Gen3 When will Bookeen post a new firmware update? - Page 7

emellaich · 04-08-2009, 07:38 PM

OK, Now for some completely wild speculation.

I don't really understand why Cybook (and others -- I'm not picking on Cybook) are so slow in rolling out updates. If you have a programmer working on the device there is no way it can take them much time to make the very minor changes we have seen. In fact, the software across the board should have greatly improved by now.

Then I considered what I had learned from watching the posts of RobertB from Astak up in the news thread. Astak is also sourcing the Netronix ebook that is the basis for the Cybook. Astak has no staff so both hardware and software are coming from Netronix.

So now I have this picture in my mind of the programmer's job at Netronix.

They get an order from Cybook. Cybook specifies the details of the startup screen. The layout of the library screen and some more details of the layout. The programmer customizes the standard Netronix software build to Cybook spec's. This is a top priority since there won't be any Cybook sales unless there is an ebook that looks like a Cybook ebook.

Cybook has some enhancement requests and puts them into the queue for the Netronix programmer.

Meanwhile, Foxit comes along with a request for the Foxit reader. Foxit wants to use their own pdf engine, but they still require a bit of custom work from the Netronix programmer. Netronix management has their choice of what to work on next. Even without the enhancements, the Cybook is selling. These enhancements might make for happier customers, but it probably won't make a major change in sales. On the other hand, taking care of Foxit creates another sales outlet and opens up the market. So, Foxit gets priority.

Netronix finishes up the Foxit software build, and the Cybook enhancements are next on the list. However, Astak steps up as a new customer. Once again, the developers sign on to deliver Astak's custom startup screen and software tweaks.

Now we have three different sets of software (Cybook, Foxit, Astak) all requesting slightly different enhancements and all using different software builds. Before Netronix can begin working on any of these requests, it has a new customers pop up (STAReBOOK, Soribook, NUUT, Pocketbook, and Netronix' own ebook line; see https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Netronix ).0

Somewhere along here Netronix upgrades its hardware. Now its only making the eb-600 version of the hardware. That means that it has to drop everything and re-tweak a few things on customers that are already released to enable the new hardware.

As a result of this process, only new customers get serviced. Upgrades/tweaks (unless they are critical bug fixes) get continuously pushed to the back of the queue.

This is all merely speculation. My point is that there is no way it is taking even a single programmer years to make the minor changes we are seeing to the software. Their must be other demands on the programmer's time. My speculation is that we are seeing a very limited programming resource shared across all of Netronix's distribution partners.

Michael

igorsk · 04-08-2009, 09:15 PM

You have some things slightly wrong. Cybook, PocketBook, Orsio all write their own software for their Netronix-based devices (except for the kernel and drivers, which are provided by Netronix). I assume Foxit does as well. I don't know what Netronix will provide to Astak, AFAIK the only one device with their software on the market is Explay, which reportedly cannot read anything besides plain TXT.

emellaich · 04-09-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

You have some things slightly wrong. Cybook, PocketBook, Orsio all write their own software for their Netronix-based devices (except for the kernel and drivers, which are provided by Netronix). I assume Foxit does as well. I don't know what Netronix will provide to Astak, AFAIK the only one device with their software on the market is Explay, which reportedly cannot read anything besides plain TXT.

Interesting to hear that. I was just speculating, and I have no doubt that you have more real information than I do.

I know you are a one of the leading experts in this area. Do you know anything about what their developers are actually working on? I find it hard to believe they are actually working on the software, and are really this slow in adding features.

Jellby · 04-09-2009, 04:36 AM

By the way, Cybook is the device, the company is Bookeen.

K-Thom · 04-09-2009, 04:37 AM

Does anyone here at MR actually know or have a number how large Bookeen as a company is? Are we talking about 10 employees, 20, 50?

Or are we talking about two sales manager who handle all the incoming orders with no inhouse programmer at hand?

I own a small eBook publishing house with some freelancing staff at hand.
I've known my programmer for years personally, so I can talk to him in a non-formal way. I usually send him a mail with some new features I'd like to add to my store and ask him IF they are possibly and HOW LONG they will take.

The last request for some minor changes I did in early November, which has been finished by him now in mid March. Of course I could look around for some other programmer, but the shop software is tailor-made to my needs so any new programmer would take weeks or months to fully understand the code.
And my programmer does his job for an affordable price, so why ditch him?

I wouldn't wonder if it's the same around at Bookeen. I think they would love to do more - if only they had the resources ...

Over · 04-09-2009, 05:23 AM

You're all missing a small point... The new Cybooks come with an updated firmware version (not the one with ePub support, though). Why don't they release what they already have to their customers?

