Myfriend ebook reader review

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.francisli.org/misc/myfriend.html">http://www.francisli.org/misc/myfriend.html</a><br /><br />Another "rants, raves and other random thoughts" site has reviewed the Myfriend ebook reader, which is a stand-alone ebook reader using Windows CE 3.0. It has Microsoft Reader 2.0.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020809-winceebook.jpg" /><br /><br />The author, Francis, sums it up in the first paragraph. "When running Microsoft Reader 2.0 with its ClearType sub-pixel font renderer, it produces incredibly sharp text. However, what could have been a perfect ebook reader is hampered by a fatal flaw- Microsoft does not support the activation of this device for access to encrypted owner-exclusive ebooks, making many exclusive premium titles inaccessible." Third party alternatives don't look any better. Mobipocket content is far behind what Microsoft and Palm offer and the software doesn't scale well to the Myfriend screen size. The Palm Reader software simply won't install on it. Palm has stopped development of Windows CE software and focusing purely on Pocket PC, Palm and the Windows and Mac desktops.<br /><br />Being a huge fan of ebooks, I am always looking for signs of the ebook audience growing. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that Myfriend, given its limitations, is going to help much. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif" />

[rlobrecht]

I just can't understand why the manufacturer would develop such a beast. Purchasing a dedicated ebook reader that is unable to read exclusive/encrypted content is just another LCD gathering dust.

[MobiliT]

I just can't understand why the manufacturer would develop such a beast. Purchasing a dedicated ebook reader that is unable to read exclusive/encrypted content is just another LCD gathering dust.
I agree. Puzzling, isn't it? :?

Curious to know what went on behind the scenes concerning their product development and their relationship with Microsoft. I haven't examined their product directly, but you wonder about what field testing occured (if any) according to the author's comments.

[Janak Parekh]

Something is obviously wrong here:

Even more agonizing is the fact that every time I open Reader 2.0 on the Myfriend, it prompts me to activate the software!
Is it possible they haven't worked it out with MS yet, or the deal broke down or something? Why still release it then? If it was for vertical integration, you'd think they'd get rid of the message, at least.

--bdj

[blaisdel]

I have been working with eBooks for a while. Reader is just *not* the format that it should be for successfully selling titles.

We do better with the Palm Reader, epecially since they have now issued versions for the desktop.

But, what is it that makes folks shy away from PDF? It is the most widely used format out there.

[Ed Hansberry]

But, what is it that makes folks shy away from PDF? It is the most widely used format out there.
PDF is for printing, not reading on screen. Look how it either wastes huge margins on the left and right or scrolls off the top/bottom. Worthless. Palm Reader and MS Reader both repaginate based on screen size.

[blaisdel]

The problem is ... nobody looks at the "defaults" for making PDFs. If you know you are making a file that will be used for these devices, then you just change the system defaults to better "fit" the device.

But, yes, Palm Reader and MS Reader do repaginate better -- and I know that is something that has been discussed with Acrobat -- of course, their initial solution was the "flow" -- but that needs to be improved.

[Martin I Pettinger]

Hi

I am looking at the benefits of lit, pdb and pdf's. I have authored e-books for all three formats and I have one major problem using PDF. When I convert my Word documents to PDF and view on my PocketPC - iPAQ 3850 when the PDF reflows the text some sentences overwrite one another. What am I doing wrong? My personal favourite is pdb even on the PocketPC but the images can only be 8 bit png which is rather poor for illustrations.

Martin

[Certified Optimist]

Martin,

Did you embedd the fonts when you created the PDF-file? If you don't your Pocket PC will probably try to pick the fonts the PDF-files suggests - if it can't find the correct font it will replace it with other. But if you embedd them it won't do that. Only problem is that the files size will increase.

(Haven't tried it out on a Pocket PC, but it should work).

[Timothy Rapson]

I have to wonder who runs these companies to make such a nice looking product that a completely hobbled in that one area that is so essential to its whole purpose.

