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A Review of Irex DR800SG and DR800S

It has to be said that the Irex DR800SG is not the most exciting and imaginative name for an eBook reader but I guess this is a case of "it does what it says on the tin". "DR" literally stands for "Digital Reader", "800" indicates that it has an 8-inch display (although technically it is 8.1-inches) and "SG" indicates that it has a built in 3G connection. Although, before I launch into my usual discussion, I do want to point out that the built-in 3G function only applies in the United States. For the rest of the world, there is the DR-800S which has wireless but not 3G. Because that is effectively the only difference between these two models, you can safely consider this review to be a generic for both (unless I specifically mention otherwise that is).

Design

When looking at the DR800SG/S, it is clear that iRex has gone for the simplest design possible. But don't get me wrong, simple does not mean plain; instead its minimalist approach is refined in every sense of the word. The overall size of this reader is actually quite remarkable as it has an 8.1-inch screen which is significantly larger than the 6-inch screens out there. When comparing the DR800SG/S to the Barnes & Noble Nook for example, the DR800SG/S is only slightly wider but is in fact not as tall or thick, despite the Nook's screen being 2-inches smaller. As far as screen size goes, 8-inches is a very happy medium as a 6-inch can sometimes prove to be a bit too small and in the case of the Kindle DX, 9.7-inches can also be too large.

The back of the device is a near-featureless, slightly rounded black plastic, while the front of the device has a plastic bezel border. It feels solid and sturdy and is definitely not as plastic as many of its competitors are. iRex needs to be given credit for its fantastic attention to detail here as the matte-gray bezel does well to match the grayish background of the e-ink display and thus does not distract your reading in any way… a small but significant point I think.

The controls come by way of either a single flip bar which is used for page turns and selections or through a stylus. The flip bar can easily be operated with your thumb while you hold something more important in your right hand like a cup of coffee. Below the flip bar is the home button and above it is an LED light which flashes amber when it is charging and blue when wireless is on. The saving grace about these buttons is that they allow you to navigate through almost all of the menus in much the same way as you would with the stylus.

I have to point out that inasmuch as the stylus does well for selection, etc. what completely baffles me is why the body of the DR800SG/S does not have a built-in holder for the stylus. Yes, the neoprene case that they provide has a stylus holder but who cares! The stylus is still not attached the body. For me, this is a recipe for the stylus getting lost.

On the bottom of the DR800SG/S is a USB jack and a power button and that's pretty much it. The micro-SD slot is packed with the rechargeable battery on the rear of the unit.

Display

When it comes to display, the DR800SG/S is just the thing for bookworms everywhere! Boasting a 768 x 1024 resolution for sharpness and 16 grayscale levels for brightness, the e-Ink Vizplex display is comfortable to read, whether you are in natural or unnatural light.

Because of its integration of stylus-based navigation, the DR800SG/S has a WACOM display. The good thing about having a WACOM display is that it doesn't interfere with clarity and thus reduces the glare. This in turn allows for a higher contrast meaning you won't be constantly angling it to avoid the shine from overhead lighting. However, I have heard through the grapevine that iRex is working on adding capacitive touch ability at some stage by laying the touch layer under the e-ink layer, eliminating the loss in contrast. If they can get that right, that will be a feather in their cap.

For the visually impaired or for those who just appreciate bigger text, you are able to adjust the font size to small, medium, large and extra large. Not a huge selection admittedly but at least there is that option.

Software

When it comes to software, the DR800SG (US version) and the DR800S (global version) are almost exactly the same barring their wireless ability. So for the sake of clarity I will analyze the wireless differences separately and will then discuss the software of this eBook reader in general.

The DR800SG

The DR800SG offers 3G connectivity in the US (via Verizon) to download content from the iRex eBook Mall which is a home for book (Barnes & Noble) and periodical vendor (Newspapers Direct) stores. The iRex uses a webkit browser for access to these stores. You don't have to pay a monthly subscription to use it (always a plus) but you can only use it to download books as there is no web browser available to visit websites.

The DR800S

The DR800S has built-in wireless but not 3G (yet) and does not link to the eBook Mall.

