I heard reports over the weekend that Bed, Bath, and Beyond had the black Novel in stock. Naturally this piqued my curiosity, and I went to my local store Monday morning. Yes they did, and no they didn’t.
My local BBB store did receive a Fedex shipment on Friday, but it wasn’t for the black Novel. They got one white Novel and the display unit.
A couple people over at SlateDroid insist that their store got the black Novel, not white. You might want to get the white one, instead. The one key difference between the black and white models is that the black Novel has 2GB Flash soldered on board and the white Novel has a microSDHC card slot.You can replace the microSDHC card, and I know several people over at SlateDroid who already have swapped the original 1GB card with a 16GB card. I don’t do video, so I’m not going to bother. But I can see the value.
I was hoping that the display model would be the black Novel, but it wasn’t. The display for the Novel was one of Pandigita’s digital picture frames. All it does is play a promo video.
Second Update: These instructions were written back in July 2011, and they stopped being valid by the first of August 2011 (the process got a lot easier and now gives you better results). You can find the new instructions here. Trust me, you’ll want to use the new instructions.
Update: When I originally wrote this, I obviously wasn’t clear in certain details. Several of the articles written about this hack have said that I did all the work. This is not true, nor was I trying to claim credit. Credit goes to a particular SlateDroid member by the name of "meth".
A couple weeks back I said I was going to try to root my Novel. Sorry about the delay. The process wasn’t functional until Thursday night, and it wasn’t until Saturday morning that it was actually worth bothering with.
First, if you want to hack your Novel then you really should visit SlateDroid and check out the Novel forum. That’s where you can find help with troubleshooting. I’m not refusing to help; I just want to do it in a forum setting (it’s easier).
I didn’t go all the way and actually root the Novel. Instead I stopped after I installed a replacement home screen (so I could run other apps). I had trouble finding a home screen that I could download. For the most part they are only in the Marketplace and I don’t have access. Eventually I found Panda Home, and it seems to be working okay.
Installing apps on the Novel requires the use of the command line (that’s what works for me) but the process is relatively easy. You can’t use the new apps from the existing home screen, so you’ll also need to install a new home screen. I have Aldiko, Kindle, Fictionwise eReader and Kobo apps installed. I’d forgotten how much I liked Aldiko.
As you can see in the video, the page turn speed is significantly faster with Aldiko or the Kindle app. General responsiveness has also improved. I’m a lot happier with the Novel now that crappy original software has been bypassed. It turns out that it does have decent hardware specs.
P.S. Here are the instructions on how to hack your Novel. They’ve been checked by a couple people and I feel safe about sharing them. Use at Your Own Risk.
There was a piece this morning on NPR about Stanford University’s move away from a physical collection. This is actually old news (I covered it back in May), but it’s interesting.
The periodical shelves at Stanford University’s Engineering Library are nearly bare. Library chief Helen Josephine says that in the past five years, most engineering periodicals have been moved online, making their print versions pretty obsolete — and books aren’t doing much better.
This is a growing trend for libraries. Most have stopped trying to build their own collection, and instead they join consortiums and share the physical content across multiple schools. Digital content is now more heavily used than physical, so having a copy on hand isn’t nearly as important as it was 20 years ago.
Best Tablet Review has an interesting article on the ereader price war and the current state of the market.They argue that
The first point I want to raise is when the price war started. BTR assumes (like most people) that the Nook Wifi started the price war. I disagree. Kobo started it when they launched their $149 ereader. I still don’t think much of the hardware, but at the time that was a very good price.
BTW, the second battle of the ereader price war wasn’t the Nook Wifi; it was when Sony dropped their prices (before the Nook Wifi). They called it a sale at the time, but that was just to hedge their bets. Also, I think they were responding to the price of the Kobo ereader, not anticipating the B&N price drop. They were trying to find a better price point for their ereaders (whoops).
BTR goes on to predict that only the big three (Amazon, Sony, B&N) will survive and it will be hard for anyone else to enter the market. This is very likely true, but it is only true if you ignore the rest of the world.
The ereader price war has so far been confined to the USA. It has yet to affect the other major markets in Europe, Asia and Australia.When you add them to the pot the prediction is false. And the Big Three soon becomes the Big Four, possibly even the Big Five.
One company that BTR left out was Pocketbook. Pocketbook will survive the US based price war just fine. In fact, they’re in a better position than Sony because they don’t depend on the US market for survival. Pocketbook is based in the Ukraine and Russia, and the USA is actually their least important market. I mentioned last week that they lowered their prices. You might have noticed that I didn’t comment on the fact that their prices are higher than everyone else. I passed because their prices staid slightly more expensive than everyone else. If they’re happy with that price point, then they must know what they’re doing.
