to update everybody that the new website (www.goEZebook.com) is moving along well. That should open within two weeks. This will be a far more advanced site and will sell eBooks, accessories, and about 20,000 titles to start. We are working with Barnes & Noble to get as many titles as possible. The site is still under construction but we have seen the final draft and love it. The design is as beautiful as it is user friendly and the price on eBooks will be a refreshing break for those always hunting for a good price.

BY THE WAY... things have advanced enormously on adding both Fictionwise eReader (which more than tripled in popularity in 2008 according to IDPF) and Adobe Digital Editions. SO, expect these downloads to soon be offered for free on the new website. We paid the money for ADE and Fictionwise gave us a huge break as well. So, for EZ Reader and Mentor, we expect them as soon as the SDK is done and ported.

OH, we are also working on a new design of lighting for the devices! IDPF confirmed that 60% of people READ IN BED all the time. We have a split-beam light (non-tethered so it does not drain the device's battery) coming out in June. I am asking the accessory designers to go further and get rid of the bendable neck completely, so we will see.

By the way, if EZ Reader users want to customize their own boot-up screens as Shel did: go to the Jinke Website and download "Logo Maker". That will allow you to customize the boot-up screen. I am going to try it today myself and make sure that it is as easy as I was told it is. If I can do it, anybody can. I will post results.

[phenomshel]

Robert, re: Logomaker - I think you need to say, "If SHEL can do it, anybody can"!! It really *is* that easy if you have any knowledge of making graphics at all.

I do have to say I'm disappointed at the emphasis on Adobe Digital Editions, PDF files are really pretty bad on any six inch device. Unless y'all can come up with a workable reflow scheme, or more font sizes, or something.

I buy LIT format whenever possible (and so far that's been every book I've purchased). Now that the firmware has been updated to help with LIT file display, I'm hoping that books in that format will be available at the site as well. If you can beat Books on Board's pricing for paperbacks, and have the selection, I'll be a customer for books at the site.

[slayda]

While I agree that logomaker is easy to use, you need to know what you're doing since the EZ Reader only shows (I think) 4 shades of gray. If you look at a color image on your computer, it won't look that good on the reader.

That said, there are ways to optimize the reader's display of your image and as Shel said, if you know computer graphics, it isn't hard.

This is the one I use.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/album.php?albumid=54&pictureid=1434



And I always have trouble adding images on MR posts, so you can open the URL if you want to see it.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Robert, re: Logomaker - I think you need to say, "If SHEL can do it, anybody can"!! It really *is* that easy if you have any knowledge of making graphics at all.

I do have to say I'm disappointed at the emphasis on Adobe Digital Editions, PDF files are really pretty bad on any six inch device. Unless y'all can come up with a workable reflow scheme, or more font sizes, or something.

I buy LIT format whenever possible (and so far that's been every book I've purchased). Now that the firmware has been updated to help with LIT file display, I'm hoping that books in that format will be available at the site as well. If you can beat Books on Board's pricing for paperbacks, and have the selection, I'll be a customer for books at the site.

Dear all:

I went to the Jinke website (www.jinke.com) and downloaded the LogoMaker. There are instructions given and if you follow the instructions carefully the hardest part is finding a drawing or B&W photo that is 600x800.
I was successful so have at it. I drew my own boot-up picture using corel "draw" and it worked fine.

The Mentor Lite has reflow. Unfortunately, the EZ Reader does not yet. I will ask the factory if this can be somehow added. All books on our new website are in EPUB as that works best of all the formats on the EZ Reader (according to the fine folks at Fictionwise who carefully tested).

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by slayda

While I agree that logomaker is easy to use, you need to know what you're doing since the EZ Reader only shows (I think) 4 shades of gray. If you look at a color image on your computer, it won't look that good on the reader.

That said, there are ways to optimize the reader's display of your image and as Shel said, if you know computer graphics, it isn't hard.

