Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only) - Page 187

griffonwing · 07-20-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicman

*snip*...

We have been working on a new website for the EZ Reader, so now you can download firmware from the brand new site here: http://www.theezreader.com/index.asp
Just click on "Support", then choose "Firmware download" from the drop-down menu.

...

I tried to order the Pocket Pro before griffonwing gets all the slate blue, but so far you can only buy the EZ-Reader.

Take a look - they have a 360 of the Pocket Pro

Yes, quite true, Musicman. You are lucky that I don't have unlimited funds, or you'd see slate blue readers on ebay, and at ungodly jack-up prices.

The new site does look good. I clicked the link above before reading the rest of the post and, yes, I tried clicking on Order Now, but saddly, the Pocket Pro was not an option.

I cried.

So here's a question for Robertb when he returns. Will the 'theezreader site run alongside the 'goezebook' site, where one sells the reader, one sells the books? Or will theezreader engulf goezebook?

6charlong · 07-20-2009, 11:05 AM

I was hoping RobertB was real and not virtual. I guess I was just confused that he sort of disappeared at the moment we needed information most... Or is that why he disappeared when he did?

About their site: on my Firefox I have to view the site in Full Screen to make it display correctly. But what bothers me is that in the Highlights section it says the Pocket Pro displays 16 gray-scales but under Specifications it lists only 8. I think this was discussed before but was it ever resolved? It seems to have something to do with which controller they're using.

So I'm hoping that when RobertB returns from RL maybe he will resolve this too.

slayda · 07-20-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

I was hoping RobertB was real and not virtual. I guess I was just confused that he sort of disappeared at the moment we needed information most... Or is that why he disappeared when he did?

About their site: on my Firefox I have to view the site in Full Screen to make it display correctly. But what bothers me is that in the Highlights section it says the Pocket Pro displays 16 gray-scales but under Specifications it lists only 8. I think this was discussed before but was it ever resolved? It seems to have something to do with which controller they're using.

So I'm hoping that when RobertB returns from RL maybe he will resolve this too.

I have a feeling that RobertB's disappearance was ordered from above and he'll reappear when the Pocket Pro appears.

wallcraft · 07-20-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6charlong

But what bothers me is that in the Highlights section it says the Pocket Pro displays 16 gray-scales but under Specifications it lists only 8. I think this was discussed before but was it ever resolved? It seems to have something to do with which controller they're using.

I have sent e-mail to Astak pointing out this inconsistency. The Epson Broadsheet controller can handle 16 gray scales (e.g. on the Kindle 2), but it is reasonable for a low-cost device to use 8 gray levels instead and that is what all the Hanlin V5 specs say. So I think the 16 levels is a typo.

griffonwing · 07-20-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I have sent e-mail to Astak pointing out this inconsistency. The Epson Broadsheet controller can handle 16 gray scales (e.g. on the Kindle 2), but it is reasonable for a low-cost device to use 8 gray levels instead and that is what all the Hanlin V5 specs say. So I think the 16 levels is a typo.

It would be nice if this were another updated feature of the pocket pro.

After all, the ability to support a 16gb sd card actually stunned me. esp when many of the newer ones will barely support 4. (they may read an 8gb, but only officially support 4).

Musicman · 07-20-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

So here's a question for Robertb when he returns. Will the 'theezreader site run alongside the 'goezebook' site, where one sells the reader, one sells the books? Or will theezreader engulf goezebook?

I suspect that there will be two sites - one for books and one for the sale and support of the EZ-Reader/Pocketpro - Since I seem to recall one of Robertb's lasts posts was he was working on two websites....

wallcraft · 07-20-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

It would be nice if this were another updated feature of the pocket pro.

After all, the ability to support a 16gb sd card actually stunned me. esp when many of the newer ones will barely support 4. (they may read an 8gb, but only officially support 4).

The Epson with 8 gray levels is a significant upgrade over the V3's Apollo controller with 4 gray levels. I'm not sure if anyone has done a study of 8 vs 16 gray levels, although More display issues on the DR illustrates that 8 gray scales with dithering (on the Sony PRS-505) is about as good as 16 gray scales without dithering (the FBReader case) and also that bad dithering can make things worse.

The SDHC support is presumably from a more recent Linux Kernel than on the V3. If a device can read 8GB cards then it is already running a SDHC driver, but perhaps a flaky one.

AJ Starr · 07-21-2009, 10:37 AM

Just popped into the new site again, and they've been working on it. All references to the Pocket Pro, with the exception of the Home Page picture, are gone. The ordering page did not pull up like it did before, and the other pages have been changed.

Hurry up Robert, we're waiting!

Teyrnon · 07-21-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

Just popped into the new site again, and they've been working on it. All references to the Pocket Pro, with the exception of the Home Page picture, are gone. The ordering page did not pull up like it did before, and the other pages have been changed.

Hurry up Robert, we're waiting!

Actually there are two sets of pages there. One set has plenty of references to the Pocket Pro. The other, which clicking "Buy Now" brings you to has all the same navigation labels but brings you to different pages than what you get on the top level site. That set of pages is what you're describing above.

