Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only) - Page 78

pkovak · 12-12-2008, 12:49 PM

Well, we will help as much as possible, it's in our best interest. Can you give us updates on what they think is possible? So we can concentrate on doable stuff and not on something we can't change.
And, of course, to know what of we were speaking about here will be really implemented. It's good feeling.
Personaly, I think that software / firmware changes will be easiest and can give you best returns. Opening the device and it's software for 3rd party software can be big boost too, look at Mozilla, it's one of the good examples how open source can be worth it's wight in gold.
Of course, we are not speaking about making your software for eReader open source, I think that there is no chance to go this way. But one of the reasons Firefox is so widely used is that it has great support for 3rd party software and the plugins really make a difference.

pilotbob · 12-12-2008, 05:49 PM

RobertB

You asked what I would like to see in a reader from Astak. Well, see message #8 of this thread for a pretty good rundown!

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...91&postcount=8

BOb

smithno · 12-12-2008, 07:09 PM

A relatively simple enhancement for the EZ Reader is adding the page turning buttons to the right side of the case. Straight across from the left side buttons would be great.

pkovak · 12-13-2008, 02:50 AM

And why not let this to the touchscreen display? Why more buttons? Display can show it where user choose, no matter how you turn the eReader.

Jellby · 12-13-2008, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkovak

And why not let this to the touchscreen display? Why more buttons? Display can show it where user choose, no matter how you turn the eReader.

I don't want to touch the screen with my greasy fingers... but maybe some kind of remote control could be great. Nothing fancy, just a wired thingy (~30 cm long) with two buttons, then you don't even need to reach for the reader in order to "turn" a page.

pkovak · 12-13-2008, 04:43 AM

I am not sure I would be excited to see something dangling from the eReader... usually, when you read, you hold it in your hands, I think it would not be practical. Another aspect is turning the device 90 or 180 degrees, then the cabel would be attached not on bottom, but on side or top. I think it would be more pain then gain.
You are right about touching the screen with greasy fingers, though, I haven't concidered that.

Jellby · 12-13-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkovak

I am not sure I would be excited to see something dangling from the eReader...

I would suggest, of course, something that could be unplugged, an accessory.

griffonwing · 12-13-2008, 06:43 PM

Incorporate a sensor in the device. I would assume that most people will be holding the device to read from it. Have a sensor so that whichever side is "down" will be the orientation of the reading. Simply tilting the unit on it's side or upside down with alter the orientation. This way, you negate the need for extraneous buttons on the front.

And for those that lay the book flat on the table to read, I would assume that in the software you can have a default orientation, Portrait or Landscape.

msundman · 12-13-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Incorporate a sensor in the device.

You'd still need at least one button to disable/enable the feature. One obviously has to be able read when laying in bed and thus keeping one's head sideways. E.g., this is close to impossible with the iphone's browser, and it would be wise for makers of new devices to learn from apple's mistake.

Justy · 12-14-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

I would suggest, of course, something that could be unplugged, an accessory.

I love the idea of a 'page turning' accessory, which could perhaps plug into the USB slot. It would be great for reading in bed when I have my eBook Reader in the perfect position with the light shining on it just right and my hands in relaxed positions. To be able to just click the button to turn the page instead of moving my arm would be nice. This is of course a 'nice to have' not a 'need' by any means, but my lazy sleepy self has often wished for something like this.

zelda_pinwheel · 12-14-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justy

I love the idea of a 'page turning' accessory, which could perhaps plug into the USB slot. It would be great for reading in bed when I have my eBook Reader in the perfect position with the light shining on it just right and my hands in relaxed positions. To be able to just click the button to turn the page instead of moving my arm would be nice. This is of course a 'nice to have' not a 'need' by any means, but my lazy sleepy self has often wished for something like this.

that would be very nice indeed... plus the added benefit of being able to leave your hands under the quilt where it's warm, instead of out in the cold air to get frozen ! my sleepy, lazy, and chilly self also wishes for this.

wallcraft · 12-14-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justy

I love the idea of a 'page turning' accessory, which could perhaps plug into the USB slot.