What they have in common

Both the DR800SG and the DR800S use a Free Scale i.MX31L processor. Thanks to the built-in 2GB SD media card, they can hold up to 1,000 books or photos. Internal menus are available in the following languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Greek.

At the moment, iRex doesn't include the ability to add notes but iRex has recently issued a press release indicating that firmware updates will be available for download by the end of April. Some of the things included in this upgrade are: a note-taking capability, zoom in PDFs, and the "Go to page" menu function.

The DR800SG/S supports the securable ePub eBook format, which almost all major booksellers except Amazon use. It also supports PDB eBooks (Barnes & Noble's format), TXT, PDF, JPEG, TIFF, GIF and BMP file formats. Unfortunately the DR800SG/S does not support HTML web pages, RTF files and Microsoft Office documents. Fingers crossed that a firmware upgrade will rectify this.

The 8,1-inch display is very good for displaying PDFS as the text is clear and illustrations tend to be in tact. But be warned, should you try and zoom in, you will lose the file format and images and be left with a mess. The same applies when turning the PDF to view it in landscape mode; the PDF will not expand accordingly and will in fact become even smaller and illegible. No accelerometer, though; you need to manually switch modes.

By supporting all of the above file formats, you are able to purchase and side load content from Sony's bookstore books, Barnes & Noble eBooks, Google's 1 million public domain books, Kobo Books and public library eBooks among others. This can all be done via the USB that is provided. Very nice!

But most importantly, the DR800SG/S is fast, very fast. It is quick to load almost all documents and turning the page takes far less time than every other eBook reader out there to date. Now that's what we like to hear!

Battery life

The 2800 mAh lithium-ion battery lasts for up to 6,000 page turns which is pretty standard as far as eBook readers go.

Something worth noting is that the DR800SG/S arrives completely uncharged and will require up to 15 hours of charge before using it for the first time. An added bonus is that you are able to replace the battery yourself which is very much appreciated.

 

To compare more about wireless reading device or the eBook Readers click on Compare eBook readers or eBook reader reviews.

Or for more information regarding eBook readers click on Wireless reading device.

About the Author

I am a keen internet marketer with more than five years experience and an active SEO specialist / consultant, driven by a desire to help the quality websites getting the popularity they deserve. I like the process of setting goals for my own career and for each project you work - and a person who enjoys planning and attention to detail. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with clients and colleagues, combining a commitment to online research and experience with a keen interest in all aspects of life - understanding that the variety is the spice really.

How to format a downloaded border in word?

I downloaded a border from the Microsoft Office website, but it doesn't appear on the menu for page border art; instead, it appears in clip art. How do I format it to go all the way around the page?

View -> Header/Footer -> Insert Picture -> From Clipart -> Choose the border you require. Select the picture -> click right mouse button on the picture -> Show Picture Toolbar -> from picture toolbar select: Text Wrapping -> Behind Text.

To change the size of the picture, select the picture and then click and drag the corners of the image to the size you require.

View -> Header/Footer (to go out of the header view).

You should now be able to put things into your document without affecting or being affected by the image in the "back".

Microsoft Page Border Downloads
How to insert a footnote

Custom App Developer, Amadeus Consulting Discusses Alternatives To The Apple® Ipad™

Last Saturday, one of our lucky staff members won the prize of coming in to the office to pick up our new toy: Apple's® new iPad™.  We opted for all the bells and whistles, so that we can use it for testing and developing applications.

We are pretty excited, and have been working on app development for the iPad since the developer kit was released.  The media is abuzz about the new device and next few weeks will be an iPad frenzy as they begin to arrive.

The iPad is a great new device that takes mobile computing and application development to a whole new level by being ultra portable, mobile and convenient.  However, there are many other tablet devices set to come out this year that are really amazing as well, and definitely deserve some attention.

For this week's column, we've decided to tell you about some of the other tablet options and why we are pretty excited about them too.

WePad

German Company Neofonie™ announced a new entry to the the tablet market: the WePad™.  Not to be confused with the iPad, the WePad has a very impressive arsenal of features and hardware.  Based around Google's open Android operating system, the WePad boasts a 11.6" display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, a webcam, USB sockets, a flash card reader, and many other impressive features.

