New 13.3" Onyx Boox. Rumours, prototype specs, first pictures

[skobie78]

@Wong

I ran the USB Host Diagnostics app. I wasn't running as root. I was using a cheap OTG cable with a USB key. I haven't tried on any other device, so I can't confirm that the OTG cable actually works. Anyway my results were:

Build ID: 2016-04-27_16-24_dev_586b734

Android API:
Claims support: Yes
Classes found: Yes
Device detected: No

Rooted API:
Claims support: No
Device detected: N/A

Kernel:
Claims support: Yes
Device detected: No

Verdict:
OS support: No
3rd party apps: No

I don't know where you go from here.

I'm happy running my Logitech K480 Bluetooth keyboard anyway. I used it to type for about 4 hours a few days ago, all working fine, and the Android shortcut keys on it are fairly useful.

[xtech]

Originally Posted by skobie78

I'm happy running my Logitech K480 Bluetooth keyboard anyway. I used it to type for about 4 hours a few days ago, all working fine, and the Android shortcut keys on it are fairly useful.

Could you check the level of the usage of the battery, when you use the bluetooth keyboard? I hope the battery should not be charged anew after five hour's use of the bluetooth keyboard.

[desk7]

I noticed that the annotations, that I added to pdf documents with the built-in reader app, are not saved into the pdf. So, when I transfer pdf documents to my PC, there are no annotations. I'd like to use the built-in app because it perfectly recognizes pen and its buttons.
Solutions?

PS I discovered that the lower button enables annotation mode

[Wong McGregor]

Originally Posted by skobie78

@Wong

I ran the USB Host Diagnostics app. I wasn't running as root. I was using a cheap OTG cable with a USB key. I haven't tried on any other device, so I can't confirm that the OTG cable actually works. Anyway my results were:

Build ID: 2016-04-27_16-24_dev_586b734

Android API:
Claims support: Yes
Classes found: Yes
Device detected: No

Rooted API:
Claims support: No
Device detected: N/A

Kernel:
Claims support: Yes
Device detected: No

Verdict:
OS support: No
3rd party apps: No

I don't know where you go from here.

Thanks. I haven't used this software myself and so am likewise unsure how to interpret the results. I had a look at the developer's forum:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1493325

It's also rather cryptic. The results don't look uniformly bad. I presume the verdict is just a result of the more detailed categories above it. It may be a problem with the device or the cable. I guess a standard USB HID keyboard would be the least demanding device to try. I dare say others will also post and we can try to get a feel for what is going on.

[joblack]

Originally Posted by Wong McGregor

Thanks for the quick response. I was rather surprized (admittedly pleasantly) at your initial response, particularly given Booxtor's remarks in the thread I linked to. I presume you've had to revise it and I'm not sure how to interpret your second sentence.

Booxter has written about a Keyboard app for the Onyx M96. I have not used that app.

I tried the USB keyboard and mouse with a hub on my Nexus 7. Works like a charm. I'll check out your advice later.

I haven't tried a Bluetooth keyboard but maybe they work more plug and play like.

[Wong McGregor]

Originally Posted by joblack

Booxter has written about a Keyboard app for the Onyx M96. I have not used that app.

Yes - I noticed that you had an M96. The app was External Keyboard Helper Pro in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=242238

I would have thought that its unlikely to be of any help without USB host mode support. In that thread, nobody was able to get a USB keyboard to work except Booxter. The firmware might have changed. We only seem to have firmware on the wiki back until about that time. If you happen to have some EARLY firmware for the M96 that could be very interesting. I haven't seen any anywhere.

I was going to post, in response to your last message, that is, before you revised it:

It might make sense to start posting copies of the firmware to the wiki, as started, alas, a bit to late with the M96, to avoid another debacle as occurred with it, when support for USB host mode was seemingly silently dropped from it.

Originally Posted by joblack

I tried the USB keyboard and mouse with a hub on my Nexus 7. Works like a charm. I'll check out your advice later.

That's because the Nexus 7 has USB host mode support, so it would make a good baseline. Eg.:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2094657

Originally Posted by joblack

I haven't tried Bluetooth keyboard but maybe they work more plug and play like.

That should work without any difficulties but as I and others (like Rizla) have argued in the thread I posted earlier (Nate's one), Bluetooth keyboards look to be a second best option.

Thanks for getting back to us. I look forward to further updates.

PS. I haven't been able to find any guide to interpreting the USB Host Diagnostics app results as much as there seem to be lots of people asking for one.

[rine111]

Originally Posted by iacchi

On the store website there is an update to Android 4.4 for all other Onyx devices, I'm pretty sure there will be one available soon for the Max as well.

My understanding is that Android 4.4 won't let you use an SD card unless you have rooted.
That seems to make 4.4 useless for the average user.

[Booxtor]

Concerning USB Host mode - it worked on some of my earlier samples of M96 and T68. However Onyx decided to disable it later since some connected devices caused problems with fast battery drain . Sometimes batteries were discharged lower than allowed LiPO batteries threshold voltage, which made it impossible to recharge them without some special tools. This obviously caused complains by users.

