Dual firmware announcement - Page 56

Snuffi · 11-09-2009, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Thom

Honestly, what's Bookeen supposed to do? Write a post "Folks, you're right! We goofed. We still do. Big time. We just don't seem to get the firmware done. If we remove one bug, two new pop up right away. Don't know when or if the firmware ever will be done. Sorry."
[snip]
As much as it bugs me - the way Bookeen behaves is the only one I could advise.

Can't really say that I agree. Of course, nobody is asking them to publish something like the above, and it wouldn't help us customers at all. What we want is some information about what to expect.
There are plenty of companies who post 2-3 lines on their blog every week so people know what is going on and can get a feeling for what to expect. 2-3 lines is not an amount of work where anyone can claim it's keeping them from doing their real work but it helps great deal on the customer relationship front.

I am sorry, but telling the customers "it'll be there soon" and that's the last we hear for **months** is clearly not enough. Plus there is always the possibilty to axe some features if they just can't get them done. It's happening all the time in the software business: You can't get feature XY finished and stable and you already missed the release date? Well, then cut that feature, release what we have and put that feature on the list for the next release.

Just as an example what *can* be done: I have bought a Freecom Musicpal 2 years ago (just 2-3 months before I bought the Cybook). The first update I did was to version number 1.44, now we are at 1.65. Every 2-3 months they release a new beta firmware (clearly labelled as beta with all the warnings that you install at your own risk, etc.). If people then post a lot of bugs and problems they release a new beta 2-3 months later and so on. When enough people are satisfied with the existing features they declare that FW to be a stable release.
During those two years we have had only 2 or 3 stable releases so it's pretty similar to Bookeen's Cybook. But through the betas there was a lot of information what is going on. People gave feedback, people suggested things, there was active involvement. Of course, there are always people who are unhappy: Complaining why their feature was still not incorporated or turning angry because something was still not working in the third beta. There have even been incidents where a new feature had such serious bugs that it had to be removed and only came back 3 or 4 betas later. But the bottom line is that the community knew what was going on and what to expect.
And I won't withhold a comment from a couple of days ago which made me smile thinking of what mobilereaders would say to that:
One of the users asked support when to expect the next FW because the last release was "already 8 weeks ago" :-)

EowynCarter · 11-09-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

You can't get feature XY finished and stable and you already missed the release date? Well, then cut that feature, release what we have and put that feature on the list for the next release.

I agree with that. And bookeen seams to have trouble with it.

delphidb96 · 11-10-2009, 04:55 PM

And with the announcement of Kindle For PC, I can wait a while longer for the firmware updates.

I've got it installed and I've moved all 7,000+ mobi/prc ebooks into the content directory. Yay! They all open and read!

Derek

HarryT · 11-11-2009, 04:28 AM

Does it offer any benefits over the Windows desktop version of Mobi Reader, Derek?

pdurrant · 11-11-2009, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I've moved all 7,000+ mobi/prc ebooks into the content directory. Yay! They all open and read!

Hmm.. let's say (an optimistic) five seconds to check each item, 7,000+ items...

You spent 10 hours opening and checking every file? Wow - that's dedication.

AlexBell · 11-11-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does it offer any benefits over the Windows desktop version of Mobi Reader, Derek?

People on the News and Commentary thread have described it as a cut down Mobipocket reader, and I agree. Some have been miffed that it converts all prc icons to an Amazon icon.

I bought a Kindle $2 PD book and was able to transfer it to my ECO reader. I've had problems with navigation and in changing fonts, but I don't know whether the problems are with the ECO Reader or the file. I wasn't asked for a PID so it may not have been DRM'd.

Regards, Alex

Snuffi · 11-11-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

And with the announcement of Kindle For PC, I can wait a while longer for the firmware updates.

I've got it installed and I've moved all 7,000+ mobi/prc ebooks into the content directory. Yay! They all open and read!

Derek

What is the logic behind a (stationary) PC version of a mobile reader? Am I missing something here or is that just another mobi-reader software for the PC?

Terisa de morgan · 11-11-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does it offer any benefits over the Windows desktop version of Mobi Reader, Derek?

If you have Windows 2000 yes, in other case... (I've checked in both cases

)

Terisa de morgan · 11-11-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snuffi

What is the logic behind a (stationary) PC version of a mobile reader? Am I missing something here or is that just another mobi-reader software for the PC?

Yes, you're missing the logic behind: sell Kindle books to all the PC users. Nothing less, nohing else.

JSWolf · 11-11-2009, 10:04 AM

Bookeen is waiting until 2013 to find out if they still have to release a new firmware or not.

JSWolf · 11-11-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does it offer any benefits over the Windows desktop version of Mobi Reader, Derek?

It displays eBooks with Amazon's DRM (AZW/TPZ).

EowynCarter · 11-11-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Bookeen is waiting until 2013 to find out if they still have to release a new firmware or not.

Amazon app, well, buying books i can't drm is no go ! So, i'll wait until someone cracks it, or, let's dream, amazon remove drm altogether.

HarryT · 11-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Bookeen is waiting until 2013 to find out if they still have to release a new firmware or not.

Why 2013, Jon? Apologies if I'm missing something.

luqmaninbmore · 11-11-2009, 12:14 PM

I believe that's a reference to all the apocalyptic nonsense surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012.

HarryT · 11-11-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

I believe that's a reference to all the apocalyptic nonsense surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012.

Thank you. I seem to have overlooked that

.

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11-10-2009, 04:55 PM	#828
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	And with the announcement of Kindle For PC, I can wait a while longer for the firmware updates. I've got it installed and I've moved all 7,000+ mobi/prc ebooks into the content directory. Yay! They all open and read! Derek

11-11-2009, 04:28 AM	#829
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Does it offer any benefits over the Windows desktop version of Mobi Reader, Derek?

11-11-2009, 10:04 AM	#835
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,796 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Bookeen is waiting until 2013 to find out if they still have to release a new firmware or not.

11-11-2009, 12:14 PM	#839
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	I believe that's a reference to all the apocalyptic nonsense surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012.