07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

Here it is again, our weekly roundup! Enjoy!

iRex iLiad
iRex iLiad gets a critical hands-on look

Palm OS
A positive view of Palm's future

Sony Reader
Sony + new mobile device = Mylo
Sony Reader questions answered by Sony Reader Team

Windows Mobile
Things you can do on Pocket PC: Wonderful "all-in-one" tutorial
Webaroo web clipper for Pocket PC

08:11 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book Readers | Sony Reader

As promised, we've got some answers for your Sony Reader questions. Sony's product manager tried to hit as many of these as he could. Wiki: I added Sony's answers and the original questions that we had sent to Sony.

So here it is in full glory, for you to hopefully find most of your question answered:

To the Readers of Mobileread,

It has been a pleasure following this website. We have learned many things from all of you and we thank you for that. We would also like to thank you for your questions. We appreciate the points you have raised and we combined the questions from Mobileread as well as a few other websites and blogs into this lengthy note. Please understand that while we were unable to answer every question, we are now better aware of the issues on the minds of our consumers and will endeavor in future communications to answer more of your questions as appropriate.

While we can’t thank everyone by name there are a few people that we should thank. First of all Alexander has given us the chance to talk to you directly and has created a great website. Rmeister, dugbug, and diabloNL-- thank you for your many questions both directly to use and in the regular forums. NatCh-- thanks for doing the digging that you do, and for being right far more often than not. And to all the other active members of this site, thank you.

File Formats

Q) What File formats are supported natively and can be put directly on a Memory Stick or SD memory card?
A) With the Sony Reader you can take a file from your PC to an SD or Memory Stick™ media card and read on the Sony Reader the following file types:

1. TXT
2. RTF
3. PDF (Unencrypted)
4. BBeB (Encrypted and Unencrypted)
5. JPEG
6. GIF
7. BMP
8. PNG
9. MP3 (Unencrypted)
10. AAC (Unencrypted)

We recommend using the CONNECT™ Reader Software to import and transfer files to the Reader, as it will enable faster page turns and re-sizing on the Reader itself. We have also included the ability to import Microsoft Word files to the device. The CONNECT Reader will convert the Word document to RTF during the import process as long as the user has Microsoft® Word on the PC (this happens behind the scenes).

Q) How do these files show font sizes? Will we have the ability to increase or decrease the fonts? Is this limited only to DRM content or will it apply to the others as well?
A) Text files on the Reader (both unencrypted and encrypted) have the ability to have their font sizes changed from standard (100%) to medium (125%) to large (150%). PDF documents may not always have three font size changes due to their sometimes complex nature. Please see below to understand how we deal with PDFs.

PDF Files

Q) If the Reader supports PDF natively, can it handle PDF files with lots of graphics? Can it zoom or rotate the page?
A) Remember that most PDFs in the US are created with the intention of printing on a standard 81/2 x 11-inch piece of paper. Since the Reader’s screen is smaller than 8 1/2x11inches, the page will be scaled to fit on the screen and that will in most cases compromise readability. That is just a fact of life when using a page layout format with an on screen display. We hope to create some FAQs for how to optimize PDFs for the Reader. Anyone want to suggest how best to do this?

We do have the ability, by holding down the “size” button for five seconds to rotate the screen. This will allow you to see the top half of the PDF on one page and the bottom half on another and will allow you to view the document with an effectively increased page width.

As far as images go, if they are in the PDF they should show on the Sony Reader.

RSS Feeds

Q) Will Readers be able to view RSS feeds and can users save feeds or is it all overwritten automatically?
A) You will be able to go to the CONNECT e-book store and get your feeds manually and save them to your PC and Reader. Files will not be overwritten so you can save what you want.

Audio capabilities

Q) Can I listen to audio while Reading?
A) Audio can be played while reading a book as long as the audio is in MP3 or AAC unencrypted formats. You simply have to start the audio playback and then switch to the book that you wish to read. Please note that audio playback decreases the battery life faster than just reading.

Q) Why do you support MP3 and AAC unsecured files but not audio tracks that were purchased?
A) The Sony Reader is designed primarily as a reading device, not a full-featured music player. We consider MP3 playback a “bonus feature.”

DRM

Q) How does the DRM content work, can I share books?
A) The DRM rules allow any purchased eBook to be read on up to six devices (at least one of those 6 must be a PC). Although you cannot share purchased eBooks on other people’s devices and accounts, you will have the opportunity to register five Readers to your account and share your books accordingly.

Q) If the Sony Reader breaks, what will it take to move DRM-protected content to a replacement machine?
A) If the Sony Reader or your PC breaks, you can always log-in to your CONNECT account and “re-download” your purchased eBooks to a new PC, and transfer them again to a new device, as long as the six device rule still holds true. Customer support will be able to clear broken devices and PCs from your list of six if you cannot access the older Reader or PC.

