Update 1.5 coming in January!

[Gogolo]

See Karels post here.

I'm waiting for this one...

Gogolo

[wallcraft]

This is worth quoting in full:

Software Release v1.5 has been delayed from our expected target date December 2008. The software release 1.5 is currently in beta and we will the need for additional testing before commercial release, which is expected in early January 2009.

Upcoming Features / Enhancements SR v1.5

1. Advanced Power Management (Configurable Suspend to RAM timeout; device automatically suspends if not activity for x minutes and Configurable Automatic Shutdown after x minutes of no activity)
2. Configurable Toolbar (drag and drop) per application with 8 action icons
3. Lock sensors with click on lock
4. Page rendering performance improvements
5. Improve speed of closing documents
6. [Mobipocket] Support image hyperlink: show image on a full page
7. [Mobipocket] Implement cover page
8. Built-in font support basic Russian, Arabic, Greek, East-European characters

In addition to the above there will be a number of minor enhancements and bug fixes. More information will be announced with the official release date.

All these new features look worthwhile, not just the APM.

[sarikan]

Gogolo,
Thanks for letting us know. It is worth looking forward to indeed.

Best Regards
Seref

[omro]

Advanced Power Management (Configurable Suspend to RAM timeout; device automatically suspends if not activity for x minutes and Configurable Automatic Shutdown after x minutes of no activity)

Is this what they originally suggested or something new?

I don't really want it shutting down automatically.

I just wanted a suspend to ram and suspend to flash.

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by omro

Is this what they originally suggested or something new?

I don't really want it shutting down automatically.

I just wanted a suspend to ram and suspend to flash.

You will have some options it appears:

1. You can set it to "suspend" after a few minutes. This will likely save everything into ram and put it in a low power state. It will also probably retain what's on the screen. Then, when you press the next page button, it will wake up and move to the next page in a matter of seconds.

2. You can (optionally) set it to shut down after a period you determine.

[Gogolo]

It will also probably retain what's on the screen. Then, when you press the next page button, it will wake up and move to the next page in a matter of seconds

I dont know how the other readers do it, but should it not work like this: User turns page, reader goes to suspend, user reads ... user hits a button, reader wakes up (in a fraction of a second) turns page and sleeps again.

I expected it like this...

If it needs some seconds (plural) then will it be useful?

Gogolo

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by Gogolo

I dont know how the other readers do it, but should it not work like this: User turns page, reader goes to suspend, user reads ... user hits a button, reader wakes up (in a fraction of a second) turns page and sleeps again.

I expected it like this...

If it needs some seconds (plural) then will it be useful?

Gogolo

Keep in mind this is mostly speculation.

But I'm pretty sure this is how most other readers do it. If after letting your device sit for a half an hour, are you going to complain that the first time you turn a page, it takes an extra 3 seconds?

As long as the time it takes before it goes into suspend is more than the time it takes for you to read a page, I don't think it would interfere with normal reading.

[Gogolo]

Ah, okay, then I always thought the wrong way. This means: When I do a page turn every minute even the PRS500 will be empty after some hours?

Thanks for your explanation.

Gogolo

[Adam B.]

I don't have a sony (or anything but an iRex) device, so I can't be sure.

I suspect this is the way it works.

If it does operate turn page/suspend immediately/turn page, then the operating system and running programs would have to be very lightweight to be stored and retrieved from memory so quickly.

[Gogolo]

I just searched a bit in the forum about that:

The Sony allows you to put the device in standby mode when not reading. Coming out of standby mode takes less than 2 seconds. I use standby mode exclusively and only need to charge the battery once every 3 weeks (about 1 hour of reading a day).

here

Ok. It is not a fraction of a second.

Gogolo

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Gogolo

I dont know how the other readers do it, but should it not work like this: User turns page, reader goes to suspend, user reads ... user hits a button, reader wakes up (in a fraction of a second) turns page and sleeps again.

There was discussion of this in a earlier thread, see i to i Blog from iRex about issues. I was sceptical, but others thought that suspend to ram could work between page turns. Based on the current description (x minutes, not seconds, of inactivity, and about 1 second to return) this does not seem to be the case. I agree with you that without "between page turn suspend" the battery life won't be extended by very much during normal reading. I don't see how iRex is ever going to get to Karel's "battery life will effectively be several days" target. I guess they are assuming 1-2 hours per day reading.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

Keep in mind this is mostly speculation.

But I'm pretty sure this is how most other readers do it. If after letting your device sit for a half an hour, are you going to complain that the first time you turn a page, it takes an extra 3 seconds?

Continuing the speculation. I agree that this is how it will work, but on the DR1000S suspend to RAM will only reduce the power consumption by a factor of 3 (an 8 hr battery is extended to 24 hrs). The suspend-to-Flash (hibernate mode) is the most similar, in power consumption, to what other devices do. It won't be in the 1.5 release but it will allows days of battery life, when idle with a 15 second wake up time. Nothing iRex is doing is apparently increasing the 8 hours reading time. It will decrease the pain if this reading time is spread over days.

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Nothing iRex is doing is apparently increasing the 8 hours reading time. It will decrease the pain if this reading time is spread over days.

I agree with that.

To me these power improvements will be very useful. I have my DR1000 sitting on my desk all day. I use it to take notes and read documents as needed. 75% of the time, it's going unused. The power management improvements will help in this situation.

Given that I think the DR is marketed more toward people like me (business people, document readers), than hardcore book readers, I would assume this is what they are trying to achieve.

[omro]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The suspend-to-Flash (hibernate mode) is the most similar, in power consumption, to what other devices do. It won't be in the 1.5 release but it will allows days of battery life, when idle with a 15 second wake up time.

Does anyone know why this was ditched from this update?

[omro]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

I have my DR1000 sitting on my desk all day. I use it to take notes and read documents as needed. 75% of the time, it's going unused.

Mine is on my desk next to my laptop all day too, but I tend to leave it tethered to the laptop.