PocketBook 360° final design

[grooks]

Do we know anything about formats supported?

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by grooks

Do we know anything about formats supported?

PDF, RTF, FB2, TXT, HTML, DJVU, CHM, PRC, EPUB, DOC. I don't think they support any DRM'ed formats yet, though. The full description (in Russian) is on Pocketbook website.

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i have an eb1150 and you can't beat the ergonomics. i'm thrilled to see somebody finally coming back to this excellent design.

Yes, REB1100 (a.k.a. GEB1150) had a rather good ebook reader design for around Y2K, when it was first introduced. It was rather heavy, didn't fit into a pocket, used rather antiquated battery pack and primitive software, but otherwise was a great device with decent ergonomics.

It remains to be seen, what comes out of Netronix manufacturing after they are done with "productizing" PocketBook's design. I always wondered why didn't Sony figure out that it's more convenient to page with large buttons, why didn't it provide a Search capability before PRS-700, why doesn't it provide dictionary lookup, and why didn't any other ebook reader manufacturer allow turning the page every which way. Those seem to be the basic necessary features of an electronic reader, and "the big guys" don't bother with implementing them.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by porkupan

Yes, REB1100 (a.k.a. GEB1150) had a rather good ebook reader design for around Y2K, when it was first introduced. It was rather heavy, didn't fit into a pocket, used rather antiquated battery pack and primitive software, but otherwise was a great device with decent ergonomics.

those are the reasons i also have a sony 700 (well, and the lcd screen).

It remains to be seen, what comes out of Netronix manufacturing after they are done with "productizing" PocketBook's design. I always wondered why didn't Sony figure out that it's more convenient to page with large buttons, why didn't it provide a Search capability before PRS-700, why doesn't it provide dictionary lookup, and why didn't any other ebook reader manufacturer allow turning the page every which way. Those seem to be the basic necessary features of an electronic reader, and "the big guys" don't bother with implementing them.

it seems like a glaring oversight to me too. i can't believe it took 10 years for someone to realise the strengths of that design, but i'm glad they finally have. i hope pocketbook manages to include all the good points, and none of the bad. if the new production models can improve on the high points of the original geb design it will be a killer device, especially at that price.

[rixte]

I really love the way the PocketBook looks and assuming a decent price, I'd love to pick one up for myself.

[brecklundin]

This is still my favorite reader design. I so completely agree about the strange issue of other readers not being lefty-righty or even just people who want to swap hands, friendly. Probably the lack is typical AmeriCorp's in action.

A great contrast is the KindleDx with the wonderful, maybe, accelerometer, the buttons are positioned in a fashion that actually negates the feature. Still, we have nothing to say the designed announced is going to be the actual device produced. Though I doubt it will change.

But if the Pocket360 turns out as nice as it looks, it's the top reader on my list this fall/winter. We'll see how it all shakes out. I do expect the UI will likely be an excellent one, if not the best of all of them. Russia and Ukraine both have long has some of the best software folks anywhere who have been able to do more with less for a long time now.

[porkupan]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Russia and Ukraine both have long has some of the best software folks anywhere who have been able to do more with less for a long time now.

Can't agree with you more on this.

I know first hand that the PocketBook developers and marketing folks actually read users' comments (at the-ebook.org, which they selected as their official forum) and the software developers are often directed to implement users suggestions. I don't know how many people are engaged in PocketBook software development, but considering that Sony and Amazon make us wait for years for new features (Sony) or never actually provide software updates, PocketBook is way way more customer oriented.

I often wonder if people who are given power to make decisions at Sony and Amazon actually ever try to get grass roots input from regular users and accept some of it for action. I know that most of our "wish list" items for Sony were never implemented. I suspect Amazon pays as much attention to customers as Sony does. I have to admit that PocketBook, at least on the surface, appears to be a different kind of a corporate being.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by porkupan

Can't agree with you more on this.

I know first hand that the PocketBook developers and marketing folks actually read users' comments (at the-ebook.org, which they selected as their official forum) and the software developers are often directed to implement users suggestions. I don't know how many people are engaged in PocketBook software development, but considering that Sony and Amazon make us wait for years for new features (Sony) or never actually provide software updates, PocketBook is way way more customer oriented.

I often wonder if people who are given power to make decisions at Sony and Amazon actually ever try to get grass roots input from regular users and accept some of it for action. I know that most of our "wish list" items for Sony were never implemented. I suspect Amazon pays as much attention to customers as Sony does. I have to admit that PocketBook, at least on the surface, appears to be a different kind of a corporate being.

I think you are dead on point about how HugeCorp's work. With them it is not about turning out the best device, it is all about using the approved vendors, marketing agreements and doing things just well enough to get it out the door before the battery explodes.

It is never about what the consumer wants but rather about convincing the consumer what they want is actually wrong but here is what they really need.

Small companies on the other hand, differentiate themselves by doing exactly the opposite. They need to be better, faster and listen to their customers. Good companies also never knock the competition, they let their quality stand for itself and promote the quality.

Like I wrote, I think these guys have a winning design. It also will translate well into a larger format reader eventually. Can't wait to see it hit the market worldwide.

[Charbax]

If it has WiFi, a Wacom touchscreen stylus and an Android OS for more applications like:

- Google Reader integration Android application

- Google Books integration Android application

- Google News integration Android application

- Google Blog Search integration Android application

- Online collaboration mode over WiFi by sharing annotations with everyone else or specific other users. Integration of Wiki type online annotations on all texts. Integration with Blog comments, with forum posts (like this forum)..

All that for $200, it'd be pretty cool and kind of the e-reader that I am waiting for. If it can have an integrated 3G modem with unlocked sim card slot as well, then that would be perfect.

[igorsk]

No WiFi. It will have an accelerometer, though.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by igorsk

No WiFi. It will have an accelerometer, though.

Given the new price point set with the KDX I anticipate we will see an overall lowering of prices soon. The Sony is already around $250 for the 505 and supports at least some DRM, does it seem as if the Pocketbook folks will be able to get to that magic sub-$200 price point this go'round? Not sure if you know but thought I would ask anyway. The xlation of the pages by Google is, well, not great. So, I never found any details about price other than early on in the thread. (over on the other site not here in this one.)

The one thing I wish one of these companies would do is find a way to add a crossword puzzle app, like the one used on the Nokia N8x0 systems, called Xword, that can read the AcrossLite format puzzles. I mention that because it's the one thing that seems to belong on a reader over something as trivial as Sudoku. That is not a deal breaker but the lack of it will always cause me to hesitate on any reader until one comes along that fills the obvious void. Funny how a silly bit of software can make a difference.

[Kris777]

I like that this unit has 5" screen

[brecklundin]

I definitely see the advantage. Given I read on the nx73v (mostly outside since it's transreflective) and the N800, a 5" display is like a big screen to my eyes. Now, about the whole contrast thing...here we can talk.

If it were up to me I would take a blow torch to my Kindle but as it's getting some use, it survives despite my most create thoughts for orchestrating it's demise.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by kacir

I WANT ONE.

[Kris777]

The bad thing that if something wrong with this unit it can be fixed or exchanged in Ukraine only... so it is pretty risky to buy it in case if you are outside of Ukraine or Russia because it will be no warranty