Q) Why does Sony sell books?
A) We want to offer our customers an integrated and easy-to-use experience. Developing a Sony-managed download service accessed from within the desktop PC application was a key aspect of offering this integrated experience.

Q) Will there be time-expiring DRM/protected content on the new reader?
A) At this time there are no plans to introduce time-expiring books in the U.S

Q) How will the Sony Reader support files with no DRM?
A) As long as the file is in one of the formats that we can support natively and are unencrypted they will work on the Reader.

Power

Q) What type of batteries does the Reader use?
A) The Reader uses an internal Lithium Ion battery

Q) What is the Reader’s battery life?
A) The Reader, on a full charge, will allow up to 7500 “page turns” on a single charge. We measure the battery endurance in page turns due to the bistable nature of the E Ink display. This battery life does depend on usage patterns and auxiliary functions like audio playback will drain the battery faster.

Q) How does the Reader charge?
A) The Reader can be charged by either the AC Charger that can be plugged directly into the Reader (or through the cradle), or it can be charged through the USB port.

Operating Systems and Browsers

Q) Will Sony provide software and support for customers using Macs or Linux?
A) Currently our application has been designed for Microsoft® Windows XP®. External media such as Memory Stick and SD cards provide content transfer functionality from non-Windows based PCs, but you will not have the ability to buy books or enjoy the benefits of managing your content and Reader through the application. We are aware of the desire of non XP customers to have support and are considering how and when we can support them.

Q) If I use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer can I buy books?
A) The bookstore is not based on Internet Explorer and in fact is accessed through the Connect Reader desktop application. As such, you do not need to worry about which Internet browser you have installed on your PC.

Content

Q) Is Sony aware of the hacking/modding community? What does Sony think of it? Will it have its API opened up for third party developers?
A) Sony’s Librie eBook which launched in Japan enjoyed a great global fan base who worked together to provide translated menus and other offerings. We enjoyed watching the evolution of Librie applications, and the community’s feedback helped us define what the U.S. product should be. We are currently studying how we might support third party content developers. Please stay tuned.

Q) Can authors create and sell books on CONNECT? Can different blogs or websites sell or distribute their content there?
A) A) We are currently signing publishers big and small to offer their eBooks for sale. Please contact publisher_sign-up@sonyconnect.com for more information.

Other Questions

Q) When will the Sony Reader become available in other countries? Europe? Asia?
A) Sony does not have any current plans to expand distribution of the Reader outside the U.S.

Q) Has the Sony Reader gone through a beta test stage?
A) Sony always extensively tests our products before they ship. The Sony Reader will not be an exception. All aspects of the Reader will be fully tested before it is released. We want all customers to have a great experience with our products. In other words the Sony Reader will not be released in a beta form and will only be released when it is ready.

Q) When will the Reader be released for sure?
A) We will announce an exact date as we get closer to the fall season.

Q) Has Sony experienced any issues with “ghosting”?
A) Please refer to the FAQs on the E Ink web site (www.eink.com) to understand the causes and effects of “after image” (ghosting). While our engineering objective is to minimize the after image effect through clever control waveform design, after image is an inherent characteristic of the E Ink technology and is not a sign of a defective or degraded display.

Q) Has Sony tested firmware updates? How are they delivered to the end user?
A) Yes, Sony will offer the capability to download firmware updates and install them on the Reader. More information to come.

Q) Can I bookmark a location in a book and return to it later?
A) The Reader has a button called “Mark” that enables you to bookmark any page and, in fact, multiple pages. You can view your bookmarks through a menu option or by simply holding the “MARK” button down for five seconds.

Q) Can I "jump" forward/backward while reading by something other than one page (chapter, 10 page jumps, etc)?
A) Here are a couple of ways to navigate through a book:

• Hold the “Page Forward” or “Back” button for five seconds and the page will jump 10 pages in the direction of the button.
• The row of numbered buttons can help here as well. “1” brings you to the start of the book. “2” brings you to 20% of the book. “3” to 30% and so on. So if you wants to open to about half way in the book simply hit “5

Conclusion

Once again, we would like to thank you for your time and interest in the Sony Reader. While we were unable to write answers to every question, we did read the questions. We have passed on your concerns and desires to our product management and we will take everything into consideration. We hope that you find these answers useful and will continue to ask us, push us, and inspire us.

The Sony Reader Team.

09:49 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

We've heard a lot of negative press about Palm recently. There are many concerns about what is to come. But a recent editorial by Sammy McLoughlin over at Palm Addicts reminded me of why I am optimistic about Palm's future.

Most of the concern stems from the uncertainty. It's not clear how we are going to see ongoing compatibility of applications with the current PalmOS, nor what the dominant future OS will even be. As a result, people wonder how Palm can succeed in the market.

