onyx BOOX‘s new android eink reader C65HD/C65ML is for user testing now!

[batchaesir]

onyx is carrying out a user testing of their android based eink reader BOOX C65HD/BOOX C65ML. Six members from ONYX official forum have already got the sample devices.
BOOX C65HD/BOOX C65ML features a standard android 2.3 and audio support, also users are free to install third-party apps.
Features and Specs see here:
http://www.onyx-international.com.cn...hp?serial=4631

Onyx is working hard to adapt android to their eink readers, and BOOX C65HD/BOOX C65ML will be their first one on the market featuring android, while sony closes the ability to hack their android based PRS T1/T2/T3.

[Katsunami]

At first, I thought they were going to go all-out:

Touchscreen, page turn buttons, TTS, Android, installation of reading apps.

However: It doesn't have a front-light. Mistake.

Even bigger mistake: it will run Android 2.3. Wait. What. HELLO, Boox! WAKE UP! Android 2.3.x is three years old. Many applications already require at least 3.0 and even 4.0 to be run. Android 4.4 was just released; I can understand if they're not using that, but I would expect at least the latest 4.0 version (4.0.4), which is 2 years old already.

Releasing a device using Android 2.3 at this point in time is the same as building a new computer and then running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista on it. You don't do that, if you don't have a VERY good reason to.

I wonder why companies release a device that has some blatant shortcomings that people can see when taking a first or second look at it.

Pity. If this device had a good front-light and at least Android 4.0.x (with the promise to update to 4.3.x or 4.4.x at some point in 2014), it would be a serious option for me. It would be a serious *e-ink tablet*. Now, it's just old at the date of release already.

[booklover6]

I believe C65ML stands for Moon Light.

Yes on the specs page:

Built in front light:

◆ Soft and evenly spread; brightness is adjustable;
◆ Any time is suitable for reading, night or day time. (* Only available for C65ML)

It would probably be nice, that's Gingerbread, isn't it? So you just run older apks if you have to.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Even bigger mistake: it will run Android 2.3. Wait. What. HELLO, Boox! WAKE UP! Android 2.3.x is three years old. Many applications already require at least 3.0 and even 4.0 to be run. Android 4.4 was just released; I can understand if they're not using that, but I would expect at least the latest 4.0 version (4.0.4), which is 2 years old already.

Releasing a device using Android 2.3 at this point in time is the same as building a new computer and then running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista on it. You don't do that, if you don't have a VERY good reason to.

2.3 is probably the most modern build they can meet the hardware/display compatablity requirements on.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I believe C65ML stands for Moon Light.

Yes on the specs page:

Built in front light:

◆ Soft and evenly spread; brightness is adjustable;
◆ Any time is suitable for reading, night or day time. (* Only available for C65ML)

It would probably be nice, that's Gingerbread, isn't it? So you just run older apks if you have to.

I stand corrected; it's mentioned in the overview I see. I read the actual "Specs" list and read right through it. It says "Available for ML".

Still, Android 2.3... that might mean that one needs to run reading apps that are 1-3 years old already and not get updated anymore.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

However: It doesn't have a front-light. Mistake.

The C65ML has a front light. What's nice is they're giving you a choice of buying a frontlit version or non-lit version depending on preference.

Even bigger mistake: it will run Android 2.3. Wait. What. HELLO, Boox! WAKE UP! Android 2.3.x is three years old. Many applications already require at least 3.0 and even 4.0 to be run. Android 4.4 was just released; I can understand if they're not using that, but I would expect at least the latest 4.0 version (4.0.4), which is 2 years old already.

The Onyx T68 (coming soon) will be running Android 4.0, perhaps we'll start seeing other devices that run this instead of 2.3. However most/all current reading related apps I can think of run on 2.3

[Dopedangel]

With Google bringing down the spec requirements for Android Kitkat. We should be seeing more OEMs adopting Android 4.4 but Android after 2.3 and before 4.4 would not run properly on low spec devices that eink based devices usually are.
OEMs are not idiots if android version greater than 2.3 was able to be run on those devices they would have produced them and harped about it as it would have been a great selling point.

[batchaesir]

Android 2.3 is enough for running most apps. More often, low screen refresh rate is the limitation, not the OS version.

[feliciano]

OK, beside the gripes about which android version it's running, does anyone have a REAL review of the device?

[greenapple]

What's the screen size, anyone knows? I'd a bigger eink reader than the regular 6 inch ones.

[babadockia]

guys, is just an e-ereader... you have so many connected devices, phones, tablets, pads, computers. what do you need another one for? after that you would be whinning about the battery, which won't last more than a week. a reader is for reading only.
after almost one year with an aura hd, i can tell you that i prefer to read with a lamp, not with the embedded light.
and secondly, there is already an 8" screen e-reader which runs android with some perfect apps to read, thanks to an enthusiastic community from a russian forum, which I proudly own it. it's called Trekstor Pyrus Maxi and I was able to flash it with a firmware which runs on texet 138, because with the native software, that Trekstor is, simply put it, a piece of crappy junk.
sorry, guys, but for me a reader should remain a reader

[rem736]

Originally Posted by babadockia

guys, is just an e-ereader...

understood. but many of the better e-reader apps for android won't run on 2.3. or maybe i'm mistaken?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by babadockia

guys, is just an e-ereader...

For some of us it's a device that's in use for hours a day. If *something* is "wrong" (= not to ones taste) with it, it will irritate the hell out of the user.

[babadockia]

Originally Posted by rem736

understood. but many of the better e-reader apps for android won't run on 2.3. or maybe i'm mistaken?

on my trekstor pyrus maxi,, which runs gingerbread, (android 2.3) I have, as reader apps, Alreader and Orion Viewer,both of them with a lot of options, and these run perfectly. I have these two, mainly because they are what the russian devs put on their texet tb138 reader and, maybe, these are working with physical buttons. people tried coolreader too, but is not working with buttons.

[babadockia]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

For some of us it's a device that's in use for hours a day. If *something* is "wrong" (= not to ones taste) with it, it will irritate the hell out of the user.

I've got that, but, one of the reasons that we "wander" on these forums, is to make our e-readers, exactly the way we like