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

[slayda]

Originally Posted by Robertb

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

Robert,
I've wondered why the EZ Reader (and the Sony PRS-500 for that matter) put the "next page" button (the set on the left of the reader) on the top and the "previous page" button on the bottom. Since (at least in English & many other western languages - maybe all of them) we read "left to right" starting at the top of the page and prodeeding to the bottom.

My instinct to go to the next page is the "bottom button". That seems more logical to me. Yes, I know I can teach myself to do it the other way (at least that's what I keep telling myself when I hit the wrong button) but it still just seems backward to me.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Robertb

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.

Please make this user configurable (disableable ;-) ). It is a nice effect to show of on your new iPhone, because iPhones are supposed to be used when you are mostly in upright position. I like to read lying in the bed, but not on my back. This tilt switch could quickly become very annoying when trying to read in many comfortable positions.

I have a multi purpose clock / thermometer / kitchen stopwatch from Ikea and it displays different function when you put it into one of 4 positions. The switching is implemented by a simple cheap plastic housing with 8 contact and metal plated little plastic ball. A fancier of such switch model is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_switch . I can imagine use of the actual mercury could nowadays be considered environmentally ... aehm ... questionable.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by slayda

Robert,
I've wondered why the EZ Reader (and the Sony PRS-500 for that matter) put the "next page" button (the set on the left of the reader) on the top and the "previous page" button on the bottom. Since (at least in English & many other western languages - maybe all of them) we read "left to right" starting at the top of the page and prodeeding to the bottom.

My instinct to go to the next page is the "bottom button". That seems more logical to me. Yes, I know I can teach myself to do it the other way (at least that's what I keep telling myself when I hit the wrong button) but it still just seems backward to me.

In the EB-1150 it is configurable but in fact the way it is set now is the easiest to use. Putting the next at the top means that when you need to go back you simply move your thumb down a bit (actually on my eB-1150 there is sufficient distance between the buttons that I can just hit the back button with the fleshy part of my hand where my thumb is attached). Putting the back button further up the unit means you would have to stretch your hand to reach it which is awkward and potentially dangerous if you are reading one handed since this relocation could cause you to drop the unit.

Dale

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by kacir

Please make this user configurable (disableable ;-) ). It is a nice effect to show of on your new iPhone, because iPhones are supposed to be used when you are mostly in upright position. I like to read lying in the bed, but not on my back. This tilt switch could quickly become very annoying when trying to read in many comfortable positions.

I have a multi purpose clock / thermometer / kitchen stopwatch from Ikea and it displays different function when you put it into one of 4 positions. The switching is implemented by a simple cheap plastic housing with 8 contact and metal plated little plastic ball. A fancier of such switch model is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_switch . I can imagine use of the actual mercury could nowadays be considered environmentally ... aehm ... questionable.

Most cameras do this also. I do think there should be a way to shut it off and this suggestion is not new although it is new to this thread.

Dale

[moz]

Actually most cameras only have three of the four orientations supported, so if you're like me and sometime have the camera upside down the orientation is a bit random. I usually do this when I'm holding it very close to the ground as it seems more natural to me - trying to have the camera "the right way up" with the shutter button on top makes it very hard to actually take photos.

So: if there is an orientation sensor, please make it sense all four orientation, not just the ones you think people should be allowed to use.

The remote control page turner to me says "turning the page without taking my hand out from under the covers"... I stay warmer! I like the sound of that feature. You could even do it via the headphone jack - there's three contacts so two buttons on a wee lead would do nicely, and that would make the headphone jack useful to those who don't want an oversize mp3 player. Sucks if you listen to music while reading though.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by moz

You could even do it via the headphone jack - there's three contacts so two buttons on a wee lead would do nicely, and that would make the headphone jack useful to those who don't want an oversize mp3 player.

This is an absolutely magnificent idea!

This should be very easy to implement. A headphone jack has 3 contacts: left channel, right channel and the common ground. It should be very cheap engineering-wise and production-wise to implement an enhancement of audio circuit that would generate a signal for processor when there is short connection between left and right channel.
The price for unit would not go up (at least not significantly) and you would open a market opportunity for a remote switch. Plus any self respecting hobbyist hardware hacker would be able to fashion his own perfect switch. Plus Mentor or EZreader or whatever name you decide to use would be the first to have such feature.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by kacir

This is an absolutely magnificent idea!

