The purpose of this "sticky" thread is to document known bugs and issues with the Gen3 and - if available - solutions or workarounds for them. Please let's keep this thread strictly factual; general chat can go elsewhere.

I'll start the ball rolling with a couple of known issues and their solutions.

Q: The "getting started" card says that there should be a user manual on the Gen3, but it's not there.

A: The user guide can be downloaded from:

http://bookeen.free.fr/bin/CybookGen3/UserManual/CybookUserGuide_1_0.prc

Q: I add new fonts to the machine, but they don't show up in the "Font Families" selector, or when I add new fonts, the built-in ones vanish!

A: Create a folder called "Fonts" (the name is case sensitive) under the "CyBook" USB drive and add your TrueType or OpenType fonts to it. If, when you add a new font, it doesn't appear in the selector, go to the "system" folder, and delete the file ".fonts.cache-1". The new fonts should now appear when the Gen3 exits USB connectivity mode.

Hi!

Problem:
Cybook Gen3 is not recognized in Mobipocket Software, not even as a storage card...


Solution:
Unplug the USB-Card-Reader, the Cybook is recognised as a READING DEVICE, not a storage card...
(i use latest version, Build 590)

:D

It seems, that in my case the USB-Card-Reader, which is always plugged in, prevents Mobipocket from recognising the Cybook.
As soon as i shut the card-reader down in Windows (XP Home), Mobipocket suddeny finds the Cybook...

the display optimal under Gen3 is reset after the unit is off. That is to say the unit will not save the setting. I like smooth. The black and white refresh method is ugly and displeasure.

the display optimal under Gen3 is reset after the unit is off. That is to say the unit will not save the setting. I like smooth. The black and white refresh method is ugly and displeasure.
According to Derek, that smooth method of refreshing the screen is very poor for pictures. Just so you are aware.

It seems to take an exceedingly long time for the Cybook to start up - compared with a paperback, anyway! :(

Is there a reason for the two screens (the second with some 'animation'), or could they conceivably be skipped and go to the library sooner?

Related question: Is there any way to go directly to the book I was reading, rather than to the library?

(It's still great!:book2:)

I've probably mixed this up with somebody else's ebook reader, but wasn't there some mention of a Portrait mode?

I couldn't find any mention in the manual.:(

It's still a great reader!:book2:

I've probably mixed this up with somebody else's ebook reader, but wasn't there some mention of a Portrait mode?

Do you mean landscape?
Portrait is the only orientation Gen3 supports.
People are suggesting a landscape option as a useful addition in the 'firmware suggestions' thread.

Do you mean landscape?
Portrait is the only orientation Gen3 supports.
People are suggesting a landscape option as a useful addition in the 'firmware suggestions' thread.


PDF does offer a landscape view, I thought?

PDF does offer a landscape view, I thought?

Yes, I found the reference. Apparently, someone created a document using Landscape and showed a Cybook displaying it.

Seems like a great idea for some documents . . . :smack:

Yes, I found the reference. Apparently, someone created a document using Landscape and showed a Cybook displaying it.

Are you quite sure of that? Which reference are you referring to?

Are you quite sure of that? Which reference are you referring to?

I found a blog with a picture of a CyBook (uncertain which model) had a page that was in landscape mode. I'd seen this earlier and thought it was a capability of the machine.
As soon as someone mentioned generating a PDF document in landscape, I realized that was how it was done. Silly of me to assume something about the feature set with no documentation from official sources.

While I found the site again, it took a while - and I'm not certain how long it would take me to find it again. The blog was not about CyBooks at all, but the picture was quite clear. Oh, I suppose there might have been some Photoshopping involved, but it didn't seem likely.

Trelligan, off CyBooking again :book2: :bookworm:

I found a blog with a picture of a CyBook (uncertain which model) had a page that was in landscape mode. I'd seen this earlier and thought it was a capability of the machine.
As soon as someone mentioned generating a PDF document in landscape, I realized that was how it was done. Silly of me to assume something about the feature set with no documentation from official sources.

While I found the site again, it took a while - and I'm not certain how long it would take me to find it again. The blog was not about CyBooks at all, but the picture was quite clear. Oh, I suppose there might have been some Photoshopping involved, but it didn't seem likely.

