This is a first attempt for non-intrusive Iliad hack for the geek-but-non-techhead user.

Users: Please test it. You could browse the web.

Developers: Please test it. I have no connectivity right now. If it doesn't work, fix it. If it works, extend it.

The zip contains a hacks.tex that is just needed to extend this stuff.


Usage:

Copy hacks.pdf and addressbar.html to the iliad
"Read" hacks.pdf to enable permanent networking. (Don't forget your Iliad is now wide open for intruders!)
Use addressbar.html to begin browsing.



The addressbar was stolen from schestowitz.com. It's not by me. Credit belongs to whoever wrote it.

Please tell me if it works.

EDIT: This is an old thread, referring to the outdated Iliad software release 2.4. The hack doesn't work anymore.

Ok, I tried it myself (where is everyone?): It works!

I could start networking, and the addresssbar works, too. See evidence in the attachment.

ali, it seems like you did an impressive job here. Could you just explain for me layman what exactly this hack does?

ali, it seems like you did an impressive job here. Could you just explain for me layman what exactly this hack does?

Um, is the question "what's it good for" or "how does it work"?

What's it good for: You can browse the web. The hack enables networking permanently, the html file provides an address bar where you can enter www.mobileread.com, or whatever.

How does it work: The pdf contains links to the Iliad's internal programs to start networking. Other than with the iDS update thing, the network will not be disabled after a minute, but stay active until you reboot. Then, the html viewer can display online websites. Because it has no addressbar to enter addresses, there's a html file that simulates one.

Question answered?

Yes ;)

Sorry I wasn't sure what this did; I don't have the iRex (yet), so it's sometimes difficult to follow. So before using this hack, networking stayed active for only a minute or so, and browsing external sites wasn't really possible (without an addressbar)?

TadW, yes, the network was active only during update from iRex iDs site. Check the more technical theads for evolution of the hack.

Some other ideas for the browser were deployed by R2D2 at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32974&postcount=270.

I updated the frameset with a textfield to input an url without "http://" at the beginning.

anyone know if creating a pdf form to start WLAN with ssid and key is possible?

anyone know if creating a pdf form to start WLAN with ssid and key is possible?
Should be. But everyone has to make his own PDF to start. Or is it possible with an PDF-Form?!?

The Wireless-Script allows it:

wirelessUsage()
{
echo "Usage:"
echo " $0 stop"
echo " $0 start <ssid> [enc <wepkey>]"
echo " $0 scan [<ssid>]"
echo "Note: always dhcp"
exit $EXIT_ERROR
}

WOW!

That was fast and impressive work!

Somebody from iRex should give you money for this...:-)

But this also brings me back to something else...I asked a while ago. but didn't really get a useful answer...

Can a variant of this procedure be used to switch off the WLAN completely? I don't mean permanently, only for the time between the activation of the hack and the rebooting of the device...
Thanks.

nope, not really, unfortunately.

There is already a line in wireless.sh stop which should power down the wlan unit.

The only problem is: it doesn't.

I think this is something iRex has to fix, we've got no real chance to do it.

Should be. But everyone has to make his own PDF to start. Or is it possible with an PDF-Form?!?

I meant using a pdf form, so anyone can use a generic pdf file we make. can xpdf do forms? can we make a df save button, so it remembers form contents?

And for the wlan, i made a shell scipt and put in an eba file like ali suggested. works fine, but only for the more experienced i think.

I meant using a pdf form, so anyone can use a generic pdf file we make. can xpdf do forms? can we make a df save button, so it remembers form contents?

xpdf should be able to visualize forms, and scribble or pdflatex can make them. But I have not found yet how entered data can be used to modify another part of the same pdf. All the examples are about sending the data somewhere.

Of course adventureous advanced users could first apply the patch from ali http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=33484&postcount=38 and then forget about pdf holing, getting bash script execution directly. But such solution is a patch... it breaks warranty.

I'm confused...

nope, not really, unfortunately.

There is already a line in wireless.sh stop which should power down the wlan unit.

The only problem is: it doesn't.

I think this is something iRex has to fix, we've got no real chance to do it.

wireless.sh stop contains "iwpriv $wifiIf deepsleep 1". So I assume either turning off the wifi is working, or it is currently impossible because deepsleep isn't implemented in the kernel module.

So does the wifi unit power down or not? Or am I misunderstanding one them?

I'm confused...

So does the wifi unit power down or not? Or am I misunderstanding one of the questions?

i cant say for sure, but my guess is, they try to turn it off, but it doesnt.

does anyone know, how to determine for sure? can a wlan sniffer detect the card? can you check it in proc somewhere? i just dont know enough about hardware :)

Well I'm concerned that if the wlan card is powered down and we are still only getting 7/8 hours of life.

