Re: WikiReader - first impressions
I loaded the kinetic kernel about a week and a half ago and it really has improved the usability. I was working on trying to change the splash image at boot, but the make fails when I run make mbr against the latest snapshot. I get an mbr.elf file, but no .rom file. I am not a developer, just a sys admin, so compiling is new to me. Hopefully someone will work up some more complete compiling instructions for people without a developer background. Jeff On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:25:43 +0100 Torfinn Ingolfsen wrote: Hello again, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz wrote: > > Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if >you have > kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) > > > http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip > > Scrolling is really really good there. > I downloaded the zip file, unpacked it and copied the new kernel.elf to the SD card. That's all I need to do right? I am asking because I don't see a dramtic change in the scrolling. (I do see the kinetic effect, if I quickly move my finger bak and forth) Anyway, scrolling is still very good. :-) -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Hello again, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz wrote: > > Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if you have > kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) > > > http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip > > Scrolling is really really good there. > I downloaded the zip file, unpacked it and copied the new kernel.elf to the SD card. That's all I need to do right? I am asking because I don't see a dramtic change in the scrolling. (I do see the kinetic effect, if I quickly move my finger bak and forth) Anyway, scrolling is still very good. :-) -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
FWIW, some info: The SD card delivered with the WikiReader semms to be an 8 GB one, and about 4.2 GB is used. version.txt on the SD card contains this line: VERSION: 200909301702 More info later. -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 4:38 AM, Torfinn Ingolfsen wrote: > Hi, > > On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz wrote: > >> >> Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if you have >> kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) >> > > I am running whatever version the device was delivered with. > It doesn't look like scrolling is kinetic. > Great. Then you can be even more impressed when you upgrade :) > > >> >> http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip >> >> You can hold down the backspace key. It will delete the word extremely >> fast. We're working on a few minor UI changes for the next release. >> Clear will be more obvious >> > > I really hope you will implement a "clear" button - one button press is > faster than holding down the backspace key, IMHO. > We on the same page... > We didn't want to add another button. We might use left to right >> swipes in a later release. Not sure yet... >> > > Swipes might work. > > It doesn't have to be a physical button - how about using a corner of the > screen for that purpose? > Not really sure it would work - if I am right handed, I will use the thumb > of my right hand to scroll on the right side of the screen, and a button on > the lower left corner of the screen wouldn't interfere. However, if a left > handed person used the device, he or she might use the left side of the > screen to scroll. Hmm, this idea needs more thinking. > Good idea. We'll try this out. > > Annoyances: >> > - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card >> without using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it out? To >> actually show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) >> >> Push it in and it will pop out (beware it will *really* pop sometimes) >> > > Not on mine. I have tried - it never pos out. I also tried shakking the > device - no, the card doesn't want to come out. My workaround is a handle > made of tape - see my other post. > Without that, I need something that can grab the cardon the sides - my > fingers / nails doesn't fit in there (ok, I can do it, but it takes almost a > minute, and a lot of cursing :-) ). > You might laugh but I think you have the break it in a bit. Mine was firm the first 10 pushes or so. Now it's pop outs like crazy. > >> > - the buttons on the on screen keyboard is a bit small for my fingers >> (it is easy to press the character left or right of the one I want). I don't >> know how to solve this yet. >> >> Software. If you've used an iPhone, the keypad is 70% of WikiReader's >> size. And typing is a lot better. So just bear with us. We're working >> on this big time. >> > > Cool. I never have used an iPhone - I have a FreeRunner (and a 1973). > FWIW, I had this idea about the keyboard: if nothing else works, you could > always "split" the keyboard in a left and a right half, and only show one > half at a time (with a button to switch to the other half). Not ideal, but > then the buttons could be almost twice as wide. > I think we can get the keypad great. It's just going to take another release. Sean ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Hi, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz wrote: > > Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if you have > kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) > I am running whatever version the device was delivered with. It doesn't look like scrolling is kinetic. > > http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip > > Ah! I was looking around on the WikiReader web site for updates, I didn't think about github. Scrolling is really really good there. > I'll get it and see if I can update my card. > You can hold down the backspace key. It will delete the word extremely > fast. We're working on a few minor UI changes for the next release. > Clear will be more obvious > I really hope you will implement a "clear" button - one button press is faster than holding down the backspace key, IMHO. > We didn't want to add another button. We might use left to right > swipes in a later release. Not sure yet... > Swipes might work. It doesn't have to be a physical button - how about using a corner of the screen for that purpose? Not really sure it would work - if I am right handed, I will use the thumb of my right hand to scroll on the right side of the screen, and a button on the lower left corner of the screen wouldn't interfere. However, if a left handed person used the device, he or she might use the left side of the screen to scroll. Hmm, this idea needs more thinking. > > Annoyances: > > - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card without > using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it out? To > actually show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) > > Push it in and it will pop out (beware it will *really* pop sometimes) > Not on mine. I have tried - it never pos out. I also tried shakking the device - no, the card doesn't want to come out. My workaround is a handle made of tape - see my other post. Without that, I need something that can grab the cardon the sides - my fingers / nails doesn't fit in there (ok, I can do it, but it takes almost a minute, and a lot of cursing :-) ). > > > - the buttons on the on screen keyboard is a bit small for my fingers (it > is easy to press the character left or right of the one I want). I don't > know how to solve this yet. > > Software. If you've used an iPhone, the keypad is 70% of WikiReader's > size. And typing is a lot better. So just bear with us. We're working > on this big time. > Cool. I never have used an iPhone - I have a FreeRunner (and a 1973). FWIW, I had this idea about the keyboard: if nothing else works, you could always "split" the keyboard in a left and a right half, and only show one half at a time (with a button to switch to the other half). Not ideal, but then the buttons could be almost twice as wide. Like David said, we encourage you to check out github.com/wikireader for > now. > I will do that. -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Hi, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 9:48 AM, David Reyes Samblas Martinez < da...@tuxbrain.com> wrote: > Did you push down first? as in other uSD readers you have to push it > down until you feel a click then it unbloks and a spring will pull > out enough the card to ease taike it out > Yes, I did push it down first - this is not the first microSD card I have used :-) Now, after a lot of practice, I can actually manage to get the card out using my fingernails. But it is very hard, because space is extremely tight in there. As a workaround, I have attached a bit of tape to the end of the microSD card, and bent it (the tape) upwards. This gives me a "handle" that I have the chance to get a grasp on. Download the source code from http://github.com/wikireader/wikireader > tools are there and instructions on how to create wikireaders files > form a Wikipedia xml is in a quickguide on the doc directory. > Thanks for the info. -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Hi Sean, I was playing around a bit with the sources on github lately. I have stumbled over some issues. I know I can go to c...@thewikireader.com (and I will) But I guess we should have a mailing list for software aspects of WikiReader... Just a thought. :) Sean Moss-Pultz wrote: > Hi Torfinn > > Really appreciate your feedback. My comments are inline: > > On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 5:48 AM, Torfinn Ingolfsen > wrote: >> >> Hello, >> >> After a few days with the WikiReader, here are my first impressions: >> The obvious things: >> - good size: this device is small enough to drag along (ok, it won't fit >> in my trouser pockets), but has a big enough screen to read on >> comfortably >> - use in places: I knew about the "missing" backlight. I can read the >> WikiReader while commuting (most tram's have good lighting), but on the >> other hand it is difficult in a "cosy" cafe, because the lighting is not >> s good there. >> - scrolling: this works great, even better than I thought. One friend >> asked: how do I get to the next page, but was happy with scrolling after >> I told him to use that instead. > > Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if you have > kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) > > > http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip > > Scrolling is really really good there. > >> - history: it's there when I turn on the device - and I like that. >> - the search button removes the on screen keyboard so I can scroll on >> the search screen. Yes! I like that. > > That's another fun "random" like way of searching. > >> The questions: >> - search screen: where is the "delete word and start over" button? (this >> was the first question I got from two friends trying the device) > > You can hold down the backspace key. It will delete the word extremely > fast. We're working on a few minor UI changes for the next release. > Clear will be more obvious. > >> - why isn't there a back button? Sure, I can use the history button and >> select from the list (and that works quite well), but a back button >> would save one keypress > > We didn't want to add another button. We might use left to right > swipes in a later release. Not sure yet... > >> Annoyances: >> - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card >> without using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it >> out? To actually show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) > > Push it in and it will pop out (beware it will *really* pop sometimes) > >> - the buttons on the on screen keyboard is a bit small for my fingers >> (it is easy to press the character left or right of the one I want). I >> don't know how to solve this yet. > > Software. If you've used an iPhone, the keypad is 70% of WikiReader's > size. And typing is a lot better. So just bear with us. We're working > on this big time. > >> - sometimes, the history screen is unresponsible, I have to press the >> other two buttons a couple of times before I can select anything on the >> history screen > > Working on this, too... > >> small annoyances: >> - the moment it takes to display an article (after selecting it, either >> from the search screen or from a link) is just long enough that the >> device feels a bit slow sometimes. > > Same as my last comment :) > >> Some things I haven't figured out yet: >> - how do I get another Wikipedia (for example the Norwegian one) onto a >> MicroSD card? >> - how do I convert an e-book and put it onto a microSD card for the >> device? > > Like David said, we encourage you to check out github.com/wikireader for > now. > >> All in all - I really like this device. > > Great. We love to hear this! > > -Sean > > ___ > Openmoko community mailing list > community@lists.openmoko.org > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community > -- ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Hi Torfinn Really appreciate your feedback. My comments are inline: On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 5:48 AM, Torfinn Ingolfsen wrote: > > Hello, > > After a few days with the WikiReader, here are my first impressions: > The obvious things: > - good size: this