Gen3 New Firmware build 796 available for CyBook Gen3

[DDHarriman]

Ha… ha…

Bookeen do not even do marketing for the new things in the reader:

1 - 400 Mhz processor and one would have to discover it by chance - hell their website still shows it on having just 200 Mhz (http://www.bookeen.com/shop/productd...?ProductID=417)

2 - firmware version 802 shipping but online there is just version 796 for us to get (and this one is from the 5th of September, more then 4 months ago!).

What a joke.

[Over]

I don't see what will be the real advantage of doubling the CPU speed. But I can see a disadvantage: higher battery drain.

Or am I missing something?

[tompe]

Version 802 does not show the CPU. Version 820 seems to do it.

[ErwinOtten]

Originally Posted by Over

I don't see what will be the real advantage of doubling the CPU speed. But I can see a disadvantage: higher battery drain.

Or am I missing something?

Faster look-up time during dictionary-support.

[Pulp]

And faster startup I'm afraid...

[DDHarriman]

I can imagine, faster:

1 – turning pages;
2 – showing of PDF files;
3 – reflowing of PDF files (one can dream, can he not);
4 – all the general purpose functions of the reader… same speed processor of the Prs 700 (if I’m not mistaken), and we can also enjoy the increment in speed the 700’s users are so much enjoying now.

One o the side effects can be more battery use… but… well… lets see what the forthcoming firmware (they have said it was for January!!!!) will bring.

[Over]

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

I can imagine, faster:

1 – turning pages;
2 – showing of PDF files;
3 – reflowing of PDF files (one can dream, can he not);
4 – all the general purpose functions of the reader… same speed processor of the Prs 700 (if I’m not mistaken), and we can also enjoy the increment in speed the 700’s users are so much enjoying now.

One o the side effects can be more battery use… but… well… lets see what the forthcoming firmware (they have said it was for January!!!!) will bring.

It would be interesting if someone could do a small test about battery life in the 820 version. Because if it's significative, I don't really see any advantages in:

1- Page turn. It's already faster than turning a real pbook page. Faster is better, but if it drains more battery life, I think not.
2- That's true, but... We know that the problem with PDFs isn't the speed. I quit trying to use PDFs with it. The ones it displays well, the text is so small and it forces me to make 3 or more page turnos for each page of the document... But for those who endure those hardships, I guess more speed is welcome and even worth some extra battery drain.
3- This is still fiction :P
4- The same as in 1.

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

1 - 400 Mhz processor and one would have to discover it by chance - hell their website still shows it on having just 200 Mhz (http://www.bookeen.com/shop/productd...?ProductID=417)

2 - firmware version 802 shipping but online there is just version 796 for us to get (and this one is from the 5th of September, more then 4 months ago!).

So, lets see, now there are three different hardware-models out there: The original one with 200 MHz and 64 MB memory, the second version with 200 MHz and 512 MB memory and now a third version with 400 MHz and 512 MB memory?

This makes me doubt that there will be much support for at least the original system, as I seem to recall there being some talk about differences in firmware programming even between the first two models, so I imagine it would only be worse for the third model. And, although 796 is pretty good, I'd like to get some further improvements. It would be nice to have some official statement on this- does anyone have good contacts to Bookeen and would be willing to ask them?

But, on the other hand, in my eyes Bookeen has done a pretty decent job on the firmware updates, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by Over

2- That's true, but... We know that the problem with PDFs isn't the speed. I quit trying to use PDFs with it. The ones it displays well, the text is so small and it forces me to make 3 or more page turnos for each page of the document... But for those who endure those hardships, I guess more speed is welcome and even worth some extra battery drain.

It's pretty nice when reading in landscape mode. I've read quite a few PDFs over the last two months and I can only say that PDF zoom makes all the difference in the world.

[Ned]

Originally Posted by Manichean

So, lets see, now there are three different hardware-models out there: The original one with 200 MHz and 64 MB memory, the second version with 200 MHz and 512 MB memory and now a third version with 400 MHz and 512 MB memory?

Since you can't see the processor model with any of the previous firmware, how do we know the original ones actually came out with a 200MHz processor? Or they may have introduced the 400 processor with the 512MB of memory.

[Pulp]

I'm so hoping you are right

[DDHarriman]

"Since you can't see the processor model with any of the previous firmware, how do we know the original ones actually came out with a 200MHz processor? Or they may have introduced the 400 processor with the 512MB of memory."

Good question!...

[Manichean]

Originally Posted by Ned

Since you can't see the processor model with any of the previous firmware, how do we know the original ones actually came out with a 200MHz processor? Or they may have introduced the 400 processor with the 512MB of memory.

I agree on the second part, the 512 MB models could very well have the 400 MHz processor. But the specs stated (and still do) that they use a 200 MHz processor, and I see no reason why they would downplay the specs. But, as you said, there's no way to be sure.

As an afterthought: maybe the OpenInkpot guys know some details?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Manichean

I agree on the second part, the 512 MB models could very well have the 400 MHz processor. But the specs stated (and still do) that they use a 200 MHz processor, and I see no reason why they would downplay the specs. But, as you said, there's no way to be sure.

As an afterthought: maybe the OpenInkpot guys know some details?

Maybe it is clocked at 200MHz but it is a 400MHz processor.

[Ned]

Originally Posted by tompe

Maybe it is clocked at 200MHz but it is a 400MHz processor.

Now there's an idea. How to overclock a Cybook!!