Interview with Wizpac, creators of the txtr at Leipzig Book Fair

[CommanderROR]

@dragonbone

no need to apologize...I did not take offence, just wanted to clarify...

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Gertjan

This may have been true for the iLiad, but not for DR1000. I should mention that I am employed by iRex so I'm bias. That said, building applications for DR1000 (iOn) can't be much easier. GTK-based applications just need to be compiled with the toolchain, and for more integration, API with documentation are provided.

I know that big players like Nokia and Google attract quite a lot of attention from developers, but for smaller companies it is not that obvious. Sure I hope that they pull it off. More open source programs for ereaders will benefit all users and is good for everyone in the business (who adopt OSS).

Yes, it was the iLiad I had in mind having read something about some code or interface not being available.

I was thinking about buying an iLiad (instead of a Cybook) because I thought it would be fun to develop applications for it. But I could not really afford it at the time and a 6 inch reader was better suited for my needs.

What I have seen most open source development seems to take place for devices that are not so expensive like mp3-players, routers, and so on. Probably because a lot of people buy them so you will attract a critical mass of people to create a community.

I also think if you can push for or create standards for how reading devices or reading programs interacts with each other you will attract a lot of interest and a lote of developers.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

I should actually rephrase what I really meant. I was irritated (at MYSELF) trying to make out your accent, and couldn't decide if you were S. African, German or Namibian.

I'm impressed that you could pick up those three accents.

BOb

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I'm impressed that you could pick up those three accents.

BOb

Oh thanks !

[beachwanderer]

Thanks a lot for the well conducted and interesting interview!

Just found time to see it in full today - sounds really promising.

I find the intended open, linux based software to be more to my personal taste than the custom Win CE, that plastic logic intends to use.

It will be really interesting to see how the txtr will do in the market compared to its likely competitor, the plastic logic reader. That device will probably have the higher pricetag but can sport a bigger display which will make it more attractive for people who are occupational readers. And probably make it more handy for something like NewspaperDirect or similar.

Then again txtr will have direct wireless (likely GPRS) connectivity while plastic logic just seems to speak about WiFi ...

On the Börsenblatt , the magazine of the german booksellers association, there was this piece about txtr (in german) on tuesday.

[George]

Was the interview removed from Youtube for a reason?

Any other hosts?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by George

Was the interview removed from Youtube for a reason?

Any other hosts?

But it's on Youtube.

[George]

Coming up as yanked when I try to play both parts... Can you view them when you press play?

[Nate the great]

Yes .

[George]

...and now it's working. It's a conspiracy to make me look bad. I swear it o.0

[Charbax]

Wizpac are totally awesome!

There are a few things I would like to have:

1. Text input might be kind of a sad thing not to have, consider that you have a HSDPA connected E-Ink device, not having text input requires that you do all the txtr.com synching constantly on a laptop or something. Being able to quickly type in Titles for books to download over HSDPA, URLs of blogs to load, or type the first letters of items to load. Even a very small thumb keyboard perhaps one very basic one that would be embedded in the leather case or that could flip from behind the device somehow to cover the lower part of the device, that could be enough.

2. Not having a Wacom style handwriting input is also kind of sad. Cause really handwriting input provides amazing amount of things even though the iRex and such software I have seen so far provide little more than just scribbling on texts. What is needed is a full type of software for online collaboration for reading, annotating and commenting all texts.

I haven't seen much of how the txtr.com system will work. But there are a few features that I would really like to have on a HSDPA connected E-Ink device:

1. Google Reader
2. Google News
3. Google Books

Some ways to integrate those things. Perhaps you just give txtr.com your Google account login informations and it brings in your customized access to blog items, news articles and ebooks found through Google services?

I'd like a Chrome and Firefox browser plugin which lets easilly in one-click push browser content over to the HSDPA connected E-Ink reader. Basically easilly preparing read-lists of content beamed from ones browsing activity on the computer. I guess that is somewhat how the txtr.com service is going to work?

Some people are talking about a bigger version being needed. I need a smaller and perhaps even cheaper pocketable 5" sized version.

Supporting DRM and all that is fine, but I think they need to focus on full access to all online sources for texts.

I think they should provide a HSDPA unlocked version. More and more countries especially in Europe provide really cheap HSDPA sim-cards for use only for HSDPA data applications. Thus perhaps also European and other telecoms can provide rebates for supplementary data SIM cards which users would choose to use for their second, third and fourth HSDPA connected devices. So if a subscriber has a HSDPA SIM card in the mobile phone, the netbook, the pocket computer, the in-car GPS device and in the E-Ink reader, the subscriber shouldn't have to pay 5x the price of one HSDPA SIM card service.

Anyways this does sound really awesome.

[CommanderROR]

@Charbax

If I understood the Wizpac guys correctly, then the txtr will be a very basic device which focuses on reading fiction texts. It will be built around this single main purpose, everything else is basically optional.
They also hinted at another device being in development that will arrive after the txtr (no idea when) and will offer more of the stuff you ask for in your post.

One idea I don't fine very plausible:
A smaller screen and more features don't really make that much sens in my opinion. 6" is already pretty small for anything beyond simple fiction reading...but maybe that's just my opinion.

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

@Charbax
One idea I don't fine very plausible:
A smaller screen and more features don't really make that much sens in my opinion. 6" is already pretty small for anything beyond simple fiction reading...but maybe that's just my opinion.

I personally want a BIGGER screen. 6" is small. I would much rather have an "8 or even a little bigger... Much easier for studying textbooks etc. and normal fiction too.

[CommanderROR]

While I agree with the textbook argument I have found that 6" is actually a very good compromise for fiction. I own an Iliad which has an 8" screen, a Cybook and a sony Reader. The Iliad is really nice for viewing large amounts of text at once, but the size makes it less than ideal for holding and even worse for transporting around. It's simply too bulky and heavy and ever since I got the smaller 6" devices I found myself using the Iliad less and less.

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

While I agree with the textbook argument I have found that 6" is actually a very good compromise for fiction. I own an Iliad which has an 8" screen, a Cybook and a sony Reader. The Iliad is really nice for viewing large amounts of text at once, but the size makes it less than ideal for holding and even worse for transporting around. It's simply too bulky and heavy and ever since I got the smaller 6" devices I found myself using the Iliad less and less.

Oh that's an interesting comment, coming from a multi device user!
Yes..... I suppose I'm quite happy with the screen size of my little Sony while reading a novel. It's not like I'm reading and thinking, 'Darn, if only the screen was bigger!'

I just thought a bigger screen will be easier, especially for college text books and notes and stuff like that. I also want to be able to write notes on the screen with the stylus..... Maybe in the near future....