Item on the "The Gadget Show" (UK)

[zelda_pinwheel]

thanks both of you for the report !

it sounds like it was a pretty good programme ; not comprehensive, but overall with a positive tone, which may interest people in finding out more. and they seem to have had reasonable things to say, in their advantages / disadvantages lists. it's great that the show had that feature.

[Gibbo]

I prefer sparrows review way more informative than mine

[zelda_pinwheel]

well i appreciate the thought anyway.

[semboyan]

This is totally new for me. I'm hardly understand the things. I have to learn more.

[JoeD]

I caught part of this earlier today, seems their only real complaint about the BeBook was the lack of support for most modern titles (with the assumption they'll be DRM'd and most customers wouldn't want to, or perhaps wouldn't know how to convert other formats to a supported one). But, looking at the BeBook it seems to be a Hanlin v3, so I'm assuming it's a rebrand much like the LBook I have here

In which case, their only criticism has been resolved with the newly released firmware.

In their defence, I'd imagine the program was recorded before the new firmware was known about, making it a legitimate criticism.

If it wasn't for that, I imagine they'd have rated both the BeBook and Sony as 4/5. Perhaps the Sony had the edge on looks, but the BeBook would take the lead with format support, especially with the number of stores selling mobi, vs the single sony store and the ability to read a wider range of formats without conversion, which I could see been important to those that are not quite as techy and can just about manage to save a html page onto a memory stick, or drop a txt file/word doc onto one.

Would have been nice to see Baen books get a plug when they talked about modern books having copy protection though. On the whole, it seemed to be quite a well balanced look at the current ebooks, although I was surprised to see the Cybook wasn't mentioned, since it's easily obtainable in the UK. Then again, I only caught the back end of the program, it may have been mentioned earlier?

[Bigbear]

Nope - the Cybook did not get a look in, which I agree is a surprising omission. I would have thought it would be better known in the UK than the Bebook. With the Illiad and its confusing menu's and slow operation and the Sony not yet available in the UK, the Bebook won to my mind, as in it was the most affordable, with Mobi support on the way. Good job I bought one then!

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by JoeD

I caught part of this earlier today, seems their only real complaint about the BeBook was the lack of support for most modern titles (with the assumption they'll be DRM'd and most customers wouldn't want to, or perhaps wouldn't know how to convert other formats to a supported one).

I think it's actually illegal to do that in the UK so I doubt they'd want to publicly encourage it.

[JoeD]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I think it's actually illegal to do that in the UK so I doubt they'd want to publicly encourage it.

There's a consultation under way which should hopefully change that and bring the UK laws into the 21st century.

Although until that does materialise, you're correct, it's illegal to format shift. Which would be enough to stop a TV show suggesting it.

At the risk of going semi-off topic, here's a snippet of the proposal:

6. It is proposed to create a new exception that would allow consumers to make a copy of a work they legally own, so that they can make the work accessible in another format for playback on a device in their lawful possession. The exception would only apply to personal or private use. The owner would not be permitted to sell, loan or give away the copy or share it more widely (for example in a file sharing system or on the internet). Multiple copying would not be allowed. The development of this exception raises the following questions:

Which brings up the questions:

• What classes of works would it apply to? Sound recordings and films or works of all kinds?

I'd hope they apply it to ALL works, or at least include literary works.

• Exactly what acts would be non-infringing? What is meant by personal and private use?

This may be harder for them to define, but hopefully common sense will prevail with wording to allow a home user to download and use applications to convert from an original format (that they have legally purchased) to another (even if they have to bypass DRM to do it) but that keeps selling/sharing/distributing the copy illegal, then that's ok.

• How many format shifts would be allowed? Should consumers be allowed to format shift to a range of play back devices and to format shift again when certain technologies become obsolete?

Hopefully they won't limit the number of format shifts.

Lets face it, if a user wants to convert a VHS into a DVD format and then convert it and store it in blu ray format, why prevent them?

They've bought the original in the first place and many people may buy the new DVD version or blu-ray because it provides greater quality than their conversion could ever acheive. Same again as technology moves from DVD -> HD.

Books would be the same, buy in .XYZ format and convert to the format that your device uses. In the future when tech changes, you convert to yet another format and so on. At some point in the future, the publishers may release a version of the book in the format you want that happens to be better "formatted" than your conversion. Perhaps it includes corrections and a better layout for the specific device you're planning to use. At this point you have the choice to convert your old format over, or buy the new one.

Let the consumer decide if the new version is worth buying.

• Would the exception apply to works created or purchased after the exception was introduced or would it be acceptable to format shift back catalogues?

I'd hope they'd make it back-dated.

Apologies for going off topic. I'm just hoping this law comes into effect. It should be possible to keep piracy illegal whilst allowing consumers sufficient rights to use content they've purchased/licensed.

[jaffab]

Hi all.

i wateched the Gadget show, and whilst I take what they say with a pinch of salt (come on guys, give us the specs, not just how well they stand up if you run them over with a tractor), have to say I was impressed.

Just pre-ordered my Sony PR505 from Waterstones. that is the location that is being linked from the Sony UK web site - £199 for the reader, with 100 free 'classic' (old) books, and 500 waterstone ebook points (whatever they are).

http://www.waterstones.com/waterston...o?pPageID=1576

[Gibbo]

Just a small note to inform that overseas readers can pre-order the 505

[LazyScot]

Drat. Forgot about this. I really must series-link The Gadget Show.

A bit of digging, and it appears that Channel 5 make stuff available on line (sort of like the BBC iPlayer) look here for the site to watch this on-line . I'd guess it is Geo-Locked to the UK, but it might be worth a try it. The article starts at about 06:54 if you want to seek to it, and finishes about 13:40.

Given he had a Kindle in his hand, I don't see why they didn't to at least a partial review of it...

[soilwork]

I found this while reading about bebook review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDFNEm2XFlc
Since it is on Youtube, it is not locked to any specific region.