Comments on Official Bookeen blog (English version): Cybook Gen3 Firmware Upgrade - at last -

We are working on some modification to provide you...

2008-06-24T00:38:00.000-07:00

We are working on some modification to provide you a better service. The firmware upgrade (1.1) will be available again soon.
Best regards,

Guillaume
Bookeen

i cannot download the firware. I get a 404 error.P...

2008-06-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

i cannot download the firware. I get a 404 error.

Paul

I cannot download the firmware too. I get a 404 er...

2008-06-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot download the firmware too. I get a 404 error. Can you please either fix this or point me to the file.

Thanks.

I cannot download the firmware. I get a 404 error....

2008-06-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

I cannot download the firmware. I get a 404 error. Can you please either fix this or point me to the file.

Thanks.

Dear ohr,you can contact us for support atsupport@...

2008-06-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

Dear ohr,

you can contact us for support at
support@bookeen.com we will be able to answer to your request.

Best regards

Guillaume

I have tried repeatedly to load new firmware -- I ...

2008-06-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

I have tried repeatedly to load new firmware -- I have redownloaded software , even reformated sd chip -- I place the “update_kernel” on the sd chip -- I place chip into cybook reader -- I power up reader -- As soon as I see the 1st screen with cybook on it shows I push the button on the bottom right corner -- The screen flashes -- When the screen flashes i release the button -- But the software never loads , It just continues to load up origional software -- I have tried repeatedly , I have tried it various ways -- Could someone please tell me where I am going wrong , Thankyou

I think that some remarks found here on the Cybook...

2008-05-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

I think that some remarks found here on the Cybook are a bit too harsh.

I'm a new Cybook user and I cannot comment on the differences between the previous and new version as I upgraded the device as soon as I got it (I agree on the poorly translated upgrade instructions but some common sense and logic can easily guide you thru...).

This being said, I find the Cybook a great reader - much, much better than the Sony' for what I know:
It is thin, light, the battery lasts for ever and it is easy to browse - they could have done a better job with the navigation keys tho.
You can even modify the font size as you go for easy-on-the-eyes reading!
I love the fact that it remembers the last page I read and opens the next session on that very same page (without the need to use bookmarks).

Of course, I wished the pages would turn quicker without that annoying black screen (but I understand that it is due to the e-ink technology used by all ebook readers currently on the market). Even more I wished the screen supported colors.
And I also would love to be able to organize my library (i.e. per author or per genre) instead of having that long never-ending list (if you've got more than a handfull of books that is...).

My only concern (if it really is one?) is that it seems that the SD-card is useless: the Cybook doesn't seem to see the books saved on it, but only those copied on the device hard drive (I have the SD logo at the bottom of the screen and the upgrade process was painless, so I believe my SD card reader works properly).

I only wanted to add my remarks because I found that comments posted here were generally much too negative and didn't reflect the overall quality of the device.
Great job Booken!

I believe Bookeen is making a serious effort regar...

2008-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

I believe Bookeen is making a serious effort regarding better costumer support.
I myself am experiencing serious difficulties to upgrading the firmware device (since the SD cards are no recognized) but I do exchanged dail e-mails with Bookeen regarding that subject, and I think the support team is trying hard to find a solution.

Why don’t you give it another try, Christine?

As far as the Cybook is concerned, I must say that, besides the known problems with the firmware that I too am experiencing, I am very satisfied with the product. In fact, I can even say I love it, because it does greatly what it is really meant to do: be a e-reader.
I think the main problem regarding some user experiences is their own (wrong) expectations: although every review (and Bookeen itself) reminds potential costumers that what they are buying is, above all, an e-book reader, many people seems to really want something else.
Well, it’s not. And I am glad it isn’t.

I believe that, over time, it will become an even better one. A better firmware (i.e., essentially, a more stable one) is a fundamental first step.

Regards
Nelson

Dear Bookeen,I've written to you before. How else ...

2008-05-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Bookeen,

I've written to you before. How else would I know how much your customer service sucks? Ignoring customer emails is not real helpful to the customers.

I'd like to return the cybook and get every penny back in a refund, and you can pay the postage. Will you do that? This product is junk.

Pleaseeee you changed something extreamly annoying...

2008-05-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Pleaseeee you changed something extreamly annoying in the pdf reading... they are hard to read already coz you cant zoom and it doesnt recognice the letters BUT now when i press the right button it only skip a few lines instead of the whole area.... so instead of reading 1 pag with 2 clicks now i have to use like 5

(I have to read pdf with the bookeen in horizontal just so i can see something coz the font its just too small)
please upgrade a liltle the software... its bad enuogh already :(

Dear Christine and Iamwudu,I do understand your fr...

2008-05-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Christine and Iamwudu,

I do understand your frustration, but please use the customer support support@bookeen.com to communicate with us.
Regards,

Guillaume

Christine, did you try contacting the support team...

2008-05-28T02:11:00.000-07:00

Christine, did you try contacting the support team in order to resolve these issues?

Congratulations on making an already buggy piece o...

2008-05-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on making an already buggy piece of software even worse.

Since the upgrade, not only are bookmarks nearly impossible to create, but after less than an hour of reading the cybook simply stops working, won't even turn off. I have to reset it constantly to make it do anything. Immediately after resetting and going back to my spot, I make a bookmark. That is the only way I am able to find my place the book at all. After resetting, I have to go back to the most recent bookmark (which it never opens to) and page forward until I find my place.

