Request Updates on eInk software progress???!

I agree. I'm more interested in the use of the eink side for academic purposes with the tablet side as a bonus.

BTW What's up with the Adam?

Last I read about the Adam, is that it has shipped, although in somewhat limited numbers, and that (according to the article I read) the software is a wreck. Many features are not working or working poorly and people were awaiting a software upgrade which the company said is forthcoming. I would be very happy to hear that things have gotten better and that an upgraded device is now shipping in big numbers. Competition will be good for all of us.

Here is the review I read, dated jan 28, so we can only hope that it's gotten better

http://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-s...review-part-3/

Originally Posted by alefor

Last I read about the Adam, is that it has shipped, although in somewhat limited numbers, and that (according to the article I read) the software is a wreck. Many features are not working or working poorly and people were awaiting a software upgrade which the company said is forthcoming. I would be very happy to hear that things have gotten better and that an upgraded device is now shipping in big numbers. Competition will be good for all of us.

Here is the review I read, dated jan 28, so we can only hope that it's gotten better

http://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-s...review-part-3/

Ok, thanks for the update. I was wondering.

Originally Posted by Dr. T

An enTourage administrator

And now confirmed by Tech Support

It also seems that the pixel qi was somewhat of a disappointment:

The two units we compared each other with was the e-ink display screen found in the new Entourage Pocket Edge and the Pixel QI found on the Adam. Under direct light the Pixel QI found on the Adam provided a high degree of contrast vs the e-ink found on the Entourage Pocket Edge. When we turned most of the lights off, we found the e-ink to be the superior in most facets.

from
http://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-s...k-adam-part-2/

Originally Posted by jsfiller

I agree. I'm more interested in the use of the eink side for academic purposes with the tablet side as a bonus.

BTW What's up with the Adam?

I absolutely agree with you. With e-ink it really is something you have to see with your own eyes to value. That is a tough hurdle!

As others have stated, many of the potential new customers are hyper-focused on the version of android software since new releases are so "newsworthy" in our culture (which is why, in a different post, I wondered aloud about whether the LCD side could run something other than android). So, enTourage is trying to balance attracting new customers with supporting its current cohort. It is clear from all of my communications with company people that they are still working on the eInk side... just that their data indicate that Froyo will bring in more customers than awesome eInk functionality would. I have high hopes that they'll return to the eInk side soon, though.

Additionally, my impression from my conversations is that the backing out of that 3rd party really dealt the company a big blow from which they are still struggling to rebound. (Maybe causing some of the shake ups we saw?)

Just wondering aloud, again, but is it possible that the development side was inaccessible to some of you software-savvy individuals because of some deal with a 3rd party company? So, maybe things could change now/soon? (Just to be clear, this question is really just me wondering... nothing about this was suggested in my conversation with enTourage)

Originally Posted by Dr. T

It is clear from all of my communications with company people that they are still working on the eInk side... just that their data indicate that Froyo will bring in more customers than awesome eInk functionality would. I have high hopes that they'll return to the eInk side soon, though.

This was kinda my fear. When I stumbled across the edge, I was looking for a device that would be beneficial in my academic pursuits, e.g. multiple texts open, annotation, attaching files and docs to sections of a text, etc. I was afraid that the desire to appeal to a greater audience than academics would affect the development of the product, and that seems to be what is happening. I can certainly understand the need/desire to sell to a broader market, but it seems to me Entourage started off in one direction and is now shifting gears in another direction. This is understandable, but sad for me.

I hope that ".......are still working on the eInk side..." means that Entourage will give the eInk development very high priority after Froyo is released. But its not unlikely at all, that less then a week after the release of Froyo the 'tablet lovers' will begin to ask for the next tablet software update and the priority stays there.

True, but my understanding (which, granted, is very limited) is that the EE's hardware cannot support anything newer than 2.2.

Originally Posted by jsfiller

I was afraid that the desire to appeal to a greater audience than academics would affect the development of the product, and that seems to be what is happening. I can certainly understand the need/desire to sell to a broader market, but it seems to me Entourage started off in one direction and is now shifting gears in another direction. This is understandable, but sad for me.

I get what you're saying, but I'm not (yet) convinced it's as dire as all that. I think ensuring the tablet side doesn't lag waaaay far behind (which 1.6 will soon enough; I disagree it's so way far behind right now, but within the year for sure) is important to the overal functioning of the device. It is supposed to be a multitasking device, more than just what the e-ink side can provide. In order for it to keep its "edge" as something that can do basic web stuff and add features through apps in addition to being an academic device (so that it is all you need to carry around for a day) I think Android 2.x in 2011 is important. But, I think the academic audience will tend to be much more forgiving about the version of Android if they roll out more/steady improvements to the e-ink side. In just the year we've had the device, we've already seen progress on that front.

The issue i can see them facing right now is that fewer and fewer people are going to be willing to plunk down $500 for an Android 1.6 device as time goes on. Given that a lot of phones are still on 1.x, at least that doesn't put the edge too far behind in terms of apps still being supported. But in order to get new revenue, to get the device used by high school/college students, getting up to at least 2.x and offering a more future-proofed device makes sense. I think a 2.x device has a couple more years of shelf life than a 1.x device, and that the little extras that Android apps provide to the academic experience (calendar, email, browsing) are a key part of the machine as a whole.

Originally Posted by janvangastel

But its not unlikely at all, that less then a week after the release of Froyo the 'tablet lovers' will begin to ask for the next tablet software update and the priority stays there.

It does feel like this is the way it goes, doesn't it?

I'll chime in regarding the eink also. The integrated features between the eink and lcd were my main reasons for purchasing and remain my main interest in the device, so I, too, am more interested in the annotations/zoom fix as well. And, as I mentioned, way long time ago, I would also like to see a feature for exporting the 'notes' (from the notes tool, not the handwritten annotations, the typed ones) to a .doc or .txt format. Some of the free pdf editors have this feature. They export with the page no., the title of the note, and the notes to text or rtf format. Very useful for a generic backup of notes or if you want to go back to a pdf editor and build them in the original document as I do with some of my pdfs.

This is one of the most interesting discussions I've read as I acclimate myself to the user base of the eDGe community. One of my first discussions with the tech group was that the draw for me to purchase the Pocket eDGe was the dual purpose tablet/eInk functionality. My initial observation was that the eInk side needed some basic attention to clarity and tools. Since I am more a tablet side user, though the eInk side is great for overlapping functions like having two similar documnents open to read and compare information, the tablet side is excellent for the large amount of news and data apps available. No other device has this unique functionality. With the arrival of the 2.2 update, which I believe is very stable and an easier to navigate upgrade, I believe that you all are quite correct that the eInk side needs the attention recommended in this discussion. Balanced reliability and functionality will draw everyone wanting the best of both and either offering, eInk and tablet. I have learned quite a bit here and the designers should take notice of your needs.

This is one of the most interesting discussions I've read as I acclimate myself to the user base of the eDGe community. One of my first discussions with the tech group was that the draw for me to purchase the Pocket eDGe was the dual purpose tablet/eInk functionality. My initial observation was that the eInk side needed some basic attention to clarity and tools. Since I am more a tablet side user, though the eInk side is great for overlapping functions like having two similar documnents open to read and compare information, the tablet side is excellent for the large amount of news and data apps available. No other device has this unique functionality. With the arrival of the 2.2 update, which I believe is very stable and an easier to navigate upgrade, I believe that you all are quite correct that the eInk side needs the attention recommended in this discussion. Balanced reliability and functionality will draw everyone wanting the best of both and either offering, eInk and tablet. I have learned quite a bit here and the designers should take notice of your needs.