iRex needs you to test their iLiad beta software - Page 2

arivero · 09-25-2006, 11:56 AM

On the positive side, Beta testers have the opportunity to influence the interface. That is interesting.

scotty1024 · 09-25-2006, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arivero

On the positive side, Beta testers have the opportunity to influence the interface. That is interesting.

My reading of the offer is that you don't get to point out missing features, you just get to find bugs they don't catch themselves (like my mysterious first thing in the morning bug).

Besides, shouldn't they be calling this Alpha Tester's needed? I thought anyone with an iLiad was a beta tester.

vranghel · 09-25-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Besides, shouldn't they be calling this Alpha Tester's needed? I thought anyone with an iLiad was a beta tester.

Lol...

I thought of signing up as a beta tester, but after I read b_k's comment i quickly changed my mind

By waiting this much for the device, then software updates i think i developed enough patience to be able to wait a little longer for relatively stable firmware releases

Alexander Turcic · 09-25-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Besides, shouldn't they be calling this Alpha Tester's needed? I thought anyone with an iLiad was a beta tester.

Yes, but you could become an official beta tester by signing up

b_k · 09-25-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Yes, but you could become an official beta tester by signing up

I would like to get that "official beta tester-badge". But on the other hand, there is their service.
I just don't get why they don't use a boot loader that can program the flash (or give us the possibility to access it). There are enough of them out there, only two names: Redboot or U-Boot. Must be that whole "security-by-obscurity"-thing. And one last thing: I had a SIMPad and a Zaurus in the past and I didn't manage to brick them like I did with the iLiad, especially because I could reflash the devices from the bootloader level.

CommanderROR · 09-25-2006, 07:48 PM

Hi!

I've indeed been on the beta-tester list for a while now, but so far I have received just as much info as you have...^^
The beta-test hasn't started yet, so...:-)

I'm looking forward to this, although I don't really have a technical background...
I don't think they're doing much more than giving us the Sodtware a bit earlier so that we can help them with finding bugs that their small team would miss.

btw.: So far I haven't signed any NDA, but since there is nothing I could disclose at this point anyway, I'm pretty sure that's not too bad...^^

scotty1024 · 09-25-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b_k

I just don't get why they don't use a boot loader that can program the flash (or give us the possibility to access it).

Just think of a bricked iLiad as iRex's way of giving a beta tester a well earned time off.

ali · 09-26-2006, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by developer.irexnet.com

To sign up for the Beta Test Program you need to [...] have a positive attitude toward iRex [...]

We're not allowed for Beta Testers anyways, so what?

arivero · 09-26-2006, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali

We're not allowed for Beta Testers anyways, so what?

Hey, I have a very positive attitude... towards the iLiad. Well, iRex gets to inherit some of this attitude because they went to actually make the machine after some years of prototyping at Phillips dungeons. And I am positive towards the iLiad engineers because it is not a windows tablet machine!

jæd · 09-26-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arivero

Hey, I have a very positive attitude... towards the iLiad. Well, iRex gets to inherit some of this attitude because they went to actually make the machine after some years of prototyping at Phillips dungeons. And I am positive towards the iLiad engineers because it is not a windows tablet machine!

Me too...! I'm positive about the Irex as its the first useful e-reader out there. And anything that makes it more useful to me will just add value to it... I'm concerned about the possibilities about bricking the device, but if I am selected for the Beta program I will defintly double check what Irex has in place for the testers...

Irex must be getting very mixed messages about their baby... First people want to be able to use it early, and then they don't want to help...! (Even though back in July it was stated that this is a beta program...!)

VillageReader · 09-26-2006, 09:28 AM

There seem to be new releases all timed at nearly the same date for iRex 2.7, Mobipocket and Adobe. Any clues if support for Adobe DRM and/or Mobipocket is getting closer? Anyone have an ear to the ground? An NDA might make sense if this is what is being 'hidden' until formal announcements.

Of course, if you have signed, DRAT!

ali · 09-26-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arivero

Hey, I have a very positive attitude... towards the iLiad. Well, iRex gets to inherit some of this attitude because they went to actually make the machine after some years of prototyping at Phillips dungeons. And I am positive towards the iLiad engineers because it is not a windows tablet machine!

Okie, I agree. Same here.

I still think that "NDA" and "GPL" do not mix. And the announcement doesn't look like the day where they release all the sources is near. I'd love to beta-test things and then fix bugs myself. I don't love to beta-test-and-shut-up software that isn't even theirs.

(So I wrote to gpl-violations.org; trouble ticket #664.)

Loves to stirr up things sometimes:
ali

donkaarlos · 09-26-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VillageReader

There seem to be new releases all timed at nearly the same date for iRex 2.7, Mobipocket and Adobe. Any clues if support for Adobe DRM and/or Mobipocket is getting closer? Anyone have an ear to the ground? An NDA might make sense if this is what is being 'hidden' until formal announcements.

Of course, if you have signed, DRAT!

Guess what. Ones upon a time I was so positive about IRex that I checked if I could buy Irex shares.

Above rumour of MobiPocket and Adobe DRM support would certainly be one step closer to securing success and happy Iliad owners!

There are two difficult questions here:
- There seems to be no possibility to invest in the company (on the other hand over optimistic investors won't loose any money

)
- Nobody knows how many steps it will take for the final break through of electronic reading devices and will Irex finally make it.

We'll have to wait and see. However I'm affraid waiting will be the bigger share of it..

TadW · 09-26-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali

(So I wrote to gpl-violations.org; trouble ticket #664.)

Oops

Please keep us updated!

b_k · 09-26-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ali

Okie, I agree. Same here.

I still think that "NDA" and "GPL" do not mix. And the announcement doesn't look like the day where they release all the sources is near. I'd love to beta-test things and then fix bugs myself. I don't love to beta-test-and-shut-up software that isn't even theirs.

(So I wrote to gpl-violations.org; trouble ticket #664.)...

well, I think for a closed user group (beta-testers in this case) they should be perfectly legal for not releasing the sources. However I highly doubt that would apply to the regular releases. But, IANAL.

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09-25-2006, 11:56 AM	#16
arivero Guru Posts: 607 Karma: 2157 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: NCR3125, Nokia 770,...	On the positive side, Beta testers have the opportunity to influence the interface. That is interesting.

09-25-2006, 07:48 PM	#21
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Hi! I've indeed been on the beta-tester list for a while now, but so far I have received just as much info as you have...^^ The beta-test hasn't started yet, so...:-) I'm looking forward to this, although I don't really have a technical background... I don't think they're doing much more than giving us the Sodtware a bit earlier so that we can help them with finding bugs that their small team would miss. btw.: So far I haven't signed any NDA, but since there is nothing I could disclose at this point anyway, I'm pretty sure that's not too bad...^^

09-26-2006, 09:28 AM	#26
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	There seem to be new releases all timed at nearly the same date for iRex 2.7, Mobipocket and Adobe. Any clues if support for Adobe DRM and/or Mobipocket is getting closer? Anyone have an ear to the ground? An NDA might make sense if this is what is being 'hidden' until formal announcements. Of course, if you have signed, DRAT!

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