Wizpac txtr reader announced - the Kindle killer?

[Drops]

It has an internal 3G/GPRS modem! Thats great, I guess I need yet another SIM card

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

This looks like a really nice device with some well thought out features and ergonomics. However, am I the only one feeling the 6" screen market is getting rather full with the Kindle, Sony, Cybook etc. I would love to see someone bring out a truly competitive 8" device. Take the screen size of the iliad and build a much better software platform around it. The reading experience between my Sony and iLiad are worlds apart with the iLiad winning easily, but when it comes to all the other aspects such as thickness, battery life, speed, file organization, etc. the Sony wins easily. I guess I'll just have to keep hoping some company sees it my way

i definitely agree with you that there is a market for larger devices which is so far largely untapped, partly no doubt because manufacturers are waiting for the flexible screens to be ready. but i think there is still plenty of room for improvement among the smaller devices, which also probably appeal to more people because they are more portable (an iliad or the plasticlogic for instance are too large for my needs). the sony 700 is a great device which come much much closer to my ideal in terms of features and ergonomy than any other e-ink device currently available, but there is still room for improvement. i'm really interested to see what new 6" models will be launched in the next months.

maybe txtr will plan a larger model once they have launched the 6" version. i think the features they propose could really appeal to the business market as well and that seems to be the market which is most interested in larger devices too. and as you say, there is plenty of room there for new devices.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

However, am I the only one feeling the 6" screen market is getting rather full with the Kindle, Sony, Cybook etc. I would love to see someone bring out a truly competitive 8" device.

I think the 6" screen is most common/popular because it allows the device to be made large enough for comfortable reading yet small enough to be easily carried and held. One of the key selling points to the e-reading device is portability. It certainly isn't availability of less-expensive, consumer-owned (rather than leased or borrowed) books. I for one would be unlikely to buy a device much larger than my current Sony 505 because as the device gets larger, portability decreases.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Good points. I'm hoping that as the technology continues to improve we can see a larger screen version like the iLiad in a form factor roughly the size of the Sony. I love the portability of the Sony, but I find a screen that is just a little larger really improves the reading experience. I tend to think of the Sony as a paperback and the iLiad as a hardback.

Something the size of the Plastic Logic and iRex Reader may be attractive to the business community, but they're not good for casual reading. I tried the larger iRex and absolutely hated it for casual reading. Hopefully a middle ground will emerge for those like myself looking for just a bit more screen real estate.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Good points. I'm hoping that as the technology continues to improve we can see a larger screen version like the iLiad in a form factor roughly the size of the Sony. I love the portability of the Sony, but I find a screen that is just a little larger really improves the reading experience. I tend to think of the Sony as a paperback and the iLiad as a hardback.

Something the size of the Plastic Logic and iRex Reader may be attractive to the business community, but they're not good for casual reading. I tried the larger iRex and absolutely hated it for casual reading. Hopefully a middle ground will emerge for those like myself looking for just a bit more screen real estate.

actually that is a really good idea : i also don't want an iliad / plasticlogic / etc. device for casual reading because it's too big (i don't really like to read hardcovers either ; they're always so heavy, and difficult to keep open. ) however if there were a device the size of the sony but with even just a slightly larger screen (say, perhaps the screen size would include the silver-coloured frame) that might be really nice. *however*, if it also had a touchscreen (which i am pretty attached to, i have to say), it might be a bit tricky. even now, if i'm not a bit careful when changing position in bed sometimes i wind up with my fingers on the screen or a button and turn the page. and i have *really* small fingers. that's partly why i like the asymmetric bezel on the txtr : i know i can hold onto it there with no trouble. since these devices are all meant to be hand-held, but are too big to be cradled in the hand the way you might a telephone or pda, it's important to remember to leave some finger space !

[Mr. Goodbar]

Touch is definitely the way to go "if" it doesn't sacrifice readability and as you point out there is enough of a bezel to still hold the device without flipping pages. It let's you eliminate all the other buttons since it can now be handled through on screen actions. The one potential drawback is the speed of the e-ink, but the new controller that allows localized screen refreshes may fix that problem. At least the good news is that the market seems to be moving in many directions at once which will give us good choices in the future. I'm just too impatient to wait

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Touch is definitely the way to go "if" it doesn't sacrifice readability and as you point out there is enough of a bezel to still hold the device without flipping pages. It let's you eliminate all the other buttons since it can now be handled through on screen actions.

yep ! i've been convinced of this since the first time i used my eb1150. but, i wouldn't eliminate *all* buttons ; for example, if i am looking at a linked index with the screen full of links, swiping the screen will not take me to the next page, but to the location linked wherever i swiped. so a few hard buttons are still good to have.

The one potential drawback is the speed of the e-ink, but the new controller that allows localized screen refreshes may fix that problem. At least the good news is that the market seems to be moving in many directions at once which will give us good choices in the future. I'm just too impatient to wait

i know, me too !!! particularly since there are so many really interesting projects starting to appear. very exciting !

(anyway i can tell you that the sony touchscreen is very reactive and quick, even when typing notes on the soft keyboard for instance. so that means it is already completely possible without loss of functionality due to poor screen refresh rates.)

[Mr. Goodbar]

I haven't played with the 700 series yet. I was thinking of getting one, but after all the negative reviews I never even went to look at one. The next eighteen months or so should be interesting from a hardware perspective. Then, if we could just eliminate the DRM issues and get to a common format we'd be in great shape!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Then, if we could just eliminate the DRM issues and get to a common format we'd be in great shape!

from your lips to the publishers' ears... (and support epub, if you want a common format. )

[noonscoomo]

The drawback for screens with more then 6" is the glass layer. We've seen too much broken Iliads to bet on this and constructing a case which solves that is a nightmare. And btw., I guess there is still a real market for the smallest 6" device, good looking, with elaborate UI, Epson controller and UMTS. Today there is _non_ of this.
And yes, touch would be a good thing, but as you all know, it has to be behind the screen, but capacitive fails because of the ground plane of the display and the inductive digitizer is expensive, needs much power and works with extra pen only.

And stay tuned with the exact dimensions. We will update the specs with that soon.

[Mycropht]

@noonscoomo

How do you handle text input?
Surely the annotations are possible on the device. I would not buy it otherwise.

[Dylrob]

Awhile back PVI made an announcement about some sort of touch based technology that used pressure sensors underneath the display. I'm curious to know if this is available yet, and if so has it been considered?

[noonscoomo]

Originally Posted by Mycropht

@noonscoomo

How do you handle text input?
Surely the annotations are possible on the device. I would not buy it otherwise.

Simple way is, to use a bluetooth keyboard.
If you are in the field with no keyboard, you will have something like T9 via the sliders.

[DG25]

When it will come out on the market?
Will it have dictionary support?
Is that the final design?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by DG25

When it will come out on the market?
Will it have dictionary support?
Is that the final design?

i don't know how i managed to forget about that, but yes, i would like to know if there will be dictionary support as well ! that is a key feature as far as i'm concerned.

also, you've mentioned the possibility to input text via T9 ou keyboard, will it be possible to export notes to computer ? in what format ? will they be associated with documents or independent files ?