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

[borax99]

Robert,

It was mentioned in this forum that you were looking at big box stores for distribution. ** Selfishly, I have to hope that you will make the 6-inch model available for online ordering, ** since I live in Canada and have no desire to depend on the tender mercies of Best Buy, Future Shop, Staples, etc.

... All this predicated on ereader support for me. I have a few Mobi titles stored on my tablet, even picked up the brand new James Bond book - and it won't @#$#$ justify for some reason ! (of course this title isn't available in ereader, so the point is partially moot - still I don't have much faith in the Mobipocket format)

In any case thanks for being so forthcoming, I am eagerly awaiting release date !

[soilwork]

Hi, Robert,

I have some questions and suggestions.

1.

Originally Posted by Robertb

We are linux-based with the Mentor/Litebook at present. We have had discussions with Microsoft that are still ongoing to improve this. Microsoft has not said "no" but they have not said "yes" either. We have visited them and will again.

So is it possible that Mentor/Litebook will be shipped with Linux? Or do you plan to reader two versions: one with WinCE or the other with Linux?

2. PDF support
2.1. Zoom
May I ask what will be the level of PDF support for 9.7 inch Mentor/Litebook? One essential feature for me (and for academic users, I believe) is zoom capability to remove margins of the documents. Maybe you guys can provide both 1) automatic and 2) manual zoom functionality.
1) In automatic zoom, Mentor/Litebook should be able to cut out white margins on the sides automatically. 2) In manual zoom, users should be able to specify what perceptage of (side) margins should be cutoff. Manual zoom will be necessary for reading academic journals since some of them have black border due to poor scan. For example, some articles from Proquest have this annoying problem. With such scans, I don't think automatic zoom will work properly.
2.2. Search, comment,...
Search within documents and commenting can be really helpful but less essential than Zoom function, I think.


3.
Do you plan to provide or sell rugged case for Mentor/Litebook? Since 9.7inch reader will have pretty big screen estate needs protecting, it will be helpful to have a rugged case to protect it. For example, if you guys can make/OEM/ODM and sell something like this,
http://www.ideastreamproducts.com/vaultz/VZ01274.html
I will pick up the case and reader at the same time.

[emellaich]

Robert,

I agree with Walk Broad. I am excited by your participation here, and excited by the things I hear you talking about. I am nervous that you may have a tough time delivering everything that you are working towards.

Three sizes, colors, wifi options, touchscreen options, two reader versions. a web browser, and more.

Furthermore, we have experience with vendors that push out a first gen device, and then aren't able to keep up the support. I'll almost guarantee that there will be compromises with the first generation unit. For example, I can think of one book reader that has a library that is hard to navigate if you have hundreds of books. Unfortunately, they are real slow on updates.

If your software engineers are worried about two reading apps, and a web app (and more), and they have to adapt to different physical interfaces (touchscreen versus buttons) then improvements will take forever.

I would rather see you push out a single, solid, but basic first gen device, and then see you improve that device steadily through software updates.

[moz]

Originally Posted by emellaich

For example, I can think of one book reader that has a library that is hard to navigate if you have hundreds of books.

By implication you can think of others without this defect. Can you suggest some? It doesn't seem to be covered in the various comparison charts.

[archerwoo]

if it could support PDF format, i would plan to buy one

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I, for one, do NOT want to be 'homed in on' just one source whenever I connect my ebook reader. I like being able to buy my ebooks via my PC and then transfer them across to the SD card or the Cybook Gen3.

However, much of your desires mirror mine.

I will note that at this time, installing a reader application on a Cybook or EB-100 is a matter of porting the software over and then running a firmware update. In the case of the EB-100, it has been demonstrated that, while identical in hardware and OS to the Cybook, installing each other's reader app across is a NON-trivial task. (Yes, one can install the reader software from the EB-100 on the Cybook, but why *would* one, as it leaves much to be desired. )

I think the basic idea of having OpenInkpot running (in a form of dual-boot mode) off an SD card with a reader of one's choice would be the best approach. Then, one could buy any such reader and leave the firmware contents alone - switching over to, say, FBReader via the use of OI and FBReader on a 2GB SD card for those books which aren't available in the device's native reader format.

Derek

Interesting... Booting OpenInkPot from the SD card sounds like a very good way to dual boot. I love how Rockbox works on my iRiver: you just need to press a button to launch the original firmware, otherwise, Rockbox is launched.

Concerning FBReader, for the moment every GUI component in OpenInkPot is pure X right ?
How do you plan on implementing the GUI for FBReader then ?

[Luigino]

Hello robertb,

As far as I am looking for the 6" inch non-WiFi model of the Mentor, and I live in Italy, will it be shipped in that country if ordered from there through Astak's website too?...
Plus, as some people said, I'd like also to know about PDF support and zooming like when using Acrobat PDF Reader on a PC...

Thanks a lot for being with us,
Ciao!
Luigi

[nekokami]

FBReader now supports ePub, so that would be a great option. Since it doesn't deal with DRM'd books, it shouldn't conflict with any other business commitments.

If you offer a version in Linux, I'd be very interested. I probably wouldn't buy a WinCE unit. If you provide and support an SDK for a Linux model, I think you'd have a horde of community developers willing and able to provide extensions, based on what's been happening with other vendors. Take a look in the iRex iLiad forum here, if you haven't yet.

[DaleDe]

RobertB,

One recommendation for eReader. The PML format does not have very much control over the paragraph display, hailing back to PalmDOC roots. It would be very useful to have a configuration option for users. The choice would be:
1. Paragraphs would be flush left with a blank line between them.
2. Paragraphs would be first line indented with no blank line (but perhaps a couple of pixels additional like Mobi does) between the paragraphs.

