onyx boox max carta

[rickyzhang]

Originally Posted by mdp

Ok, I'll give an example.

L: "I need to read PDF files, I'll trust the provided software, they must be the ones". Good for him.
M: "I need to read PDF files, I'll use Ivan Ivanenko's, I'm used to that". Good for him.

Scolio: "Ah, but on such a big screen I'd like to have double page"

M: "Ah, but ezPDF is also quite something, I can use that, nice".

Alternatives? Waiting for it to be implemented? Then waiting for it to be implemented the way you like it? Buy another product? Build your own? Do something else? Change plans - "uva nondum matura est"?

Is it Italian? Anyway, I got your point.

We have all seen such dilemma in real life. That's why open source software thrives on this. As my Github signature says "If you don't like it, fork it."

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by joblack

The 'review' from goodereader is completely biased. I suspect they wanted to promote they own 'great' 13.3 inch reader.

That's initially what I thought, but they did seem to be experiencing difficulties using the eraser function on their Max Carta so it seemed to be more than just offering subjective comments on a device.

My Max does not behave that way. Although the eraser is not terribly fast, it does function reliably for me. I have never had it erase something that I did not intend to erase and was not in close proximity to.

That's why I asked the question here, to see if the same experience shown on their video was common with Max Carta users. I wanted to know if this was a known problem with the Max Carta, if they had a faulty device or if they had somehow done something to their device to make it behave that way... Certainly, I would be very wary about forking over a significant sum of money for something that appeared to be that unreliable for what should be a basic function.

[Kumabjorn]

The eraser on my Carta works fine, not that I use it that often but it does work as expected.

[Heawe]

Can someone explain how to bookmark pages on the right upper corner with a pen?
It worked at the beginning, but now I can't get it anymore

[rickyzhang]

Originally Posted by Heawe

Can someone explain how to bookmark pages on the right upper corner with a pen?
It worked at the beginning, but now I can't get it anymore

Do you mean the system status bar block you to see/click the bookmark icon?

I found this problem in neo reader UI. You can make status bar disappear by enable and then disable status bar in the neo reader settings. It is a bug.

Of course, UI is not responsive. You need to be very patient to tap and then wait for at least 5 to 10 seconds. Just imagine you are controlling Mars Rover on earth. Your action and response are under high latency network

[desk7]

Originally Posted by rickyzhang

Do you mean the system status bar block you to see/click the bookmark icon?

I found this problem in neo reader UI. You can make status bar disappear by enable and then disable status bar in the neo reader settings. It is a bug.

Of course, UI is not responsive. You need to be very patient to tap and then wait for at least 5 to 10 seconds. Just imagine you are controlling Mars Rover on earth. Your action and response are under high latency network

Actually, I don't think you have to wait so much time. I notice that if you rapidly click with the pen and instantly move it away from the screen, the boox max doesn't notice the release of pen and waits for it.
If you click with the pen and then keep the pen tip near the screen, it correctly recognize press and release and is much more responsive, without over-clicking.

[rickyzhang]

Originally Posted by desk7

Actually, I don't think you have to wait so much time. I notice that if you rapidly click with the pen and instantly move it away from the screen, the boox max doesn't notice the release of pen and waits for it.
If you click with the pen and then keep the pen tip near the screen, it correctly recognize press and release and is much more responsive, without over-clicking.

In some app like Chinese reader App JD or Duokan app, the UI is not responsive. I have tried to be patient to wait or tap for a while as you suggest. But it works only 50% chance.

However, in some other App like ownCloud client, I don't see such issues. Neither do I see such issues in all BOOX native app.

I believe single core is the reason to blame. If App is resource hog like taking up too much CPU cycle, it won't have any CPU cycle left to UI.

TBH, I don't know how much and what optimization work BOOX has done on this customized Android.

It should be a crime that if they don't open source the code. They don't hire an army of programmers. But we have some many smart brains here in community. We may be able to help them.

[desk7]

Originally Posted by rickyzhang

In some app like Chinese reader App JD or Duokan app, the UI is not responsive. I have tried to be patient to wait or tap for a while as you suggest. But it works only 50% chance.

However, in some other App like ownCloud client, I don't see such issues. Neither do I see such issues in all BOOX native app.

I believe single core is the reason to blame. If App is resource hog like taking up too much CPU cycle, it won't have any CPU cycle left to UI.

TBH, I don't know how much and what optimization work BOOX has done on this customized Android.

It should be a crime that if they don't open source the code. They don't hire an army of programmers. But we have some many smart brains here in community. We may be able to help them.

I'm talking about stock apps and situations like this:
https://youtu.be/q_EpvhQppfk?t=464
As you can see, he clicks fast and the icon remains "pressed". If you keep the pen near the screen but not in contact with it after you have pressed, you will not have to click again as he does.