Since the update, it almost never reads the sd card the first time. I have to remove and reinsert it a few times before it will be read.

Seriously. What functionality will you remove in the next update?

How I wish people considering buying this ridiculously high priced item, which comes with woefully little company support, would go spend their money somewhere else. Extremely disappointing. You can't honestly expect to stay in business like this.

I just wanted to point out that the bugfix for the...

2008-05-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to point out that the bugfix for the "unconsistent bookmarks" is the least you could do! It's a shame who bad this software is (hopefully was).. always searching between 2000 sites for your deleted bookmarks made me almost throw this reader against the wall!

you can check here to find how to add new fonts to...

2008-05-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

you can check here to find how to add new fonts to your Cybook. http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Cybook_Gen3_Tips_and_Troubleshooting
then it should work!

Just got my Cybook. I am very disappointed. You cl...

2008-05-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

Just got my Cybook. I am very disappointed. You clearly state that reading Chinese texts can be done by simply installing additional fonts. However, after installing a number of chinese fonts (simsun, amongst others), the Cybook still won't display my Chinese html files. I read that it is supposed to work with prc files, but why didn't Bookeenclarify that in the first place instead of cheating customers in buying such a sluggish, seemingly buggy and featureless device? I converted most of my Chinese pdfs to html, because I read that pdf support is not yet working properly, now I'm stuck with lots of useless files my Cybook won't let me read. Will this be fixed in a future firmware update?

I just checked with a friends' ILIAD, there I can ...

2008-05-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

I just checked with a friends' ILIAD, there I can see the page number when I read a PRC book. Bookeen, please add "page number" to the new firmware... when will it come? thank you, Regards, Michael

How about djvu support?

2008-05-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

How about djvu support?

(now without any typos!)Thank you for dedicating t...

2008-05-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

(now without any typos!)

Thank you for dedicating time to this SD card issue.

I truly believe the new 512 MB Cybook internal memory is more than enough for using the device for what it is primarily meant to be: an e-reader.

It will be a great improvement to find a way to bypass the SD card for upgrade purposes: customers won’t have anymore to by cards just for upgrading the device (as I did). And some of them still without being able to do so.

I will now send Bookeen, as requested, another e-mail about this matter.

Regards
Nelson

We are willing to help, so don't hesitate to re e-...

2008-05-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

We are willing to help, so don't hesitate to re e-mail us for any inquiries.
Our development team is actually studying on an improved way to execute the upgrade file so that you will be able to bypass the SD card.

Guillaume
Bookeen

In February I notified Bookeen that the SD slot of...

2008-05-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

In February I notified Bookeen that the SD slot of my new Cybook would not hold in an SD card. My nephew, an electrical engineer, checked that the card was being correctly inserted according to NAEB directions. May 8 I e-mailed Bookeen asking for an alternative procedure to load the firmware since my machine will not read an SD card. I am still waiting for a response.

Thank you very much, Jennifer, for your reply.Unfo...

2008-05-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much, Jennifer, for your reply.

Unfortunately, I had already did everything you said: the SD card is in place, but it does not appear on the bottom black bar. I have also tried two different SD cards, so the problem is not the SD card.

The problem is, I’m afraid, the Cybook.

It is a brand new Cybook (it already has 512 MB of disk space), but the firmware is still version 1.0!

Has I said, I do not need an SD card for memory purposes, so it is a little bit frustrating considering returning the Cybook only because I can not upgrade it!

On the other hand, some other buyers are having the same problem – no SD card, and wanting to upgrade.

Can someone (hey, Bookeen guys, this is specially for you) tell me a way of bypassing this issue?

Again, thank you in advance!

Nelson

For those that made a comment on the SD card not w...

2008-05-20T01:38:00.000-07:00

For those that made a comment on the SD card not working, I thought the same with mine at first. My problem was getting the SD card into the slot properly.

I found if I use my fingernail to push the SD card into the slot further (just a touch lower than the top of the slot, it clicks into place.

Also note that when you insert the SD card, the front of the card faces the back of the Bookeen (the side which has writing), so that the metal contacts at the bottom of the back of the card face the front (of the Bookeen) and are pointing downwards.

Once the SD card is properly in place and you have booted into your Bookeen, you will notice in the library screen, there is the SD logo on the bootom black bar on the right hand side in the corner.

If the SD symbol is there, then it should work for you. If it is not there, then I would try using other SD cards, if you could borrow one if you don't have one, just to rule out a faulty SD card.

Hope someone may find this a help.

No problem with my firmware upgrade. Thank you Mi...

2008-05-20T01:27:00.000-07:00

No problem with my firmware upgrade.

Thank you Michael for giving very good instructions, I followed them and had no problem.

I have over 80 books loaded, and find scrolling through the various pages in the library is much faster than previously - big improvement here, thanks.

Also I find that the page turns may be a touch faster, the black screen between pages only flashes momentarily, as previously it paused longer on this screen which I hated. But from the moment you press the button to when the new page is shown is still too long.

I have not experienced as many screen freezes, where I need to reset to recover, so improvement here. Thanks

Also bookmarks work consistently now, big improvement.

Thanks Bookeen for the improvements, we look forward to further firmware updates to address the remaining issues.

Its been 7 days since I posted my reqest for help....

2008-05-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Its been 7 days since I posted my reqest for help. Sadly nobody reply. I would really appreciate for any assistance as current my set is not even detected when connecting to my PC.