MobileRead exclusive : sneak preview of the Bookeen Opus

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 12:16 PM

At the MobileRead Meet-up in Paris this Saturday we had the pleasure and the privilege of getting a visit from Michael Dahan, co-founder of Bookeen, in person, for an exclusive sneak preview of their new 5" model, the Opus.

We have to say that it looks positively gorgeous and we're very impressed with the ergonomy, and, well, we're frankly coveting one. Here are some specs :

5" high definition e-ink screen (200dpi, 600x800 pixels)
Ultra light-weight : 150 grammes.
1go internal memory (twice the capacity of the Cybook Gen3)
Truly pocket-sized !
Excellent ergonomy with convenient well-placed page-turning buttons on the side of the screen for one-handed use.
An accelerometer allows you to use it in either hand.
ePUB and PDF support (with or without DRM) via the Adobe Reader Mobile SDK.
12 different type sizes
Folder support !
User replaceable battery.
Memory card expansion slot (Micro SD).

MobileRead member Xaaf and Clément from ebouquin were kind enough to document the unboxing for us and we thank them for the photos, which you will find here and here.

See the whole unboxing gallery on flickr here.

EDIT : video action !

here is first one, showing the navigation and the interface (including folders), or see it on dailymotion.

accelerometer video !
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-rotation_tech

fast advance :
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...er-screen_tech

Abecedary · 07-06-2009, 12:28 PM

Wow. That's a very nice looking device. Any chance of a stateside release?

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

Wow. That's a very nice looking device. Any chance of a stateside release?

Since the Cybook can be bought from the states, i expect the Opus will be available there as well... Or you could order it online directly from Bookeen i imagine.

DaleDe · 07-06-2009, 12:52 PM

Is there memory card support? Any formats besides ADE?

pilotbob · 07-06-2009, 12:56 PM

I'm curious... why did they go from 6inch to 5inch? Or does this not replace the Gen3? I was thinking the Opus would be the Gen4 device.

BOb

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Is there memory card support? Any formats besides ADE?

yes, micro sd (the device is very small, so the memory card must be small as well).

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I'm curious... why did they go from 6inch to 5inch? Or does this not replace the Gen3? I was thinking the Opus would be the Gen4 device.

BOb

i think this is not a replacement but an additional model. personally i think a 5-inch device will be really popular ; the screen size is not a very big difference, as you can see from the photo with the 2 side by side, but it makes a huge difference for portability, plus it will be cheaper. all those factors together will, i think, attract a lot of people who mostly want a device for reading fiction, particularly (for instance) during train commutes, etc. and frequent travellers will also appreciate the compact size and light weight.

Abecedary · 07-06-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Is there memory card support? Any formats besides ADE?

MicroSD card support (not sure where the slot is though). And I could've sworn one of the pages I looked at listed Mobi support, too (most likely unencrypted only). Of course, I can't find that one anymore.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

MicroSD card support (not sure where the slot is though). And I could've sworn one of the pages I looked at listed Mobi support, too (most likely unencrypted only). Of course, I can't find that one anymore.

the slot is on the top of the device.

other formats supported will be the usual ones, same as the Gen3 : txt, html, jpg, etc.

Gaurnim · 07-06-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Is there memory card support? Any formats besides ADE?

The memory card is micro-SD, up to 4 GB if I remember well.

About the formats, no Mobipocket supported in the firmware at release.
You will have the oppportunity to change the firmware to support Mobipocket with or without but you will lose ePub support then.

PDF is currently planned without reflow.

EDIT : my posting was a bit too slow.

pilotbob · 07-06-2009, 01:09 PM

Was this using the Mobi reader software of the ePub reading software? I ask because it appeared to have Page/Pages display at the bottom.. something which on the Firmware thread people were saying wasn't added to the new Mobi firmware for the CyBook.

BOb

Gaurnim · 07-06-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

the slot is on the top of the device.

I didn't look closely when they put a card in on Saturday, but I wonder if we can leave the card in the Opus all the time?
is it going all the way in or is it just partly inserted ?

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Was this using the Mobi reader software of the ePub reading software? I ask because it appeared to have Page/Pages display at the bottom.. something which on the Firmware thread people were saying wasn't added to the new Mobi firmware for the CyBook.

BOb

epub, baby !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

I didn't look closely when they put a card in on Saturday, but I wonder if we can leave the card in the Opus all the time?
is it going all the way in or is it just partly inserted ?

hm, i didn't notice that either. maybe Michael Dahan can post to tell us.

llasram · 07-06-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

5" high definition e-ink screen (200dpi, 600x800 pixels)

Anyone know if it's really 200 dpi? That's rather higher than the current-generation 6" screens (which IIRC are ~170 dpi).

zelda_pinwheel · 07-06-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llasram

Anyone know if it's really 200 dpi? That's rather higher than the current-generation 6" screens (which IIRC are ~170 dpi).

yes, it's the same number of pixels as the 6" screens, but since the screen is smaller, the resolution is higher.

kacir · 07-06-2009, 01:27 PM

Is there any indication what is the planned price including VAT in Eur?

07-06-2009, 12:16 PM	#1
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	MobileRead exclusive : sneak preview of the Bookeen Opus At the MobileRead Meet-up in Paris this Saturday we had the pleasure and the privilege of getting a visit from Michael Dahan, co-founder of Bookeen, in person, for an exclusive sneak preview of their new 5" model, the Opus. We have to say that it looks positively gorgeous and we're very impressed with the ergonomy, and, well, we're frankly coveting one. Here are some specs : 5" high definition e-ink screen (200dpi, 600x800 pixels) Ultra light-weight : 150 grammes. 1go internal memory (twice the capacity of the Cybook Gen3) Truly pocket-sized ! Excellent ergonomy with convenient well-placed page-turning buttons on the side of the screen for one-handed use. An accelerometer allows you to use it in either hand. ePUB and PDF support (with or without DRM) via the Adobe Reader Mobile SDK. 12 different type sizes Folder support ! User replaceable battery. Memory card expansion slot (Micro SD). MobileRead member Xaaf and Clément from ebouquin were kind enough to document the unboxing for us and we thank them for the photos, which you will find here and here. See the whole unboxing gallery on flickr here. EDIT : video action ! here is first one, showing the navigation and the interface (including folders), or see it on dailymotion. accelerometer video ! http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-rotation_tech fast advance : http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...er-screen_tech Last edited by zelda_pinwheel; 07-15-2009 at 11:08 AM.

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07-06-2009, 12:28 PM	#2
Abecedary Exwyzeeologist Posts: 535 Karma: 3261 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: :PRS-505::iPod touch:	Wow. That's a very nice looking device. Any chance of a stateside release?

07-06-2009, 12:52 PM	#4
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	Is there memory card support? Any formats besides ADE?

07-06-2009, 12:56 PM	#5
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	I'm curious... why did they go from 6inch to 5inch? Or does this not replace the Gen3? I was thinking the Opus would be the Gen4 device. BOb

07-06-2009, 01:09 PM	#10
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Was this using the Mobi reader software of the ePub reading software? I ask because it appeared to have Page/Pages display at the bottom.. something which on the Firmware thread people were saying wasn't added to the new Mobi firmware for the CyBook. BOb

07-06-2009, 01:27 PM	#15
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,465 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	Is there any indication what is the planned price including VAT in Eur?