Onyx Boox Max2 Issues

[rogerpiano]

Originally Posted by Jayjee

What is the difference between the two updates offered on the page?

My Max 2 arrived with the first shipment in early January.

- The firmware that had was: 2018-01-05_21-38_1.8.3

- I tried to update with the first file available on "onyx-international.com" and in fact I think I did a downgrade because the version that is installed is: 2017-12-25_15-19_1.8.3 (when I clicked on "Check update from local storage" did not recognize that it was a downgrade)

- I have updated with the second file (20180129) and the installed version is: 2018-01-29_10-27_1.8.3

[Drew22]

Originally Posted by rogerpiano

My Max 2 arrived with the first shipment in early January.

- The firmware that had was: 2018-01-05_21-38_1.8.3

- I tried to update with the first file available on "onyx-international.com" and in fact I think I did a downgrade because the version that is installed is: 2017-12-25_15-19_1.8.3 (when I clicked on "Check update from local storage" did not recognize that it was a downgrade)

- I have updated with the second file (20180129) and the installed version is: 2018-01-29_10-27_1.8.3

Booxtor told me that he updated my Max2 before shipping (the second batch in January). I get that the Shop updates all the Ereaders with the latest patch before sending them to the clients. Often they have newer updates then Onyx-international.

[Randy11]

Originally Posted by Drew22

Booxtor told me that he updated my Max2 before shipping (the second batch in January). I get that the Shop updates all the Ereaders with the last patch before sending them to the clients. Often they have newer updates them Onyx-international.

Know we know why Booxtor doesn't reply to all e-mails or why the informations about the UPS tracking ticket are not up-to-date

[alcedo]

I got my Max2 from second batch in OVP and updated to 2018-01-05 by OTA.
Neither OTA nor ereader.store have the update 2018-01-29 you mention.
That's strange. How is it?

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by Jayjee

- toggle for capacitive screen (when I annotate in Mobilesheets, the app takes also touches of the screen as input - i have to be almost acrobatic to not touoch the screen with my hand, but only with the pen)

That would also be useful to me in the Neoreader app, when I use the landscape mode with a document page on one side and personal notes on the other. I've mentioned already that I'm left-handed; with the document page on the left and notes on the right (until one can change that), it's almost impossible to write on the right without the hand touching on the left (in this mode, I believe the right side doesn't respond to hand touch, but the left side does).

[Anonymenet31]

Hi,

I have successfully installed the 20180129 update. Everything is working fine. (except pdf inside evernote dont display, juste a white screen, but I guess you cant do anything about it)

I found a bug with scribbing on pdf. You have this possibility to move from page to page when you are in scribbing mode, its a cross arrow icon. When you do, you can either use your hands or your pen. If you use your pen, it does change the page, nothing is drawn as expected. BUT if you use the export feature that selects only the pages with scribbing on it, that PDF displays also the moves that you made with your pen to turn pages...Making the exported pdf dirty with all those extra lines unrelated to contents.

If I find an other clear bug, I will come again here to report it.

[Jayjee]

On the other hand, the bug that a scribbling "survives" page turning as described by rogerpiano (I think?) and myself is repaired.
Browser gets a full screen button next to the the arrows up and down buttons.

[rogerpiano]

- I tried several browsers (Opera mini, UC Browser, Habit and Lightning). Habit and Lighting are valid (Habit has many settings), but I still think that the integrated browser is optimized for Max2 in terms of speed and page display.

- Browsing with bluetooth tethering consumes much less battery than wi-fi, and the performance is similar (at least with the integrated browser).

I repeat my request for a few posts ago, that is to "enable" the browser integrated into the VPN, avoiding that the pop-up "do you turn on Wi-Fi?" appears every time, because it limits navigation in a heavy way.

- I was thinking of the usefulness of activating the Max2 from the stand-by using one of the physical buttons instead of the power button (which seems to me weak and uncomfortable). Is there any app that allows you to program the physical keys for the turn-on?

