Gen3 New Firmware build 796 available for CyBook Gen3

[Godzil]

Think anything you want, I saw that the same card can update both devices, that enought for convincing me.

And I suspect that the problem Bookeen have is neither due to ePub nor Mobipocket, but some lowlevel problems, and the hit REAL bugs, and not just sitting in front of their firmware update and wait for anything we can't understand for release it.

I'm not sure that it is "so broken", there are a couple of bugs that can led you to not mass provide an update, like a risk to brick a too much % of devices, or bugs that are not too annoying, but exist and could led to other major bugs, or even some bugs that occurs only on one of the version (200Mhz vs 400Mhz) and I suspect that the 400Mhz is more buggy than the 200Mhz Model since they sell it since a shorter time.

[Snuffi]

Originally Posted by Godzil

Think anything you want, I saw that the same card can update both devices, that enought for convincing me.

And I suspect that the problem Bookeen have is neither due to ePub nor Mobipocket, but some lowlevel problems, and the hit REAL bugs, and not just sitting in front of their firmware update and wait for anything we can't understand for release it.

I'm not sure that it is "so broken", there are a couple of bugs that can led you to not mass provide an update, like a risk to brick a too much % of devices, or bugs that are not too annoying, but exist and could led to other major bugs, or even some bugs that occurs only on one of the version (200Mhz vs 400Mhz) and I suspect that the 400Mhz is more buggy than the 200Mhz Model since they sell it since a shorter time.

I never said that Bookeen is not fixing REAL bugs. But if they are fixing REAL bugs for months it follows that there are either many or a few very nasty bugs to fix. Both cases quailify to label them "broken", in my opinion. We might not agree on the term "broken" but as I see it there are only two possible states: Either it's fixed enough to release or still too broken to release.

Also if there is a chance that it might brick the device I would not have given it to my customers, which they did in Paris. That move is pretty hard to explain: If it's fit enought to give to the French why can't they give it to other nationalities? Is it that the French are not affected by the bugs?

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Godzil

That was not what they said to us, the Opus and the Gen3 will get the SAME firmware update. An update for the Opus will work for the Gen3 and ViceVersa

Now that is a VERY interesting piece of information. They not only try to make ONE update for all the different Gen3 variations, but for 2 totally different models (regarding hardware) - Gen3 AND Opus!

So they have a somewhat working new FW for the Gen3 with Mobi (all newly sold and replaced ones) + one with ePub (Weltbild version) + one for the Opus with ePub. And despite what someone really wants/needs, we all have to wait until they manage to get all versions working (Opus/Mobi is still missing) and mix them together in the big one-size-fits-all-FW update... Folks, prepare to wait another century...

Hey Bookeen, I'm not interested in the Opus (+ it's bugs), ePub or what is easier and/or better for you...

JUST DELIVER THAT D*MN MOBI FW UPDATE FOR THE GEN3 YOU PROMISED AGES AGO!!!

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Snuffi

Also if there is a chance that it might brick the device I would not have given it to my customers, which they did in Paris. That move is pretty hard to explain: If it's fit enought to give to the French why can't they give it to other nationalities? Is it that the French are not affected by the bugs?

And it's fit enough to sell new devices with and replace broken ones... *sigh*

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

Now that is a VERY interesting piece of information. They not only try to make ONE update for all the different Gen3 variations, but for 2 totally different models (regarding hardware) - Gen3 AND Opus!

I think you are wrong, there is only two major Cybook version, the 200Mhz and the 400Mhz. A simple look at the netronix specs on the EB500, it's merely the same device as the EB600.

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Godzil

I think you are wrong, there is only two major Cybook version, the 200Mhz and the 400Mhz. A simple look at the netronix specs on the EB500, it's merely the same device as the EB600.

There are at least 3 different Gen3 models: 200MHz/64MB + 200MHz/512MB + 400MHz/512MB (+ somewhere in between the SD slot changed it's orientation and RAM switched from 16 to 32MB).

For the Opus Bookeen boasted some time ago, that it has been especially designed for their needs (is it just the EB500?!) + it has a smaller casing (mainboard), other buttons, smaller screen, additional motion sensor, microSD slot... (= different problems/bugs, though it's possible similarities to the Gen3)

[Snuffi]

Originally Posted by Godzil

I think you are wrong, there is only two major Cybook version, the 200Mhz and the 400Mhz. A simple look at the netronix specs on the EB500, it's merely the same device as the EB600.

I think he meant the difference between Cybook and Opus. As there are significant technical differences I highly doubt that there will be a single FW for Cybook AND Opus.
Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt that that is what you heard and that your source is also convinced of what they heard but there have been a few rumours around which turned out to be false.
One version for two devices which are sufficiently different is more work than it's worth. It means you can't integrate new functions into the Opus if that would make the FW too large for the Cybook. It also means for every tiny bug you eliminate on the Opus you have to do an entire testing cycle also for the Cybook (you never know if it accidentally breaks something there) even though nothing has been changed there.
It's a hideous work for no economical gain, so I very much doubt that this rumour can be substantiated.