This is the one I use.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/album.php?albumid=54&pictureid=1434



And I always have trouble adding images on MR posts, so you can open the URL if you want to see it.

Yes, the EZ Reader has 4 levels of greyscale. I suggest you either draw your own or find a Black and White photo. Some color photographs are not too bad at all. Just please be sure they are 600x800!!

I heartily endorse all Slayda suggestions as he knows best!!

[catsittingstill]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

(regarding what a woman might want in an e-book reader)
I can think of lots of things. Color, for one. Pretty cases, covers, skins....
I love that I can customize the boot screen on the EZ Reader, I've got a very "girly" start up screen.
None of those things would be a deal breaker if it wasn't present, but having the option would be great.

To each their own, sure. But I don't understand why a person who wants color is guaranteed, or even likely, to be a woman? Or why a person who wants to customize their start up screen is likely to be a woman?

Plus, maybe it's just me, but I think the "shrink it and pink it" approach to making traditionally men's stuff like guns and tools appeal to women is just insulting. I'm not some little child with My Little Pony painted on my bedroom walls. If I need a wrench, I need a wrench. It's not any more useful to me because it's pink. Frankly, the pink wrench is likely to be less well made, in my (admittedly limited) experience. It could be made a "woman's wrench" in a much more practical way by giving it a sturdy extendable handle so I could get more leverage on a nut some muscle-bound ape overtightened--and I would probably buy such a wrench even if it were pink, as long as it was a quality tool... but not without looking for more neutral colors.

Same for an e-book reader. I must admit I like the red ones, (and the blue ones) but I bet that men like the colored ones too. They probably shy away from pink for social reasons--hey--that's what pink would be good for; if your husband tends to walk off with your e-book reader, you could take advantage of the fact that there's social pressure on men not to have pink stuff by using a pink reader!

Maybe that's what pink tools are for too... There's still the quality issue, though.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by catsittingstill

To each their own, sure. But I don't understand why a person who wants color is guaranteed, or even likely, to be a woman? Or why a person who wants to customize their start up screen is likely to be a woman?

Plus, maybe it's just me, but I think the "shrink it and pink it" approach to making traditionally men's stuff like guns and tools appeal to women is just insulting. I'm not some little child with My Little Pony painted on my bedroom walls. If I need a wrench, I need a wrench. It's not any more useful to me because it's pink. Frankly, the pink wrench is likely to be less well made, in my (admittedly limited) experience. It could be made a "woman's wrench" in a much more practical way by giving it a sturdy extendable handle so I could get more leverage on a nut some muscle-bound ape overtightened--and I would probably buy such a wrench even if it were pink, as long as it was a quality tool... but not without looking for more neutral colors.

Same for an e-book reader. I must admit I like the red ones, (and the blue ones) but I bet that men like the colored ones too. They probably shy away from pink for social reasons--hey--that's what pink would be good for; if your husband tends to walk off with your e-book reader, you could take advantage of the fact that there's social pressure on men not to have pink stuff by using a pink reader!

Maybe that's what pink tools are for too... There's still the quality issue, though.

Dear Catsittingstill:

You are not wrong ; and I am happy for your honest opinion. YES, there will be women who like special changes for them; and there will be some who will say "hey, Dude, get lost". I know. I do understand that women now are exceedingly proud (and should be) of being equals in every way. Please do not take offense. This is NOT about a belief that women are all fluffy pink with sugar and spice. It is about two companies that cater to women by printing romance and erotic ebooks. THEY are looking for something in eBook Readers that lends itself more to women as they serve only a female clientel. Romance novels are outselling all other types of eBooks and that IS strictly "for women".

Yes, I agree with you that the "shrink it and pink it" thing stinks. This is NOT an attempt to do that. Erotic Books for women is not exactly "pink". What they want is something that is modern, upbeat, perhaps a bit sexy, that may be ideal for today's "proud to be a woman" to use.

