Re: WikiReader - first impressions
On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 4:38 AM, Torfinn Ingolfsen tin...@gmail.com wrote: Hi, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz s...@openmoko.comwrote: 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
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
Hello again, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz s...@openmoko.com 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
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 tin...@gmail.com wrote: Hello again, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz s...@openmoko.com 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
Not full but some replies, snip 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
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 tin...@gmail.com 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
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 tin...@gmail.com 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, 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, On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Sean Moss-Pultz s...@openmoko.com 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
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