Pocketbook was one of the Big Four. I have the feeling that there is actually a Big Five, but I’m not sure yet who that last company is. It’s not Bookeen or Bebook, but it might be Hanvon or Gajah. Hanvon was working towards a $100 ereader before the Nook Wifi, and Gajah is the most widely distributed ereader manufacturer that you’ve never heard of.
So who’s going to survive? My prediction is that all will survive just so long as they can stay financed. Once they have money troubles they’re dead. No one will finance them because of the price war.
Impress R&D (summary translated from Japanese) released a report yesterday on the Japanese ebook market. They found that ebook sales rose 23.7% in 2009 to 57.4 billion yen from 46.4 billion yen. (from $527m to $652m). That also predicted sales for 2014, but I’m giving the predictions the attention they deserve (none).
If you’re looking at the %23.7 and thinking it’s low, you’re looking at the wrong number. Look at the total sales. $652 million is nearly twice what the AAP reported for the US market for 2009. Japan had a bigger ebook market even though they have only 40% the population.
The %23.7 growth could have 2 causes. The Japanese ebook market might be more mature than the US one or the US growth could be attributed to all the media attention generated by the ereader hardware companies. Japan doesn’t have the ereader market that we have in the US; most people read on their cell phone.
EDIT: I’ve decided that this post will stand as my review of the second firmware. Let me sum it up briefly: Run Away! Run Away!
I’m writing this as my videos are being uploaded to Youtube. I’d like to thank Ben for requesting the videos. Trying to shoot them has significantly changed my opinion of the Novel. It kept crashing.
Again.
And again.
And again.
After the 5th time a crash forced me to reshoot the video from the beginning I got a little peeved. Yes, it crashed (or froze) 5 times in slightly less than an hour.
On a related note, someone requested that I test Adobe DE support just to make sure it worked. I’m glad she did because the Novel froze while trying to deal with the first couple ebooks I gave it. I had to hard reset again. Also, ebooks moved from Adobe DE aren’t listed in the Library (at least not that I can see). There’s a second menu for them.
Whoops. The Reader app just froze again while I was sitting here fact checking. This is such a POS.
The first video is about 5 minutes, and it shows you the Browser, Reader, and Library. It show the screen rotation. The second video shows the boot sequence. Jump to about 1:45, and look at the screen. I haven’t seen that before.
P.S. I really wanted to say something nice this time. I don’t like attacking an ereader in every single post. Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice here. I have to be honest about my experiences.
P.P.S. Do you want to know why I wanted to say something nice? Because now it looks like I was gunning for the Novel all along.
You might recall that a couple days ago I posted about Sync and their free audiobook downloads. I realized while while writing that post that I’d never tried the app (I have an aversion to DRM and lock-in). When it comes to audiobooks, Overdrive are one of the leading platforms (along with Audible). It’s past time that I familiarized myself with the app.
Background
Overdrive are the one of the leading media distributors in both audiobooks and ebooks for both retail and libraries. The Overdrive Media Console is an app that you can use to download and play DRMed audiobooks from your library. You can get it on quite a few platforms (Windows, OSX, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, iPhone).
Review
I tried the app on my iPod Touch and on an Android tablet. Aside from the differences in the OSes, the apps were basically identical. Neither was all that pleasant to use. If I were not forced to use this app in order to download audiobooks from my public library then I would use something else. As a media player, it’s not very good.
The first problem I encountered is that most of the audiobooks at my library are in WMA format, not MP3. The OMC only supports MP3, which means I can only use about 200 titles out of a 1,500 title collection.
This next problem didn’t occur to me until I had the app running on 2 devices. The OMC doesn’t support browsing your library’s audiobooks from inside the app. You have to use an external web browser to search for and download the audiobooks. Fortunately, my library has a mobile friendly audiobook site (I suspect it was provided by Overdrive). I am very grateful because the rest of the library’s website is most emphatically not mobile friendly.
I’m not pleased with the design of the menus. You can download and play an audiobook in parts. This is good, but first you have to find the download menu. It’s not in an obvious location. Another problem I found is that the Android UI just doesn’t work on a small screen. It really needs to be rew0rked.
Where to get it
You can download most of the Media console apps (Windows, OSX, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile) from Overdrive. The iPhone app is in the App Store.
Does your local library support ebooks or audiobooks? You can find out at Overdrive.
I’ve just updated my Novel, and I spent a couple hours playing with it. Coincidentally, I’d pulled it out of the box yesterday because I was going to try to gain root access. I used it for a while yesterday, and this new firmware is a significant improvement. The firmware is dated July 4th, but they didn’t post it until Tuesday morning (I checked Monday).
So here’s what I’ve observed:
I still had to do a second hard reset to get the touch screen to respond correctly.
The screen is noticeably more responsive. I don’t have to press+hold+wait anymore. Just tapping the screen is enough. Response is still a little on the slow side, though.