Cat... I cannot give you a wrench with more leverage... but I can ask you and others for ideas and that is what I am doing. Are there concepts that
can delineate an eBook Reader as better for the female? Perhaps smaller buttons for smaller fingers? I really do not know. SO... as this is a forum I am inviting some discussion.

Likewise, I mean no offense to men here either. Some things might be just as suitable for men as for women... but these eBooks are strictly written for women.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Yes, the EZ Reader has 4 levels of greyscale. I suggest you either draw your own or find a Black and White photo. Some color photographs are not too bad at all. Just please be sure they are 600x800!!

I heartily endorse all Slayda suggestions as he knows best!!

I used a colored pencil drawing and added my own text - it translated to greyscale beautifully. I get compliments every time someone sees my EZ Reader boot up. I've been so used to doing my own graphics for things for so long that I just treated it like a bigger version of a sigtag for email, LOL!

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Are there concepts that can delineate an eBook Reader as better for the female? Perhaps smaller buttons for smaller fingers? I really do not know. SO... as this is a forum I am inviting some discussion.

Okay Robert, here's my 2 cents.

Please don't make the buttons any smaller! Don't even think it! Put it in the same silly category as making stuff pink by default to sell to a girl. Not all of us girls/women are built that way! I inherited very wide thick fingers from my Dad's family. My brother's high school ring was smaller than mine - he has Mom's slender hands. I shop for electronics with bigger buttons just like my husband and for the same reason.

A sleek, clean, and elegant look will get you everywhere. A friend bought an HP laptop about 6 months ago and it is beautiful to me - the outside shell is shiny black with a geometric design done in thin lines of jewel tone colors. It is a very quiet understated pattern until the light hits it just right and then it turn vibrant and wow is it pretty. The pattern also helps hide fingerprints.

Good fit & finish also sets things apart. For example, if you look at a new $25K car and a $50K car you will see what I mean by that. Do the seams for the plastic panels around the radio & air vents line up really well? Or is there a big visable crack to allow dust & crud that I will have to clean to keep the car looking good? I always look at those little details when making my choices. If it looks cheap it's harder to remember that what's inside is really good stuff. "Cheap" doesn't always mean garrish and too much glitter. Sometimes it is literal. Does it look like cheap plastic or tin, or like the several hundred dollar electronics item it is?

And keep the whole thing simple in its basic functionality, but have menus and options so the more intricate functions are there if/when I want them. Accessible menus are very good. I like buttons, but would rather a just few I can customize rather than deal with learning which ones not touch because they don't do anything I find useful - that is just annoying. It also goes back to the "clean" look I mentioned earlier. Too many buttons gets busy and can look really geeky. I want to read, not type. This is not a netbook!

[brecklundin]

so, just to add to this....why are you also not asking MEN for what they want in a device?

What a bunch of "udder" nonsense.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Robertb

... but I can ask you and others for ideas and that is what I am doing. Are there concepts that can delineate an eBook Reader as better for the female? Perhaps smaller buttons for smaller fingers?

*NOW* we are talking business.

The primary function of the page turn button is:
1. to turn the page (obviously)
2. to be located on the most convenient place for me to press, whatever hand I am holding the device with, no matter what size my hands are.

This can be achieved by several means:
- by placing many page turn buttons around the entire device (K1)
- by making movable button that can be placed anywhere on device (attached by wire, wireless, IR, whatever) ((I know this is not very practical, but we are looking at the possibilities here))
- by placing several various buttons around the device and making them configurable by user (this would appeal much more to gadget geek population which is, I have to admit, predominantly male)
- by making nice, comfortable buttons at one side and making the device "turnable" to 0, 90, 180, 270 degree. The turning MUST be a menu (or a button) selectable function with OPTIONAL "mercury switch" (not made with actual mercury inside nowadays ). For a very, very nice example of such device see one of my previous posts about pocketbook 360 prototype photos

I think that the last option, combined with some of the previous ones might be the most appealing.