device is small enough to drag along (ok, it won't fit in > my trouser pockets), but has a big enough screen to read on comfortably > - use in places: I knew about the "missing" backlight. I can read the > WikiReader while commuting (most tram's have good lighting), but on the other > hand it is difficult in a "cosy" cafe, because the lighting is not s good > there. > - scrolling: this works great, even better than I thought. One friend asked: > how do I get to the next page, but was happy with scrolling after I told him > to use that instead. Are you running the latest kernel? (The way to tell is if you have kinetic scrolling, yes == latest kernel) http://cloud.github.com/downloads/wikireader/wikireader/kernel-2009-10-30.zip Scrolling is really really good there. > - history: it's there when I turn on the device - and I like that. > - the search button removes the on screen keyboard so I can scroll on the > search screen. Yes! I like that. That's another fun "random" like way of searching. > The questions: > - search screen: where is the "delete word and start over" button? (this was > the first question I got from two friends trying the device) You can hold down the backspace key. It will delete the word extremely fast. We're working on a few minor UI changes for the next release. Clear will be more obvious. > - why isn't there a back button? Sure, I can use the history button and > select from the list (and that works quite well), but a back button would > save one keypress We didn't want to add another button. We might use left to right swipes in a later release. Not sure yet... > Annoyances: > - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card without > using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it out? To actually > show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) Push it in and it will pop out (beware it will *really* pop sometimes) > - the buttons on the on screen keyboard is a bit small for my fingers (it is > easy to press the character left or right of the one I want). I don't know > how to solve this yet. Software. If you've used an iPhone, the keypad is 70% of WikiReader's size. And typing is a lot better. So just bear with us. We're working on this big time. > - sometimes, the history screen is unresponsible, I have to press the other > two buttons a couple of times before I can select anything on the history > screen Working on this, too... > small annoyances: > - the moment it takes to display an article (after selecting it, either from > the search screen or from a link) is just long enough that the device feels a > bit slow sometimes. Same as my last comment :) > Some things I haven't figured out yet: > - how do I get another Wikipedia (for example the Norwegian one) onto a > MicroSD card? > - how do I convert an e-book and put it onto a microSD card for the device? Like David said, we encourage you to check out github.com/wikireader for now. > All in all - I really like this device. Great. We love to hear this! -Sean ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: WikiReader - first impressions
Not full but some replies, > Annoyances: > - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card without > using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it out? To > actually show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) Did you push down first? as in other uSD readers you have to push it down until you feel a click then it unbloks and a spring will pull out enough the card to ease taike it out > > Some things I haven't figured out yet: > - how do I get another Wikipedia (for example the Norwegian one) onto a > MicroSD card? Download the source code from http://github.com/wikireader/wikireader tools are there and instructions on how to create wikireaders files form a Wikipedia xml is in a quickguide on the doc directory. > - how do I convert an e-book and put it onto a microSD card for the device? Right now you have to put this ebook in a mediawiki , and then export it to xml and run the process mentioned avobe. > > All in all - I really like this device. > -- > Regards, > Torfinn Ingolfsen > > ___ > Openmoko community mailing list > community@lists.openmoko.org > http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community > > David Reyes Samblas Martinez http://www.tuxbrain.com Open ultraportable & embedded solutions Openmoko, Openpandora, Arduino Hey, watch out!!! There's a linux in your pocket!!! ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
WikiReader - first impressions
Hello, After a few days with the WikiReader, here are my first impressions: The obvious things: - good size: this device is small enough to drag along (ok, it won't fit in my trouser pockets), but has a big enough screen to read on comfortably - use in places: I knew about the "missing" backlight. I can read the WikiReader while commuting (most tram's have good lighting), but on the other hand it is difficult in a "cosy" cafe, because the lighting is not s good there. - scrolling: this works great, even better than I thought. One friend asked: how do I get to the next page, but was happy with scrolling after I told him to use that instead. - history: it's there when I turn on the device - and I like that. - the search button removes the on screen keyboard so I can scroll on the search screen. Yes! I like that. The questions: - search screen: where is the "delete word and start over" button? (this was the first question I got from two friends trying the device) - why isn't there a back button? Sure, I can use the history button and select from the list (and that works quite well), but a back button would save one keypress Annoyances: - it is impossible (for me at least) to take out the microSD card without using a tool (pliers or something). Why do I want to take it out? To actually show people the small size of a Wikipedia database. :-) - the buttons on the on screen keyboard is a bit small for my fingers (it is easy to press the character left or right of the one I want). I don't know how to solve this yet. - sometimes, the history screen is unresponsible, I have to press the other two buttons a couple of times before I can select anything on the history screen small annoyances: - the moment it takes to display an article (after selecting it, either from the search screen or from a link) is just long enough that the device feels a bit slow sometimes. Some things I haven't figured out yet: - how do I get another Wikipedia (for example the Norwegian one) onto a MicroSD card? - how do I convert an e-book and put it onto a microSD card for the device? All in all - I really like this device. -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
