B&N and Verizon Jump Into E-Reader Fray with iRex

[Madam Broshkina]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

standard feature for business devices -- blackberry and WM have it, iphone is still working on it. The ability by a company's administrator to remotely wipe devices in case they are stolen. Not Irex, but the buyer can do that. Would you want a thief to enjoy your device? I think it would be great if you could remotely render it inoperable.

If you are subscribed to MobileMe you already have the ability to remotely wipe your iPhone.

[Faenad]

At least if they are committed to sell to enterprises, we can expect a greater level of polish for their firmwares.

"Huh huh, all my patients charts of this morning have been lost because of SD data corruption on my Irex, let's redo all the tests"

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by kennyc

That wasn't the question. I own a wacom pad and use it daily. The question was whether this e-book actually uses that technology. I found no other confirmation of that anywhere.

My Iliad most certainly does use a Wacom stylus. You can't write on it with your standard piece of plastic stylus.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by m-reader

My Iliad most certainly does use a Wacom stylus. You can't write on it with your standard piece of plastic stylus.

Thank you. That's what I wanted to know.

[zacheryjensen]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The iphone has the infamous kill-switch (apple can delete any app from your device any time you sync), too. You need to jailbreak it to turn it off.

Actually it doesn't even require a sync, it phones home to check for such a kill list regularly over any connection it makes.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by zacheryjensen

Actually it doesn't even require a sync, it phones home to check for such a kill list regularly over any connection it makes.

Welcome to 1984.

[badbob001]

On this flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonie/3947853807/

I found a photo of the sub-settings screen:


What is interesting is that the picture for the SD card is of a MicroSD card.

On this photo on the irex blog http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/



Notice the round indent in the lower left next to the power switch and usb port. There is no similar indent on the right side, so this probably means it's no possible to mount the cover so that its spine is not blocking the page turn controls. This means you have to always bend the cover back 180 degrees to read. Did the iliad allow the interface to be flipped 180 degrees for it to be held with the right hand?

[HarryT]

The most commonly-used cover for iRex devices is a "flip-cover", which opens vertically, not horizontally, hence there's no obstruction of the controls.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by jotas

Here is a brief YouTube video:

I think that bright button would be a bit of a distraction.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by mrscoach

From the video on cnet it just flashes while 'working' and then goes off.

Never mind...

[oncdoc]

anyone know what pdf support will it have. zoom will stay?

[oncdoc]

im ready to buy

[oldgoat]

Originally Posted by rhadin

I had my hopes up for this device but not any longer. According to Endgadget, a stylus is required. That's problematic -- too easy to lose. Add to that the fact that it's newspaper partner doesn't offer the New York Times in the p version layout, well that's nail number 2. Nail number 3 is the white cover. Why not pre-dirty it for me and make it black or brown or some other color that doesn't show every speck of dirt and grime.

I note that Endgadget wasn't too impressed with the interface although it did hedge by saying some more testing is needed before giving a final opinion.

But we are almost there. Perhaps the true touch version in 2Q 2010 will be the winner.

We have a lot of folks here that have not done their homework. I have read as much as I can find on the DR800SG. The stylus must be used or the side bar. It would seem the side bar will work fine if you not use the stylus. The OS is Linux. Irex is saying they will add more features in the near future but since it is a Linux based system (open system) I would not be surprised to see software writers start coming out with add on's. The other thing I read is the blue LED only stays on during 3G operation, just to show it is connected.

I would not jump on the bandwagon until I see the forth coming Sony Reader Daily Edition (PRS900). I would want to compare both readers and then determine which I would buy. Of course if you have bags of money then buy everything in sight.

Either way, I think they are an upgrade over the Kindle 2.

Just my opinion.

[CTH]

It would be nice if you could hook it up to a computer and use the stylus like a drawing tablet. Will prob not happen but it would be nice

[badbob001]

Most functions should be accessible with just the left-right-enter bar and the menu button and not require the stylus. Remember, the DR1000 is a menu-only non-stylus device unlike the DR1000S, so IREX do build their interface to support either inputs. One unknown is if the DR800SG's menu button (the button with a bump in the middle) is just a simple button or if it's an up-down-enter rocker similar to the iliad.

IREX just responded to my question on their blog that it is a 1024x768/16 shade display, just like the iliad. Not a surprise but it's good to have official confirmation. They didn't answer my request for hardware details, such as cpu / ram / sd-type, but responded to my question regarding quickly switching between opened documents:

The IREX DR800SG is optimized for book reader with a simplified interface and advanced functionality as with the IREX DR1000S, like switching between multiple documents is not possible.

So this could mean it only has 64MB of ram? It would be sad if a device coming out near 2010 would have the same cpu and ram as my pda from 2003.

The article on DVICE mentions that it has a MicroSD slot and is under the screw-accessed battery door.

I like this photo from DVICE: