Have toke long time to think about buying a iLiad or Sony reader...
iRex iLiad seems nicer screen, but easy to crashed, and repairing costs hundred euro, sounds terrible.

So the only thing stop me to buy a Sony Reader is: Can it support Chinese? in PDF, TXT, RTF whatever.

TXT & RTF, no, PDF, yes -- you can put whatever you want in a PDF and it'll render it, with the qualification that you need to make the PDF pages the right size for the Reader's display. I don't think you could embed the a Chinese font into an LRF file using something like BookDesigner. I know that you can embed fonts in BD, but if I recall correctly it doesn't extend to radically non-English chars. :shrug:

Thanks!

“PDF, yes -- you can put whatever you want in a PDF and it'll render it, with the qualification that you need to make the PDF pages the right size for the Reader's display.”

So PDF with Chinese words can be readable? that's good enough. Say for example, I can convert chinese RTF by PDFfactory to PDF, then it can be read in sony reader?

Thanks!

“PDF, yes -- you can put whatever you want in a PDF and it'll render it, with the qualification that you need to make the PDF pages the right size for the Reader's display.”

So PDF with Chinese words can be readable? that's good enough. Say for example, I can convert chinese RTF by PDFfactory to PDF, then it can be read in sony reader?

Yes, PDF will work WITH embedded font, not without. We're working on supporting chinese on Feedbooks, it's already working for PD books and books written by the users, but not yet for our RSS feeds. It would work on a full newspaper where we ask for the language, but we're missing this information when we try to generate RSS feeds.

So PDF with Chinese words can be readable? that's good enough. Say for example, I can convert chinese RTF by PDFfactory to PDF, then it can be read in sony reader?As Hadrien said, as long as you embed the font, and as long as you make the PDF 'pages' the same size as the Reader's display -- you can find details on that here (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Sony_Portable_Reader#Content_Formatting_Best_Known _Methods_.28BKMs.29).

the PDF 'pages' seems a key fact to read on SONY, I use a rule to measure the 6' size, comparing a reader digist, it's only half size of the tiny magzine, it surprises me a little bit...
Coz it's not like what I thought and saw from those photos took on Sony reader :)

The exact size of the screen is 90mm x 120mm and yes, if you don't create PDF with the right settings, it'll look ugly.

So... If use landscape mode reading, is it readable at normal A4 PDF?

So... If use landscape mode reading, is it readable at normal A4 PDF?

Not really. Maybe if you use a very large font but the best solution is to create PDF with the right size.

If you've got to deal with A4 sized PDFs, your best bet is to fall back on something like PDFRasterfarian (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=9173).

TXT & RTF, no, PDF, yes -- you can put whatever you want in a PDF and it'll render it, with the qualification that you need to make the PDF pages the right size for the Reader's display. I don't think you could embed the a Chinese font into an LRF file using something like BookDesigner. I know that you can embed fonts in BD, but if I recall correctly it doesn't extend to radically non-English chars. :shrug:

Can you guys test this file? I use pdfFactory to make it, and use 120x90mm size, embed chinese font in the file... Just want check if it works well, I plan buy it in next week anyway.

I have tried to convert some chinese books based on the format provided. But the reader only recognized the file in .txt format, not in the pdf format. The chinese book can not be read. Please help!

Can you guys test this file?It works fine in the Connect Software (I don't have time to pop it on my Reader just this moment -- I don't have it handy :(), and the ConnSoft is usually a good guide of what will work on the Reader itself -- the only funky thing is that the ConnSoft makes fonts look bigger than they are on the Reader. :shrug:

It works fine in the Connect Software (I don't have time to pop it on my Reader just this moment -- I don't have it handy :(), and the ConnSoft is usually a good guide of what will work on the Reader itself -- the only funky thing is that the ConnSoft makes fonts look bigger than they are on the Reader. :shrug:

It look nice :) Thanks NatCh
Is the font big in reader? I think smaller font than this can be readable?

NatCh,

Would you please let me know your config to convert your file to pdf?

I dl some chinese books in txt format and I used MS word to open the files and follow all of the instructions to convert the file into pdf format. Unfortunately, when I import the file to ConnSoft, I can only get a blank page. Please help!

Finally, I get the format which can be read in the COnnSoft, but the size of the pdf file is only limited to 30 pages. Once more than 30 pages, there is a blank screen for chinese characters.