They fixed the Wifi. It also seems to be faster at connecting to a hotspot. Load time on the browser is reasonably fast. The Reader and Library are still slow at turning the page, though, and you still have to swipe.
The accelerometer works now (all 4 directions). It works automatically in both the Reader and the web browser. Browsing in landscape mode is quite pleasant. It’s not so nice to read in landscape mode because you only have the one column of text (it’s too wide). Also, it doesn’t properly reformat the text when switching from portrait to landscape mode. You have to put it in suspend mode and then turn it back on.
Opinion
It’s a decent tablet now that it has the new firmware. But I wouldn’t recommend it as an ereader just yet because the page turn is too slow. Also, the Nook Wifi is only $149, and the Nook firmware is significantly more polished.
You might recall that Monday I posted that the Samsung E60 will be sold in France (it’s also currently sold in Italy). I was a little frustrated because I had no info about the US release, which had been repeatedly delayed. I sent an email to Samsung and pestered them again. They got back to me on Tuesday, and here is what they said:
Based on current market dynamics, Samsung is revisiting its approach to the eReader market in the US at this time. We remain committed to the mobile entertainment market and expect to have new announcements soon.
Note that they don’t say that they are giving up entirely, just that they aren’t going to release an ereader anytime soon. Fortunately for Samsung, they still have their native South Korean market as well as Japan.
They’re really not having a good year when it comes to ereaders. First their 10″ E101 gets killed by the iPad*, and then their entire ereader market in the US got killed by the price war.
*It was announced at CES 2010 (pre iPad), and then not announced at the (post iPad) March press conference (and they won’t comment on it).
I’ve just come across another ereader brand (via lesen.net). Prestigio are a consumer electronics company with products sold in 40 countries. They’ve just announced that they will be carrying 3 ereaders, 2 of which are made by Gajah Int.
Prestigio are currently selling the PER3052, which is based on a 5″ LCD screen and doubles as a media player. The spec sheet lists decent audio, video, and ebook support. We’ve reviewed a similar device under the name Delstar Openbook. It had nice hardware, but the software was exceptionally disappointing. Retail price will be around €120.
Next up is the PER3162. I’ve reviewed the OEM version of this one myself. Again, the hardware is very good, but the ebook support is poor. It’s going to retail for €200.
Last up is the PER5062, which (I think) is based on the Benq QD060B00. This is a high end model with a Sipix screen. I don’t have the specs, but I do have the FCC paperwork, and I know of a hands on video (same hardware, but might have different software). Retail should be €300.
Never one to give up a battle early, Sony have dropped the retail price of all 3 Sony ereaders. (I could already find them at these prices or cheaper, anyway.) The Pocket Edition is now $149, the Touch Edition $169, and the Daily Edition $299. Unfortunately, Sony didn’t reduce the prices as much as they should have.
I’ve been pondering ereader prices ever since the 7 hour price war last week. My first thought when I heard the Kindle price cut was that Sony was screwed, and my second thought was that I’m not sure they can afford to reduce prices to match the market.
Sony have priced the Pocket Edition at the same price as the Nook Wifi, even though the Pocket Edition does not have Wifi, annotation abilities, and (this one’s the killer) the Pocket Edition is limited to only 512 MB of storage! (no SD card slot) IMO, the Pocket Edition should cost $99. It is the least capable ereader on the market and it should be priced less than all others including the Aluratek Libre ($120, Borders). Prediction: The Pocket Edition is going to discontinued this summer or fall.
The Daily Edition is also overpriced. It has 3G, a touchscreen, and a screen only slightly larger than the Kindle or Nook. It really should be priced at or near $199. It is only slightly more capable than either the Nook or the Kindle, so its current price is too high for what it can do.
I think Sony could be the first major victim of the ereader price war.
The Bookeen Opus came out in the Fall of 2009. I tried one in October and was so dissatisfied that I sent it back. There were any number of things the Opus couldn’t do (then) that I required in an ereader: Mobipocket support, instant on, dictionary support. I decided to do this review because I had been told that Bookeen have significantly improved the firmware. This is true. The Opus has changed for the better.
Hardware
The Opus has a 5” E-ink screen. It has 2 page turn buttons to the right of the screen and a d-pad & 2 buttons below the screen. One the bottom edge it has a USB port, and on the upper edge it has a power button and a microSDHC card slot.
The Opus was too small for me. I did eventually get used to holding it, but it still feels too thin and too small. I know several people who disagree with me, so I might be the odd man out.
Software
The Opus is unique in that it has 2 firmware options. The first provides support for Adobe DE DRM, and the second supports Mobipocket DRM. I spent far more time with the Adobe firmware (the Mobipocket firmware was delayed, repeatedly).
For the longest time I was dedicated to the Mobipocket format, and you’d think that I’d be happy to get back to it. Well, the Adobe firmware is noticeably better. I tried the Mobipocket firmware just long enough to right down its abilities.
