Digital eBook reader devices...

[RevBob]

Originally Posted by Buzzardo

Warning to all Foxit users: The latest automatic update installed a malware package called Search Assist. Don't use Foxit.

Please be clearer - was this a "checked by default" option, or a "no notice, here you go" mandatory addition?

A lot of free software (like Java) uses the former, which I don't consider "malware" because you're presented with a clear opportunity to opt out. The latter is, of course, much nastier.

[sjard]

From some searching I did, it seems to have been some third party downloads of the reader six months or so ago.

The very few reports I can find suggest it was an automatic thing. It installed something that reset the home page on IE and Chrome (no other browsers were listed as effected). Apparently it's a software for Yahoo.

[Buzzardo]

Originally Posted by RevBob

Please be clearer - was this a "checked by default" option, or a "no notice, here you go" mandatory addition?

A lot of free software (like Java) uses the former, which I don't consider "malware" because you're presented with a clear opportunity to opt out. The latter is, of course, much nastier.

I got a notice in the task bar that an update was available for Foxit. I clicked the update button, and it went about its business. In doing so, it installed a bit of malware called Search Assist (which has every name under the sun but that in the file system and the registry). I got no option to not install it. In fact, I got no options at all. This isn't like the Ask tool bar that comes with Java if you don't take pains to clear a checkbox and that you can easily uninstall if you forget to clear the checkbox. I spent 90 minutes using Malwarebytes and a couple other tools to remove the damned thing.

Originally Posted by sjard

From some searching I did, it seems to have been some third party downloads of the reader six months or so ago.

The very few reports I can find suggest it was an automatic thing. It installed something that reset the home page on IE and Chrome (no other browsers were listed as effected). Apparently it's a software for Yahoo.

It apparently started in February. It affects IE, Firefox, and Chrome. It's not software for Yahoo. It's a virus. Malwarbytes identifies it as a trojan horse.

[sjard]

The Yahoo part was due to something I read where it has been identified as Yahoo Search Assist.

[Buzzardo]

Originally Posted by sjard

The Yahoo part was due to something I read where it has been identified as Yahoo Search Assist.

Maybe it was called that at some point. I can see where it might be the kind of thing someone wants, assuming that someone wants to surf the web exactly the way this thing lets people do that. However, its characteristics (no option to not install it, installs under a number of false names, identifies as a trojan horse to anti-virus software, and takes a significant effort to remove) makes me regard it much more as a virus than as an innocuous (if annoying to me) item such as the Ask toolbar that comes with Java downloads.

[Þorkell]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

Free, I recommend Radaee, as it was the fastest in my tests (warning, they might be outdated). Paid, RepliGo is my favorite, but ezPDF I awesome too.

With file managers, I go with Total Commander, as I particularly like the split panel view and the retro aesthetics.

I looked into this and I can't seem to find RepliGo. I'm not so sure about Radaee, I have Mantano and it keeps choking on Technical Grappling.

Is there anything new to consider?

[Parody]

Originally Posted by Þorkell

I looked into this and I can't seem to find RepliGo.

It was cancelled a few months ago, sadly. I still use it as my main PDF reader on my phone. ezPDF is my backup.

[thorr-kan]

Has anyone tried the UbiSoft ultracheap tablet?

[panton41]

I'll just mention that if you're in the market to also replace a laptop that the Surface Pro 3 is a wonderful Windows-based tablet. It gets about 6-8 hours of battery with a Haswell Core-series CPU, a decently sized drive (especially on higher-end models), plenty of RAM (4-8GB), a detachable, foldable keyboard and a MicroSD card slot. It has a 12" 2160x1440 (3x2) IPS display that might as well display a letter-sized game book at full size with crisp text. I don't use mine for much heavier of lifting than MS Office and low-end gaming so it does well.

One thing I'll say that while it might be a good purchase today, Intel is shipping Broadwell chips as I write this. I have no doubt there will be a Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10 and Broadwell before the end of the year.

[sjard]

On the cheap end, I picked up one of the $70 RCA 7" tablets a couple weeks ago. I'm liking it so far since it's primarily a pdf reader for game books. I'll be more than willing, once I can save up a bit more, to get the $150 10.1" version for actual at the table use. But that will be a few months.

It's not exactly the most stellar tablet, but for the price it seems viable for my needs.

Android kitkat 4.4, 1ghz processor, 8gb memory (up to 32gb additional with the micro sd slot), about 1gb ram.

It's run every game I've tried on it rather well, except Hearthstone and that only because I meet the minimum screen size; it's quite hard to read the text on it in that game.