iLiad MP3 Player

The GreatGonzo · 07-31-2006, 01:30 PM

Since my two-week vacation on Lake Michigan is coming up and since I had planned to listen to books as well as read them -

can anybody point me towards a simple MP3 player that will work on the Iliad and doesn't require major (or even minor) hacking? Or are we not quite there yet and I need to wait for a couple more software upgrades?

DHer · 07-31-2006, 02:19 PM

Wait for release 27.9 or higher for this.

With the current software release the iliad is unhackable, there's no legitimate way to run your own applications and iRex didn't even finish developing their viewer software, let alone add in new stuff like an mp3 player.

And guess what? They don't really plan to increase their development speed nor do they plan to accept (or even tolerate) us trying to do their job.

At the moment i'm seriously considering to send the iliad back in the repair box and ask for a refund instead of a reperature. If they keep the 75€ i already paid for repair - i'm really in a mood that i don't really care, at the moment.

Btw: we had an console mp3 player up and running, on v2.4. Finding and compiling one with a GUI would have been possible for sure.

arivero · 07-31-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHer

Wait for release 27.9 or higher for this.

With the current software release the iliad is unhackable, there's no legitimate way to run your own applications and iRex didn't even finish developing their viewer software, let alone add in new stuff like an mp3 player.
.

I have received today an email from Irex addressing my protest, and at least they keep claiming they will release a development kit. So well, at Xmas we will have MP3. Perhaps before, if they put some openzaurus module to get sound from html or pdf (yep, in theory pdfs support sound too).

I'd not say the machine is unhackable; just we do not have accumulated enough free man-hours to address the quest. It is possible a serial port is available somewhere (most probably they plan to login via serial to repait you machine, Dher) and then the only issue is to crack the root password. And there are some extra bugs in mozilla and Xwindows we could try, but we do not have the knowledge nor the information.

VillageReader · 07-31-2006, 02:47 PM

Question from the non hacker dummies. iRex has a developer site. Are they not allowing development if you register there? Seems to me they want a modicum of control to ensure bad stuf doesn't get into the wild.

Maybe.

jæd · 07-31-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arivero

I have received today an email from Irex addressing my protest, and at least they keep claiming they will release a development kit. So well, at Xmas we will have MP3. Perhaps before, if they put some openzaurus module to get sound from html or pdf (yep, in theory pdfs support sound too).

What did they say about availability...? Are they still on track for a Q4 release for the SDK...?

arivero · 07-31-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VillageReader

Question from the non hacker dummies. iRex has a developer site. Are they not allowing development if you register there? Seems to me they want a modicum of control to ensure bad stuf doesn't get into the wild.

Maybe.

Irex seems very apple-ish. They will allow development but they will wait a time to allow it (as it happened in the Mac 128/512K) and then will keep some business tricks (for instance I guess clicking in documents will open the application they specify and some other kinds of minor, patronising, control).

jæd · 07-31-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arivero

Irex seems very apple-ish. They will allow development but they will wait a time to allow it (as it happened in the Mac 128/512K) and then will keep some business tricks (for instance I guess clicking in documents will open the application they specify and some other kinds of minor, patronising, control).

Well... From what we all had to declare, it would seem that the o/s isn't completely finalised yet. Its hard to do in-house development on a moving target... It would be even harder to expect third-party developers to do such a thing...

Which is why I'm going to wait for the SDK. As we have seen Irex can chop and change anything at will, and relying on anything with the Irex won't prove to be fruitful.

arivero · 07-31-2006, 05:29 PM

For the mac, the reference docs were fully covered of confidential tags, and we were expected to get a LISA machine for crossdeveloping. A MacBASIC was developed, seen at version 0.99 and then retired due to an agreement with microsot. The really "final" machine was the MacPlus, two years later.

joblack · 08-02-2006, 06:57 AM

some companies are really very idiotic - instead of supporting the customers they kick them ... not very professional indeed ...

DHer · 08-02-2006, 08:30 AM

Ok, it seems like the situation is going to get better fast. In a, well, not completely sober state last sunday morning i wrote a slightly angry email to iRex asking for a refund instead of a reperature. (i also said a not so nice thing about a way to flash the device and gpl violations) Well, they didn't trash it but i got the following response.

Quote:

We will offer a development tool environment at no costs to our iLiad users that will suffice for most development needs. More details about this SDK will be announced on our developer website and it is expected to be available by September.

In addition we will launch a community forum shortly where we hope to have an open and constructive communication with the community and where we will try to support the third party developers and assist them with their technical questions.

I can offer to refund your iLiad if you want. The total amount will be the price you paid for the iLiad minus the repair costs, the transport costs and the handling costs.

Alternatively I can also offer to repair your device and return it to you as soon as possible, since you have already paid for the repairs.

I sincerely hope that you have some patience to wait for what we have to offer to the community.