But change and uncertainty is about the only constant in the handheld market. And one cannot dismiss the demonstrated ability of Palm, Inc. to successfully navigate a difficult market. How many times have we heard that PalmOS and Palm, Inc were dead? How many times did we hear it said that the Treo line would not succeed against the "big boys?" When Cobalt was declared dead, many felt that it was the end of PalmOS, and Palm. Then we see success, or hear that there is a contingency plan. For example, recently we discover Treos running Windows Mobile, which even offer a stronger hope to enter the business market.

We also hear rumors that there is a Linux OS that Palm is developing, and which they hope to be able to make compatible with current PalmOS software. (Separate from the PalmSource Access Linux Platform efforts.) And while talk has died down about word from Jeff Hawkins about a revolutionary third line of business alongside traditional pdas and smartphones, that doesn't mean we won't see something exciting appear on the market.

Palm Inc., especially with Ed Colligan at the helm, has proven itself a survivor. There are many challenges, but as we have seen Apple do, they always seem to land on their feet and have a last ditch plan for success. They won't go down easily. It's not hard to be a doubter, but greatness comes from those who are willing to take risks, and who get the job done in the face of adversity.

In 1910 at a speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, Teddy Roosevelt said "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

I look forward to counting Palm among the survivors. Whatever mobile device company you prefer, and whatever operating system you like, you have to admit that Palm's ongoing presence will help push the entire mobile computing market forward for all of us.

So in the midst of all the critics and uncertainty, I'm quite happy to know that Palm, Inc. is fighting the fight!

09:21 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

There's a new kid in town fighting for a spot in the offline handheld web viewing market, and it's called Webaroo.

"Webaroo is search…unplugged. Webaroo is a free software service that gives you the power to search and browse the web ~ anywhere, anytime, without a connection. Perfect for a laptop, or PDA, Webaroo searches deliver relevant results and their graphic web pages; giving you the information and answers you want, wherever you are."

Requires WM2003 SE or WM5.0, an external storage card, as well as the desktop/laptop software which uses Microsoft .Net 1.1 and a browser.

Via PDA247.

02:07 AM by Stuart Young in E-Book Readers | Sony Reader

While we're all waiting for the PRS-500 (aka The Sony Portable Reader) to hit the streets. Sony have released another new device for us to salivate over.

Priced at $350, Sony will bundle microphone/earphones for use with the VOIP functions VOIP functions. Music/Video content to be transferred from a PC (Presumably via Sony Connect software) Internet access is gained via WiFi. Users will need access to their own access point or will have to pay for access via a commercial hotspot. Supported WiFi security includes: WPA-PSK,WEP.TSK.

Dubbed the "mylo Personal Communicator" it comes loaded with the following features:

Hardware Specs

- 802.11b wireless networking
- arm 9 processor
- slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- 2.4in, 320 x 240 colour display
- 1GB On-board Memory
- memory Stick Pro Duo (slot)
- 45 Hours Music Playback (Memory Stick Pro Duo memory cards

Bundled software:

- Skype
- GoogleTalk
- Yahoo
- Opera Browser
- Music Playback; WMA,WMA DRM, ATRAC3, MP3,
- Video: MPEG4

Official Sony Press Release available here.

10:32 AM by Alexander Turcic in More E-Book Readers | iRex

One geek's must-have gadget is another geek's over-the-top gimmick. To decide where the iRex iLiad will land on your scale check out the hands-on review Professor David A. Bell was kind enough to publish for us on his Web site. Overall, he seems to like what he sees, noting that the e-paper display is brilliant although still not as comfortable to the eye as regular paper, and the various hardware issues that are still irking early beta testers. His conclusion:

At least for a few years, assuming my iLiad doesn't break down, I have my first true, comfortable, pleasant, long-dreamed-of reading device. It's not perfect, and it's not cheap, but, unlike every other electronic reading method I've tried, it's simple, it works (give or take a few hitches), and it doesn't give me a headache. If you need me, I'll be on the couch. Reading.

07:08 AM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Ever have a friend ask what you can do on a Pocket PC? Maybe they just got one and wonder what to do with it. Aximsite has this great article, What Can I Do With My Axim? by Gig Hsue, with an amazing list of ideas and solutions. And it's not specific to Axim, but should be helpful for anyone with a Windows Mobile device.

Via PPC Mag

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

If you missed our frontpage news at any point this week, here is the best way to catch up:

Elsewhere on the Net
The DRM Drumbeat continues
Tracking the e-book players today

In the News
A billion cell phone shipments possible this year
Amazon to drop LIT and PDF e-books from its list
Audiable continues to do business with Apple
Rumor:Apple UMPC/TabletPC to be announced next week. Maybe.
Smartphone battery consumption made simple
Who invented the mobile phone? Quiz.
Will smartphones dominate pdas and laptops?

Lounge
Do you know where to find illegal e-book content?

Mobile Sites
Major new mobile web services roll out

Others
Apple joins phone standards consortium: Where Art Thou iPhone?
Double iPhone details
Motofone to have an E Ink diskplay?

Palm OS
The Palm Business Book

Portable AV
Upcoming Archos media player details leaked (the 404 and 604)