New firmware for the Sony Reader 505: NOW!

[gwynevans]

Originally Posted by =X=

Tech support made me re-flash my reader

Was that a PRS-500, or did they provide a kit, as I wasn't aware of any official firmware?

[kfarmer]

Originally Posted by porkupan

I'll say even more! There are open-source PDF readers running on eInk devices with much better performance than that of the proprietary Adobe-made PDF viewer, in native code, running on the Sony Readers. Adobe should be ashamed of themselves, they own the PDF format, and they cannot make a PRS viewer for it that doesn't suck. But that's how it is.

That's a pretty weak argument, actually.

There's a wonderful phenomenon of performance being achieved by creating subtle bugs: cut a few corners because you don't *think* people will hit those cases, just so you can avoid a potentially expensive check.

This is not a rare situation and is, actually, one of the ways third-party drivers (particularly those that require high performance, such as video) cause OS crashes.

So I wouldn't go around presuming that any perf issues are a matter of incompetence when there's plenty of industry evidence that perf increases could themselves be signs of incompetence.

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by kfarmer

That's a pretty weak argument, actually.

There's a wonderful phenomenon of performance being achieved by creating subtle bugs: cut a few corners because you don't *think* people will hit those cases, just so you can avoid a potentially expensive check.

This is not a rare situation and is, actually, one of the ways third-party drivers (particularly those that require high performance, such as video) cause OS crashes.

So I wouldn't go around presuming that any perf issues are a matter of incompetence when there's plenty of industry evidence that perf increases could themselves be signs of incompetence.

No. The point of making a viewer for a portable device is that it should run well on the limited resources available to it. A viewer that supports all the esoteric features of the format, but doesn't display basic files well, is incompetent.

[kfarmer]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

No. The point of making a viewer for a portable device is that it should run well on the limited resources available to it. A viewer that supports all the esoteric features of the format, but doesn't display basic files well, is incompetent.

No.. it's perfectly executed -- just poorly specified. That's no indication of incompetence in programming, but it *is* an indication of potential problems in management (unreasonable expectations, etc).

[=X=]

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Was that a PRS-500, or did they provide a kit, as I wasn't aware of any official firmware?

This was the PRS-505. I was referring to SONY's built in recovery system. You get to this by performing a series of key sequences during boot up.

=X=

[kovidgoyal]

Originally Posted by kfarmer

No.. it's perfectly executed -- just poorly specified. That's no indication of incompetence in programming, but it *is* an indication of potential problems in management (unreasonable expectations, etc).

So the managers at Adobe are incompetent and the programmers are the cat's whiskers?

[kfarmer]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

So the managers at Adobe are incompetent and the programmers are the cat's whiskers?

That's more likely to be the case than the other way around, based on my experience programming in the industry (including handhelds), personal knowledge of Adobe hires, and the experience of the guy next to me (who's done handhelds and device drivers in his time).

Professional programmers don't *like* to write stuff that doesn't work well (otherwise they wouldn't be employed for long), but they *must* write stuff that works according to specification (in order to remain employed). So unfortunately, in the real world, if a VP insists of a stupid set of requirements, there's nothing most programmers can do except to either (1) execute on them, or (2) leave/transfer. To their credit the managers I've worked with over the years have known when a feature should be cut because it's a bug farm, perf killer, or usability nightmare. Unfortunately, I've seen the exceptions down the hall.

I'm not going to get into a piss-fight with you, but it really annoys me when the conclusion about anything people don't like is that, obviously, the programmers must be incompetent. It annoys me more when people with even a modicum of programming knowledge assert that, as if they were involved on the project and have any idea of the people at the keyboard. It's very unprofessional.

[kovidgoyal]

Hey I'm a programmer and I'm all for blaming the managers

[kfarmer]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Hey I'm a programmer and I'm all for blaming the managers

Heh..

Actually, the irony -- I decided to change employers a few weeks ago, and my new one's talking of shipping me overseas to bring some of the others up to speed. He's also talking about grooming me for an PM/architect role, so I'm kvetching about folks in the very role I'm likely to mutate into.

Should be an interesting rest-of-the-year.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by =X=

This was the PRS-505. I was referring to SONY's built in recovery system. You get to this by performing a series of key sequences during boot up.

=X=

Can you explain what this recovery system does and what we do to get into it? Thanks.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you explain what this recovery system does and what we do to get into it? Thanks.

Hi Jon,
Sure, Sony has a recovery mechanism that restores the device to the original factory settings. When SONY tech support had me run the recovery device I lost all data and settings. I'd be interested in seeing if this removes your hack.

To get into the recovery mode.

1) Reboot the device
2) Hold the Volume '+' button and 'Mark' (bookmark) button down simultaniously.
3) Hold them down until the device completely boots up.

// A screen will appear prompting the user if they wish to restore
Press 5 for Yes
Press Menu for No

4) If the user presses 5 the system is restored.

=X=

[beezle]

Well I guess I know where we stand on the firmware update. Sony really does
suck when it comes to product support (and not just ebook). For those who claim
they owe us nothing - it is common practice in the computer & related
industry to release firmware updates for fix known bugs and to add/improve
existing features. Heck even the car companies do this with bugs.


I'm lucky in that my reader was a gift so I won't be too upset. I swore off
buying Sony products in 1999 and nothing I've encountered with this device
has changed my mind. Its a shame as Sony can be innovative.. but then they
drop the ball and hose their existing customers on top of it.

[Ervserver]

I'm still hoping an update is on the way

[stustaff]

What are people looking for? hoping for?

I have a 505 and it works fine! no bugs or problems at all, If there is a new firmware I wont risk installing it.

[Ervserver]

well Sony had been promising better pdf support