This should be very easy to implement. A headphone jack has 3 contacts: left channel, right channel and the common ground. It should be very cheap engineering-wise and production-wise to implement an enhancement of audio circuit that would generate a signal for processor when there is short connection between left and right channel.
The price for unit would not go up (at least not significantly) and you would open a market opportunity for a remote switch. Plus any self respecting hobbyist hardware hacker would be able to fashion his own perfect switch. Plus Mentor or EZreader or whatever name you decide to use would be the first to have such feature.

Or with a short between left and ground you could do forward and the right and ground could do back providing full reading capability. You would have to ensure that the audio output will not burn up if the output is shorted to ground of course but that protection may even already be there.

Dale

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by slayda

Robert,
I've wondered why the EZ Reader (and the Sony PRS-500 for that matter) put the "next page" button (the set on the left of the reader) on the top and the "previous page" button on the bottom. Since (at least in English & many other western languages - maybe all of them) we read "left to right" starting at the top of the page and prodeeding to the bottom.

My instinct to go to the next page is the "bottom button". That seems more logical to me. Yes, I know I can teach myself to do it the other way (at least that's what I keep telling myself when I hit the wrong button) but it still just seems backward to me.

Dear Slayda:

Three possible explanations:

1. When you are in the horizontal reading mode, it then makes a little sense to do them that way.

2. When I first came to my job everyone kept saying "page up" instead of "page forward". Maybe it is like "Word Up" instead of "Next Word". Seems that many people associate "up" with forward which is a "positive".

3. 95% of the eBook Readers (at least) are made in Asia and they read right to left.

Robert B

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by pkovak

I agree that for some people it would not be ideal or possible. Maybe we could select from more then one cover? Or the cover may have magnet or some other kind of holding on the back of the cover and when you turn the left side of the cover all the way to the back, it would hold there itself. It decreases protection from crushing that I was talking about before, but it would be handy.

I was thinking along the lines of a hard case you can slide the reader into when not in use. Sort of like those small aluminium external enclosures for external USB/eSata HDD's. But completely as an optional accessory for the buyer. I like the idea of the case, if any, being left to the choice of the user as there is certainly no one size fits all solution.

Originally Posted by Robertb

I also keep working on the case issue. One of the things discussed so far is an aluminum bottom and sides for rigidity with a leather top. This would give the protection needed while making the device controls accessible. ALSO... I need note the comment for a "kickstand" or hand strap and will try to work on that too. I recently had an operation and know what it is like to scream inpain just to sit up. I will work on it.

Just do not expect instantaneous.

Robert B

Bummer about your operation. Really I hope all is better soon! Thanks for giving some consideration to alternative methods of holding on to the devices. We have a Kindle and to be honest it as well as the Sony are actually too thin for me to hold reliably. But if I could secure it to the palm of my hand (open flat maybe with my thumb being able to access the page turn buttons) it would make a reader a winner...almost anyway...still the issue of contrast but that is a function of today's eink display tech and will eventually be improved I am certain.

BTW, in my thinking the only buttons I would need access to with a strap/stand would be the page turning buttons. Everything else works fine using two hands for the short time it takes to use the menu systems, find a book, what have you.

I still like the weather sealed device (like the premium line lenses from Canon & Nikon...) in the event one accidentally/"on-porpoise" drops your reader in the fish tank... I will now go an punish myself for that horrid pun...

And yeah, these things do take time...hopefully, though, most of us have not turned to dust before some of these things are incorporated...ya never know when that bus with your name tatoo'd on the front will come rolling down the street.

One last tiny thing I would love is a built-in app to do crossword puzzles. The Across-Lite format still seems pretty wide spread though Flash has reared it's ugly head as a tech for creating xword puzzle software. Of course that means a touch screen and what not...but not necessarily any sort of handwriting recognition in the device. There was a port of the program Xword to the Nokia N7xx/N8xx running OS2007/OS2008 which just offers a list of letters beside the puzzle...a fair compromise I found. But, I know the touch screen adds a bit of cost...and many would not really use it or even want it...

OK, heck, just xbreed a Netbook (actually a Net-SLATE style) type device with an ereader device and you have a winner...hehehehehe...it's where this is all heading anyway....

have a great holiday's...

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by moz

Actually most cameras only have three of the four orientations supported, so if you're like me and sometime have the camera upside down the orientation is a bit random. I usually do this when I'm holding it very close to the ground as it seems more natural to me - trying to have the camera "the right way up" with the shutter button on top makes it very hard to actually take photos.

So: if there is an orientation sensor, please make it sense all four orientation, not just the ones you think people should be allowed to use.

