Can anyone give a pointer on how and where to start hacking the 505?

for example, what tool to use, and what file to first looking at?

I will release the updated Universal Flasher "soon" (c).

:yahoo:

nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great News! The 505 will be the best reading device "soon" (c)!

:party4:

-Greg

Great News! The 505 will be the best reading device "soon" (c)!

:party4:

Isn't it already? :smash:

I am thinking exchange my 500 for an 505 now :2thumbsup

Isn't it already? :smash:

That's debateable. :D :p

I'm impressed on how quickly igorsk has updated the flasher. Seriously great work.

What part of it had to be changed from the 500? Will the 505 flasher work on the 500, or will there be a way to use a single download for both devices?

That's debateable. :D :p

I agree that it is debatable if the 505 without hacks is better than a 500 with hacks. I will say for sure that a 505 with hacks is the best!

-Greg

The 505 is better because of a bunch of things...
1. The vizplex screen
2. the USB interface
3. The new menu modes for dealing with a lot of content
4. More internal ram
5. The buttons on the right instead of the left (IMHO

The 505 is better because of a bunch of things...
1. The vizplex screen
2. the USB interface
3. The new menu modes for dealing with a lot of content
4. More internal ram
5. The buttons on the right instead of the left (IMHO

Of course the 505 is better. I was expressing how much I like the hacks using a bit of exageration. Heck, the 505 even has the direct page access hack implemented as a feature. I just wish they did the clock hack too. But if they did then what fun would be left for the smart people of this forum?

-Greg

Of course the 505 is better. I was expressing how much I like the hacks using a bit of exageration. Heck, the 505 even has the direct page access hack implemented as a feature. I just wish they did the clock hack too. But if they did then what fun would be left for the smart people of this forum?

-Greg

If they implemented the clock hack, people would complain why the clock is not running between page turning ;)

I actually love the clock hack on 500 for two reasons: 1) it remembers the last time when I used the reader, something like 2:13AM. 2) you can see how long you have dwelled on one page when you flip to next, like 10:54AM - 10.49AM = 5 minites. :D

The 500 hacks I miss most with the 505 is the smaller font size and the clock. I do like the page turn hack, but if need be, I could live without that one. I'm not sure I'd need to remap the page turn keys like I did on the 500.

Please please please help me end this SONY-imposed information embargo!!!!!

Slate.com? Puh-leeeassse! :smack::knife:

OK, users MUST have the ability to add their own RSS feeds, AND sync daily.:pray:

Adding support for RSS feeds idoesn't really need SONY. All the individual tools are there, you just need to combine them.

Please please please help me end this SONY-imposed information embargo!!!!!

Slate.com? Puh-leeeassse! :smack::knife:

OK, users MUST have the ability to add their own RSS feeds, AND sync daily.:pray:

I read and sync RSS feeds daily on my PRS-500...

The 505 is better because of a bunch of things...
1. The vizplex screen
2. the USB interface
3. The new menu modes for dealing with a lot of content
4. More internal ram
5. The buttons on the right instead of the left (IMHO

Dunno about that. I agree with 1, dunno about 3 (but probably better). 2 doesn't matter. 4 is useless; I have a few months' worth of reading in my 500's memory, and besides, cheap SD cards make the internal memory a moot point. I disagree with 5. A hacked 500 with buttons on left and joystick page turn works fine with either hand holding the reader. Menu buttons along the side are sensible, but the ones on the bottom work fi ne and most time is spent reading books, with only occasional menu access.

The screen quality is important, though. Ease of page turning (buttons) and battery life are nextmost important, imo. Now, a 505 with hacks would definitely have a leg up on the 500!

I read and sync RSS feeds daily on my PRS-500...

So is there a way to say leave your 505 reader in the computer overnight, then when you get it in the morning it has the latest news?

Like everytime you hook it up to the PC it syncs that days news?