Trelligan, off CyBooking again :book2: :bookworm:

You *can*, with a PDF file, choose to switch to landscape mode. Can't do it with other ebooks. I know it's part of the menu when you're in a PDF file, but as I refuse to use PDF files, I don't remember more than that.:o

Derek

You *can*, with a PDF file, choose to switch to landscape mode. Can't do it with other ebooks. I know it's part of the menu when you're in a PDF file, but as I refuse to use PDF files, I don't remember more than that.:o

Derek

That's it. The Landscape mode option is only available when you are viewing a PDF file. PDF files don't work well on the CyBook because the CyBook does not reflow anything and you can't zoom. All the PDF files I've copied to my CyBook are practically illegible - the print is so small.

That's it. The Landscape mode option is only available when you are viewing a PDF file. PDF files don't work well on the CyBook because the CyBook does not reflow anything and you can't zoom. All the PDF files I've copied to my CyBook are practically illegible - the print is so small.

Yep. Same here. And I've not the patience to go in and reflow PDF to work on my Cybook - not when I can usually get BookDesigner to make a decent .prc out of them.

Derek

Yep. Same here. And I've not the patience to go in and reflow PDF to work on my Cybook - not when I can usually get BookDesigner to make a decent .prc out of them.

Derek

Try using Mobi Reader to import PDF, Derek. It does a MUCH better job than BD.

Try using Mobi Reader to import PDF, Derek. It does a MUCH better job than BD.

Sometimes. But then, sometimes the PDF file in question sucks to begin with.

:smack:

Derek

Because just about 30 minutes ago, that's what happened to mine. Now I must say that I've got an 'engineering sample' not a production unit, but when I went to turn it off, the button went down hard and stayed down - no popping back up and kind of a very, very soft rattle. I'm pretty sure it's broken, but I don't know as it's impossible to get the case open without scraping off several small rubber dots that cover four hidden screws. I'm not enough a hacker - and this is a VERY costly device (my 'engineering sample' cost me over $500, and that was without a 2GB card, softcover case or spare battery pack) - so I've now joined the ranks of those who are waiting for a replacement unit.

Who knows, maybe they'll send me a NAEB package deal with the softcover case and 1GB card to replace this one. Anyone know how long it takes???

I'm bummed out, 'cause now I have to go back to the very difficult-to-use Sony PRS-500!:(

Derek

I'm bummed out, 'cause now I have to go back to the very difficult-to-use Sony PRS-500!:(
I do not think the 500 is difficult to use at all. I think it's very easy to use. The only think you'll take bad with is the slower screen.

I do not think the 500 is difficult to use at all. I think it's very easy to use. The only think you'll take bad with is the slower screen.


Easy for you to say. Clearly you are in the vast majority of the human population with skinny, highly-flexible thumbs. Me, I am one of those few unwashed with hammers for thumbs. Which means the paging controls are all wrong and wrong-sized.

On top of that, this means I'll have to re-format EVERY SINGLE EBOOK to a decent font size because, unlike the Cybook, the 500 only supports small, medium and large - for one font. (Unless of course, one wants to reformat and redownload the ebook each time one wants to see what a new font/size will look like on the flat and lifeless PRS500 screen. Oh BOTHER!!!)

Now I suppose I could always just go out and rob a convenience store for the money to buy a new PRS505... (Life sucks when one is on a US government *FIXED* income.) You know, that might not be a bad idea. I'll get custom living arrangements, government medical care and a very fixed diet - courtesy of the California Department of Corrections - no doubt I'll lose every one of my 300 excess pounds! :)

There *IS* a ray of hope and brightness after all to this day! :D :D :D

Derek

Have you tried the hacks to change some of the buttons? I rather liked having the joystick be a paging button and the big metal circle be the history.

My guess is that the 500/505 goes up 2 points when you enlarge the font. Book Designer defaults to 10 point and that would make large be 14 point if I am correct. The books I create I use a base font size of 11 point which would be 15 point at large.

How large do you need to be able to comfortably read on your 500? If I can help you out, let me know. Any of the books in the ebook section I've formatted and you want a larger base font size, please let me know and I'll generate a new copy for you.

Have you tried the hacks to change some of the buttons? I rather liked having the joystick be a paging button and the big metal circle be the history.

My guess is that the 500/505 goes up 2 points when you enlarge the font. Book Designer defaults to 10 point and that would make large be 14 point if I am correct. The books I create I use a base font size of 11 point which would be 15 point at large.