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

There are at least 3 different Gen3 models: 200MHz/64MB + 200MHz/512MB + 400MHz/512MB (+ somewhere in between the SD slot changed it's orientation and RAM switched from 16 to 32MB).

For the Opus Bookeen boasted some time ago, that it has been especially designed for their needs (is it just the EB500?!) + it has a smaller casing (mainboard), other buttons, smaller screen, additional motion sensor, microSD slot... (= different problems/bugs, though it's possible similarities to the Gen3)

No, the 64M and 512M 200Mhz are basicaly the same board, but just with bigger FLASH chip.

There is ONLY two real rev of then Gen3, the S3C2410 200Mhz, 16MB RAM and 64 or 512 ROM Flash, and the S3C2440 400MHz, 32MB RAM and 512 ROM Flash, there is no other version.

The opus is a S3C2440 400Mhz version with 32MB of RAM and 1GB of ROM FLASH

The ONLY difference between the Gen3 and Opus are some peripherals, like the GSensor for the Opus and the Audio chip for the Gen3, the rest of the hardware is basicaly the same beast.

No the Opus is not directly an EB500, but it is derived from.

Originally Posted by Snuffi

I think he meant the difference between Cybook and Opus. As there are significant technical differences I highly doubt that there will be a single FW for Cybook AND Opus.
Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt that that is what you heard and that your source is also convinced of what they heard but there have been a few rumours around which turned out to be false.
One version for two devices which are sufficiently different is more work than it's worth. It means you can't integrate new functions into the Opus if that would make the FW too large for the Cybook. It also means for every tiny bug you eliminate on the Opus you have to do an entire testing cycle also for the Cybook (you never know if it accidentally breaks something there) even though nothing has been changed there.
It's a hideous work for no economical gain, so I very much doubt that this rumour can be substantiated.

The bookeen's guy who I speak with wasn't a commercial, nor things like that, but one of the programmer which work on developing the Gen3/Opus firmware points. (but not the application, ONLY the firmware (aka linux and other things like that) )

[EowynCarter]

I don't think the firmware on opus and gen 3 are exactly the same (accelerometer and all), but it's perfectly possible to have some part of the code in common, and compile two different version with whatever is needed.
Or have the firmware detect the hardware and act accordingly, any OS does that.

[Snuffi]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

I don't think the firmware on opus and gen 3 are exactly the same (accelerometer and all), but it's perfectly possible to have some part of the code in common, and compile two different version with whatever is needed.
Or have the firmware detect the hardware and act accordingly, any OS does that.

That is probably the source of the misunderstanding. Maybe the programmer meant that the FW would be the same as in two different branches of the same project. The code would be in the same cvs but you could compile two different versions out of the code, e.g. leave out the code of the accelometer for the Cybook version.

Sorry, I'm not trying to discredit what Godzil says, it just seems very improbable from a technological standpoint so I assume there must be some kind of misunderstanding...

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Godzil

No, the 64M and 512M 200Mhz are basicaly the same board, but just with bigger FLASH chip...

The ONLY difference between the Gen3 and Opus are some peripherals, like the GSensor for the Opus and the Audio chip for the Gen3, the rest of the hardware is basicaly the same beast...

Sorry, but please tell me why everything I say is wrong - because all Bookeen devices are SOOOO equal, whilst it's OK for you to say:

Originally Posted by Godzil

And I suspect that the problem Bookeen have is neither due to ePub nor Mobipocket, but some lowlevel problems, ...

... or even some bugs that occurs only on one of the version (200Mhz vs 400Mhz) and I suspect that the 400Mhz is more buggy than the 200Mhz Model since they sell it since a shorter time.

[Godzil]

I don't see the point, the 200Mhz and 400Mhz are not the same hardware, that what I say

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Godzil

I don't see the point, the 200Mhz and 400Mhz are not the same hardware, that what I say

The point is: I've said basically the same things as you (just with other words) and you reply by saying NO...

Now talking about misunderstandings...

[Godzil]

No, you said that there is 3 different hardware version of the Gen3, and I answer you "no there are only 2"

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Snuffi

That is probably the source of the misunderstanding. Maybe the programmer meant that the FW would be the same as in two different branches of the same project. The code would be in the same cvs but you could compile two different versions out of the code, e.g. leave out the code of the accelometer for the Cybook version.

Sorry, I'm not trying to discredit what Godzil says, it just seems very improbable from a technological standpoint so I assume there must be some kind of misunderstanding...

Well, I would try to make it one firmware and just have checks for the hardware in the boot process. I do not think very much is added to the size of the firmware for this. I think tha advantage of having just one firmware is pretty big so it is worth the trouble to get it to work.

Another alternative is to have one installer blob that installs different firmware depending on the hardware.