[Iceblits]

Hi all

I just got my Boox max 2 and so far it's better than my Sony dpt. I have a few questions and concerns though:

1.) The screen seems very delicate compared to the dpt. In some parts it is smooth and erases easily but in other parts I've noticed that I easily scratch it with the eraser. To circumvent this, I've stopped erasing all together. I'm wondering if there's any way to change the default erase option, for example, to erase without pressing down with the back of the pen. If this is not possible, can I put a screen protector on it without compromising the writing experience? If so what screen protector should I get?

2.) I don't really like the default writing templates. Can I add my own? Is there someway to take the default templates from my dpt and put them on the boox 2?

3.) What 3rd party apps actually work on the boox 2 for writing? I've tried one note and write but they do not work properly. Is there a list of apps somewhere that works with the boox 2 or a way to find such apps on the store?

4.) How can I get the boox 2 to work with mac os X high Sierra? It works fine with Windows devices but I can't get it to be recognized on my mac.. not even the blue tooth (it says it's connected and then it immediate disconnects).

5.) I'm having trouble with the side by side note taking. I am unable to flip just the book pages without flipping the side note as well. Also is there any way to change the default blank template on the side note? Finally, how can I open one of my previous notes (from the note taking app) as a side note?

Thanks all!

[jimbohen]

A few days ago I asked Onyx International the following question on Amazon:

"Has the white, 64gb max2 "pro", shown by your rep and others in videos, been shelved or when will it be released? what else will it add?"

They answered:

"Dear,

NOW we don`t have the white,64gb Max2 pro, but we will take it into consideration and WHEN IT IS DONE, we will keep you informed.
Thank you
Yours
Onxy International Inc."


Now that they're finally admitting that the Max 2 "PRO" version is in the works do you think it would be best to wait for it? Especially given the many problems and issues you seem to be having with the "NON-PRO" version? No doubt many of these glitches should be resolved by the hardware and software upgrades? I suppose some of you really enjoy problem solving but few of us have time for that and many of these issues are simply beyond our scope.

[Jayjee]

Originally Posted by Iceblits

Hi all

I just got my Boox max 2 and so far it's better than my Sony dpt. I have a few questions and concerns though:

1.) The screen seems very delicate compared to the dpt. In some parts it is smooth and erases easily but in other parts I've noticed that I easily scratch it with the eraser. To circumvent this, I've stopped erasing all together. I'm wondering if there's any way to change the default erase option, for example, to erase without pressing down with the back of the pen. If this is not possible, can I put a screen protector on it without compromising the writing experience? If so what screen protector should I get?

I experience those more than smear that go away with a moist cloth.

Originally Posted by Iceblits

2.) I don't really like the default writing templates. Can I add my own? Is there someway to take the default templates from my dpt and put them on the boox 2?

Booxtor has put in promising this to be possible.

Originally Posted by Iceblits

3.) What 3rd party apps actually work on the boox 2 for writing? I've tried one note and write but they do not work properly. Is there a list of apps somewhere that works with the boox 2 or a way to find such apps on the store?

Booxtor has put in promising that the support for the pen in third party apps will get better and with less lag. We will see whether this will work out. It is only reason why I am still torn between the neoreader app and a dedicated music sheet software (MobileSheetspro) that suits my needs wonderfully, but has a considerable lag when using the pen to annotate.

Originally Posted by Iceblits

4.) How can I get the boox 2 to work with mac os X high Sierra? It works fine with Windows devices but I can't get it to be recognized on my mac.. not even the blue tooth (it says it's connected and then it immediate disconnects).

I have no experience with macs, but probably somebody else here knows...

Originally Posted by Iceblits

5.) I'm having trouble with the side by side note taking. I am unable to flip just the book pages without flipping the side note as well. Also is there any way to change the default blank template on the side note? Finally, how can I open one of my previous notes (from the note taking app) as a side note?

