K5 FW 5.x ScreenSavers Hack

[ssholloway]

I mainly read books borrowed from my public library and Amazon is delivering almost all those books to my PW2 as KTF files. Since cover mode can't process a KTF file, my work around is to download the cover image, convert it to PW2 format, store the PNG file in the linkss/screensavers directory, and use the image cycle mode. When I change to a new book, I will delete the cover for the old book and store the cover for the new book, so I assume I will need to restart the framework to get the new cover recognized. Is this correct?

[NiLuJe]

@ssholloway: If you only use a single image, and basically bypass the processing stage by simply hotswaping the renamed file in linkss/screensavers, you shouldn't need a framework restart for the hotswap to take.

[ssholloway]

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

@ssholloway: If you only use a single image, and basically bypass the processing stage by simply hotswaping the renamed file in linkss/screensavers, you shouldn't need a framework restart for the hotswap to take.

Thanks, NiLuJe. Doing the hotswap worked perfectly. This will tide me over until someone figures out the KTF format so that cover mode can support it.

[Brynwall]

Originally Posted by tallest2seat

Hi there! I have a quick question/problem. I apologize if this is the wrong thread; it was the most applicable one I found...I updated KUAL and the screensaver hack to the most recent version (dated 08/15-ish) and now my screensavers don't work. When I push the button to turn off the screen, the backlight turns off, but nothing on the screen changes (the "page" of the book or menu or what-have-you will remain). Is there something that I missed doing or did incorrectly?

I'd be happy to provide as much further information regarding the problem as needed. Thank you in advance!

I'm running into the same issue. All of the items in my screensavers folder were the same ones that were working in a previous version of the SS hack. Now It only works once and then stops working...

I've even re-loaded the images from scratch (the original ones that I've saved and have worked in previous versions) and the issue is still there.

It was recently updated to the 5.6.5 firmware (backdoor lock didn't work)... The root wasn't lost and I've updated the root kit to the latest version. Before it was on 5.6.1 and the ss hack worked like a charm.

I did notice that the config file had a create-date of "tomorrow" (the file that specifies the SS behavior)... Not sure if that is normal...

Also, cover mode is working correctly for me, but only after a FULL restart. I've been able to read new box and the cover changes accordingly.

[knc1]

Since your quoting a post from the previous page, I assume you read the previous page.

Did you try any of the suggestions there?
Which ones and with what results?

What type of book format?
Has your Kindle recently updated to the newest 5.6.x firmware?

[Brynwall]

Update - for anybody having issues with the SS not working correctly I had to
1. Put the SS mode into Cover mode
2. Let it work through a couple of book covers
3. Verify that the book covers were showing on screen lock
4. Set the Mode to Image Cycle (default)
5. Restarted my PW2
6. Let one screen lock happen by itself
7. Restart the PW2 again
8. It started working like normal.

I'm afraid to try the random image cycle mode because it is working correctly now. haha


EDIT: I spoke too soon... It cycled through 5 different screen savers and then stopped working again. I've verified that the files were not corrupted and have even replaced the files...

However, after a full restart it started working again but only for one image... I've since done additional restarts (3) and it has cycled through numerous image without issues. Is it possible that the app hadn't processed the images yet, and I was being impatient?


EDIT: The issue came up again after another restart...

It is almost as if the SS behavior is somehow switching to Last Screen mode, but there is nothing showing that it would/should behave that way...

[NiLuJe]

@Brynwall: Again, you most likely have a broken image in your pool. That said pool worked before may not be that surprising, FW 5.6.5 updated a wide range of stuff, so it may have become even more finicky than before.

Since cover mode works, that definitely points to your set of images being borked.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Brynwall

- - - -
EDIT: I spoke too soon... It cycled through 5 different screen savers
- - - -

So you know those five are good.
Remove all others, leaving **only** those five and re-test.

[Brynwall]

Originally Posted by knc1

So you know those five are good.
Remove all others, leaving **only** those five and re-test.

Thanks, I was REALLY tired when I was writing that and testing. haha I did just that and pulled out the problem images, and everything works. I also realized that these troubleshooting steps were on the front page... I should know better...

Anyways, it is now working like a champ! As for the images that are not working what should I look for as to why they are breaking the SS Hack? The size is correct on all 5 of them, they are all in .png format, and they are all 16 bit (from what I can tell).

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Brynwall

- - - -
The size is correct on all 5 of them, they are all in .png format, and they are all 16 bit (from what I can tell).

16-bit (65536 colors) or 4-bit (16 colors)?

Originally Posted by FAQ, First Post

...on FW 5.x, that means checking the size, format, resolution of each and every file in your pool, to see if it matches the device, and really is a PNG8 (optionally properly dithered down to 16 colors).

