Onyx Boox M96

[por]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

Guys, today I have uploaded an update file to our server. You can install it to your M96 directly using OTA feature of M96:

1. create an empty file in the root folder of your M96 and name it ota_stg (also just for this one time)
2. Change your language settings to English (just for this one time) and turn Wifi ON (I hope you have Wifi connection nearby)
3. go to settings->about ->other system update -> check from cloud (there should be a new version)
4.Start download and update.

Neo PDF Reader is already included. Scribbling works just fine


Another very important (but hidden) feature - long press on home (menu actually) button force refresh of the page. In some situation you will get lots of artefacts (darker backgroudn of third party apps). Using this feature you can easily make screen readable again

You mean to place an empty folder named ota_stg in the root? Still doesn't work though (says "no update package available").

[2holdon]

Originally Posted by por

It's just like an android phone or tablet, they can't be operated without using the touch screen either.

I don't think this is a valid comparison.

Anyhow, I feel it is necessary pointing this out because
a) the provided pen of the M96 is of lousy quality, has sharp edges and is tiny.
b) the provided pen can get lost easily as there is no place to store it safely within the device.
c) a five way button may support the notion that it could be used to navigate. This is not possible.

[por]

Originally Posted by 2holdon

I don't think this is a valid comparison.

Anyhow, I feel it is necessary pointing this out because
a) the provided pen of the M96 is of lousy quality, has sharp edges and is tiny.
b) the provided pen can get lost easily as there is no place to store it safely within the device.
c) a five way button may support the notion that it could be used to navigate. This is not possible.

You have a point there. I also think it should be possible to navigate using the joy stick. But maybe there are some more important things to be addressed first.

[talizh]

Thanks for all the information about the M96's performance everyone! Has anyone tried the apps RepliGo Reader or ezPDF Reader on this device yet. I am curious how they perform, especially in reflow mode.

[outremer]

Hi, I read the a2 mode is pretty much useless. I would have expected something at least as good as the no refresh apk on the rooted nook. Is the a2 mode not pretty much the same thing, just black and white and no refresh at all ? Also, is it possible to zoom pages (browsers, pdf reader etc) by pinching the Screen(multitouch)? Thank you again guys!

[CampGareth]

Originally Posted by outremer

Hi, I read the a2 mode is pretty much useless. I would have expected something at least as good as the no refresh apk on the rooted nook. Is the a2 mode not pretty much the same thing, just black and white and no refresh at all ? Also, is it possible to zoom pages (browsers, pdf reader etc) by pinching the Screen(multitouch)? Thank you again guys!

A2 has two modes, one is full greyscale and never refresh, the other is black and white only. So, one is the same as that app you mention, the other is maximum speed mode. No zooming like that because no multitouch, it's pen input and therefore only one press at a time.

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by por

You mean to place an empty folder named ota_stg in the root? Still doesn't work though (says "no update package available").

You have to create a new file (not folder).
E.g. create a new txt file on your PC (New Text Document.txt). Rename it to ota_stg (without file extension). Copy that file in your M96 (root folder) like in attached screen shot

Afterwards just do like in my description above.

[2holdon]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

You have to create a new file (not folder).
E.g. create a new txt file on your PC (New Text Document.txt). Rename it to ota_stg (without file extension). Copy that file in your M96 (root folder) like in attached screen shot

Afterwards just do like in my description above.

I did EXACTLY that.

Last time I checked (about an hour ago) no update was found.

[2holdon]

Originally Posted by outremer

Hi, I read the a2 mode is pretty much useless. I would have expected something at least as good as the no refresh apk on the rooted nook. Is the a2 mode not pretty much the same thing, just black and white and no refresh at all ? Also, is it possible to zoom pages (browsers, pdf reader etc) by pinching the Screen(multitouch)? Thank you again guys!

Just like CampGareth wrote there is no "pinching the screen" or "multitouch". Only the tiny stylo (not sure if other models will work) can be used to interact on the screen. A double click to zoom will not work in the pdf reader. However, it sometimes works in the browser.