In other words the site is a bit of a mess. If they're trying to confuse us they seem to be on the right track.

Stensie4JC · 07-21-2009, 01:02 PM

It's clear to me that they're still building the website, I'm just confused why they would put it up for us to see when it's not finished. I'd guess it's a way of showing, in the absence of Robert, that they are still making progress. It's when nothing is happening we should really get worried.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

I have a feeling that RobertB's disappearance was ordered from above and he'll reappear when the Pocket Pro appears.

That is what I had assumed. Perhaps he said too much, or some details were in doubt so they wanted to clam up for a while while everything was finalized. Last we heard was talks with China. Nothing is done until it's done, there. That's probably why they're taking their time on the website. If they had the deal finalized they could slap together a website a lot faster.

I'd bet good money RobertB is not really "gone" anyway. After months invested in telling us about this product and creating an expectant audience, I doubt he'd just walk away. I'm sure he checks in and ghostreads this thread every so often so he'll have an idea of the overall tenor of the conversation.

RobertB is like Gandalf. He falls into the abyss just when we need him, and we wander around confused for a bit, but I agree with Slayda, he'll be back at the turn of the tide.

Oh dear, that was nerdy. I think I am in reading withdrawal.

griffonwing · 07-21-2009, 01:13 PM

Maybe Robertb joined the group in the China talks, and decided to sneak out and join an illegal Kumite fighting bout. I bet he got quite far but was outmatched in the final battle and now lies in a dark alley with broken bones somewhere.

Oh, poor bob.

AJ Starr · 07-21-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teyrnon

Actually there are two sets of pages there. One set has plenty of references to the Pocket Pro. The other, which clicking "Buy Now" brings you to has all the same navigation labels but brings you to different pages than what you get on the top level site. That set of pages is what you're describing above.

In other words the site is a bit of a mess. If they're trying to confuse us they seem to be on the right track.

You're right. I went back, and on the main pages you get the Pocket pro. But I had gone to the Support page to check the FAQ's and when I navigated back, I got the pages with only the EZ Reader info.

FYI I was checking the FAQ because they have two pairs of questions where they switched the answers with each other. I was checking to see if they fixed it yet. But no, they haven't.

AJ Starr · 07-21-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stensie4JC

It's clear to me that they're still building the website, I'm just confused why they would put it up for us to see when it's not finished.

The site slipped out because someone asked for Tech support, and the tech supports people directed him to this new site for the downloads. And, of course, he kept up informed of the excellent customer support from Astak.

Now we all know about the site.

bjmoslener · 07-21-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

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.

I''ve not been able to find much info about Astak's Mentor - can you advise when they will be available and who will be selling them? Thanks.

emellaich · 07-21-2009, 11:54 PM

I have it on good authority that he is alive. I understand that he heard something about the color plans coming out of discussions in China. My source overheard him muttering: 'how could they pull the slate blue'. The he said something about: 'walking the d*mn plank'. He also seemed to be stuttering something about a parrot pecking his eyes out.

He was last seen in a nondescript rental car heading for the hills and as far away from the sea as possible. I wonder if anyone ever told him that there are inland pirates in them thar hills of Arkansas -- probably about 100 miles northwest of Toad Suck.

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07-20-2009, 11:05 AM	#2792
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	I was hoping RobertB was real and not virtual. I guess I was just confused that he sort of disappeared at the moment we needed information most... Or is that why he disappeared when he did? About their site: on my Firefox I have to view the site in Full Screen to make it display correctly. But what bothers me is that in the Highlights section it says the Pocket Pro displays 16 gray-scales but under Specifications it lists only 8. I think this was discussed before but was it ever resolved? It seems to have something to do with which controller they're using. So I'm hoping that when RobertB returns from RL maybe he will resolve this too.

07-21-2009, 10:37 AM	#2798
AJ Starr Guru Posts: 815 Karma: 1029784 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nebraska, USA Device: PEZ, Color Libre, 2@Sony T1, Onyx i62HD	Just popped into the new site again, and they've been working on it. All references to the Pocket Pro, with the exception of the Home Page picture, are gone. The ordering page did not pull up like it did before, and the other pages have been changed. Hurry up Robert, we're waiting!

07-21-2009, 01:13 PM	#2801
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	Maybe Robertb joined the group in the China talks, and decided to sneak out and join an illegal Kumite fighting bout. I bet he got quite far but was outmatched in the final battle and now lies in a dark alley with broken bones somewhere. Oh, poor bob.

07-21-2009, 11:54 PM	#2805
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I have it on good authority that he is alive. I understand that he heard something about the color plans coming out of discussions in China. My source overheard him muttering: 'how could they pull the slate blue'. The he said something about: 'walking the d*mn plank'. He also seemed to be stuttering something about a parrot pecking his eyes out. He was last seen in a nondescript rental car heading for the hills and as far away from the sea as possible. I wonder if anyone ever told him that there are inland pirates in them thar hills of Arkansas -- probably about 100 miles northwest of Toad Suck.