MobileRead exclusive : sneak preview of the Bookeen Opus

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

See the E-book Reader Matrix. I was under the impression that the EB500 also included the Epson controller, but I have now corrected the matrix to show only 4 grey levels for the Opus and the 360°.

Thank you, Wallcraft. It has been much longer than I thought since my last visit to the matrix because it has changed a great deal from what I remembered. I like the different charts for each size of reader screen.

I do have a question though. Which line refers to the controller that each device uses or how is that information displayed? I could not figure that part out, but for many of us it is an important tidbit of information so I think it would be included on the matrix even if I'm not seeing it at the moment.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by SaraD

I do have a question though. Which line refers to the controller that each device uses or how is that information displayed? I could not figure that part out, but for many of us it is an important tidbit of information so I think it would be included on the matrix even if I'm not seeing it at the moment.

The controller isn't included. I recently added the grey levels row, which is related but not definitive for which controller is being used. I'll add a controller row this evening.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Godzil

The Bookeen's guys said that it's nearly the same as the Gen3.

Are you sure that astak have a 5" with the Epson ? The EB500 is an apollo driven and netronix does not have any other 5" device.

Dear Godzil:

The Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO 5 inch has the Epson Controller, 400MHz processor, 200 dpi, 8 levels of grey scale, Text-To-Speech, Adobe Digital Editions, supports 14 formats and displays 22 languages, MP3, includes crush-resistent leather case and ear buds, and comes in six colors... for about $200. It releases in about 4 weeks.

This Bookeen Opus, we think, is a Netronix product and we will check that out. IF it is, Astak will be carrying it also with the famous Astak warranty and USA technical support, and may well have it in colors also! Our General Manager is in Taiwan now talking with Netronix. IF we do this Netronix model we will demand the Epson controller for it.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Robertb

This Bookeen Opus, we think, is a Netronix product and we will check that out. IF it is, Astak will be carrying it also with the famous Astak warranty and USA technical support, and may well have it in colors also!

It is made by Netronix, but it is a Bookeen exclusive. There is also the PocketBook 360°, which I think is a nicer design. These are probably more or less identical internally, both EB-500 variants.

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I'll add a controller row this evening.

Wow! Thank you! It is very kind of you to go to the extra effort. Hopefully others will appreciate it as much as I do.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

For me to consider this device it would have to support Adobe and eReader DRM for ePub format files. That would be the only thing I would consider leaving the Amazon/Kindle format.

With eReaders new pricing of $9.99 for new and best sellers and nothing over $13 eReader is looking much better. Of course, eReader has to get their ePub format DRM wrapper going... and I hope it uses the same Name/Credit Card password encryption because that makes it very portable.

I think the only device planed to support both of these at this time is the Astak devices.

BOb

I'm not sure if Adobe DRM can be combined with eReader DRM on the same device

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Kris777

I'm not sure if Adobe DRM can be combined with eReader DRM on the same device

Yes it can, see Adobe Digital Editions for EZ Reader.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Yes it can, see Adobe Digital Editions for EZ Reader.

Well, "it is coming very soon" means that it is not available yet.

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Godzil:

The Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO 5 inch has the Epson Controller, 400MHz processor, 200 dpi, 8 levels of grey scale, Text-To-Speech, Adobe Digital Editions, supports 14 formats and displays 22 languages, MP3, includes crush-resistent leather case and ear buds, and comes in six colors... for about $200. It releases in about 4 weeks.

This Bookeen Opus, we think, is a Netronix product and we will check that out. IF it is, Astak will be carrying it also with the famous Astak warranty and USA technical support, and may well have it in colors also! Our General Manager is in Taiwan now talking with Netronix. IF we do this Netronix model we will demand the Epson controller for it.

I seriously doubt that you can have this design since it is exclusive to Bookeen. (ODM not OEM) and the hardware seem with my discution with them beeing exclusive too to booken even if the base is nearly the same as the EB500. And I ask them about why not the epson inside the Opus, they said me that netronix have no current plan about Epson inside EB500. I can't get more about this, so event here I doubt you will get any EB500 powered by the S1D13521

[Wolfgan]

Originally Posted by Godzil

I seriously doubt that you can have this design since it is exclusive to Bookeen. (ODM not OEM) and the hardware seem with my discution with them beeing exclusive too to booken even if the base is nearly the same as the EB500. And I ask them about why not the epson inside the Opus, they said me that netronix have no current plan about Epson inside EB500. I can't get more about this, so event here I doubt you will get any EB500 powered by the S1D13521

Godzil, do you really think that Booken ordered the volume needed for an exclusive production run? Based on other threads' comments on how Astak managed the devices orders and what European counterparts did, it doesn't seem likely that neither Netronix or Jinke are eager to pursue "exclusive" devices (other than minor changes on aestetics and colors)
It will be interesting to know for sure once devices are launched, Wolf.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Wolfgan

do you really think that Booken ordered the volume needed for an exclusive production run?

This came directly from Bookeen, see Bookeen and PocketBook in possible legal dispute over 5" model.

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by Wolfgan

Godzil, do you really think that Booken ordered the volume needed for an exclusive production run? Based on other threads' comments on how Astak managed the devices orders and what European counterparts did, it doesn't seem likely that neither Netronix or Jinke are eager to pursue "exclusive" devices (other than minor changes on aestetics and colors)
It will be interesting to know for sure once devices are launched, Wolf.

During the MobileRead RendezVous we discuss with the bookeen's guy that where here, and it seems that the Opus design (and the old one that PocketBook presented a few month ago) was designed and payed by Bookeen for theire own use only. So they said that if any other one will sell a device with the same design of the old (the presented one by PocketBook) and new opus (the one we see at the RendezVous) they will be sued by Bookeen since they didn't have the right to use this design, even if the color is different. It's not the same thing as the Gen3 where the design was not exclusive to Bookeen

[Wolfgan]

Thx for the links. Anyways, it's not clear to me if the whole device is exclusive, or just the exterior (frame, ergonomics, aestetics). Meaning... probably the guts (pcb, processors, int memory & expansion, I/O, screen) are available to OEMs, ODMs to pick upas is, and just they need to craft the exterior in "innovative" ways (4 way buttons rather than "wheels", frame colors, rounded vs square terminations, firmware).

That's usually a cheaper option for the electronics' manufacturer (Jinke, Netronix) than having to run smaller production runs, testing all combos, keep diff product lines, etc etc.
Wolf.

[krischik]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

it's a restriction from Mobipocket / Amazon, Bookeen can't do anything about it sadly.

AFAIK there is only a restriction on the DRM of Mobipocket and not on the file format proper. If if was any different then neither Stanza not Calibre could have an Mobipocket viewer.

[krischik]

Originally Posted by tompe

I suppose there might be other strange contractual reasons but there do not seem to be any obvious reasons.

I think the obvious reason is: Without the official SDK they need to use an OpenSource reader - and that they might not want either.

Still they could if they really wanted to. But lets be honest: Mobipocket is dead, back-stabbed by Amazon.