Please let me know what you would prefer to do.

That's the kind of communication i was always hoping for. A date for the SDK and the promise of a forum for direct contact with iRex officials.

Alexander Turcic · 08-02-2006, 08:57 AM

We told them that we'd welcome any iRex employee in our community.

And guess what: first they agreed. But then the idea was refused, apparently by someone from the upper management, and my only guess is that they didn't like the idea of having no control of what's been said here.

I must say I am more than slightly disappointed that they didn't even bother to put us in their links collection - despite everything our members have done to increase their sales and to smooth out their frequent miscommunication.

DHer · 08-02-2006, 09:44 AM

hm. manybooks and a video review as links from iRex, but not mobileread? That's really weak.

And concerning the forum: I think they would be the first company to declare an external forum as the official iRex Technologies forum. As you said, no control over what is said and done. But that really doesn't mean that they couldn't have one or two spokespeople join us and keep us informed.

Alexander Turcic · 08-02-2006, 10:11 AM

Yup, the idea was not to be an "official" forum (that would have been also contrary to our plans), but to have iRex employees voluntarily participate here.

R2D2 · 08-02-2006, 10:57 AM

Hmmm...maybe we have to give them some time to sort their stuff out.

Alexander Turcic · 08-02-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2D2

Hmmm...maybe we have to give them some time to sort their stuff out.

Good advice, R2D2. We should keep in mind that iRex is a small start-up and not a conglomerate; as such, we shouldn't except them to do everything immediately right.

Still, I had to share my disappointment with someone

07-31-2006, 01:30 PM	#1
The GreatGonzo Old Yeller Posts: 180 Karma: 67 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad & Kindle - The Best of Both Worlds	MP3 Player Since my two-week vacation on Lake Michigan is coming up and since I had planned to listen to books as well as read them - can anybody point me towards a simple MP3 player that will work on the Iliad and doesn't require major (or even minor) hacking? Or are we not quite there yet and I need to wait for a couple more software upgrades?

08-02-2006, 06:57 AM	#9
joblack Wizard Posts: 1,746 Karma: 4382688 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere on earth Device: Onyx Boox Tab X	some companies some companies are really very idiotic - instead of supporting the customers they kick them ... not very professional indeed ...

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07-31-2006, 02:19 PM	#2
DHer Addict Posts: 261 Karma: 156 Join Date: Jul 2006 Device: iliad	Wait for release 27.9 or higher for this. With the current software release the iliad is unhackable, there's no legitimate way to run your own applications and iRex didn't even finish developing their viewer software, let alone add in new stuff like an mp3 player. And guess what? They don't really plan to increase their development speed nor do they plan to accept (or even tolerate) us trying to do their job. At the moment i'm seriously considering to send the iliad back in the repair box and ask for a refund instead of a reperature. If they keep the 75€ i already paid for repair - i'm really in a mood that i don't really care, at the moment. Btw: we had an console mp3 player up and running, on v2.4. Finding and compiling one with a GUI would have been possible for sure.

07-31-2006, 02:47 PM	#4
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	Question from the non hacker dummies. iRex has a developer site. Are they not allowing development if you register there? Seems to me they want a modicum of control to ensure bad stuf doesn't get into the wild. Maybe.

07-31-2006, 05:29 PM	#8
arivero Guru Posts: 607 Karma: 2157 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: NCR3125, Nokia 770,...	For the mac, the reference docs were fully covered of confidential tags, and we were expected to get a LISA machine for crossdeveloping. A MacBASIC was developed, seen at version 0.99 and then retired due to an agreement with microsot. The really "final" machine was the MacPlus, two years later.

08-02-2006, 08:57 AM	#11
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	We told them that we'd welcome any iRex employee in our community. And guess what: first they agreed. But then the idea was refused, apparently by someone from the upper management, and my only guess is that they didn't like the idea of having no control of what's been said here. I must say I am more than slightly disappointed that they didn't even bother to put us in their links collection - despite everything our members have done to increase their sales and to smooth out their frequent miscommunication.

08-02-2006, 09:44 AM	#12
DHer Addict Posts: 261 Karma: 156 Join Date: Jul 2006 Device: iliad	hm. manybooks and a video review as links from iRex, but not mobileread? That's really weak. And concerning the forum: I think they would be the first company to declare an external forum as the official iRex Technologies forum. As you said, no control over what is said and done. But that really doesn't mean that they couldn't have one or two spokespeople join us and keep us informed.

08-02-2006, 10:11 AM	#13
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Yup, the idea was not to be an "official" forum (that would have been also contrary to our plans), but to have iRex employees voluntarily participate here.

08-02-2006, 10:57 AM	#14
R2D2 Mad Scientist Posts: 294 Karma: 242 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Germany Device: Zaurus, HTCMagician, iLiad	Hmmm...maybe we have to give them some time to sort their stuff out.

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