This would offer the user the option to display the eBooks the way they like and provides the ability to match a paper book if that is what the user wants to do. This is a vocal complaint of a few people in this group so providing the option would help everyone get what they want. There is nothing specific about formatting control embedded in the database so that an option is the preferred solution.

Dale

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Interesting... Booting OpenInkPot from the SD card sounds like a very good way to dual boot. I love how Rockbox works on my iRiver: you just need to press a button to launch the original firmware, otherwise, Rockbox is launched.

Concerning FBReader, for the moment every GUI component in OpenInkPot is pure X right ?
How do you plan on implementing the GUI for FBReader then ?

I would imagine nano-X or kserve? But then, I'm not a programmer...

derek

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by nekokami

If you offer a version in Linux, I'd be very interested. I probably wouldn't buy a WinCE unit. If you provide and support an SDK for a Linux model, I think you'd have a horde of community developers willing and able to provide extensions, based on what's been happening with other vendors. Take a look in the iRex iLiad forum here, if you haven't yet.

I agree - Give me a SDK and a linux-based machine and tell me what you want

In all sincerity: Linux tends to have a bigger community.
Pick for example myself: I for one would gladly provide to an eBook-Reader Community for a linux-based device but would hesitate to do so with a windows-based one. I just much prefer to work with or develop for Linux than for Windows for a variety of reasons, and I simply have more experience with Linux-development than with Windows...

[Nate the great]

Interesting. Tirsales, nekokami, I want a WinCE device for the exact same reasons you want Linux. I know how to work in Windows.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by soilwork

Hi, Robert,

I have some questions and suggestions.

1.

So is it possible that Mentor/Litebook will be shipped with Linux? Or do you plan to reader two versions: one with WinCE or the other with Linux?

2. PDF support
2.1. Zoom
May I ask what will be the level of PDF support for 9.7 inch Mentor/Litebook? One essential feature for me (and for academic users, I believe) is zoom capability to remove margins of the documents. Maybe you guys can provide both 1) automatic and 2) manual zoom functionality.
1) In automatic zoom, Mentor/Litebook should be able to cut out white margins on the sides automatically. 2) In manual zoom, users should be able to specify what perceptage of (side) margins should be cutoff. Manual zoom will be necessary for reading academic journals since some of them have black border due to poor scan. For example, some articles from Proquest have this annoying problem. With such scans, I don't think automatic zoom will work properly.
2.2. Search, comment,...
Search within documents and commenting can be really helpful but less essential than Zoom function, I think.


3.
Do you plan to provide or sell rugged case for Mentor/Litebook? Since 9.7inch reader will have pretty big screen estate needs protecting, it will be helpful to have a rugged case to protect it. For example, if you guys can make/OEM/ODM and sell something like this,
http://www.ideastreamproducts.com/vaultz/VZ01274.html
I will pick up the case and reader at the same time.

Dear Soilwork:

We have already seen leather cases for the 5 inch from the factory as an option so, yes, I do feel we will have good cases in all sizes. We expect they will ship with rudimentary "leather" cases. As an option, we MAY sell upgraded cases. We know the market is there but have little chance so far to work out those plans.

The zoom on the 9.7 is expected to be both manual and automatic. That is what the engineers are working on right now and that is what they say they can do.

Soilwork, the details like this ALL have to be worked out and we are still two months from launch on the 5 inch. We have so much to get done.

robertb

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by emellaich

Robert,

I agree with Walk Broad. I am excited by your participation here, and excited by the things I hear you talking about. I am nervous that you may have a tough time delivering everything that you are working towards.

Three sizes, colors, wifi options, touchscreen options, two reader versions. a web browser, and more.

Furthermore, we have experience with vendors that push out a first gen device, and then aren't able to keep up the support. I'll almost guarantee that there will be compromises with the first generation unit. For example, I can think of one book reader that has a library that is hard to navigate if you have hundreds of books. Unfortunately, they are real slow on updates.

If your software engineers are worried about two reading apps, and a web app (and more), and they have to adapt to different physical interfaces (touchscreen versus buttons) then improvements will take forever.

I would rather see you push out a single, solid, but basic first gen device, and then see you improve that device steadily through software updates.

Dear Emel:

Your input is well received.

Part of this partnership we have is the manufacturing might of Netronix. Netronix and Astak are cooperatively owned. They have the engineers and the manpower and the experience. You are right, we could never handle this ourselves and would go nuts.

They are planning the sizes and such of the eBook Readers and we are only changing them for the American market to a large degree. They have the three sizes already and now there is rumor (not substantiated yet) of an 8 inch size. That is why we are staggering the roll-outs and bringing out the basic 5 inch first. That is a lot easier to get exactly right and most of the changes are cosmetic and ergonomic.

I will write more byt am going out the door now to a meeting.

robertb

[soilwork]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Soilwork:

We have already seen leather cases for the 5 inch from the factory as an option so, yes, I do feel we will have good cases in all sizes. We expect they will ship with rudimentary "leather" cases. As an option, we MAY sell upgraded cases. We know the market is there but have little chance so far to work out those plans.

The zoom on the 9.7 is expected to be both manual and automatic. That is what the engineers are working on right now and that is what they say they can do.

Soilwork, the details like this ALL have to be worked out and we are still two months from launch on the 5 inch. We have so much to get done.

robertb

Hi, Robertb,
Thank you very much for your answer. Judging from the information so far, Mentor/Litebook will be an excellent device for academics users. I will be anxiously waiting for the product release.