http://www.ectaco.com/posts/list/185.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net
1.- there will be support fo external keyboard by an update?, or a official dock (like ipad keyboards), and some functions in JBC to take notes (in class for example), just to make 4-5 pages pdf (or maybe more).
2.- there will be a open sdk for 3rd party apps?.

I know that i shoudn't compare, but i choose the JBC mainly for 3 reasons, 1600x1200 resolution (excellent for reading pdf), non active screen (avoid tired eyes), extremely long lasting battery. But as you have probably read, the new apple's tablet will have more resolution, 10hrs or so battery life (enough to take notes all day with existing apps and external keyboards/docks for that) and for the same price (lowest price ipad).

I don't want to be convinced of buying the JBC (i'll probably still buy it), but i want to know if there will be at least an external keboard support for taking notes and if it is going to come with the next april-june update.

Regards
Juan Pablo

ps: sorry if there are errors in the text, english it's not my main language.


]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83895.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83895.page GMT too paranoid to make it easy for those who include technical capabilities in their buying
decisions. If you look at the Freescale i.MX508's capabilities you have a lot of potiential,
but how much of that gets implemented in both hardware and firmware is dependent on
the decisions that Hanvon and Ectaco made/make for the product. You would think that
they might like the boost that the relatively expensive device would have, if it were to
become a favorite device for independent developers. It's not like their programmers
couldn't use the help.

With an open SDK and a good look at the hardware, the community of independent
developers such as those at XDA-Developers and SourceForge, as well as others,
could find much to do with this device. Given some of the options that the device
has, there may be some potential for hardware mods, also. (There is that space
under the back cover plate that can be removed easily.)

The i.MX508:

[url]http://cache.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/fact_sheet/IMX508FS.pdf?fpsp=1[/url]

as you can see there is a keyboard included in the concept and a high speed USB2 host
included in the chip's architecture.

It would be nice if we were to hear back from the tech side, on their plans, but I wouldn't
be holding my breath.

Luck;
Ken
]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83896.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83896.page GMT
As for an external keyboard, I have hopes for that as the fact that the jetBook Color can use the CPen accessory shows that it (the JBC) has USB host capability. If the CPen is an intelligent device (and it looks big enough to be) maybe it just shows up as a HID keyboard. When I get home tonight I'm going to shove a USB keyboard into my jetBook Color and see what happens...

[i]Edited to add:[/i] no, a USB keyboard doesn't work. The keyboard lights flashed briefly when the jbc started up (maybe it was enumerating USB devices?) but after that nothing. Still, I hope it wouldnt be too hard for Ectaco to make it work. It would certainly be an added selling point for educational use.

Andrew]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83897.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83897.page GMT description is the first priority.

It is more a matter of Hanvon releasing the WinCE drivers for the device and its components.
And/or Ectaco releasing their improved versions of the drivers. That is for staying with
WinCE 6.0. The SDK for the board is a combination of the SDK for the SoC and the drivers
for the other chips added. The SDK for the Freescale SoC comes in reference designs for
Linux and Android (Gingerbread I think) flavors.

There is a good sized community of WinCE hackers/developers, as well as quite a large
number of programmers who are very familiar with it. (Most of them have subscriptions
to "Circuit Cellar".)

Luck;
Ken
]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83898.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/83898.page GMT http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/84640.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/84640.page GMT
Thanks for the messages. This is something i have personally recommended a few times for a variety of reasons. One being it will increase the ease of use and the second being the possibility of creating and selling cool peripherals people can use.

It has yet to be seen if management will decide this is something they want to implement. ]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/84644.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/84644.page GMT
Or a possibility to connect an external keyboard or mouse?

In the moment I use a Pocketbook 903. It's a nice reader and I like it's large display. But a [color=red]C[/color][color=green]O[/color][color=blue]L[/color][color=red]O[/color][color=green]R[/color]-display would be great.

As a programmer a SDK is not a "nice to have"- feature. It's an essential feature for me.

Pocketbook already anounced a [url=http://www.pocketbook-int.com/us/news/pocketbook_first_color_reader_with_frontlight]color e-ink reader with a front light technology added[/url]. The light is not a killerfeature for me. It's only 8" big and has only the half solution (600x800 pixels) of a Jetbook Color (1600x1200 pixels).

So the first company with a color ebook reader AND a SDK is the one where I will buy my next reader. Ups .. PocketBook [url=http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/index.shtml]already did[/url]. So Ectaco has some month for releasing their SKD.]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116635.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116635.page GMT
Or a possibility to connect an external keyboard or mouse?

In the moment I use a Pocketbook 903. It's a nice reader and I like it's large display. But a [color=red]C[/color][color=green]O[/color][color=blue]L[/color][color=red]O[/color][color=green]R[/color]-display would be great.

As a programmer a SDK is not a "nice to have"- feature. It's an essential feature for me.

Pocketbook already anounced a [url=http://www.pocketbook-int.com/us/news/pocketbook_first_color_reader_with_frontlight]color e-ink reader with a front light technology added[/url]. The light is not a killerfeature for me. It's only 8" big and has only the half solution (600x800 pixels) of a Jetbook Color (1600x1200 pixels).

So the first company with a color ebook reader AND a SDK is the one where I will buy my next reader. Ups .. PocketBook [url=http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/index.shtml]already did[/url]. So Ectaco has some month for releasing their SKD.[/quote]

Hey,

Thanks for the message, i haven't received any information with this although I've requested it before. I can try again and see what happens. Thanks for your message and feedback. ]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116637.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116637.page GMT Hey,

Thanks for the message, i haven't received any information with this although I've requested it before. I can try again and see what happens. Thanks for your message and feedback. [/quote]
That would be great! Thanks for your fast reply.

Alex]]> http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116639.page http://www.ectaco.com/posts/preList/79040/116639.page GMT