The most interesting part of the product was the 640 by 960 screen. What a WebPad this might have made. I wonder what processor it runs if it redraws the opening screen so slowly you can watch it go in lines.

I would like to see another generation or two of development on this one. Could be good.

[fli]

Is it possible they haven't worked it out with MS yet, or the deal broke down or something? Why still release it then? If it was for vertical integration, you'd think they'd get rid of the message, at least.

--bdj
Hi- I'm the author of the review...! I think IPM-NET was caught by the same problem that affected Pocket PC 2000 users. Microsoft promised activation support, but realized they couldn't do it without changes to the OS and hardware requirements. As I mention in the review, this is ridiculous since the inclusion of a SIM reader was specifically for device security. I think market pressures is the answer- Microsoft/IPM-NET can't affort to dedicate resources to solve this problem (i.e. adding Myfriend specific support into Reader and the Activation website) when the market for dedicated readers is so small. Hence, they ignore it and focus on where they have the most potential- Pocket PC 2002.

Since the review was written, I've had some exchange with IPM-NET which sums it up:

---- Original Message ----
From: imad.nahle@***
To: mail@***
Subject: Re: Myfriend and Microsoft Reader activation.

>waiting Microsoft is not so easy!
>I think we will available with a new processor by the end of the
>year.
>Regards,
>Imad
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Francis Li" &lt;mail@***>
>To: &lt;imad.nahle@***>
>Subject: Re: Myfriend and Microsoft Reader activation.
>
>> Will Microsoft solve the problem in the near future? Are you
>working
>> with Microsoft to solve the problem?
>>
>> Or, when will a new Myfriend (with a new processor) be available?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Francis
>>
>> ---- Original Message ----
>> From: imad.nahle@***
>> To: mail@***
>> Subject: Re: Myfriend and Microsoft Reader activation.
>>
>> >Dear sir,
>> >The current version of MS reader running on Myfriend supports only
>> >the level 3 of security and not level 5. This is why you are not
>> >able to activate your Microsoft reader version. The problem is
>> >Reader version running over MIPS.
>> >We will be solving this problem upon Microsoft will solve or when
>> >we will move to different processor.
>> >
>> >Regards,
>> >Imad Nahlè
>> >IPM-NET ( www.ipm-net.com)
>> >Milan- Italy

[fli]

I have to wonder who runs these companies to make such a nice looking product that a completely hobbled in that one area that is so essential to its whole purpose.

The most interesting part of the product was the 640 by 960 screen. What a WebPad this might have made. I wonder what processor it runs if it redraws the opening screen so slowly you can watch it go in lines.

I would like to see another generation or two of development on this one. Could be good.

I totally agree. I wish I could take better pictures- the display is simply stunning. Everyone I show it to is "wowed" by it. The processor is, I think, the Toshiba TX3922 MIPS processor (R3000 family) running at 129Mhz.

I'm a software engineer, and was hoping to at least write some custom software for fun on this device, but the performance is disappointing. Also, Microsoft's lack of support for .NET Compact Framework is disappointing- the current download is for- yep, Pocket PC only.

Darn you, Pocket PC! :)

[Aceze]

I've talked about computing in this form factor before (not just ebook reading), that being the "paperback" sized format. There is one other device that is currently being tested, and it's the Toshiba Paperback Table (do a google search, and you'll come up with a bunch of previews). This would be something I'm extremely keen on testing, as I've become almost completely disillusioned with the current market standards w.r.t. to handheld computing (both PocketPC and Palm).

With the Toshiba Paperback, you'd be running an x86 architecture (Transmeta Crusoe), so you'd be able to run just about all the ebook software out there, and also take advantage of sub-pixel font rendering (what MS calls "Cleartype") via OS support (XP Tablet Edtn). It has a 6.5" display running at 800x480, so it is somewhat smaller than the MyFriend (although, personally, I dont have a problem with that). Currently, I think it's being tested with a Linux OS subset though.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Toshiba will ever market this unit (I can only hope they do).
Aceze