I think that is the way that the software is intended to work. You get a white space to annotate a certain page (and you can add pages to that annotation space per page), but when you turn the page, you get a new space to annotate. I understand why you want one persistant annotation space though...

[Drew22]

Originally Posted by Iceblits

1.) The screen seems very delicate compared to the dpt. In some parts it is smooth and erases easily but in other parts I've noticed that I easily scratch it with the eraser. To circumvent this, I've stopped erasing all together. I'm wondering if there's any way to change the default erase option, for example, to erase without pressing down with the back of the pen. If this is not possible, can I put a screen protector on it without compromising the writing experience? If so what screen protector should I get?

I had both Max Carta and now own Max2 and none of them scratch easily, even while pressing heavy when writing/annotating. If you managed to scratch the screen, you must have had applied a ton of weight or used some sharp object...


The questions 2 and 3 were answered by Jayjee.

Originally Posted by Iceblits

4.) How can I get the boox 2 to work with mac os X high Sierra? It works fine with Windows devices but I can't get it to be recognized on my mac.. not even the blue tooth (it says it's connected and then it immediate disconnects).

On Mac (High Sierra OS) you have to install the official Android File Transfer software (https://www.android.com/filetransfer/) in order to access the Max 2 via USB.

After reporting the same problem to Apple and Onyx this is what they answered:

Apple says it has to do something with the Onyx driver for their OS;
Onyx says they used the default drivers from Sierra and in the past they have worked (that's true - my iMac did recognise the Max Carta device, but the latter had Android 4.0.1, while Max2 has Android 6.0.1).

In the end it seems Onyx has no solution, and Apple tries to pass the problem to Onyx. I don't know who is right, but you could make pressure on both of them. I will do the same.

Originally Posted by Iceblits

5.) I'm having trouble with the side by side note taking. I am unable to flip just the book pages without flipping the side note as well. Also is there any way to change the default blank template on the side note? Finally, how can I open one of my previous notes (from the note taking app) as a side note?

You should contact Booxtor over his website or write to Onyx International. What you wish for is a new function they could introduce in a future update.

[alcedo]

I just recognized that the lower part of the screen gives way a little bit if pressed.
I can't remember that being the case from the beginning, but I'm not sure about it.
I didn't do anything to the device that could be responsible for that "weakness".
Does anybody else recognize parts of screen to be soft/retreating/elastic/giving way
(as opposed to other parts)?

[drjww]

I purchased my Max2 from Onyx through Amazon, and it came with a different firmware: 2018-01-17_16-39_1.8.3_3322186. Everything seems to work fine with this firmware--no issues with Google Play Store/Services or contacts (although I do not have any previous in-app purchases, so I cannot test that). I have installed Adobe Acrobat, Amazon Kindle, Dropbox, Evernote, GMail, Lightning, and Microsoft Word.

As others have noted, there does seem to be a significant lag with pen input on Evernote, although I will say that there was very little lag at all when marking up a PDF in Adobe Acrobat that was stored on Dropbox.

One issue that I have is that touch-scrolling does not work in Microsoft Word. I do not know whether that is a Max2 issue or a Microsoft issue. One has to use a bluetooth keyboard with hardware arrows and/or page down, or turn off the option to map the page turning buttons to volume.

All in all this is a simply fantastic device. When tablets first came out, I had hoped that someone would make an eink tablet that could function as a laptop replacement, and in terms of what I do as a college professor, I think Onyx has done it!

[Drew22]

@ Alcedo

My device "gives way a bit" close to the middle of the screen. The seller told me, this is a common occurrence, because the producers did not find the method to perfectly stretch the plastic screen surface. Therefore many devices do have a slight screen curve. In my case the imperfectly stretched material is not observable with the naked eye. I can only feel/see the screen giving away (in other words becoming elastic) when writing on a .pdf document. Nonetheless, even then this does not hinder my writing because the curbing is barely perceivable.