How large do you need to be able to comfortably read on your 500? If I can help you out, let me know. Any of the books in the ebook section I've formatted and you want a larger base font size, please let me know and I'll generate a new copy for you.


Actually, I haven't tried them. I know they exist, but I got my Cybook back in September, handed my 'pristine' and 'virginal' PRS-500 over to my Mother and never looked back. I'm kind of out of the loop as to how the hacks and enhancements stand.

I looked at the PRS505 and Kindle, thinking I'd put one on the card so I'd have something to use while waiting for mine to be replaced. But they're *ALL* backordered and I'm not so stupid as to pay fancy prices on eBay for one.

Derek

Solid lockup at 90% battery power. New CyBook Gen3, my Xmas present to myself.
I've just had my second solid lockup, reset button doesn't reset the machine and no buttons/lights work.
Last time I just plugged it in to the charger, assuming that I'd let the battery go dead. This time I had just checked the battery at 90% charge ten minutes before the unit died.
Does anyone know of a lockup bug?

Solid lockup at 90% battery power. New CyBook Gen3, my Xmas present to myself.
I've just had my second solid lockup, reset button doesn't reset the machine and no buttons/lights work.
Last time I just plugged it in to the charger, assuming that I'd let the battery go dead. This time I had just checked the battery at 90% charge ten minutes before the unit died.
Does anyone know of a lockup bug?

The reset button turns the machine off so you have to turn it on again to see any change.

I have had some lockups but not so many. Most of them reproducable so the cause a bugs in the firmware.

Solid lockup at 90% battery power. New CyBook Gen3, my Xmas present to myself.
I've just had my second solid lockup, reset button doesn't reset the machine and no buttons/lights work.
Last time I just plugged it in to the charger, assuming that I'd let the battery go dead. This time I had just checked the battery at 90% charge ten minutes before the unit died.
Does anyone know of a lockup bug?

I've had the problem where it just froze and nothing worked; it's on it's way back to bookeen........for analysis

The reset button turns the machine off so you have to turn it on again to see any change.

That was it!
Thanks a lot for the help!

It seems to take an exceedingly long time for the Cybook to start up - compared with a paperback, anyway! :(

Is there a reason for the two screens (the second with some 'animation'), or could they conceivably be skipped and go to the library sooner?

Related question: Is there any way to go directly to the book I was reading, rather than to the library?

(It's still great!:book2:)

Alternately: Go into the settings and switch off the automatic power off. The E-ink screen (or the unit) does not consume power until you flip a page, so it does not drain power to keep it "on". I left it for a week with a single page displaying, and there are no memory effects on the screen either (so really no point in the unit switching "off").

Alternately: Go into the settings and switch off the automatic power off. The E-ink screen (or the unit) does not consume power until you flip a page, so it does not drain power to keep it "on". I left it for a week with a single page displaying, and there are no memory effects on the screen either (so really no point in the unit switching "off").

The screen doesn't drain power, but other things - the CPU, RAM, etc - certainly do. You'll drain the battery in 4-5 days if you leave the machine switched on.

That's it. The Landscape mode option is only available when you are viewing a PDF file. PDF files don't work well on the CyBook because the CyBook does not reflow anything and you can't zoom. All the PDF files I've copied to my CyBook are practically illegible - the print is so small.

You can set the display to "landscape" and "fit to width" while displaying PDF. This will zoom the PDF around 130% so that it becomes readable.. thats with glasses or good vision.

I hope the next version of the software comes with "eliminate margins" option so that it will be easier to read the text.

The screen doesn't drain power, but other things - the CPU, RAM, etc - certainly do. You'll drain the battery in 4-5 days if you leave the machine switched on.

My was "on" for a week. No change in battery level (steady at 60%). For reference it has Mobipocket Reader version 6.0 (build 60). I don't know which flash version that is supposed to be, but the battery-indicator-bug is not on mine.

My was "on" for a week. No change in battery level (steady at 60%). For reference it has Mobipocket Reader version 6.0 (build 60). I don't know which flash version that is supposed to be, but the battery-indicator-bug is not on mine.

How could it be steady at 60% if you started with a full battery? And how do you know it was on? The battery indicator will not be updated until you do something that updates the screen. So when you run out of battery the screen will be exactly the same and show the battery indicator at the same value.

