Cybook Gen3: I have seen the 1.00 firmware!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Bookeen has indicated in another topic that this is a high priority fix for them. I believe they only need to sync the time to get it to work properly.

Dale

That, however, would presumably involve writing some syncing software that runs on the PC end of the connection, and that then opens the whole "can of worms" about which operating systems are supported, etc.

[jbenny]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That, however, would presumably involve writing some syncing software that runs on the PC end of the connection, and that then opens the whole "can of worms" about which operating systems are supported, etc.

Just thinking out loud...

Being a Linux device, the Cybook could load a driver that uses its own USB port as a NIC. Could it then sync the time directly via NTP, using the attached computer's internet connection? Is this possible without needing to load software on the host computer?

If this is not possible, then the Cybook could still use NTP to sync with the host computer. Linux (and I think Mac) already come with NTP server software (it may need to be enabled). For Windows, there are several free NTP server packages and at least one Open Source one that I know of.

Of course, the easy, low-tech way is to allow the user to manually set the time on the Cybook. Depending on how bad the internal clock is, this may be enough for most users. I'd prefer some form of time syncing, myself.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by jbenny

Just thinking out loud...

Being a Linux device, the Cybook could load a driver that uses its own USB port as a NIC. Could it then sync the time directly via NTP, using the attached computer's internet connection? Is this possible without needing to load software on the host computer?

If this is not possible, then the Cybook could still use NTP to sync with the host computer. Linux (and I think Mac) already come with NTP server software (it may need to be enabled). For Windows, there are several free NTP server packages and at least one Open Source one that I know of.

Of course, the easy, low-tech way is to allow the user to manually set the time on the Cybook. Depending on how bad the internal clock is, this may be enough for most users. I'd prefer some form of time syncing, myself.

I don't think most systems would proxy between USB and Ethernet without some alteration. Being able to set the system time directly for the purposes of determining the expiration of your license for a DRM-ed book may not be in keeping with Mobipocket's requirements.

[JSWolf]

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

Does Sony's DRM have a time component like these particular Mobipocket books have? These are library books that expire in a number of weeks.

[Ortep]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

The problem would be of course that you can import the 'timed' DRM books that are valid until, lets say Dec 31st 2007. And then set the date on Jan 1st 1950. That will give you time to read them. I don't care, but I think some people or organizations will object

[astra]

Originally Posted by Ortep

The problem would be of course that you can import the 'timed' DRM books that are valid until, lets say Dec 31st 2007.

Who would pay for such service?

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

Who would pay for such service?

I think most of these are actually from our public libraries through services like Overdrive. So we're not paying anything. It's free (unless you count our tax dollars).

[astra]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I think most of these are actually from our public libraries through services like Overdrive. So we're not paying anything. It's free (unless you count our tax dollars).

Oh, I see. Nice feature then. I have heard that we have some sort of virtual libraries here as well. My colleague's wife is reading books in their 37" plasma. He told me she borrows the books from our library for a certain period of time. However she pays for it...

[Alisa]

We have three virtual libraries in my local public library service: NetLibrary, Overdrive and Safari. Sadly Overdrive is the only one that supports downloading to mobile devices. The others have to be read online. Luckily all of them are free, though.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Of course, what bookeen could do is what Sony has done with the 505...

What Sony has done is put in a menu option for setting the date and time so it is correct. That then would solve the problem of what OS it is using.

The trouble is, though, that unlike the Sony, one normally switches off the Gen3 at the end of a reading session. Unless it has some sort of battery-powered real-time clock which runs even when the machine is switched off, you'd then have to set the date and time every time you switched the machine on, which wouldn't be very practical.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Alisa

We have three virtual libraries in my local public library service: NetLibrary, Overdrive and Safari. Sadly Overdrive is the only one that supports downloading to mobile devices. The others have to be read online. Luckily all of them are free, though.

Overdrive is a company that provides software to libraries, not a library themselves. Normally a traditional library is where the books are really checked out and you normally need a local library card to perform the checkout. Yes, like all libraries books these are paid for with tax dollars. For example the Boston Public Libary used Overdrive software to manage their book checkouts.

Dale

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Overdrive is a company that provides software to libraries, not a library themselves. Normally a traditional library is where the books are really checked out and you normally need a local library card to perform the checkout. Yes, like all libraries books these are paid for with tax dollars. For example the Boston Public Libary used Overdrive software to manage their book checkouts.

Dale

All I know is that my library calls it the Overdrive Digital Library and I check out online and download books. I use my library card number and my PIN as a login and password. The site has Overdrive branding all over it.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Alisa

The others have to be read online.

I forgot about this detail. You can only online in the library I was talking about.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

I forgot about this detail. You can only online in the library I was talking about.

Ah, you go into your local library and then access the data from the Overdrive software. That is certainly one way to do it. Do you have to bring your device in to do the checkout? How is that performed?

Most sites in the US have a web presence so you don't have to visit the physical library site and can use them 24 hours a day but they still require a local library card since the tax dollars used to populate the library come from local funds. Some school and college libraries have a similar system using student id's. There are a few exceptions such as the Virginia University library but that site has restricted access to some of the resources and a free download for others.

Dale