With the Android operating system, it will be able to download and run apps from the Android Marketplace, as well as its own WePad AppStore, which means that current android apps should be able to run fine on the WePad, or have WePad specific applications.  Also, unlike the iPad, the Android OS allows multitasking which creates a much better user experience.

Even though Neofonie has a working prototype that they showcased last week, they have yet to announce a release date or purchase price.  But even so, if it can do everything they say it can, it is going to be one of the most impressive tablets on the market, and it provides encouragement to those looking to build apps for android phones since they will also get to play with tablet devices.

However, the WePad isn't the only upcoming Android-based tablet.

ARCHOS Home Tablets

Announced earlier this month by the French company Archos™, the ARCHOS 7 Home Tablet and ARCHOS 8 Home Tablet are the latest in their mobile computing options.  The Archos Home Tablets are each designed for specific applications, and each targets a different market.

The Archos 7 is the smaller of the two, sporting a 7" touch screen, but it comes packed with power, and is probably the least expensive of all the tablets listed here, at just $200.  The Archos 8 Home Tablet is larger and is intended to display like a picture frame, which is meant for the home or kitchen.

For example, you could prop it up in the kitchen and use it when preparing a meal to access the Internet, pull up recipes and cooking instructions or chat with people online. Then when it's not in use, you could it could just display pictures or video.

That's not to diminish the power or portability of the device, however it is meant as a compact stand-alone computer that can be displayed in any room in the house.  But for a more mobile and portable device, the Home 7 tablet may be a better fit.

Both of these devices run on Google's Android™, and they each reach a very specific audience.  As a software developer, we definitely see the potential for developing custom apps for these devices, especially since the apps would be available to all Android devices as well.

Archos is also expected to release yet another mobile internet tablet later this summer, called Archos 9, which will also be powered by the Android OS, be slightly larger than the Archos Home 7 and include improved web connectivity.

Notion Ink: Adam

Based out of India, Notion Ink™ was founded with the express purpose of creating tablet computers.  Notion Ink has cutely called their first creation Adam™, a very impressive tablet that runs on the Android OS.

Among its features is that it runs Adobe Flash to leverage the best of rich internet applications, has a 180 degree swivel camera for video chart or taking front-facing pictures, multi-touch support and 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.  In addition, Adam also features a Pixel QI transflective screen. What is that?  It is a 10.1 inch screen that can switch between backlit LCD mode like on other tablets, and a low-power electrophoretic reflective mode, which looks more or less like e-ink, making it a great solution for switching between video and ebooks and greatly extending battery life while reading.

Expected to be released this June, Adam claims to have up to 16 hours of HD video playback, supporting 1080p video, all powered by a dual-core ARM processor and an NVidia GPU.

Adam really opens up the door to future application development possibilities for mobile and portable devices.  Needless to say, we can't wait to get our hands on one.

Microsoft Courier (Rumored)

Jumping back to the US, Microsoft™ has a "secret" upcoming product called the Courier.  It still has not been officially announced by Microsoft, but the web is full of demo videos and pictures all showing prototypes of the device.  Does that make it true? No, not necessarily.  But the rumors are so juicy and the Courier looks so good that we can hardly resist.

What makes the Courier especially unique is that it is actually not a tablet—it's a booklet.  It has dual 7-inch multi-touch screens, which means that you get a lot of screen space, but it folds down into a very compact size.

Not much is known about the exact specs on this device, but we can be pretty sure that it will involve Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 operating system, which should provide plenty of power and diversity to the device.  Also, the Windows Phone OS app development uses XNA, .NET and Silverlight, which are used in the development of Windows and gaming software, which should make courier apps very powerful and versatile.

HP Slate Windows 7 Tablet

Another US contender, Hewlett Packard™ announced their Slate™ tablet set to be released as early as June.  This one also comes with an estimated price of $540, which is right in line with the iPad.  However, the HP slate also boasts Flash capability, a faster processor, and runs on a Windows 7 Platform, meaning that it should be able to run anything that you can run on Windows 7, including any internet browser, Photoshop and games.