I wonder how people saying that the battery indicator is not reliable have done their observations. If you have you cybook on all the time and it is in library view and pick it up to read and then check the battery meter than that will not be a reading of the current status. You have to do something like start reading a book and then exit to the library to get the correct value. So if people have not done that it would explain a lot of the observations described in different threads here.

I wonder how people saying that the battery indicator is not reliable have done their observations. If you have you cybook on all the time and it is in library view and pick it up to read and then check the battery meter than that will not be a reading of the current status. You have to do something like start reading a book and then exit to the library to get the correct value. So if people have not done that it would explain a lot of the observations described in different threads here.

It appears to me that it's reliable down to 50% and then the more it gets used the more reliable the indicator gets between 25%-50%. I've yet to find it consistently reliable below 25%. But then, YMMV.

Derek

You can set the display to "landscape" and "fit to width" while displaying PDF. This will zoom the PDF around 130% so that it becomes readable.. thats with glasses or good vision.

I hope the next version of the software comes with "eliminate margins" option so that it will be easier to read the text.

No even setting to landscape and fit to width, the text is ridiculously small and it is not practical to read - I suppose I could use a magnifying glass too :p. I wish there was a way for me to manipulate the PDF files on my computer to make them so they could be practical to read on the Cybook. As it is now, the PDF option seems more like a marketing afterthought (yes, the Cybook can read PDF files) that is practically useless.

I hope the next firmware release makes this option more useful.

I've just joined here and i wonder if someone could answer some questions for me please. (i'm not too technical so simple instructions would be best, thanks) I've just bought myself a new cybook gen 3 and i got it yesterday. Today the screen completely froze on the 'connected' screen. I pressed reset and the light turned off, but the screen was still frozen. I pressed the on button and it started up again normally, then froze on the loading screen before the library. If I do 'reset' and 'on' again the same sequence of events happens.
Can you suggest any solutions? Or do I have to contact bookeen and send it back? Please help, I want my little cybook to live again!

I've just joined here and i wonder if someone could answer some questions for me please. (i'm not too technical so simple instructions would be best, thanks) I've just bought myself a new cybook gen 3 and i got it yesterday. Today the screen completely froze on the 'connected' screen. I pressed reset and the light turned off, but the screen was still frozen. I pressed the on button and it started up again normally, then froze on the loading screen before the library. If I do 'reset' and 'on' again the same sequence of events happens.
Can you suggest any solutions? Or do I have to contact bookeen and send it back? Please help, I want my little cybook to live again!

Okay,

First thing to remember is to not pull or insert the SD card during boot-up or switching to/from Library.

Second this is not to put in pictures which are LARGE or ebooks with LARGE cover images, because the Cybook *will* choke attempting to create a thumbnail image for the library.

Does that help?

Derek

I think that adding a lot of fonts can cause these problems also.

Okay, I've been playing around with some of my PDF files and I've got them now where I can read them on the Cybook.

Since I have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, I opened up some of my PDF files there and removed the white margins (open up a PDF file, select all pages then select Document > Crop Pages > place a checkmark in the box next to "Remove White Margins").

Now when I open up the files on my Cybook, I don't see wide margins. The print is still smaller than I'd like, but much, much better than before.

Okay,

First thing to remember is to not pull or insert the SD card during boot-up or switching to/from Library.

Second this is not to put in pictures which are LARGE or ebooks with LARGE cover images, because the Cybook *will* choke attempting to create a thumbnail image for the library.

Does that help?


Thanks a lot! i think i tried to put the SD card in at the wrong time. Its all fine now :)

Thanks a lot! i think i tried to put the SD card in at the wrong time. Its all fine now :)

Glad I could be of help. I kind of thought that might be the problem, but you know how it goes... without actually seeing it, I had to guess.

Derek

Q: What for showing Cyrilic text in CYBOOK in different formats.


A1: Mobipocket Convertor converts quite well cyrilic TXT/DOC/HTML in PRC and it is shown correctly with internal fonts.

A2: simple TXT files in ASCII format can be viewed by using fonts found HERE (http://ruslib.com/CYRILLIC/forwww.zip) for win1251 or KOI8 encoding.

A3: PDF shows cyrilic text correctly.

Yep. This was not made clear in the Quick Start Guide sheet, but I have been assured either the orientation will be more clearly marked on the Cybook or the QS Guide will be updated to make that MUCH more clear. Quite possibly both.