Originally Posted by Robertb

Likewise, I mean no offense to men here either. Some things might be just as suitable for men as for women... but these eBooks are strictly written for women.

In my 'tongue in cheek' answer from previous thread about version for men featuring chain mail, camouflage colors, and other nonsense (considered very often to be typically male) I wanted to point out that the vast majority of e-book devices out there are gender neutral. Some of devices can be considered more geeky, and as I have admitted majority of gadget geeks are male. Other devices, however, try to look as un-geeky as possible up to the exclusion of critical features like easy configuration or folders.

If I wanted to design Mentor that would appeal specifically for women I might consider following:

- make a system of attaching any generic cover to my device. A simple clasp at the bottom, a threaded hole in each corner, ... *Not* like Amazon that PATENTED their lame system of attaching the cover and then FAILED to provide wide variety of covers.
- contact maker of high quality handbags and/or leather accesories (Dooney and Bourke might sound familiar ;-) ). They *will* know how to design an appealing cover.
- ask some of above mentioned handbag designers to for a cover design (for an extra)
- for a device to appeal to women, it has to be sleek, elegant, well made. Not screaming "HEY! Look at me! I am a cheap plastic iPod wannabe!"

- Contact Harlequin (I am under the impression they appeal mostly to female readership) and do a special edition of Mentor with a signature of one of more famous romance author unobtrusively placed on the inside of the cover. And some of backlog books preloaded.


And, misplaced fun and pun aside, an edition for men might have some appeal too.
No. No chain mail, no stupid logos, no playmate pictures uploaded, no "redneck bass fishing companion" but
"Field command edition" in a rugged, rubberized, splash-proof olive colored case with a thick slab of shatter-proof lexan protecting the screen, big utilitarian buttons, massive protected connectors.

[kacir]

Oh. And one more thing.

However I hold the reader, the least convenient placement for a page turn button is lover right corner of the device.
If you want to make page turning even more awkward, no matter how big or small fingers the user has, use a tiny joystick (or a so-called 5-way button) to turn the pages.
And the worst place for other buttons (like menu) IMHO is at the edge of the device. Just like one of the most recently announced device demonstrated.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kacir

Oh. And one more thing.

However I hold the reader, the least convenient placement for a page turn button is lover right corner of the device.
If you want to make page turning even more awkward, no matter how big or small fingers the user has, use a tiny joystick (or a so-called 5-way button) to turn the pages.
And the worst place for other buttons (like menu) IMHO is at the edge of the device. Just like one of the most recently announced device demonstrated.

What you describe is the interface that the CyBook has, and I find that it works beautifully. If you hold the device in your right hand, supporting the back with your fingers (ie the way you'd hold a paperback book), your thumb falls entirely naturally over the navigation control at the lower right. It's a completely satisfactory position for page turning.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you hold the device in your right hand, supporting the back with your fingers (ie the way you'd hold a paperback book), your thumb falls entirely naturally over the navigation control at the lower right.

It's not so natural for me. I hold the Cybook with the thumb in the middle bottom and the index finger extended across the back (the other fingers curled and relaxed). This I do with either hand, and in any case the thumb can't operate the page-turn button. If I use the left hand, at least I have the right hand free and closer to the button.

If I use both hands, then I have the index fingers extended on the sides, the middle fingers on the back and the thumbs on the front, and I can use the right thumb to turn pages.

[jsadd]

Robert,
As someome who is tech challenged, (but who is trying to learn more), please keep in mind us "newbies". I decided I needed an Ereader, because I had no more room for books. I went on line and read. I went with a Kindle even though I could not get whispernet where I lived. I bought it because I could understand the directons on how to download the books to my computer & then to the device. So while I am now learning how to enjoy the "bells and whistles" I bought it because it was easy for me.
A blue one would be nice, but that would not have influenced my buying decision then.
Thank you for all the good information !