Cybook Gen 3 with Epub support on Thursday

[mtravellerh]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

So we could imagine that Booken having to provide E-Pub support on April 30 and no later for Weltbild could have decided to focus on this customer first and release a firmware on time but without all the features (eg. Mobipocket suppport), and this could have delayed the final firmware version release...

But we still don't know for sure.

Yep, the Mobipocket support remains questionable. Anyway, it looks like EBooks in Germany will be ePubs all the way now (with some PDFs for the technical stuff) As Amazon is a no-show on the german market and the big players present go for ePub, it's pretty much a no brainer.

[EowynCarter]

Yep, but i would like to know if I need to start working on converting my e-books or not ..

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Jerry Cornelius

According to a french site which has contacted Bookeen (http://www.actualitte.com/actualite/...pport-Sony.htm),
the firmware with the EPUB support announced for today in the Weltbild Cybook Gen3 is a Release Candidate firmware, for Weltbild only, to allow them to compete right now with Sony.
The final Firmware update should come in a few weeks.

It it is a release candidate then the final firmware will have the same functionality.

[HarryT]

The words used were a release candidate for Weltbild only. They may well have created a special "ePub only" firmware build for this customer, if they are buying a sufficiently large number of machines. That would make sense if they are an ePub retailer.

We really should wait and see before reaching any hasty conclusions .

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The words used were a release candidate for Weltbild only. They may well have created a special "ePub only" firmware build for this customer, if they are buying a sufficiently large number of machines. That would make sense if they are an ePub retailer.

Obviously it is not a release candidate for Weltbild since it has been released

But I assume the question is what the French text said exactly.

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by tompe

It it is a release candidate then the final firmware will have the same functionality.

Unfortunately not every software house means the same when using terms like "alpha", "beta" or "release candidate". It's not safe to assume that the RC firmware does really contain all planned functionality.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by tompe

But I assume the question is what the French text said exactly.

Google translation:

However, the news is relative: in fact, Bookeen has confirmed that this is not a definitive version of the firmware, but what called a Release Candidate. It does not bite, rest assured, it's just that we do not yet have a final version.

However, Weltbild needed for its competition with Sony, Cybook see support epub, so it was somewhat accelerated maneuvering, so as to provide a tool, not yet finalized, but not very stable and close to the final version.

Bookeen side, we learned that the final version should be available in a few weeks - without us fix date.

[EowynCarter]

Good point, tompe, rc should have the same features.

It's say it's a rc, because they were in a hurry.

[Spectrum]

269 Euros is a bit steep.. Will stick to PRS-505

[brudigia]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

269 Euros is a bit steep.. Will stick to PRS-505

If you can manage to buy in UK from WH Smith, for 200 pounds (230 euros roughly) you should also get the cover.

[K-Thom]

269 Euros is a bit steep.. Will stick to PRS-505

You're kidding, right? The Sony PRS-505 is priced in Germany at 299.- Euro, thus it is quite a bargain, far more cheaper than the official price plus a leather case for free.

[JSWolf]

The cover that comes with the 505 is not real leather. But it does come with the 505 and works well to protect the unit.

[Godzil]

It's look like Weltbild have the black cover that is not real leather

[JSWolf]

However, Weltbild needed for its competition with Sony, Cybook see support epub, so it was somewhat accelerated maneuvering, so as to provide a tool, not yet finalized, but not very stable and close to the final version.

So is Weltbild going to tell customers that they are buying a device with a beta firmware that's not stable? Given how stable the stable builds are for the Gen3, I'd stay well away when it's admitted the firmware is unstable.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So is Weltbild going to tell customers that they are buying a device with a beta firmware that's not stable? Given how stable the stable builds are for the Gen3, I'd stay well away when it's admitted the firmware is unstable.

Er, the stable builds are extremely stable, Jon. Very occasionally the Gen3 hangs on booting, but mine has never, ever "crashed" in operation. So, yes, I'd say that it's pretty stable .