FAQ | Frequently asked questions about Readius

Categories

• Product and User Interface
• Software & Applications

Product and User Interface

Q) Is QVGA resolution really enough on a 5" screen?

A) The resolution of Readius is high enough to display small readable characters on the display. We have benchmarked the readable character density on the display with other eReaders and this is similar. On top of that, Readius has 16 grey levels, which is more than most current eReaders, giving Readius a comfortable resolution for mobile eReading.

Q) Can the device be used in other orientations?

A) Yes. Readius can be operated with the left hand and the right hand. The UI is symmetrical and a simple menu option rotates the content on the display by 180 degrees.

Q) Why do you specify both reading time and page refreshes per battery charge?

A) It is better to specify reading time, as all eReaders including Readius consume some power between page refreshes. Both reading time and the number of page refreshes per battery charge depend on the user scenario.

Q) Is the battery user-replaceable?

A) No, but it is rechargeable ;-) As it does not need to be recharged often, the battery does not need to be changeable.

Q) Can the device function in a "flight mode" - that is with the mobile network switched off, so that I can use it on the airplane or when I want to be "offline" in the evening and just enjoy a good book?

A) Yes, the modes can be selected by a short push on the on/off switch.

Q) What are the 8 simple buttons?

A) Readius has 5 touch sensitive buttons with their respective functions indicated on the display (so-called virtual buttons). It also has an “option”, a “back” button and an “on/off” button. This makes Readius easy to use out of the box.

Q) Readius has movable parts, namely the rollable display and the hinges; will they survive being flexed over and over again?

A) This is one aspect of Readius that has been tested already for many years and is unique in the world. We have dedicated roll setups, called “punishers”, that automatically roll displays and hinges for days in a row. We typically stop after 25,000 rolls. After such a test Readius displays and hinges are still working well.

Q) Will there be any annoying blinky lights on the device?

A) No, only a few essential and informative indication LEDs. There is a power LED indicating if the device is on, and the five touch sensitive buttons have a green feedback LED giving a short pulse, confirming that the button is pressed.

Q) What connectivity is supported by Readius?

A) Readius is tri-band, supporting HSDPA and UMTS (1900 & 2100 MHz) and EDGE and GPRS (900, 1800, 1900 MHz) networks and has Bluetooth as well as high-speed USB1.1 connectivity.

Q) What Operating System will Readius interact with?

A) Readius can interact with computers running Microsoft Windows and Mac OS by connecting via USB.

Q) Does the interface support folders for organizing files?

A) The Readius PC Application enables organizing files and folders on your Readius (create folders, copy files to Readius, move files etc.), when attached via the USB cable. On Readius itself there is a file browser to navigate through files stored on Readius or its SD card.

Q) Which company's brand is the 400Mhz ARM 11 processor?

A) This powerful processor is part of the Qualcomm chipset that is used in Readius.

Software & Applications

Q) How open is Readius?

A) It has always been Polymer Vision's intention to create an open platform with Readius and that is the reason we have chosen Win CE as the operating system. The Content World section at www.readius.com is an optional content source for the user , but he or she can chose to download content from other sources as well , thus maximising the portfolio of content available for Readius.

Q) Will Polymer Vision be providing any special extensions or environments for software development?
A) Already Polymer Vision has created a Software Development Kit (SDK) and has made it available to third party software development and content partners to make applications and optimise their content for Readius. Next to the SDK standard, Windows visual studio platform builder is needed to develop applications for Readius.

Q) Will users be able to develop/run their own applications on Readius?
A) To support individual user developmentproper infrastructure and support capabilities must be available inside Polymer Vision. We are not yet ready to do so, but it is definitely the direction we want to go into.

Q) How will document navigation work?
A ) Navigation through documents can be done in various ways:

• With a swiping finger movement over the touch buttons the user can navigate a page up or down,
• The user can open a Table of Contents (if included in the document) from which they can jump directly to a specific chapter/part of the document. The user can also jump to a particular percentage in the text, this is especially usefull if the document does not contain a Table of Contents.
• Bookmarks can be created in the text by the user, allowing for quick navigation to important segments later on.
• Additionally Readius will remember for each document where the user stopped reading.

Q) Can font size be increased/decreased?
A) Yes, font sizes in documents can be increased/decreased.

Q) Can I upload my own fonts?
A) Readius supports all fonts defined in Windows CE and therefor these fonts can be uploaded.

Q) What kind of email client comes with Readius?
A) The Readius email client is a proprietary email client and supports POP3 and IMAP email.

Q) How does one input information on Readius?
A) Short text input can be done via the on-screen keyboard in combination with the 5 touch buttons on the product or via the PC application (for example for initial configuration of applications). Contact information and agenda on a PC can also be synchronised with Readius.