I mean they claim that the battery life will be equal to 7 days worth of reading based on moderate wifi usage and 3 hours a day reading. How much more battery life will be can be gained?

It does raise the ugly spectre, that if they can't meet that claim it makes the iLiad I am using (and adore) pretty much useless for what I wanted it for.

would this work with something like cgi:irc?

Well, the processor doesnt seem to get a lowered spped, the wacom tablet doesnt seem to be properly shut down, and i think the WLAN card is still running.

But if i am wrong, well, then it doesnt look so good with lots of cpu time.

Does anyone know, how powersaving the xscale allows?

Well, there are a number of XScale over/under-clocking utilities available for the Pocket PC, including XScaleCtrl, Pocket Hack Master and XCPUScalar, so it's definitely possible to change the clock speed of the CPU.

Just don't ask me how...

there i a powermanagertest or so on the iliad, which supposedly lets you change cpu speed. havent tried it yet. (scared)

does anyone know, how to determine for sure?

If it's hardware ... do as it says in the device programming reference manual.
(Another post suggested it's a Marvell cf8385 or thereabouts.)

There seems to be an archive with Linux cf8385 device drivers on the net -- if the man page to that is correct, this device has more modes and settings than a hedgehog has spines. Many power-save modes ... but the question is: does the iLiad device driver implement these? Or is the current version a quick and dirty version to get something up and running?

And is it even an 8385? Or just something that looks like one from afar?

This is iRex country. Maps are not available.

marvell is at www.marvell.com, but 8385 does not seem to be anything they are prepared to talk about, unless perhaps you register with them.

Is there a way to interact with a browsed site, like amazon?

An interesting hack is that the input system of iRex is very open: it only takes control on xpdf (and I guess, on other applications) after you use some iRex key (virtual or real). So you can open a pdf file and use the virtual keyboard... Which only means, I am sorry, the Cntrl-P for printing and Alt-O for open (or was it vicecersa?). It is funny.

This is a first attempt for non-intrusive Iliad hack for the geek-but-non-techhead user.

Users: Please test it. You could browse the web.

Developers: Please test it. I have no connectivity right now. If it doesn't work, fix it. If it works, extend it.

The zip contains a hacks.tex that is just needed to extend this stuff.


Usage:

Copy hacks.pdf and addressbar.html to the iliad
"Read" hacks.pdf to enable permanent networking. (Don't forget your Iliad is now wide open for intruders!)
Use addressbar.html to begin browsing.



The addressbar was stolen from schestowitz.com. It's not by me. Credit belongs to whoever wrote it.

Please tell me if it works.


It seems that i have to revive this thread.

I tried following the instructions but i stumbled into a glitch: i cannot refresh the screen while reading the included pdf file -- the keyboard button is disabled. So i guess that means i cannot activate the wi-fi.

Is there another way to refresh the screen, or better yet another method to browse the net?
I tried R2D2's method but it didnt work either.
I forgot to mention: i have the 2.6 firmware

You're probably using the latest firmware upgrade (2.6), right? Then this hack won't work for you as iRex in their endless wisdom decided to disable this "feature".

Situation is probably going to improve soon when the SDK becomes available!

You're probably using the latest firmware upgrade (2.6), right? Then this hack won't work for you as iRex in their endless wisdom decided to disable this "feature".

Situation is probably going to improve soon when the SDK becomes available!


That's what i tought... Oh well...hope things will improve soon :worried2:

Hi,

did you check that the Hack works with Update 2.6.1.

It never shows the [OK] window on my iLiad.

Thanks,

--Max


This is a first attempt for non-intrusive Iliad hack for the geek-but-non-techhead user.

Users: Please test it. You could browse the web.

Developers: Please test it. I have no connectivity right now. If it doesn't work, fix it. If it works, extend it.

The zip contains a hacks.tex that is just needed to extend this stuff.


Usage:

Copy hacks.pdf and addressbar.html to the iliad
"Read" hacks.pdf to enable permanent networking. (Don't forget your Iliad is now wide open for intruders!)
Use addressbar.html to begin browsing.



The addressbar was stolen from schestowitz.com. It's not by me. Credit belongs to whoever wrote it.

Please tell me if it works.

You're probably using the latest firmware upgrade (2.6), right? Then this hack won't work for you as iRex in their endless wisdom decided to disable this "feature".


*please* do the rest of the world the favor to read the thread before posting. It prevents you from waiting for a response and us from being bothered by questions which were already answered.

If you find another way to execute commands, though, you're welcom to report here.