This requires the USB slot be configured as USB On-The-Go, so it can accept low power accessories (e.g. a mouse or perhaps a keyboard). This is a good thing to do in general, particularly if the device already has a keyboard and pointing device (which it will if it has a touch screen and an on-screen keyboard). At least one recent low power CPU (Freescale i.MX31L) has built in support for USB OTG and it is available on the Nokia 8X0 Internet Tablets.

pkovak · 12-15-2008, 12:38 AM

Masters of eReaders, I stand corrected

I am still not sure I personaly would want to buy and use such addon, but you have strong case in this.

Robertb · 12-16-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithno

A relatively simple enhancement for the EZ Reader is adding the page turning buttons to the right side of the case. Straight across from the left side buttons would be great.

Dear Smithno:

One of the features I like most about the EZ Reader is that we already have page advance buttons on BOTH the left side and right bottom sides. The ""9" and "0" buttons do finction as "page back" and "page forward" fully!!

We thought about putting them at the same height as the ones on the left but it just seemed to hamper one thumbing the other functions.

I am not against it. Let me look at this again and check at CES.

Thank you!!

Robert B

Robertb · 12-16-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Incorporate a sensor in the device. I would assume that most people will be holding the device to read from it. Have a sensor so that whichever side is "down" will be the orientation of the reading. Simply tilting the unit on it's side or upside down with alter the orientation. This way, you negate the need for extraneous buttons on the front.

And for those that lay the book flat on the table to read, I would assume that in the software you can have a default orientation, Portrait or Landscape.

Dear Griffonwing:

This is a good suggestion too. I like the idea if an "automatic mechanical" way for the Reader to know how it is being held.

This one we can look at and get costs.

Thank you!!

Robert B

12-12-2008, 12:49 PM	#1156
pkovak Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth Device: none	Well, we will help as much as possible, it's in our best interest. Can you give us updates on what they think is possible? So we can concentrate on doable stuff and not on something we can't change. And, of course, to know what of we were speaking about here will be really implemented. It's good feeling. Personaly, I think that software / firmware changes will be easiest and can give you best returns. Opening the device and it's software for 3rd party software can be big boost too, look at Mozilla, it's one of the good examples how open source can be worth it's wight in gold. Of course, we are not speaking about making your software for eReader open source, I think that there is no chance to go this way. But one of the reasons Firefox is so widely used is that it has great support for 3rd party software and the plugins really make a difference. Last edited by pkovak; 12-12-2008 at 04:44 PM.

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12-12-2008, 05:49 PM	#1157
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	RobertB You asked what I would like to see in a reader from Astak. Well, see message #8 of this thread for a pretty good rundown! https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...91&postcount=8 BOb

12-12-2008, 07:09 PM	#1158
smithno Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 222484 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tenn., US Device: jetBook, jetBook Lite, Kindle 3, Galaxy Note II	A relatively simple enhancement for the EZ Reader is adding the page turning buttons to the right side of the case. Straight across from the left side buttons would be great.

12-13-2008, 02:50 AM	#1159
pkovak Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth Device: none	And why not let this to the touchscreen display? Why more buttons? Display can show it where user choose, no matter how you turn the eReader.

12-13-2008, 04:43 AM	#1161
pkovak Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth Device: none	I am not sure I would be excited to see something dangling from the eReader... usually, when you read, you hold it in your hands, I think it would not be practical. Another aspect is turning the device 90 or 180 degrees, then the cabel would be attached not on bottom, but on side or top. I think it would be more pain then gain. You are right about touching the screen with greasy fingers, though, I haven't concidered that.

12-13-2008, 06:43 PM	#1163
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	Incorporate a sensor in the device. I would assume that most people will be holding the device to read from it. Have a sensor so that whichever side is "down" will be the orientation of the reading. Simply tilting the unit on it's side or upside down with alter the orientation. This way, you negate the need for extraneous buttons on the front. And for those that lay the book flat on the table to read, I would assume that in the software you can have a default orientation, Portrait or Landscape.

12-15-2008, 12:38 AM	#1168
pkovak Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth Device: none	Masters of eReaders, I stand corrected I am still not sure I personaly would want to buy and use such addon, but you have strong case in this.

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