The A2 mode on the M96 is useless in most regards. Only when you use a really big font the text stays readable. But why would you do that on a 9.7" reader?
I personally am under the impression that the A2 mode really only works on HD displays. M96 does -unfortunately- not fall into that category (see my pictures in one of the previous posts).

I have to add that I don't feel the A2 is needed that much. Given the bad quality it simply is not an option, but I don't feel that I would need it.
In pdf mode you can tell the reader to refresh at an intervall of 3, 5, 7 pages or never. A manual refresh, as pointed out by Booxtor, can be achieved by keeping the "Homebutton" (which really is a menu button and does not get you to "home") pressed.

[2holdon]

Another point on the handling in pdf mode.

The M96 allows you to manually crop to the exact area of the text. This allows to get rid of any margin and get the biggest possible font size of an article. A great functionality.

However, once you start to change to the next page it gets messy.
I am being shown the bottom margin and some of the bottom text as next page. The following page (i.e. two page clicks) is then really the next page with the area cropped out.

But occasionally this does not work and you have to readjust the cropping. This is frustrating. A few more options would have been nice.

Referring to the Play Store partially helps but remember that those Apps are usually build for different screens so unexpected behavior may render seemingly good apps useless. E.g. it happens, that you get a completely black screen. Your only way out is to exit the app or even turn off the device if you feel completely lost (remember the home button does not get you to home...).

I see potential but at this stage this is more a prototype than anything to be sold at 300+ Euro.

[por]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

You have to create a new file (not folder).
E.g. create a new txt file on your PC (New Text Document.txt). Rename it to ota_stg (without file extension). Copy that file in your M96 (root folder) like in attached screen shot

Afterwards just do like in my description above.

Thx for trying booxtor, but I still can't get it to update. I created a txt file and renamed it to ota_stg replacing the file name together with the extension, this file I then copied to the root. It still says no package available . Maybe you could try to upload the update file somewhere so that we could try to update from local starage,

[por]

@2holdon:
Onyx and Booxtor are trying to provide something that companies with much more resources (like Amazon, Apple, sony etc.) refuse to provide or provide at a prohibitory price (like the digital paper product from Sony). I think that a good e-ink device on which you can annotate PDFs and take notes would have great commercial success (mainly because it is much more easy on the eyes than conventional tables). For years Booxtor and Onyx are trying to create such a device. The M92 almost became this device, however it exhibited some quite nasty bugs. E.g. the pen stopping to function if left near the screen (because of some power management issue) and annotations containing straight lines not being merged correctly to PDFs. I believe that the power management issue is resolved with the M96 and as for the merging bug, we have to see what happens with this neo PDF reader Booxtor is preparing.

If you want to have such a device, there really isn't much choice out there (within a reasonable price range).

[2holdon]

Originally Posted by por

[...] something companies with much more resources (like Amazon, Apple, sony etc.) refuse to provide or provide at a prohibitory price (like the digital paper product from Sony). I think that a good e-ink device on which you can annotate PDFs and take notes would have great commercial success (mainly because it is much more easy on the eyes than conventional tables).

I totally agree! I see so much potential and $$$ for a working e-ink product. It is incomprehensible to me why this niche is still not covered.

Originally Posted by por

If you want to have such a device, there really isn't much choice out there (within a reasonable price range).

I know. This is exactly the reason I tried the Onyx Boox M96!
Also, the Sony DPT1-S1 is not being sold openly. At least, I couldn't find a reasonable shop to order from.

However, I do oppose strongly that paying customers are used as beta testers.

If this product is not ready for end users ... well, be transparent about it! Let people know what they are getting themselves into.

Quite frankly I am more than willing to help! But I am not begging to be heard while at the same time paying big bucks for a maybe type of product.

[Neverm0re]

Hi all!

In the default (Neo PDF?) reader, besides scribbling, is it possible to underline and highlight text? Are those annotations properly saved in the pdf file?
Has anyone checked this (annotation support) in other reader apps?

@Booxtor
Can you use a third party stylus? If so, can you name some specific brands/models?

Is there any difference between the screen in the M92 and this one?

When will the white version be released?

[2holdon]

Originally Posted by Neverm0re

In the default (Neo PDF?) reader, besides scribbling, is it possible to underline and highlight text?

No, it is not.