Any suggestion?

It look nice :) Thanks NatCh
Is the font big in reader? I think smaller font than this can be readable?
No, the font will be a good deal smaller in the Reader, but that size should be easily readable, as long as your vision is reasonably normal (my Mandarin is ... rusty http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/laugh4.gif).

NatCh,

Would you please let me know your config to convert your file to pdf?It's jimmyzou's file, casofamily, but I think he said he used pdfFactory with 120x90mm page size, and embedded the Chinese font into the file. :nice:

I used Adobe 6.0 pro to do the conversion. 3.57" x 4.82" page size, 0.25" for margins, font size 11. The chinese book that I converted turns into about 2000 pages. But there is nothing shown in the ConnSoft after I imported the pdf file into it. So I tried to convert the same file with limited number of pages output. I can only see the file from both the reader & the ConnSoft at 30 pages/pdf file. Once more than 30 pages, there is only a blank screen. Strange!

If you use pdf fasterfarian you convert your PDFS in grey scale images.
So sony reader read images, not pdf.
According to me, PDF fasterfarian is the best method for viewing complex graphics and rich image texts.

You can visualize every language like images.

You need a good computer for conversion with pdffasterfarian engine.

Bye

I used Adobe 6.0 pro to do the conversion. 3.57" x 4.82" page size, 0.25" for margins, font size 11. The chinese book that I converted turns into about 2000 pages. But there is nothing shown in the ConnSoft after I imported the pdf file into it. So I tried to convert the same file with limited number of pages output. I can only see the file from both the reader & the ConnSoft at 30 pages/pdf file. Once more than 30 pages, there is only a blank screen. Strange!
Why not try Book Designer? It might work if you embed the Chinese font you need. And then you'd have more control over the size. If it works, it will be a lot easier to deal with as well. You can load in the RTF file from word. And you can also set the font in BD to use the Chinese font as it's display font.

If it works, it would be a lot easier, but I'm not sure that the Reader will display such a radically different font, even if it's been embedded by BD ... it'd be worth a try, though. :shrug:

I believe that others have reported that, although the Reader uses Unicode, it only supports the first 256 characters in a font, so it can't be used for languages like Chinese which require the full Unicode character set.

No, the font will be a good deal smaller in the Reader, but that size should be easily readable, as long as your vision is reasonably normal (my Mandarin is ... rusty http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/laugh4.gif).

Cool,so I guess with pdfFactory, I can at least read those Chinese book in TXT and word formats. that's what I need for Chinese books.
For PDF, I tried pdfRasterFarian2.5, it worked out blank pages, don't know why..
And then I tried pdfReader, it works, but the font seems not sharp...
I'm try to learn this book making before my reader arrive. have place an order and waiting it.


It's jimmyzou's file, casofamily, but I think he said he used pdfFactory with 120x90mm page size, and embedded the Chinese font into the file. :nice:

Yes, I use pdfFactory print out from word, with font Mingliu 12 embedded.

It look nice :) Thanks NatCh
Is the font big in reader? I think smaller font than this can be readable?:)

Hello, everyone. Thank you for these posts! it really helped! i am new! i have read all the posts about Sony Reader supporting Chinese. I plan to buy a sony reader, but i have one concern about it. i have some simplified Chinese pdf articles. The fonts are beautiful, it is GB Chinese 楷体， my question is, can i read these Chinese pdf files from Sony Reader, and with the same look as i look from a computer?

can anyone anwser me? thanks a lot!

try this:
http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthread.php?action=printable&tid=361320

Thanks for the link.

Can someone knowing more Chinese than me, please translate the instructions to English? I am trying to learn Chinese, but do not know enough to follow those instructions.

The HiPDA site is down, however, I think this is a equivalent: http://www.handsee.com/bbs/html/2007-6/14/12424051012.html

Just the information needed for installing the complete trad / simp character set is required.

thx

Hi, jimmyzou

505 totally supports Chinese!!! In every format!!!

You can find enough information on this forum, http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=7&page=1
this forum is Chinese, but I assume you understand Chinese.

Unfortunately, the forum is now down, due to some unknown reasons, be patient, it shall come back soon.

To jessie102

The link that you thought was an equivalent actually is not. It's for 500.