Derek

... First thing to remember is to not pull or insert the SD card during boot-up or switching to/from Library....
I stumbled into a similar problem. So, is the safest way to use the card to boot up completely, then insert the card? Or is it better to insert the card and then power up?

If the problem is large cover-art on the book, is there a way to scrub the picture or reduce its size?

Thanks!

I stumbled into a similar problem. So, is the safest way to use the card to boot up completely, then insert the card? Or is it better to insert the card and then power up?

If the problem is large cover-art on the book, is there a way to scrub the picture or reduce its size?

Thanks!

I prefer booting w/o the SD card in the slot. I also prefer removing the SD card while the unit is turned on but in the Library. But that's just me.

And if the large file gives you a problem, delete it.

Derek

I stumbled into a similar problem. So, is the safest way to use the card to boot up completely, then insert the card? Or is it better to insert the card and then power up?

If the problem is large cover-art on the book, is there a way to scrub the picture or reduce its size?


If something is safer it should be booting with the card inserted but it probably does not matter.

"mobi2mobi --gen3imagefix --outfile fixed.mobi in.mobi" will solve the problem.

...And if the large file gives you a problem, delete it.

If the large file is cover-art for a book, how do I know which file to delete? Or must I delete the entire book without reading it (anathema!)?

"mobi2mobi --gen3imagefix --outfile fixed.mobi in.mobi" will solve the problem.
<< Techno-challenged ... where does this fix go? and how do I get there?

Thanks!

If the large file is cover-art for a book, how do I know which file to delete? Or must I delete the entire book without reading it (anathema!)?


<< Techno-challenged ... where does this fix go? and how do I get there?

Thanks!


Ouch! Did you 'create' the ebook using either Mobigen, Mobipocket Creator or BookDesigner? If so, re-create using one of the settings which automatically re-sizes the image to smaller. If not, I *think* I saw someone discussing a tool to resize Mobi image files on the fly, but I can't remember which thread.

D'Oh! I *should* READ your entire post before responding. Yes, you can find Mobi2Mobi discussed in the Sony sections.

Derek

Ouch! Did you 'create' the ebook using either Mobigen, Mobipocket Creator or BookDesigner? If so, re-create using one of the settings which automatically re-sizes the image to smaller. If not, I *think* I saw someone discussing a tool to resize Mobi image files on the fly, but I can't remember which thread.

D'Oh! I *should* READ your entire post before responding. Yes, you can find Mobi2Mobi discussed in the Sony sections.


mobi2mobi is part of MobiPerl and you should check the thread in Content about it. It can be used to resize image size for images in a MobiPocket file. Now there is a new parameter in this since the lates build of the firmware might have fixed the image size problem.

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents about some ways I've managed to unfreeze my Cybook Gen3, the couple of times it's become unresponsive. (Stuck in the splash screen, or whatever, and will not turn on or off with the on/off button.)

On one occasion, I tried the reset button (located on the back of the unit, pressing with the end of a paper clip or a ballpoint pen), and it wouldn't reset. So then I tried using the reset button in combination with the On/Off button, and that rebooted the Cybook. (Holding down both of those buttons at once.)

On another occasion, the previous solution would not work. So I tried different button combinations. The magic combination was pressing and holding the On/Off button and then pressing the Back button. (Button 2nd from the bottom on the left edge of the unit.) Pretty sure it was that particular button, and pretty sure it was in that order. But apparently, trying different button combinations simultaneously can sometimes get you out of send-it-back-to-Bookeen mode!

So then I tried using the reset button in combination with the On/Off button, and that rebooted the Cybook. (Holding down both of those buttons at once.)


I can imagine that this seems to work. The 'reset' button is not a reset, but a forced 'real power off'. The page in view stays visible because without power it can't be blanked. That is the way e-paper works. So if you push the both you probably end up with a power off by the reset button, followed bij a power on from the on/off button. Of course it will only work if you release the reset slightly before the power button. If you do it the other way around you will switch the unit off

Yes, I was noticing that somebody mentioned that the reset button doesn't reboot, per se, and that you need to turn the unit on afterwards. But I'm pretty sure I tried using the On button after initially trying the reset button, and it wouldn't respond.

Still, I could be wrong; could be misremembering the precise order of occurrences during the mini-panic episode when my new reader was unresponsive.