Why no search function?

gatorfan · 08-23-2009, 08:26 PM

Hello all,

I've been perusing the forums, kind of getting my "sea legs" established. I purchased an Astak EZReader a few weeks ago and I really love it.

I am very new with the eReader technology, still trying to take in all the the ways I can use my device to the best of its (and my own) capabilities.

I do have one question that has been nagging me...

Why isn't a search function standard on ANY eReader?

I carry a couple of reference books in my EZReader and a search function would prove invaluable.

Please forgive me if I've asked the easy question, and this has been asked before.

By the way, great community here, glad I found it!

wodin · 08-23-2009, 08:42 PM

Text search is standard on jetBook, and I think Kindle and Sony PRS-700. There are some others around too, but I'm not sure which ones. The WIKI matrix lists some.

It's also on FBReader on my Nokia N800, and MobiPocket and eReader on my cell phone.

griffonwing · 08-23-2009, 09:00 PM

I think a reader of 5-6" sizes aren't really conducive to being used as a ref-doc reader. Whereas you can read the files, most ref-docs are pdf, are are generally suited to a larger-screened reader.

I can see implementing a T9 system into the reader, they way a lot of phones are. It wouldn't be too terribly hard to implement. I can't recall if OpenInkPot supports this, or if it's in plans, but I recall something about an alternate firmware might be working on it. Someone more knowledgeable could verify this though.

gatorfan · 08-23-2009, 09:02 PM

So as per the Wiki Matrix, about half of the devices have search capability.

Is searching more of a function of the overall firmware or each individual type of format?

wallcraft · 08-23-2009, 09:35 PM

Search (within the current ebook) isn't all that hard to implement, but you first need a way to enter the search string. So devices with a real keyboard or a touch screen (virtual keyboard) almost always have search, but it is hit and miss if not. CoolReader under Open InkPot has search, but not under the standard Hanlin firmware (which uses CoolReader for FB2). I have not used it for a while, but I think the LBook firmware for the Hanlin V3 may have search (at least for FB2).

Kris777 · 08-24-2009, 12:03 AM

I use search very often when I read documents in rtf format on my jetBook so I think that this feature very helpful and important.

Robertb · 08-24-2009, 04:10 PM

Dear All:

I agree a search function is a fine thing to have. It is planned for some future devices. To do it right you need at least a soft keyboard and our factories are sending us some prototypes using it.

08-23-2009, 08:26 PM	#1
gatorfan Member Posts: 20 Karma: 28 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle, Jetbook	Why no search function? Hello all, I've been perusing the forums, kind of getting my "sea legs" established. I purchased an Astak EZReader a few weeks ago and I really love it. I am very new with the eReader technology, still trying to take in all the the ways I can use my device to the best of its (and my own) capabilities. I do have one question that has been nagging me... Why isn't a search function standard on ANY eReader? I carry a couple of reference books in my EZReader and a search function would prove invaluable. Please forgive me if I've asked the easy question, and this has been asked before. By the way, great community here, glad I found it!

08-23-2009, 08:42 PM	#2
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Text search is standard on jetBook, and I think Kindle and Sony PRS-700. There are some others around too, but I'm not sure which ones. The WIKI matrix lists some. It's also on FBReader on my Nokia N800, and MobiPocket and eReader on my cell phone. Last edited by wodin; 08-23-2009 at 08:46 PM.

08-24-2009, 04:10 PM	#7
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	A search function Dear All: I agree a search function is a fine thing to have. It is planned for some future devices. To do it right you need at least a soft keyboard and our factories are sending us some prototypes using it.

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08-23-2009, 09:00 PM	#3
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	I think a reader of 5-6" sizes aren't really conducive to being used as a ref-doc reader. Whereas you can read the files, most ref-docs are pdf, are are generally suited to a larger-screened reader. I can see implementing a T9 system into the reader, they way a lot of phones are. It wouldn't be too terribly hard to implement. I can't recall if OpenInkPot supports this, or if it's in plans, but I recall something about an alternate firmware might be working on it. Someone more knowledgeable could verify this though.

08-23-2009, 09:02 PM	#4
gatorfan Member Posts: 20 Karma: 28 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle, Jetbook	So as per the Wiki Matrix, about half of the devices have search capability. Is searching more of a function of the overall firmware or each individual type of format?

08-23-2009, 09:35 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Search (within the current ebook) isn't all that hard to implement, but you first need a way to enter the search string. So devices with a real keyboard or a touch screen (virtual keyboard) almost always have search, but it is hit and miss if not. CoolReader under Open InkPot has search, but not under the standard Hanlin firmware (which uses CoolReader for FB2). I have not used it for a while, but I think the LBook firmware for the Hanlin V3 may have search (at least for FB2).

08-24-2009, 12:03 AM	#6
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	I use search very often when I read documents in rtf format on my jetBook so I think that this feature very helpful and important.

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