Astak's 5" Pocket Pro $199 - Page 6

K-Thom · 08-09-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

What I don't understand is why a third party has not come out with an operating system/Firmware that allows the user to install the existing reader software that is given away so you could access any DRM disabled book

As an open source project this sounds like quite a load of work. As a commercial project I'd say the existing market isn't big enough to make some real profits.

DaleDe · 08-09-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

As an open source project this sounds like quite a load of work. As a commercial project I'd say the existing market isn't big enough to make some real profits.

check Open Inkspot. We have a forum devoted to the product. It is even being adopted as the native application in a future hardware design I believe. However the technology is still developing on the hardware side particularly in touchscreens and screen controllers. We are just starting to see the rollout of these and then there is the development of the larger devices with a rugged screen. E-Ink is not a commodity yet.

Dale

derrell · 08-09-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicman

I agree with you on the licensing and firmware. What I don't understand is why a third party has not come out with an operating system/Firmware that allows the user to install the existing reader software that is given away so you could access any DRM disabled book.

The software development kits are licensed to these companies that are creating firmware and the devices and most likely it would not be profitable for anyone to create firmware that people had to pay for without also selling the device that the firmware is installed on. Despite the rise in popularity of book reading devices there still aren't that many of them out there its not like the PC or PDA market yet. Remember that Bill Gates managed to lock a lot of hardware manufacturers into building the hardware for MS operating systems without having to foot the bill for said hardware and I don't really see the ereader market going that way.

I also don't see the ereader market as such staying around all that long. With the price of netbooks where it is and increase in the number of tablet sized devices I think where we are headed eventually is to a reader sized device that is a touchscreen PC essentially. The display technology is what is holding these back right now and it seems that is changing as well with more battery friendly technologies appearing that are also cost effective to produce.

edit:
darn takes me too long to write a post I'm already several replies behind.

pdurrant · 08-09-2009, 10:45 AM

The eInk screen has recently been in short supply, and is manufactured by only one company. I have seen suggestions that it is a $70 part. That would make it by far the most expensive component in the reader.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

No, including the e-ink screen.

basschick has a good point; most likely the most expensive part of these readers is the licensing.

wodin · 08-09-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicman

I agree with you on the licensing and firmware. What I don't understand is why a third party has not come out with an operating system/Firmware that allows the user to install the existing reader software that is given away so you could access any DRM disabled book.

I would like to see something come with a WinCE or Windows Mobile Operating System and the ability to install my own reader software just like my cell phone has. The concept would be a 5 inch monochrome (or color if your willing to pay for it in terms of price and battery life) PDA running Windows Mobile. You could even add a GPS and make it a nav system or a golf range finder, and you could add a cell phone modem and make books available on line like the Kindle, or WiFi, or ...

Fact is, at the price point that most readers are, all these things are possible. eInk would need to be scrapped though, not fast enough! Can you imagine an half second black flash occurring every time a web page refreshed?

Oh yeah, I'd like it to be touch screen so I can write on it when I want to take notes. Hmm, come to think of it my Nokia N800 has all those things except it comes in Linux with a 4.3 inch screen!

Not to plug anyone eases forum, but I found this.

Sweetpea · 08-09-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

I would like to see something come with a WinCE or Windows Mobile Operating System and the ability to install my own reader software just like my cell phone has. The concept would be a 5 inch monochrome (or color if your willing to pay for it in terms of price and battery life) PDA running Windows Mobile. You could even add a GPS and make it a nav system or a golf range finder, and you could add a cell phone modem and make books available on line like the Kindle, or WiFi, or ...

Fact is, at the price point that most readers are, all these things are possible. eInk would need to be scrapped though, not fast enough! Can you imagine an half second black flash occurring every time a web page refreshed?

Oh yeah, I'd like it to be touch screen so I can write on it when I want to take notes. Hmm, come to think of it my Nokia N800 has all those things except it comes in Linux with a 4.3 inch screen!

You know, that's what I'm thinking too... I just want an oversized PDA! (don't need cell phone and nav system) The JE100 is almost there, except that it doesn't have a transflective screen.

Kris777 · 08-09-2009, 08:46 PM

blackberry with 5" screen

It can be popular

I don't know why but Nokia don't produce N810 and any other units with 4.3" screen any more

slayda · 08-09-2009, 09:06 PM

Since I wear glasses, I want a color PDA/book reader that projects onto my eye and whatever size I want. Uses eye direction for cursor manipulation. That is unless they come up with a direct brain interface.