[rickyzhang]

Originally Posted by desk7

I'm talking about stock apps and situations like this:
https://youtu.be/q_EpvhQppfk?t=464
As you can see, he clicks fast and the icon remains "pressed". If you keep the pen near the screen but not in contact with it after you have pressed, you will not have to click again as he does.

I don't blame him on this. By 2017 tablet's standard or human nature, you'd expect your action on the UI has an immediate response.

The "pressed" UI is a square around App icon, which is OK but not quite obvious what that means to most Windows/Mac or even tablet users. The square is slow to show up and takes at least 500ms.

Because tablet has no mouse cursor. By convention, you'd expect App pops up or even show up a splash screen immediately. But none happens except a square.

This is back to my open source suggestion -- find a better UI for a slow e-ink device. e-ink display is slow but single core caused the problem much worse.

For things like this, I'd suggest either show a blank screen immediate or show empty icon with a blank square or even draw a small Window wait cursor.

The goal is to let user know immediately that UI receives your action. Most of time you really don't know if stylus action is accepted or not.

BOOX UI sucks, too. In Notes app, who the hell know the T-Shirt icon represent background. I'm a native Chinese speaker. I don't even know how the heck is related.

[Kumabjorn]

This is a common problem with Japanese developers as well, they are not aware that there are established standards nor do they see the benefit of those since they seldom use the same products we use in the West. Making a cute UI then becomes a selling point.

[rickyzhang]

This comes back to usability problem. As mdp said, they don't have an army of developers. So you should lower your expectation.

I'm not sure how's the situation in Japan or in China. If they do have a good product manager who can tell the developers right at their face -- your design sucks, they should do something far more better than this.

Any sane person should have a common sense to know that's really wrong in their UI design and also usability problem.

[desk7]

Originally Posted by rickyzhang

I don't blame him on this. By 2017 tablet's standard or human nature, you'd expect your action on the UI has an immediate response.

The "pressed" UI is a square around App icon, which is OK but not quite obvious what that means to most Windows/Mac or even tablet users. The square is slow to show up and takes at least 500ms.

Because tablet has no mouse cursor. By convention, you'd expect App pops up or even show up a splash screen immediately. But none happens except a square.

This is back to my open source suggestion -- find a better UI for a slow e-ink device. e-ink display is slow but single core caused the problem much worse.

For things like this, I'd suggest either show a blank screen immediate or show empty icon with a blank square or even draw a small Window wait cursor.

The goal is to let user know immediately that UI receives your action. Most of time you really don't know if stylus action is accepted or not.

BOOX UI sucks, too. In Notes app, who the hell know the T-Shirt icon represent background. I'm a native Chinese speaker. I don't even know how the heck is related.

I do not blame him on this. I only find a workaround for a lack of the UI, which needs a lot of improvements, and I use the video as example

[Heawe]

Originally Posted by rickyzhang

Do you mean the system status bar block you to see/click the bookmark icon?

I found this problem in neo reader UI. You can make status bar disappear by enable and then disable status bar in the neo reader settings. It is a bug.

Of course, UI is not responsive. You need to be very patient to tap and then wait for at least 5 to 10 seconds. Just imagine you are controlling Mars Rover on earth. Your action and response are under high latency network

Yes, Neo Reader 2.0 . I opened another Pdf with the other Onyx reader app and tried Neo Reader again and now I can set Bookmarks again on the right upper corner

[BKeeper]

Originally Posted by rickyzhang

I'm just bitching about their hardware design on BOOX Chinese forum.

Max Carta has great e-ink screen. But their button layout is way beyond acceptable after two week usage.

Now let's talk about Max Carta button layout. Its on/off button is located in the bottom. This silly design makes it impossible to put it on my desktop book holder without pressing power button. If I want to hold it for reading on the left or the right edges, because the page up/down button is in the bottom, I have to change my hand position to flip the page.
.

I'm exactly in the same position.
Terrible design choice.
Zero ergonomics.
The screen is great but the product is terrible when in use and that is such a shame.
I can understand why they did it:

the motherboard is at the bottom and that simplifies manufacturing. But they could just have placed power and page up and down at the bottom sides instead.

Button placement is crucial especially when there is no touch input.
The MAX Carta is super light there was no need to have a thin body.
Hopefully this will be resolved with a touchscreen on the MAX Carta 2.

[hmesker]

Originally Posted by fgdas

- Fast refresh to be seen.
"Android 4.0.4 . Upgrade to Android 4.4 possible."

There is an unofficial 4.4 update here http://ereader-store.de/en/content/8-downloads but Onyx TS says about an android 4.4 update for the Max Carta "We will try to do our best to create such update, but there are a lot of difficulties in compatibility of the Max Carta hardware and this version of Android. So, we do not think it will be very soon." About the unofficial update "We do not advise to install this firmware because of the reason mentioned. We are neither responsible for this update nor checked it up."
A friend of me tried this update and it made his Max Carta terribly slow.