Earl: a 6" E-ink Android Tablet with Solar Panels and Radio - Page 6

AlbertaCowboy · 05-09-2014, 11:57 AM

New Update.
Looks like they're getting closer and closer!

http://www.meetearl.com/updates/

AlbertaCowboy · 07-02-2014, 12:26 PM

Another update.

http://www.meetearl.com/updates/

HarryT · 07-02-2014, 01:11 PM

By the sound of it, it's unlikely to be actually available before the end of the year.

AlbertaCowboy · 07-02-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

By the sound of it, it's unlikely to be actually available before the end of the year.

I doubt it will be. The original timeline was a pipe dream to begin with, and many of the components they counted on using had to be designed from scratch, which pushed their timeline even further away.
It'll come when it comes, though I was hoping to have it for hunting season this year.

Greg Anos · 07-02-2014, 06:51 PM

My money's sunk, and I will hold on as long as necessary. The gadget is too potentially useful not to. (I have 3 on order...)

tubemonkey · 07-03-2014, 02:49 AM

Isn't the processor getting a bit long in the tooth with these delays?

1.0GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM

tubemonkey · 07-03-2014, 02:54 AM

How does the GPS, compass and mapping in the Earl compare with a high end Garmin handheld?

HarryT · 07-03-2014, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Isn't the processor getting a bit long in the tooth with these delays?

1.0GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM

It's a better spec than many other devices. Eg the new Onyx T68 has the same CPU, and 512MB RAM.

Greg Anos · 07-03-2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

How does the GPS, compass and mapping in the Earl compare with a high end Garmin handheld?

Does Garmin have a built in solar recharger, or is water resistant to 2 meters for 30 minutes?

tubemonkey · 07-03-2014, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Does Garmin have a built in solar recharger, or is water resistant to 2 meters for 30 minutes?

Not on Thursdays.

DaleDe · 07-03-2014, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Isn't the processor getting a bit long in the tooth with these delays?

1.0GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM

Not for E Ink devices. The processor chosen has an E Ink controller built in. Long battery life with solar charging is a key feature of the device.

Dale

DaleDe · 07-03-2014, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

How does the GPS, compass and mapping in the Earl compare with a high end Garmin handheld?

It depends on which Garmin you are talking about. This is intended as a hiking/camping device. It has topo maps built in 100K for free and 24K available with the addition of an SD card preloaded with the maps. Garmin makes trail models and are a direct competitor but this device is not using road highway maps out of the box. Of course the hardware is available to the unlocked Android 4.4 OS so any Android apps should also work and may of them have road maps. It is intended to be open with full tablet capability except it has an E Ink screen for long battery life which means it is not a color display. It will be quite usable as an eBook reader.

It has a page in our wiki.

Dale

tubemonkey · 07-03-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Not for E Ink devices. The processor chosen has an E Ink controller built in. Long battery life with solar charging is a key feature of the device.

Dale

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

It depends on which Garmin you are talking about. This is intended as a hiking/camping device. It has topo maps built in 100K for free and 24K available with the addition of an SD card preloaded with the maps. Garmin makes trail models and are a direct competitor but this device is not using road highway maps out of the box. Of course the hardware is available to the unlocked Android 4.4 OS so any Android apps should also work and may of them have road maps. It is intended to be open with full tablet capability except it has an E Ink screen for long battery life which means it is not a color display. It will be quite usable as an eBook reader.

It has a page in our wiki.

Dale

Thanks for the info. I'm intrigued by this tablet; especially for its navigational features and the ability to carry tide tables, field guides, survival manuals, etc. Since it's Android, I'd be interested to see how well it works with Google Maps, Sky Map, and geocaching apps. I'll check the wiki out; thanks again.

AlbertaCowboy · 07-04-2014, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

My money's sunk, and I will hold on as long as necessary. The gadget is too potentially useful not to. (I have 3 on order...)

I agree. I've been fascinated by the project since before the crowdfunding even completed. I've got two on order, and will hold out as long as I have to. Plus the 30% discount in perpetuity for original backers should come in handy down the road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Thanks for the info. I'm intrigued by this tablet; especially for its navigational features and the ability to carry tide tables, field guides, survival manuals, etc. Since it's Android, I'd be interested to see how well it works with Google Maps, Sky Map, and geocaching apps. I'll check the wiki out; thanks again.

I wanted the EARL originally mostly for GPS usage while hunting. Since I backed the project, I've been keeping a very close eye on the development, and have really liked the direction the team took. Not only do I plan on using EARL for GPS, sunrise/sunset tables and radio, but I have a feeling that it may become my primary eReader as well. I know the delays are getting tough to swallow, (over a year now), but I am even more excited about the device now than I was when I originally backed the project.

Barcey · 07-04-2014, 01:04 PM

Hmmm I'm interested in this for kayaking but it doesn't look like there's a BlueChart app for Android. I'll have to do some research on comparable apps.

07-03-2014, 02:49 AM	#81
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Isn't the processor getting a bit long in the tooth with these delays? 1.0GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 and 1GB of RAM

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05-09-2014, 11:57 AM	#76
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	New Update. Looks like they're getting closer and closer! http://www.meetearl.com/updates/

07-02-2014, 12:26 PM	#77
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	Another update. http://www.meetearl.com/updates/

07-02-2014, 01:11 PM	#78
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	By the sound of it, it's unlikely to be actually available before the end of the year.

07-02-2014, 06:51 PM	#80
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,506 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	My money's sunk, and I will hold on as long as necessary. The gadget is too potentially useful not to. (I have 3 on order...)

07-03-2014, 02:54 AM	#82
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	How does the GPS, compass and mapping in the Earl compare with a high end Garmin handheld?

07-04-2014, 01:04 PM	#90
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	Hmmm I'm interested in this for kayaking but it doesn't look like there's a BlueChart app for Android. I'll have to do some research on comparable apps.