Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HPG

Thanks for the helpful advice, but I guess that's why so many of us feel like giving up from time to time. This format confusion is just baffling for those of us who aren't immersed in the technology. I take Pilotbob's point, that DRM can be stripped out, although I'm not at all sure about the legality of that in Canada, and, again, it's an example of the kind of complication that gets in the way of what needs to be a transparent technology for it to gain widespread acceptance. If that's not too tangled a sentence.

This all reminds me so much of the early days of personal computing, when the decision about which machine to buy was tied up with what software was written for it, so it was very much a game mainly for enthusiasts and gamesters. Then along came the technically awful IBM PC, powered by the even more ghastly MS-DOS, and because it was IBM everyone bought it, creating this vast market for software. Authors found ways of living with the ludicrous limitations that MS-DOS imposed, the market grew, and the rest, as they say...

Well, technology changes. Before the latest Sony firmware release it was true that all eBook Readers only supported one DRM format. When change happens the word takes a while to disperse.

Today it is still the case that many decisions about hardware are made based on what software or what format eBooks are supported. Many folks use a PC specifically to run certain programs even today and the same is true of eBook devices.

Dale

[ddimick]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Well, technology changes. Before the latest Sony firmware release it was true that all eBook Readers only supported one DRM format. When change happens the word takes a while to disperse.

Today it is still the case that many decisions about hardware are made based on what software or what format eBooks are supported. Many folks use a PC specifically to run certain programs even today and the same is true of eBook devices.

Dale

Well, I'm still confused then, I suppose. According to Sony:

Media Formats Supported

* DRM Text : BBeB Book (Marlin)

* Image : JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP

* Unsecured Audio : MP3 and AAC7

* Unsecured Text : BBeB, ePub, TXT, RTF, Adobe® PDF10, Microsoft® Word (Conversion to the Reader requires Word installed on your PC)

Perhaps this product description is out of date, although the new reader won't even ship until mid-November.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by ddimick

Well, I'm still confused then, I suppose. According to Sony:

* DRM Text : BBeB Book (Marlin)
Perhaps this product description is out of date, although the new reader won't even ship until mid-November.

That is probably old. The Sony PRS-505 firmware release that came out last month does add support for Secure Adobe via Digital Editions. I forgot about that. However, it does open up more than the Sony eBook store. (Without need to strip DRM.)

BOb

[HPG]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

That is probably old. The Sony PRS-505 firmware release that came out last month does add support for Secure Adobe via Digital Editions. I forgot about that. However, it does open up more than the Sony eBook store. (Without need to strip DRM.)

BOb

I hadn't noticed that; indeed, the local Sony website is advertising:

Unsecured Text: BBeB Book, TXT, RTF, Adobe® PDF4, Microsoft® Word (Conversion to the Reader-requires Word installed on your PC) DRM
Text: BBeB Book (Marlin), EPUB

How widely available are secure EPUB texts, by comparison with something like Mobipocket?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HPG

How widely available are secure EPUB texts, by comparison with something like Mobipocket?

Adobe DRM can be used on PDF and ePub.

Secure Adobe PDF availability is pretty good. Many ebook stores have been selling secure Adobe PDFs for quite a while. Usually Fictionwise, BoB and Desil will have Secure Adobe/MS Reader/Mobi for all of their books. Also, many libraries uses this format/DRM. ePub is the new kid on the block. I am only aware of Waterstones eBook store in the UK using secure ePub. Pan McMillion is selling DRM free ePub.

BOb

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

ePub is the new kid on the block. I am only aware of Waterstones eBook store in the UK using secure ePub. Pan McMillion is selling DRM free ePub.

BooksOnBoard sells Secure Adobe ePub, for example Biggles in France is only available today in Secure PDF (BoB calls this Secure Digital Editions) and Secure ePub.

[tazzle]

Robertb, you should tell your people to add Greek and Cyrillic reading capability! We're going to be purchasing another E-reading device, but it will have to handle Greek for my husband's work PDFs and docs. I'm very surprised that more E-readers don't support these languages... There are a lot of ebook users reading in Russian, and besides Greek speakers (admittedly not so many), there are many scholars working with texts in ancient Greek. Is it really so complicated or expensive to add full international support, or at least let users upload their own language fonts?

We're looking at a Cybook right now for this reason, or possibly waiting to see what Plastic Logic comes out with on their reader.

[NeweReader]

Originally Posted by dki

Hi Robert,

And, last but not least, are you planning on having a distributor for your product (I mean a chain of real stores, like Target for Sony), now or in the future. J&R (they distribute JetBook & Sony). I am asking because of the warranty and fixing device problems that are usually easier solved with a retailer chain.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Dorota

Hi Robert,

I would also like to know if there will be a local distributor? I would very much like to be able to hold the EZ Reader in my hands prior to purchasing it, if possible. As said by Dorota ... Target or even Best Buy.

Thanks

[HPG]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Adobe DRM can be used on PDF and ePub.

Secure Adobe PDF availability is pretty good. Many ebook stores have been selling secure Adobe PDFs for quite a while. Usually Fictionwise, BoB and Desil will have Secure Adobe/MS Reader/Mobi for all of their books. Also, many libraries uses this format/DRM. ePub is the new kid on the block. I am only aware of Waterstones eBook store in the UK using secure ePub. Pan McMillion is selling DRM free ePub.

BOb

Interesting -- thanks. So it's beginning to look as if the Sony isn't a bad choice at all.

[Luigino]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Adobe DRM can be used on PDF and ePub.

Secure Adobe PDF availability is pretty good. Many ebook stores have been selling secure Adobe PDFs for quite a while. Usually Fictionwise, BoB and Desil will have Secure Adobe/MS Reader/Mobi for all of their books. Also, many libraries uses this format/DRM. ePub is the new kid on the block. I am only aware of Waterstones eBook store in the UK using secure ePub. Pan McMillion is selling DRM free ePub.

BOb

hello bob,

would that mean if I have my own PDF, like a document I wrote and converted into pdf to re-read again while I am away on holidays, I can open and read it?....

Ciao,
Luigi

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Luigino

hello bob,

would that mean if I have my own PDF, like a document I wrote and converted into pdf to re-read again while I am away on holidays, I can open and read it?....

Ciao,
Luigi

You could always read non-secure PDFs on a Sony. However, before the recent firmware (505) you would have to size it to the readers screen. With the new firmware it will reflow. It's not perfect but at least the text will be readable.

BOb

[Hatgirl]

Hi Robert!

Is this article is true?

Astak have confirmed that their new e-Book reader, the Astak Mentor EZ Reader *SNIP* will begin shipping as of November

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2008/10/01/...ased-e-reader/

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

Is this article is true?

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2008/10/01/...ased-e-reader/

I think they're just going to be shipping the 6inch version at this time... but would love to see Robert's response.

BOb

[rebarnmom]

Originally Posted by NeweReader

Hi Robert,

I would also like to know if there will be a local distributor? I would very much like to be able to hold the EZ Reader in my hands prior to purchasing it, if possible. As said by Dorota ... Target or even Best Buy.

Thanks

I'm with you on that!

[GatorDeb]

So is there an ETA for these being on sale?