As for 505, I guess we have to wait for hipda to come back.

I do know the procedures, but you have to download some fonts, and a small application from hipda.

I'm not the best photographer but here are a couple of pictures and a video of the Chinese file posted.

Hi, jimmyzou

505 totally supports Chinese!!! In every format!!!

You can find enough information on this forum, http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=7&page=1
this forum is Chinese, but I assume you understand Chinese.

Unfortunately, the forum is now down, due to some unknown reasons, be patient, it shall come back soon.

To jessie102

The link that you thought was an equivalent actually is not. It's for 500.

As for 505, I guess we have to wait for hipda to come back.

I do know the procedures, but you have to download some fonts, and a small application from hipda.


Thanks for the quick response, with your help, I look forward to reading the procedures in English once it comes back up hopefully soon. thanks

Here's what chinese looks like on my reader(505):

http://xp.sg/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/29072008337.jpg

I can help write a guide for the 505 if there's a need.

Here's what chinese looks like on my reader(505):

http://xp.sg/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/29072008337.jpg

I can help write a guide for the 505 if there's a need.

If you could write a guide for the 505, your help very would be much appreciated!!!

If you could write a guide for the 505, your help very would be much appreciated!!!

Just checking, are you looking for a permanent flash or a simpler hack? cause if u're looking a simple plug-in-and-activate hack, there's already a guide:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20644

As for the unicode fonts, you can download them here:

http://www.inien.com/data/ninegua/prs-505_chinese_font/tt0419m.rar
and
http://vip.yyjoy.com/each/PRS500_Flash/PRS500_CN_Solu_4.RAR

I will be working on a more complete flashing guide once I have the time to spare :)

I have just read this book today. It's great~! :)

Here's what chinese looks like on my reader(505):

http://xp.sg/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/29072008337.jpg

I can help write a guide for the 505 if there's a need.

I have just read this book today. It's great~! :)

Yeah it's a very nice and touching story. I met my fiancee under circumstances very similar to the story too :)

If you could write a guide for the 505, your help very would be much appreciated!!!

I've completed a guide on my blog, check it out here:

http://xp.sg/hacks/unicode-support-for-prs-505/

wow thanks, that response was faster than a speeding bullet! I was indeed looking for a more persistent mod, so your guide is perfect! The guide looks great, I'll be applying the procedures tonight after school and let you know. thx

Just applied the update, now all me unicode encoded files work! :D

Can the "Custom" file folder be deleted once the flash has completed, or are those files in that directory still being utilized?

Also, for others out there looking to apply this mod as well,

One must use the memorystick drive, NOT the SD drive for this flash update to work, possibly to prevent mounting directory inconsistency.

I noticed the clock on the buttom right was enabled and find it very useful. Is
there anything else that was added during the flash?

One problem found was that even after 50 minutes, the Reader no longer automatically goes to standby mode. Is this intentional or a bug?

In any case, thanks for writing the guide, it was well documented and easy to follow!!! :2thumbsup

deleted msg

Just applied the update, now all me unicode encoded files work! :D

Can the "Custom" file folder be deleted once the flash has completed, or are those files in that directory still being utilized?

Also, for others out there looking to apply this mod as well,

One must use the memorystick drive, NOT the SD drive for this flash update to work, possibly to prevent mounting directory inconsistency.

I noticed the clock on the buttom right was enabled and find it very useful. Is
there anything else that was added during the flash?

One problem found was that even after 50 minutes, the Reader no longer automatically goes to standby mode. Is this intentional or a bug?

In any case, thanks for writing the guide, it was well documented and easy to follow!!! :2thumbsup

Well, deleting the Custom folder will result in your Reader falling back to using the default non-unicode fonts on your Reader's flash. Anyway, I've updated my guide to reflect this point.

As for using memory stick or SD, I've worked with both types of card and I didn't really encounter any problem.

As for additional hacks, I didn't include them as they which might complicate matters for people following the guide. Rest assured that I will be adding them in over the next few days.

I didn't encounter the problem with standby mode, I've had my reader going to standby mode without any major issues.

just to update:

I reinstalled the mod. The automatic stand-by appears to be working now :iloveyou:

just to update:

I reinstalled the mod. The automatic stand-by appears to be working now :iloveyou:

Good to know that :2thumbsup Enjoy your chinese books :)