Dunno about that. I agree with 1, dunno about 3 (but probably better). 2 doesn't matter. 4 is useless; I have a few months' worth of reading in my 500's memory, and besides, cheap SD cards make the internal memory a moot point. I disagree with 5. A hacked 500 with buttons on left and joystick page turn works fine with either hand holding the reader. Menu buttons along the side are sensible, but the ones on the bottom work fi ne and most time is spent reading books, with only occasional menu access.

The screen quality is important, though. Ease of page turning (buttons) and battery life are nextmost important, imo. Now, a 505 with hacks would definitely have a leg up on the 500!

1, I agree
2, it does if you have a MAC or use Linux
3, havent used a 500 so?
4, he said RAM not memory! the RAM is what makes the pages turn faster so yes thats better.
5, yes you can replicate it with a hack but its clearly better that the 505 comes with that setup as standard.

So is there a way to say leave your 505 reader in the computer overnight, then when you get it in the morning it has the latest news?

Like everytime you hook it up to the PC it syncs that days news?


web2lrf bbc -o news.lrf
prs500 cp news.lrf prs500:/Data/media/books


Just run that script using your OSes scheduling capabilities

Hi all, I'm completely new to ebook readers, so I don't know about the glory of PRS-500 hacks (and I've got a 505), but one thing I'd LOVE to have is a button remapping of the indented button in the centre of the D-pad (on the right bottom side) so that it turns pages.

Is there anything currently that can do the remapping, or is something in the works? Was this ever possible on the PRS-500?

Thanks!

Is there anything currently that can do the remapping, or is something in the works? Was this ever possible on the PRS-500?

There are several hacks on the Russian forum http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/
I use only localized fonts and clock hack but there are also new icons, remaping "menu navigation pad" to "previous page/next page"...
(But I dont understand much Russian, only using Google Translate)

1, I agree
2, it does if you have a MAC or use Linux
3, havent used a 500 so?
4, he said RAM not memory! the RAM is what makes the pages turn faster so yes thats better.
5, yes you can replicate it with a hack but its clearly better that the 505 comes with that setup as standard.

Just a follow-up, now that I have been using a 505 for a bit more than a week. (Russified the old 500 and gifted it.)

I misread 4, apparently, although I thought the RAM was primarily used for internal storage of book files. Does more RAM = faster page turns? (For general image-free lrf books?) I thought the 505 was a bit faster because of the newer display technology.

Mainly, wrt #5, I realize hacks are not so important for the 505 because of the slightly improved layout. The right-side buttons and lower-left disc for page turns work similar to the 500 with joystick hack (although the corner/side controls are reversed). I do miss the clock, but apart from that the other hacks I used seem to be built in.

I still like the cover on the 500 a lot better--thicker, better feel, and folds over much better. But the 505 one isn't so bad.

There are several hacks on the Russian forum http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/
I use only localized fonts and clock hack but there are also new icons, remapping "menu navigation pad" to "previous page/next page"...
(But I don't understand much Russian, only using Google Translate)
What hacks are there for the 505?

web2lrf bbc -o news.lrf
prs500 cp news.lrf prs500:/Data/media/books


Just run that script using your OSes scheduling capabilities

Kovid

Would/could you build the functionality into libprs500 so we could add our own RSS feeds? Using web2lrf and writing scripts is well beyond my abilities, and I hesitate to add, other people not as technically gifted as yourself.

Thanks.

Adding feeds requires at least some programing I'm afraid.

What hacks are there for the 505?


new icons
clock
uniformnym book list (??, часами и униформным списком книг)
browsing joystick forward
Russian fonts

new icons
clock
uniformnym book list (??, часами и униформным списком книг)
browsing joystick forward
Russian fonts


I think the uniform book list is the "smaller menu fonts" so all menu items are the same size.

Any chance of posting instructions on how to add these hacks? (I would personally like all of them--they seem just right for tweaking the 505.) Any Russian speakers want to volunteer? (Google translate is an option, but I have a deeper fear of bricking the 505 and not being able to recover it. The 500 was recoverable, at least.)

I agree. I would love to see how these hacks are done for the 505.

I agree. I would love to see how these hacks are done for the 505.