However, managing traditional Windows applications with only a multi-touch screen may not be the best solution in all cases, and so it also has Bluetooth capability and USB ports for easy attachment of a keyboard or mouse.

We are slightly surprised that HP went for Windows 7 instead of the Windows 7 Phone OS, but in either case it presents some exciting capabilities and considering it comes from an already well known brand and beats the iPad on specs, it could become a very popular platform.

Dell Mini 5 Android Tablet

Unveiled at CES earlier this year, Dell® announced a concept 5" tablet that runs on the Anroid OS.  It also comes with 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and is a mix between a large phone and a tablet.  Or in other words, it is a really very smart phone.

Dell is also running with Android, which makes it another platform for Android apps and those that develop for them.    The Dell Mini 5 also boasts a 1GHz Snapdragon processor that should give it plenty of power without sacrificing batter life.

Spring Design Alex Ebook Reader

Spring Design™ combines a traditional E-reader with a second LCD screen, based off of Android OS.  This beats out other dedicated E-readers because it has a web browser and provides the best of both worlds.  It also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and Ebooks from Borders bookstore.

The combination between and E-reader and  LCD provides for some cool combination applications as well as improved battery life and better readability of web page content.

Once again, the Android OS means some compatibility between other Android powered devices, which provides even better distribution for Android applications.

JooJoo

Singapore based company, Fusion Garage™, announced the JooJoo™ late last year.  According to their website, JooJoo is based off of the African word "joujou," meaning magical device.  And this device is magical.

With a 12-inch LCD screen, the JooJoo boasts the ability to play HD videos and has Wi-Fi capability.  This product is currently available for pre-order, for around $500.  One thing that makes the JooJoo different is that it runs apps completely through the Web and runs on its own proprietary  operating system.

Fusion Garage announced their tablet just before the iPad and so has become an underdog in the news.  However, according to Fusion Garage, orders have actually increased since the iPad announcement.  In either case, this probably will not become a mainstream device, but it is an alternative option that may be worth consideration.

Lenovo U1 Hybrid Notebook

Lenovo® has been working with small netbooks and tablet PCs for some time, but the U1 hybrid™ notebook represents a shift in their tablet technology.

The unique feature is that it is essentially a netbook – small portable and similar to a laptop, but then the screen can detach and function like an independent slate tablet.  This literally puts two PCs into one device, and each has its own processor and operating system, but work together as a clamshell laptop or a multitouch slate tablet.

In this way, the base serves as a hop and docking station, whereas the tablet can be used in very mobile instances.  The two processors also use Lenovo's Hybrid Switch technology which allows seamless toggling between the two processors.

The U1 runs on the Skylight Linux operating system, designed specifically for small devices, and has a user-facing camera and a wealth of features, including 3G connectivity, multi-touch, and long batter life.  Unfortunately all these features cost a bit more than other slate tablets, pricing it at $1000, but still within the range for new laptops.  It should be available by June of this year.

Lenovo also has a few other small notebooks coming out this year, including the Skylight Smartbook.  Lenovo still pairs their slate tablets with a keyboard, but that may prove to be a positive bonus to those who are dissatisfied with touch-screen typing.

As a developer, we look forward to continuing Linux-based development, and it will be exciting to see if mobile application development takes off on this type of platform.

Conclusion

If you noticed, there are a whole bunch of Android powered devices.  Market studies show Android taking over Apple's iPhone OS as soon as 2013, and you can see with so many devices running on Android that the market for Android application is only going to get larger.

We are currently working clients to develop applications the iPhone/iPad operating system, as well as the Android OS, and have achieved remarkable results for our clients.  This market is only going to grow, and even though we are excited about our new iPad, and even our Microsoft Surface (a giant tablet?), custom software development for these new devices is something that can help businesses reach and engage users in ways that have never before been possible.

About the Author

About Todd McMurtrey

The marketing team at Amadeus Consulting considers it part of their daily tasks to stay on top of what is going on in the technology marketplace. It is important to our company culture to be technology thought leaders, but we also want to share our knowledge and insights with readers excited about the latest and greatest tech news in the Tech Market Watch blog.

Microsoft Page Border Downloads