HarryT · 04-09-2009, 05:41 AM

I'd guess that it's because the changes from 796 are not (in their view) sufficient to warrant the effort required in producing an installation package for it. The only "functional" change that I'm aware of in the 8xx firmware is that one can now supply "missing" fonts for a PDF file.

Godzil · 04-09-2009, 05:45 AM

And maybe support for these strange "400Mhz" devices

Does anyone with a Gen3 and firmware >796 have in the about screen a "200Mhz" CPU?

Snuffi · 04-09-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Nope. Update will comes... When it's done.

Where and when did bookeen acctually promised this ?

In their blog, in their newsletters and in replies to people. Blog stuff is mostly in French which is not my specialty so I rely mostly on the people who post the translation here. In the newsletter folder support was first promised for the update coming in January 2008. Would have to plough through my mail to see if i can dig that up or if it's already deleted.
Maybe some of the people who posted dates in this very thread could divulge their sources. Actually, if I am not totally mistaken I think you yourself posted a date from the blog in this thread (sorry, too lazy to plough through it all now, just seem to remember it)...

ErwinOtten · 04-09-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Where and when did bookeen acctually promised this ?

Cut/paste:

[Bookeen] Newsletter 8‏

The Bookeen team would like to thank all the users who provided us with their precious and helpful suggestions and feedback. Our Dev team is working on a new firmware upgrade? the e-reading will evolve once again? The firmware update should be released at the beginning of 2009.

And don't start about it is still the beginning of 2009........

HarryT · 04-09-2009, 07:06 AM

With all due respect, that is merely an estimate, not a "promise"

.

Abelturd · 04-09-2009, 07:27 AM

I agree. And what does it matter now? They missed their estimate. There's no new estimate other than "soon". So I guess there's nothing else we can do but wait. And hope.

HarryT · 04-09-2009, 07:33 AM

It seems likely that the "early 2009" date got overtaken by the deal with Adobe to add ePub support, and it's that that's now being debugged and delaying things. I wish, though, that they'd released a firmware version with folder support before starting on that!

Vesper · 04-09-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It seems likely that the "early 2009" date got overtaken by the deal with Adobe to add ePub support, and it's that that's now being debugged and delaying things. I wish, though, that they'd released a firmware version with folder support before starting on that!

Me too. I currently have about 120+ books and it's pita to get from page 1 to 20. My thumb is getting quite a workout

DrS

ErwinOtten · 04-09-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abelturd

I agree. And what does it matter now? They missed their estimate. There's no new estimate other than "soon". So I guess there's nothing else we can do but wait. And hope.

It doesn't matter to me. I'm a happy reader with 33 mobi-pocket-books on his CyBook who isn't in need of folder-support or a system-upgrade. My Cybook seldom hangs and I can read anything I want.

I just wanted to show that Bookeen did promise an update in the first quarter of 2009. All I want from bookeen is that they are a little more open to us, the customers. Tell what you're doing and people are happy. Don't tell a thing and they start to complain.....

View Poll Results: The next CyBook firmware will appear
Before the end of 22nd March	1	1.45%
Monday 23rd to Friday 27th March	8	11.59%
28th March to 31st March	3	4.35%
1st April to 30th April	22	31.88%
1st May to 31st December 2009	21	30.43%
Never!	14	20.29%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll

04-09-2009, 04:37 AM	#95
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	Does anyone here at MR actually know or have a number how large Bookeen as a company is? Are we talking about 10 employees, 20, 50? Or are we talking about two sales manager who handle all the incoming orders with no inhouse programmer at hand? I own a small eBook publishing house with some freelancing staff at hand. I've known my programmer for years personally, so I can talk to him in a non-formal way. I usually send him a mail with some new features I'd like to add to my store and ask him IF they are possibly and HOW LONG they will take. The last request for some minor changes I did in early November, which has been finished by him now in mid March. Of course I could look around for some other programmer, but the shop software is tailor-made to my needs so any new programmer would take weeks or months to fully understand the code. And my programmer does his job for an affordable price, so why ditch him? I wouldn't wonder if it's the same around at Bookeen. I think they would love to do more - if only they had the resources ... Last edited by K-Thom; 04-09-2009 at 04:43 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Any update from Bookeen on the 1.5/2.0 firmware bugs?	ramboky	Bookeen	43	04-02-2010 03:07 AM
May 12, 2016: Bookeen update ALMOST Finished!	hidari	Bookeen	17	12-11-2009 03:43 PM
Bookeen Cybook Gen3 update has arrived!	delphidb96	Reading and Management	8	03-27-2009 04:36 PM
Bookeen Cybook Gen 3 Shipping Update	Nate the great	Bookeen	41	02-17-2008 09:35 PM