IMHO Bluetooth keyboards or gamepads /klicker are better alternative. Currently demand for USB host mode on Onyx devices is quite low. Until now I got probably not more than 3-5 requests for it. In case it will be really demanded I could ask for special series with enabled USB Host.


Concerning upgrade to Android 4.4 - official upgrade for Max is in the work and should be available soon. I am going to upload first beta release in ca. 2-3 weeks

[desk7]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

Concerning USB Host mode - it worked on some of my earlier samples of M96 and T68. However Onyx decided to disable it later since some connected devices caused problems with fast battery drain . Sometimes batteries were discharged lower than allowed LiPO batteries threshold voltage, which made it impossible to recharge them without some special tools. This obviously caused complains by users.

IMHO Bluetooth keyboards or gamepads /klicker are better alternative. Currently demand for USB host mode on Onyx devices is quite low. Until now I got probably not more than 3-5 requests for it. In case it will be really demanded I could ask for special series with enabled USB Host.


Concerning upgrade to Android 4.4 - official upgrade for Max is in the work and should be available soon. I am going to upload first beta release in ca. 2-3 weeks

Some days ago I asked Onyx Boox about upgrade to Android 4.4 for Onyx Boox Max.
Their answer was:""Dear User,

Thanks for your email and support of ONYX BOOX. we don't have plan to develop OS4.4, but we will release V1.7.5 in next week, welcome to visit our official website www.onyx-international.com

best regards
Onyx International Inc. "
So, will Onyx Boox Max be upgraded to Android 4.4 or not?
Thank you for the answer.

[xtech]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

IMHO Bluetooth keyboards or gamepads /klicker are better alternative. Currently demand for USB host mode on Onyx devices is quite low. Until now I got probably not more than 3-5 requests for it. In case it will be really demanded I could ask for special series with enabled USB Host.

Booxtor, thank you for your answers.

In relation to usb host: I thought that the keyboard, connected through the usb host, causes less drain than the bluetooth keyboard.

What is of some greater use: finger touch support.
Canl we expect it to be implemented in Onyx's firmware later (supplied then hrough wi-fi)? Or will it take to manufacture a different hardware?. If it's a matter of software only, it is very good. But if it will take some changes of the hardware, then perhaps some of us can wait until it is implemented, if it is not going to take too long.

Thank you for letting us know about android version, though I was also told by onyx international that they are not going to implement the version 4.4

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by xtech

Booxtor, thank you for your answers.

In relation to usb host: I thought that the keyboard, connected through the usb host, causes less drain than the bluetooth keyboard.

What is of some greater use: finger touch support.
Canl we expect it to be implemented in Onyx's firmware later (supplied then hrough wi-fi)? Or will it take to manufacture a different hardware?. If it's a matter of software only, it is very good. But if it will take some changes of the hardware, then perhaps some of us can wait until it is implemented, if it is not going to take too long.

Thank you for letting us know about android version, though I was also told by onyx international that they are not going to implement the version 4.4

For finger touch the screen must be equipped with additional hardware (capacitive layer). Those screens are not available at the moment. There was a batch , produced for Sony more than one year ago. At the moment PVI does not offer those screens to acceptable conditions.

Concerning 4.4 . I don't know , who from Onyx could tell you this . I am working close with dev. team toghether and they just confirmed me - upgrade to 4.4 for Max is on the task list.

[netgeo]

Hi Booxtor,

Any news on the 2nd shipment of the Max?

Thanks for your time and support!

[xtech]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

At the moment PVI does not offer those screens to acceptable conditions.

Thank you very much for this information. Actually due to the goodereader campaign, i thought it would not be difficult for Onyx to implement it soon, but now it appears from your words that the quality of the screen with finger touch control, produced at the moment, is worse than before and that for this reason Onyx is not planning to implement this technology in the nearest future. The finger touch is a determining factor for many, and i wonder how the goodereader solves that.

Concerning 4.4 . I don't know , who from Onyx could tell you this . I am working close with dev. team toghether and they just confirmed me - upgrade to 4.4 for Max is on the task list.

I received that reply very recently from the onyx international email. Perhaps the person responding is not very much in the know about the recent projects of the development team, with which you are keeping in touch.

[fgdas]

Originally Posted by xtech

The finger touch is a determining factor for many, and i wonder how the goodereader solves that.

Goodereader is just reselling finished product made by Netronix:
https://youtu.be/b-SnpwAsIYc

[joblack]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

Concerning USB Host mode - it worked on some of my earlier samples of M96 and T68. However Onyx decided to disable it later since some connected devices caused problems with fast battery drain . Sometimes batteries were discharged lower than allowed LiPO batteries threshold voltage, which made it impossible to recharge them without some special tools. This obviously caused complains by users.

IMHO Bluetooth keyboards or gamepads /klicker are better alternative. Currently demand for USB host mode on Onyx devices is quite low. Until now I got probably not more than 3-5 requests for it. In case it will be really demanded I could ask for special series with enabled USB Host.


Concerning upgrade to Android 4.4 - official upgrade for Max is in the work and should be available soon. I am going to upload first beta release in ca. 2-3 weeks

An optional USB mode would be desirable. At least as an optional settings for advanced users.

All Bluetooth keyboards seem to be too small or not really good.