The remote control page turner to me says "turning the page without taking my hand out from under the covers"... I stay warmer! I like the sound of that feature. You could even do it via the headphone jack - there's three contacts so two buttons on a wee lead would do nicely, and that would make the headphone jack useful to those who don't want an oversize mp3 player. Sucks if you listen to music while reading though.

Dear All:

Everybody seems to LOVE the remote page advance/back. I know one thing... I LOVE the MP3 function on the EZ Reader. I own an iPod Classic and the sound quality in the ears of our staff is overwhelming for the EZ Reader. I know you can call it "oversized MP3"; but you have to hear it to apprecate it. AND... what about audio books for the vision-impared?? It seems to me that adding a dedicated jack would be easier and would still allow good songs and good reading to go together like it belongs!

So, I love your idea here and will take it to CES... but will push for dedicated jack if you would not mind!!

OH... the EZ Reader is one of two finalists for the Storage Visions Consumer Innovative Products Award. We are really honored because we were up against the cream of the crop. The final selection is January 6. But... I think it is great to see that Storage Visions sees the product as a bold and new "GREEN" solution. You can read more and buy the EZ Reader on sale thru the month of January as a part of the CES Show Special ($299) at www.mobiebook.com

Thank you,

Robert B

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

So, I love your idea here and will take it to CES... but will push for dedicated jack if you would not mind!!

The new iPods support remote control built into the ear buds now. It has three functions based on single click, double click, tripple click (I don't recall what each does.) But, the plug into the standard jack. So I would say that is the way to go... and it the Apple buds work with it, then that means people would have a plethora of head sets to choose from. Then again, if it was propritary you would be the only one to sell it. But, not sure if the volume would be worth it.

You could do... single click next page, double click prev page, tripple click menu maybe.

BOb

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The new iPods support remote control built into the ear buds now. It has three functions based on single click, double click, tripple click (I don't recall what each does.) But, the plug into the standard jack. So I would say that is the way to go... and it the Apple buds work with it, then that means people would have a plethora of head sets to choose from. Then again, if it was propritary you would be the only one to sell it. But, not sure if the volume would be worth it.

You could do... single click next page, double click prev page, tripple click menu maybe.

BOb

Actually the method I proposed to use the jack would allow audio to be used simultaneously. There would be a momentary silence when the channel was used to switch pages but it would only be one channel and only momentary. Of course a dedicated switch jack would work fine as well

Dale

[brecklundin]

the remote idea is genius...in fact there is a similar dongle for my Sony Clie NX73v for controlling something or other. I think it is a video controller but for hands free what a great idea. I will say I am for less wires in my life but power is an issue so I am sure wired is a far better option.

[harryE123]

I am very pleased to see the member from aztak being so (seemingly) open to suggestions from the community but as someone who's followed the thread from the beginning and was lead on by the blatant lies on the aztak representative's part about their suggested production schedules, I think so far aztak is the prime example of vapourware and ebooks. And I really dislike aw well all that grey advertising going on by keeping current a thread from a company that has only managed to deliver a completely unimipressive 6" reader so far, pretty much what everyone else on the planet have done before them and done better. That said I might be negatively inclined towards them by the fact that the aztac representative as I said knowingly lied about their large screen size reader which according to the initial posts should have been a reality six months or so ago... no one can be so far off unless they do it intentionaly.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by harryE123

I am very pleased to see the member from aztak being so (seemingly) open to suggestions from the community but as someone who's followed the thread from the beginning and was lead on by the blatant lies on the aztak representative's part about their suggested production schedules, I think so far aztak is the prime example of vapourware and ebooks. And I really dislike aw well all that grey advertising going on by keeping current a thread from a company that has only managed to deliver a completely unimipressive 6" reader so far, pretty much what everyone else on the planet have done before them and done better. That said I might be negatively inclined towards them by the fact that the aztac representative as I said knowingly lied about their large screen size reader which according to the initial posts should have been a reality six months or so ago... no one can be so far off unless they do it intentionaly.

Everybody in the industry was quoting a fall 2008 release of the 9.7" reader. Netronix, Hanlin, Astak and others. No one else told us why they failed to deliver except Astak. They received a prototype and determined the failure rate was unacceptably high due to the possibility of a broken screen. So, instead, they pushed the delivery date back for a more reliable product with a plastic screen instead of glass. I personally think this was the correct decision. I would have like to see others acknowledge the reason but at least we found out. YMMV.

Dale