Report on the second eBukovka - meeting of electronic reading enthusiasts in Kharkov
On August 28, Kharkiv hosted the second meeting of electronic reading enthusiasts - eBukovka. In the three hours that the event lasted, so many interesting things happened that I’m even lost where to start. To begin with, it is worth mentioning that this time the participants brought 13 models of electronic readers from Sony Reader and the Alphabet, to Barnes & Noble Nook and iRex to eBukovka. The highlight of the program were the Kindle DX and officially not yet released PocketBook 901 . Read the
full report with a lot of photos under the cut.
I immediately want to dwell on electronic readers. At the meeting, the following e-book readers could be held in their hands: Sony Reader PRS-505, 600, PocketBook 301, 302, 360, Alphabet N516, Lbook V5, V3 +, Ergo Book 0501R, B&N Nook, iRex DR800, Kindle DX, PocketBook 901 Readers who do not own any of the models, but they also came, had plenty to choose from. Like at the first eBukovka , they had a wonderful opportunity to get to know and listen to the personal experience of using readers from people who have long been fond of electronic reading.
The most lively interest was caused by the presentation of Andrei Savchuk, who is also the Klu4nik habro-user from PocketBook. Their blogRecently appeared on Habré. He brought to the meeting a working prototype of an electronic textbook - PocketBook 901.
Your humble servant took the readeraway and borrowed it and tested it for reading PDF and DJVU files, because I know this problem, and I once even dedicated a separate post to it on Habré. I must say that the e-book reader coped with the task perfectly. The diagonal of the screen of 9.7 inches and solid software of domestic production makes itself felt. It was also interesting to compare the screens of the PocketBook 901 and Kindle DX .
It was pleasantly surprising that, according to Andrey, the technology of widgets will be used in PocketBook 901, 902, 903. It will be possible to display information useful to the user on the main screen as well, as is done for example on the iGoogle page, which is generally non-standard for e-book readers. All textbooks, if necessary, can be protected by DRM technology. Their kit for parents will cost about 300 hryvnia, which is 2-3 times cheaper than paper ones. The case promises to be very durable (Of course!). True, the screens will remain glass, not plastic. E-INK still has not mastered the technology of manufacturing plastic screens. However, I am pleased that even if these devices do not appear in schools, they will certainly reach consumers. PocketBook and 900 series will be in the same price category as the Amazon Kindle DX.
The participants of eBukovka were very interested in information about the future Ukrainian competitor Apple iPad - the PocketBook IQ tablet . From what has been said, it became known that the device will be based on the Google Android OS and will be released this fall (although I assume that it will not be earlier than December, if you're lucky. Plans for that and plans). As for the price, it will be much more affordable for the consumer than the iPad. All details about this device will be announced at IFA2010 .
Of course, there were still many questions about the operation of devices, about colored electronic paper, screen protection, DRM technology, competition, price reductions, content for readers. Not without bug reports. For example, I was worried about the question of whether PocketBook will open its application market following the example of Amazon KDK or AppStore. But for now, the reader manufacturer has no such plans.
Many participants brought their favorite e-books and tested their readability on different devices.
The American Barnes & Noble Nook with Russified firmware from mynook aroused quite a bit of interest. It was brought to us from the city of Nikolaev by the habuser dex7er. I was pleased with the Russian interface, support for FB2 and a PDF viewer with the ability to rotate the document in landscape view. Although everything else is still sawing and sawing.
It is nice that the beautiful half of humanity is not indifferent to gadgets. And even the strange name of the event did not scare them. :)
In general, the meeting was a great success. I must say that I was somewhat worried about whether everyone had enough space in the literary cafe where the meeting took place, but out of 38 registered participants, 23 came out of them four ( ! ) Habro-users :) All those who came were definitely not sorry, because that the number of gadgets, new acquaintances and useful interesting information was just off scale.
I tried to write a report in hot pursuit, but there is a lot of interesting information that I could not remember or express. I hope, dear habretchiki, will help me with their questions.
full report with a lot of photos under the cut.
I immediately want to dwell on electronic readers. At the meeting, the following e-book readers could be held in their hands: Sony Reader PRS-505, 600, PocketBook 301, 302, 360, Alphabet N516, Lbook V5, V3 +, Ergo Book 0501R, B&N Nook, iRex DR800, Kindle DX, PocketBook 901 Readers who do not own any of the models, but they also came, had plenty to choose from. Like at the first eBukovka , they had a wonderful opportunity to get to know and listen to the personal experience of using readers from people who have long been fond of electronic reading.
The most lively interest was caused by the presentation of Andrei Savchuk, who is also the Klu4nik habro-user from PocketBook. Their blogRecently appeared on Habré. He brought to the meeting a working prototype of an electronic textbook - PocketBook 901.
Your humble servant took the reader
It was pleasantly surprising that, according to Andrey, the technology of widgets will be used in PocketBook 901, 902, 903. It will be possible to display information useful to the user on the main screen as well, as is done for example on the iGoogle page, which is generally non-standard for e-book readers. All textbooks, if necessary, can be protected by DRM technology. Their kit for parents will cost about 300 hryvnia, which is 2-3 times cheaper than paper ones. The case promises to be very durable (Of course!). True, the screens will remain glass, not plastic. E-INK still has not mastered the technology of manufacturing plastic screens. However, I am pleased that even if these devices do not appear in schools, they will certainly reach consumers. PocketBook and 900 series will be in the same price category as the Amazon Kindle DX.
The participants of eBukovka were very interested in information about the future Ukrainian competitor Apple iPad - the PocketBook IQ tablet . From what has been said, it became known that the device will be based on the Google Android OS and will be released this fall (although I assume that it will not be earlier than December, if you're lucky. Plans for that and plans). As for the price, it will be much more affordable for the consumer than the iPad. All details about this device will be announced at IFA2010 .
Of course, there were still many questions about the operation of devices, about colored electronic paper, screen protection, DRM technology, competition, price reductions, content for readers. Not without bug reports. For example, I was worried about the question of whether PocketBook will open its application market following the example of Amazon KDK or AppStore. But for now, the reader manufacturer has no such plans.
Many participants brought their favorite e-books and tested their readability on different devices.
The American Barnes & Noble Nook with Russified firmware from mynook aroused quite a bit of interest. It was brought to us from the city of Nikolaev by the habuser dex7er. I was pleased with the Russian interface, support for FB2 and a PDF viewer with the ability to rotate the document in landscape view. Although everything else is still sawing and sawing.
It is nice that the beautiful half of humanity is not indifferent to gadgets. And even the strange name of the event did not scare them. :)
In general, the meeting was a great success. I must say that I was somewhat worried about whether everyone had enough space in the literary cafe where the meeting took place, but out of 38 registered participants, 23 came out of them four ( ! ) Habro-users :) All those who came were definitely not sorry, because that the number of gadgets, new acquaintances and useful interesting information was just off scale.
I tried to write a report in hot pursuit, but there is a lot of interesting information that I could not remember or express. I hope, dear habretchiki, will help me with their questions.