Donnageddon · 08-09-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Since I wear glasses, I want a color PDA/book reader that projects onto my eye and whatever size I want. Uses eye direction for cursor manipulation. That is unless they come up with a direct brain interface.

It's coming

Sweetpea · 08-10-2009, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris777

blackberry with 5" screen

It can be popular

I don't know why but Nokia don't produce N810 and any other units with 4.3" screen any more

Nah, not blackberry! I like the WinMobile OS

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayda

Since I wear glasses, I want a color PDA/book reader that projects onto my eye and whatever size I want. Uses eye direction for cursor manipulation. That is unless they come up with a direct brain interface.

Hmm, I don't wear glasses. So, I'll opt for the direct brain interface.

HarryT · 08-10-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

I would like to see something come with a WinCE or Windows Mobile Operating System and the ability to install my own reader software just like my cell phone has.

That's exactly what the original CyBook 1 was - a WinCE LCD tablet with a number of different reading programs installed on it.

K-Thom · 08-10-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Hmm, I don't wear glasses. So, I'll opt for the direct brain interface.

I'm still voting for contact lenses with built-in EUD (eyes up display) and turning the pages while blinking.
If you consider a contact lens for each book, even DRM won't be a problem. And HarryT still could keep a dictionary. Insert the left lens with the novel and the right lens with a dictionary.

People around you just may get annoyed by the constant twitching in your eyes each time you look at the footnotes ...

Sweetpea · 08-10-2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

I'm still voting for contact lenses with built-in EUD (eyes up display) and turning the pages while blinking.
If you consider a contact lens for each book, even DRM won't be a problem. And HarryT still could keep a dictionary. Insert the left lens with the novel and the right lens with a dictionary.

People around you just may get annoying by the constants twitching in your eyes each time you look at the footnotes ...

No contact lenses for me! Only the thought of poking myself in the eye...

K-Thom · 08-10-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

No contact lenses for me! Only the thought of poking myself in the eye...

Well, how else did you expect to set bookmarks?!

Robertb · 08-10-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Robert
Get I have a few questions

I didn't realize your reader supported LIT that is awesome most of my ebooks are in that format. However I noticed in your FAQs that there is a 4MB limit. Does this apply to the 5" Pro ezreader

Also I know you've mentioned TTS does not work for epub. What formats does TTS work on?

Thank you
=X=

Dear ==X==:

The Pocket PRO supports about 12-14 total formats. One is Adobe Digital Editions. I agree with you that Open Format is a real blessing as a lot of the smaller publishers (like environmental papers and such) are not available in the more well-known formats. Having LIT and DOC and HTML simply open up more of the world of publishing to you.

Actually, the Pocket PRO's Text-To-Speech does work beautifully with the pdf eBooks that Adobe has and the Pocket PRO does TTS on TXT.

We are investigating what other formats the TTS supports. I will post.

The key thing is that we get this post back to its basic premise: Astak has released a 5 inch eBook Reader for $199 that is infinitely stronger and more featured than any other 5 inch out there. This has the Epson Controller with 400MHz processor for very fast page turns, 8 level grey scale, Adobe Digital Editions, displays 12-14 formats and 20 languages, has a relaceable, rechargeable battery, has SD card slot to 16GB, comes in six colors, and has the pricing that MobileRead Forum people have stated they want.

I hate to see this post sway away from this point. This is a terrific device that really is pretty incomparable for its size. I had hoped that MobileRead Forum people would really embrace this. THIS is NEWS!!

What I would welcome is a comparison of the Sony PRS-300 with the Pocket PRO... being they now cost the same. Sony has the brand name... but Astak (in my opinion) has an unbeatable device out!!

08-09-2009, 08:46 PM	#82
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	blackberry with 5" screen It can be popular I don't know why but Nokia don't produce N810 and any other units with 4.3" screen any more Last edited by Kris777; 08-09-2009 at 08:49 PM.

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08-09-2009, 09:06 PM	#83
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Since I wear glasses, I want a color PDA/book reader that projects onto my eye and whatever size I want. Uses eye direction for cursor manipulation. That is unless they come up with a direct brain interface.