04-08-2009, 07:38 PM	#91
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	OK, Now for some completely wild speculation. I don't really understand why Cybook (and others -- I'm not picking on Cybook) are so slow in rolling out updates. If you have a programmer working on the device there is no way it can take them much time to make the very minor changes we have seen. In fact, the software across the board should have greatly improved by now. Then I considered what I had learned from watching the posts of RobertB from Astak up in the news thread. Astak is also sourcing the Netronix ebook that is the basis for the Cybook. Astak has no staff so both hardware and software are coming from Netronix. So now I have this picture in my mind of the programmer's job at Netronix. They get an order from Cybook. Cybook specifies the details of the startup screen. The layout of the library screen and some more details of the layout. The programmer customizes the standard Netronix software build to Cybook spec's. This is a top priority since there won't be any Cybook sales unless there is an ebook that looks like a Cybook ebook. Cybook has some enhancement requests and puts them into the queue for the Netronix programmer. Meanwhile, Foxit comes along with a request for the Foxit reader. Foxit wants to use their own pdf engine, but they still require a bit of custom work from the Netronix programmer. Netronix management has their choice of what to work on next. Even without the enhancements, the Cybook is selling. These enhancements might make for happier customers, but it probably won't make a major change in sales. On the other hand, taking care of Foxit creates another sales outlet and opens up the market. So, Foxit gets priority. Netronix finishes up the Foxit software build, and the Cybook enhancements are next on the list. However, Astak steps up as a new customer. Once again, the developers sign on to deliver Astak's custom startup screen and software tweaks. Now we have three different sets of software (Cybook, Foxit, Astak) all requesting slightly different enhancements and all using different software builds. Before Netronix can begin working on any of these requests, it has a new customers pop up (STAReBOOK, Soribook, NUUT, Pocketbook, and Netronix' own ebook line; see https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Netronix ).0 Somewhere along here Netronix upgrades its hardware. Now its only making the eb-600 version of the hardware. That means that it has to drop everything and re-tweak a few things on customers that are already released to enable the new hardware. As a result of this process, only new customers get serviced. Upgrades/tweaks (unless they are critical bug fixes) get continuously pushed to the back of the queue. This is all merely speculation. My point is that there is no way it is taking even a single programmer years to make the minor changes we are seeing to the software. Their must be other demands on the programmer's time. My speculation is that we are seeing a very limited programming resource shared across all of Netronix's distribution partners. Michael

04-08-2009, 09:15 PM	#92
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	You have some things slightly wrong. Cybook, PocketBook, Orsio all write their own software for their Netronix-based devices (except for the kernel and drivers, which are provided by Netronix). I assume Foxit does as well. I don't know what Netronix will provide to Astak, AFAIK the only one device with their software on the market is Explay, which reportedly cannot read anything besides plain TXT.

04-09-2009, 04:36 AM	#94
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,550 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	By the way, Cybook is the device, the company is Bookeen.

04-09-2009, 05:23 AM	#96
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	You're all missing a small point... The new Cybooks come with an updated firmware version (not the one with ePub support, though). Why don't they release what they already have to their customers?

04-09-2009, 05:41 AM	#97
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,549 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd guess that it's because the changes from 796 are not (in their view) sufficient to warrant the effort required in producing an installation package for it. The only "functional" change that I'm aware of in the 8xx firmware is that one can now supply "missing" fonts for a PDF file.

04-09-2009, 05:45 AM	#98
Godzil a pthread?? where? where? Posts: 1,763 Karma: 30462 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere in EU Device: Newton MessagePad 2100, and only this	And maybe support for these strange "400Mhz" devices Does anyone with a Gen3 and firmware >796 have in the about screen a "200Mhz" CPU?

04-09-2009, 07:06 AM	#101
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,549 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	With all due respect, that is merely an estimate, not a "promise" .

04-09-2009, 07:27 AM	#102
Abelturd Little Fuzzy Soldier Posts: 580 Karma: 5711 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nowhere in particular. Device: cybook gen3, htc hero, ipaq 214	I agree. And what does it matter now? They missed their estimate. There's no new estimate other than "soon". So I guess there's nothing else we can do but wait. And hope.

04-09-2009, 07:33 AM	#103
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,549 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It seems likely that the "early 2009" date got overtaken by the deal with Adobe to add ePub support, and it's that that's now being debugged and delaying things. I wish, though, that they'd released a firmware version with folder support before starting on that!

Advert

Advert