You can go to the e-boom forum, and read the thread (title is in English) using Google Translate (or babelfish). I did that to Russify my 500 (it's a bit more complex than simply flashing from an SD card, but I survived it!). Not perfect, but you can get some idea of how to do it. For the 505, I'd want more exact info (than this rough/partial translation) to avoid bricking it.

BTW, for the 505, Russification appears to involve a straightforward SD flash (using a version of igorsk's flasher). For the hacks, I believe you need to create a new new_opt.img file for the 505 which includes the hack modifications. I'd love to get this img file with the above hacks included--I frankly am afraid to mess around trying to create it myself, which could brick the 505. Call me paranoid!

Please don't use those hacks, as it's extremely easy to brick the Reader and many people did just that. Since there's no official update yet, that means either waiting for the update or sending unit back.

Any updates on being able to put the hacks on the 505?

Well its been one month and nothing yet. I for one would like the clock and the new icons.

great point

Please don't use those hacks, as it's extremely easy to brick the Reader and many people did just that. Since there's no official update yet, that means either waiting for the update or sending unit back.

I wonder how many have successfully used the hack?

But remember, that since there is no update firmware available, if you brick your 505, you might be in trouble. This is a warning. Use at your own risk.

Well I almost did it, but I just didn't have the guts to do it. All I would like are the new icons and especially the clock. Maybe they will put it in the new firmware when it comes out.

The problem is that whoever is making the hacks for the 505 is doing it by releasing premade image files. So all we get is what combinations are released. And if you want the clock and the icons, but not the smaller menu font, then you are stuck witht he smaller menu font or nothing at all.

I'm waiting till we can install our own choices of hacks.

There looks to be a pre-done "new icons & clock" image there, as well as the "new icons, clock & unified menu font" image that we both decided to go for.

The image I used was pre-made to have the unified font and the clock and the new icons. Worked very well when I installed in.

There looks to be a pre-done "new icons & clock" image there, as well as the "new icons, clock & unified menu font" image that we both decided to go for.

Do you have the url to this post? My Russian is terrible, I was wondering where these two images (plus the instructions) can be found...

See my post here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=154197&postcount=67) for links, etc.

The image I used was pre-made to have the unified font and the clock and the new icons. Worked very well when I installed in.

I read a lot of posts regarding wanting to change fonts. Is this just a personal preference or is there a practical side to it like faster loads or page turns with specific fonts?

I think that it's just a perference more than being practical. Personally I wanted the new icons as well as the clock.

I read a lot of posts regarding wanting to change fonts. Is this just a personal preference or is there a practical side to it like faster loads or page turns with specific fonts?
Note that the "unified font" refered to above is referring to the way the new firmware stops the title lists from switching to a larger font for books with short titles, not changing the core fonts.

I see...so have there been any serious problems with using this flash on the 505?Anybody made a brick?

None reported using the prepared images - rolling your own involves more risk & I'd not recommend that unless you can read Russian & can thus take advantage of the expertise available over at the e-book forum.

See my post here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=154197&postcount=67) for links, etc.

Just did it now using the instructions above, worked like a charm. much nicer icons and the clock is great.

Just in case I would like to flash back to the original firmware, after flashing this image (http://projects.mobileread.com/reader/users/porkupan/new_opt.clock.uni_hdrs.img) I'd have just have to replace the "new_opt.img" with this one (http://projects.mobileread.com/reader/users/porkupan/new_opt.orig_icons.clock.uni_hdrs.img), right?

OK - I bit the bullet and did it - WOW - quick and easy and painless.
I loaded these three things:
1. Icons/Theme - this is what I was originally going for. Just love them. They are SOOOOOO much better.
2. Clock - didn't ring my chimes all that much - but hey on second thought it's going to be handy.
3. Unified Font. OMG this is to die for. I knew I didn't like what it was doing, but I didn't know how much I didn't like it. Now everything is the same and uniform.
Total score for the package of three: SMOKIN' AWESOME!

Ted--I'm in total agreement. It took me awhile to get up the nerve to load the hack, but I love it. I really wanted the clock, but now I'm lovin' the icons and the unified font. Makes my 505 interface look soooo much better!!

dordale :)