Gen3 When will Bookeen post a new firmware update?

[Snuffi]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You don't need to pick just one. Have two SD cards, one with each firmware on it. Reflashing is sufficiently easy that I think that would work pretty well.

You don't seriously suggest that people re-flash their device EVERY TIME they want to read a book bought in the "other" format, respectively? Aside from the possibility to brick your device if you flash it on the go and your battery runs out halfway through, it is pretty much unacceptable from a usability point of view.
People don't swap SIM cards to get the best rate for local and international calls because it's very inconvenient. Changing a firmware a couple of times per week (plus keeping my current library-to-go up to date on two different SD cards) seems not even remotely viable for the average reader...

[Abelturd]

So you dedrm the book, convert it either from epub to mobi or the other way around depending on which one you prefer and that's it . So what's the big deal.
It's called pragmatism, you know.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

So you dedrm the book, convert it either from epub to mobi or the other way around depending on which one you prefer and that's it . So what's the big deal.
It's called pragmatism, you know.

the reality of the situation ....

[Snuffi]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

So you dedrm the book, convert it either from epub to mobi or the other way around depending on which one you prefer and that's it . So what's the big deal.
It's called pragmatism, you know.

Problem is to teach everyone's mom and dad how to de-drm books. Let alone that they would be hard pressed to find how-to's and tools to do that (that kind of information is not easily found if you're not too familiar with computers), those tools are also not always fool-proof to install and use.

I agree that for you and me it's not a problem but I would find it very sad if only the IT professionals and computer geeks could use ebooks. The Cybook is so easy to handle that most people's granny can handle reading books with it. It would really spoil a grand opportunity if those people could not participate in this new market due to the restriction arising from competing drm systems and their narrow-minded creators...

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Snuffi

Problem is to teach everyone's mom and dad how to de-drm books. Let alone that they would be hard pressed to find how-to's and tools to do that (that kind of information is not easily found if you're not too familiar with computers), those tools are also not always fool-proof to install and use.

I agree that for you and me it's not a problem but I would find it very sad if only the IT professionals and computer geeks could use ebooks. The Cybook is so easy to handle that most people's granny can handle reading books with it. It would really spoil a grand opportunity if those people could not participate in this new market due to the restriction arising from competing drm systems and their narrow-minded creators...

amen .....

[momghoti]

Not to mention, older folks tend to have problems with their vision and a device with adjustable font size would let them read a greater variety of books and keep their brains limber. 'Large-print' books(whose fonts sometimes aren't all that large) books are few and far between, weigh a ton(a problem for the frail), and if you like anything out of the ordinary just forget it. It's not just that older folks are more likely to be technophobes, their dexterity and ability to keep up with changes to the formats is limited--anything more than 'point and click' is prob'ly not going to fly. It's too late for my grandma, she's almost blind and has no short term memory to speak of(she's 95) but when she first started losing her vision ebooks would have really helped her state of mind.
It would be nice to see an ereader that is easier for people with dexterity problems, carpel tunnel or whatever. My one real problem with the cybook is that after a few hours my thumb gets sore from turning the pages.

[Abelturd]

Originally Posted by Snuffi

Problem is to teach everyone's mom and dad how to de-drm books. Let alone that they would be hard pressed to find how-to's and tools to do that (that kind of information is not easily found if you're not too familiar with computers), those tools are also not always fool-proof to install and use.

I agree that for you and me it's not a problem but I would find it very sad if only the IT professionals and computer geeks could use ebooks. The Cybook is so easy to handle that most people's granny can handle reading books with it. It would really spoil a grand opportunity if those people could not participate in this new market due to the restriction arising from competing drm systems and their narrow-minded creators...

That ought to be the concern of publishers, not me or you. But then, the situation isn't natural in Europe IMO. Liseuse manufacturers need to be affiliated with publishers and that's hardly the case in Europe, with minor exceptions, take Weltbild and Bookeen for example (or Amazon in US). Plus *ONE* established and respected ebook format would considerably speed things up and make them easier for everyone. Until then the ebooks will remain on the brink of publishing trade and there will always be need for these little dances with dedrming and conversion.

[GeoffC]

....there will always be need for these little dances with dedrming and conversion.


...beautifully put .....

[Verena]

@ all of you :
I don't want to flame Bookeen ...
But all I have to say is on the site
http://www.weltbild.de/3/15862004-1/...inklusive.html

Look at the features that this item provides. And the system is ABSOLUTELY identical with the Cybook Gen3. Imo the software of this item could be easily translated as a fw-update for our CG3. What's the matter whit this french company?

Imo the software of this thing is

[Verena]

... and there's a FREE cover included by lower price than the Gen3 ...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Verena

@ all of you :
I don't want to flame Bookeen ...
But all I have to say is on the site
http://www.weltbild.de/3/15862004-1/...inklusive.html

Look at the features that this item provides. And the system is ABSOLUTELY identical with the Cybook Gen3.

Er, that's because it is a CyBook Gen3. Haven't you been following the news? This device is running a beta version of the forthcoming new firmware release that we're all waiting for, which supports ePub.

Imo the software of this item could be easily translated as a fw-update for our CG3.

That's exactly what it is. This will be the firmware upgrade.

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Verena

@ all of you :
I don't want to flame Bookeen ...
But all I have to say is on the site
http://www.weltbild.de/3/15862004-1/...inklusive.html

Look at the features that this item provides...

I've looked and what I found is LESS then the original CyBook provides:
- no PalmDoc, HTML, TXT and MOBI/PRC support
- no GIF or PNG
- no dictionary support (due to missing MOBI/PRC)
- said 12 adjustable font sizes (+ 4 adjustable shades of grey?!?) is somewhat misleading
- just up to 10 books with one battery charge (?)

There are just 2 things this version newly provides:
- folder support (which isn't mentioned)
- (DRMed) ePUB support

To be honest: I can live without both, especially if I'll loose all the other stuff mentioned! (The Weltbild version is a step to the side and 2 steps back...)

Hopefully the new FW release will let us keep all the good parts from above and just adds folder and ePUB support + PDF-Reflow ability (and no new bugs!).

[Godzil]

The weldbilt version support GIF/PNG and even TXT/HTML despite what their website claim

[tompe]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

- just up to 10 books with one battery charge (?)

Why "just"? That seems to be better battery time than in the current Cybook.

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by tompe

Why "just"? That seems to be better battery time than in the current Cybook.

It depends so much on the books size that it's meaningless. When people ask me "how many books" I can carry in my Cybook I really don't know what to answer. I have 50-page, 100 KB books, and I have 2000-page, 50MB books...