The 2 firmwares have the same Library options. You can show 5, 10, or 20 items per page. You can view all your ebooks as a single level collection, or you can view them by folder. The Opus has 4 sort options: file title, size, date, name, and path.
When you’re reading an ebook on the Adobe DE firmware, you have a choice of 3 different font, 12 font sizes, and you can justify or embolden the text. But you don’t have a dictionary or bookmarks. With the Mobipocket firmware you have the 12 font sizes, 3 font choices, dictionary support, and bookmarks. Also, the Mobipocket firmware is stuck with full justification (I hate it) and a large empty margin around the screen.
Opinion
The Opus is a nice ereader. It’s well designed and solidly built. Bookeen are now on the third generation of firmware for the Opus; I think they’ve found and fixed all the bugs. I’m glad that Bookeen added a sleep mode; this was one of my 2 chief complaints when I got an Opus last fall. I thought that the lack of a sleep mode went against the very concept of the Opus. It’s obviously a pocketable ereader, and what is the point of putting it in your pocket if you can’t pull it out and turn it on in a second?
I could recommend this ereader to anyone.
Second Opinion
This review was originally written several weeks ago, and was delayed for various reasons. The cause of the delay doesn’t matter, but what does matter is that just last week Amazon and B&N dropped the price of their ereaders. All of a sudden you could get (at least in the US) a Nook or K2 for about the same price as the Opus. These ereaders are much more capable than the Opus, and I think they represent a better value.
Specs:
5″ E-ink screen
400 MHz CPU
1 GB Flash
microSDHC card slot
Where to get it
You can buy the Opus direct from Bookeen. Prices vary depending on the market. You can also buy the Opus from one of the 50 or so resellers you’ll find on the Bookeen website.
I was wandering through the exhibit hall when I cam across this. You’re looking at is a vending machine for library books. It’s made by an Ontario based library services company called Brodart.
The machine is self contained, and comes with a barcode scanner, receipt printer, and a second barcode scanner inside (for stockng new content). This unit can be placed away from library facilities and still be integrated into the system, so I’m going to assume it either has a phone plug in back or it has its own cell connection.
Starting June 28, travelers will find the Amazon Kindle for sale in HMSHost branded stores-Simply Books and Authors Bookstores at airports across the country. HMSHost, a world leader in travel shopping and dining, announced today its agreement with Amazon to be the first and only travel retailer of the best selling electronic innovation that is changing the way people buy and read books.
It’s actually not all that many airports:
Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson
John Wayne (Orange County)
Charlotte Douglas International
Salt Lake City
Dallas Ft. Worth
San Diego International
George Bush Houston Intercontinental
Mineta San Jose International
Miami International
Tampa International
Minneapolis-St. Paul
The Sony Reader is available in quite a few more airports than that. But it’s in a high tech vending machine, though, not a store (at least in the US). Igorsk said that he had seen the Sony Reader in the Amsterdam airport at a Capi store.
I had an interesting visit with a Baker & Taylor rep today, and she showed me the Blio iPhone app. This is the first time anyone has seen it, anywhere. BTW, both the iPad and iPhone apps will be available in August.
I was really curious about how Blio would look on the iPhone (and other small screens) because Blio is being promoted as a rich format, and all the demos have been on a desktop. I wasn’t sure that the reading experience could be duplicated on a small screen. I was right, actually, but Blio does come pretty darn close to having the same reading experience on every size of screen.
The iPhone app had support for all the same features of the desktop version: TTS, annotation, text reflow mode. It also had a zoom feature I hadn’t seen before. You can swipe to turn the page, of course, but if you tap the right side of the screen the app will jump to a piece of text and zoom in. Tap again, and it will jump to the next piece of text.
I don’t know that this would win me over from text (but then again, I like text). But the Blio iPhone app is probably going to be the best reading app for its rich format. The only reading apps (that I’m familiar with) which might handle similarly rich content are focused on textbooks, and I don’t think they are as good.
In other news, Blio have a new business partner. Toshiba are going to open their own ebookstore based on Blio called Toshiba Book Place. The site’s up in case you want to check it out. You know, now that I know about this partnership, Toshiba’s new dual screen netbook makes a lot more sense. Toshiba call it an ereader because they expect to run Blio on it.
P.S. I know someone’s going to be thinking about books as apps, especially on the iPad. Yes the book apps have rich content, but they’re locked into the one platform. Blio’s ebooks will be usable across multiple platforms.
I heard reports over the weekend that Bed, Bath, and Beyond had the black Novel in stock. Naturally this piqued my curiosity, and I went to my local store Monday morning. Yes they did, and no they didn’t.
I was hoping that the display model would be the black Novel, but it wasn’t. The display for the Novel was one of Pandigita’s digital picture frames. All it does is play a promo video.
