Web addicts port Minimo to iLiad eBook reader

Now hold on: I'm using "web addicts" as a compliment here. After all, my entire daily routine consists of Internet activity. 'cept for the coffee and I'm working on a USB 2.0 delivery system for that too. No, it's good to have access to the web through a usable browser and if the iLiad reader can do it, you can bet that a MobileRead reader will find a way. Adam B. now has Mozilla's Minimo up and running for iLiad owners, but of course, you run some risk to your device software so be careful if you try this. Adam shares the installation in a 6.5 MB Zip file if you're game.

This gets back to the entire notion of standalone book readers. If they have nice screens (which they should for book reading) and they have Internet connectivity for downloading content, why not include them with at least a minimal browser? That would add tremendous value and make these devices more appealing to a wider audience in my book. Heh... "my book"...

Comments

[cr0ft]

I disagree, actually. A book reader is just that, a book reader. These are aimed at book consumers more so than computing consumers and they really should contain nothing but book-reading-centric applications on them. Anything that helps with reading, searching etc the books is good, but trying to transform them into multi-use workhorses will no doubt have negative impacts on ease of use and even perceived ease of use.

There are enough multi-use devices out there; a book reader should focus on being the absolute best at displaying books, nothing else, and do that while being as cheap and power efficient as possible. If I want to surf, I'll do that on something that is more adapted to that use.

Of course, just one mans opinion...

[Scotty]

The iLiad comes stock with a heavily customized minimo installed, It is used by the iLiad as its HTML viewer.

Rather than a web browser I think ebook readers should come with a store credit for their purchase price. You buy a $300 PRS-505 and when you register it your CONNECT store account has a $300 credit added to your account.

I think that would make ebook readers far more successful than they are now.

[vm-01]

I on the contrary love multi-use devices. I see no problem with this because it makes the Iliad that much more intriguing. And while there are many multi-use devices, that fact is that every one compromises some things that the other doesn't. So having more choices is always a good thing.

Imaging an Iliad with a better note taking program, a browser capable of running google apps and the same good battery life. As long as having more software doesn't interfere with the device's performance I see nothing but goodness.

I'd trade my Q1 for that.

[Mike Cane]

>>>as a complement here.

I see. It is my lot in life here to point out your typos... (oh, I typoed that as tyPOD originally! Coined a new word, I did!).

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Sorry Mike. I'm sure Leopard might have caught that, but Tiger missed it. ;)

[Chris K]

Now we're talking... eBook readers are a great idea that just aren't there yet, and the iLiad is one of the best/worst examples of that. It's got just about all the hardware that I'd want in the ideal electronic book, and it's the perfect size, but it's lacking in software. This seems to be fixing it. I'm sure I wouldn't want to use GoogleMaps on a screen with such a sluggish refresh time (though that's just eInk for you,) but the idea that my personal notepad could carry gigs of documents, days upon days of inked notes (if it stores enough vector data to let me import that into some post-processing HWR software, even better,) and pull up anything I'd ever need from the Internet is just huge.

[Mike Cane]

Tofel, you have become a full-fledged Fiend. jk has taught you well!