Originally Posted by Amazon, PW-1

/opt/amazon/low_level_screens/758x1024/critbatt.png

$ file critbatt.png
critbatt.png: PNG image data, 758 x 1024, 8-bit grayscale, non-interlaced

The tool of choice is always imagemagick:
http://www.imagemagick.org/script/index.php

Spoiler:

$ identify -verbose critbatt.png
Image: critbatt.png
  Format: PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
  Class: PseudoClass
  Geometry: 758x1024+0+0
  Resolution: 28.35x28.35
  Print size: 26.7372x36.1199
  Units: PixelsPerCentimeter
  Type: Grayscale
  Base type: Grayscale
  Endianess: Undefined
  Colorspace: RGB
  Depth: 8-bit
  Channel depth:
    gray: 4-bit
  Channel statistics:
    Gray:
      min: 0 (0)
      max: 255 (1)
      mean: 249.337 (0.977791)
      standard deviation: 35.8775 (0.140696)
      kurtosis: 40.0845
      skewness: -6.41622
  Histogram:
     13199: (  0,  0,  0) #000000 black
      3817: ( 68, 68, 68) #444444 rgb(68,68,68)
      3101: (153,153,153) #999999 grey60
    756075: (255,255,255) #FFFFFF white
  Colormap: 256
         0: (  0,  0,  0) #000000 black
         1: (  1,  1,  1) #010101 rgb(1,1,1)
         2: (  2,  2,  2) #020202 rgb(2,2,2)
         3: (  3,  3,  3) #030303 grey1
         4: (  4,  4,  4) #040404 rgb(4,4,4)
         5: (  5,  5,  5) #050505 grey2
         6: (  6,  6,  6) #060606 rgb(6,6,6)
         7: (  7,  7,  7) #070707 rgb(7,7,7)
         8: (  8,  8,  8) #080808 grey3
         9: (  9,  9,  9) #090909 rgb(9,9,9)
        10: ( 10, 10, 10) #0A0A0A grey4
        11: ( 11, 11, 11) #0B0B0B rgb(11,11,11)
        12: ( 12, 12, 12) #0C0C0C rgb(12,12,12)
        13: ( 13, 13, 13) #0D0D0D grey5
        14: ( 14, 14, 14) #0E0E0E rgb(14,14,14)
        15: ( 15, 15, 15) #0F0F0F grey6
        16: ( 16, 16, 16) #101010 rgb(16,16,16)
        17: ( 17, 17, 17) #111111 rgb(17,17,17)
        18: ( 18, 18, 18) #121212 grey7
        19: ( 19, 19, 19) #131313 rgb(19,19,19)
        20: ( 20, 20, 20) #141414 grey8
        21: ( 21, 21, 21) #151515 rgb(21,21,21)
        22: ( 22, 22, 22) #161616 rgb(22,22,22)
        23: ( 23, 23, 23) #171717 grey9
        24: ( 24, 24, 24) #181818 rgb(24,24,24)
        25: ( 25, 25, 25) #191919 rgb(25,25,25)
        26: ( 26, 26, 26) #1A1A1A grey10
        27: ( 27, 27, 27) #1B1B1B rgb(27,27,27)
        28: ( 28, 28, 28) #1C1C1C grey11
        29: ( 29, 29, 29) #1D1D1D rgb(29,29,29)
        30: ( 30, 30, 30) #1E1E1E rgb(30,30,30)
        31: ( 31, 31, 31) #1F1F1F grey12
        32: ( 32, 32, 32) #202020 rgb(32,32,32)
        33: ( 33, 33, 33) #212121 grey13
        34: ( 34, 34, 34) #222222 rgb(34,34,34)
        35: ( 35, 35, 35) #232323 rgb(35,35,35)
        36: ( 36, 36, 36) #242424 grey14
        37: ( 37, 37, 37) #252525 rgb(37,37,37)
        38: ( 38, 38, 38) #262626 grey15
        39: ( 39, 39, 39) #272727 rgb(39,39,39)
        40: ( 40, 40, 40) #282828 rgb(40,40,40)
        41: ( 41, 41, 41) #292929 grey16
        42: ( 42, 42, 42) #2A2A2A rgb(42,42,42)
        43: ( 43, 43, 43) #2B2B2B grey17
        44: ( 44, 44, 44) #2C2C2C rgb(44,44,44)
        45: ( 45, 45, 45) #2D2D2D rgb(45,45,45)
        46: ( 46, 46, 46) #2E2E2E grey18
        47: ( 47, 47, 47) #2F2F2F rgb(47,47,47)
        48: ( 48, 48, 48) #303030 grey19
        49: ( 49, 49, 49) #313131 rgb(49,49,49)
        50: ( 50, 50, 50) #323232 rgb(50,50,50)
        51: ( 51, 51, 51) #333333 grey20
        52: ( 52, 52, 52) #343434 rgb(52,52,52)
        53: ( 53, 53, 53) #353535 rgb(53,53,53)
        54: ( 54, 54, 54) #363636 grey21
        55: ( 55, 55, 55) #373737 rgb(55,55,55)
        56: ( 56, 56, 56) #383838 grey22
        57: ( 57, 57, 57) #393939 rgb(57,57,57)
        58: ( 58, 58, 58) #3A3A3A rgb(58,58,58)
        59: ( 59, 59, 59) #3B3B3B grey23
        60: ( 60, 60, 60) #3C3C3C rgb(60,60,60)
        61: ( 61, 61, 61) #3D3D3D grey24
        62: ( 62, 62, 62) #3E3E3E rgb(62,62,62)
        63: ( 63, 63, 63) #3F3F3F rgb(63,63,63)
        64: ( 64, 64, 64) #404040 grey25
        65: ( 65, 65, 65) #414141 rgb(65,65,65)
        66: ( 66, 66, 66) #424242 grey26
        67: ( 67, 67, 67) #434343 rgb(67,67,67)
        68: ( 68, 68, 68) #444444 rgb(68,68,68)
        69: ( 69, 69, 69) #454545 grey27
        70: ( 70, 70, 70) #464646 rgb(70,70,70)
        71: ( 71, 71, 71) #474747 grey28
        72: ( 72, 72, 72) #484848 rgb(72,72,72)
        73: ( 73, 73, 73) #494949 rgb(73,73,73)
        74: ( 74, 74, 74) #4A4A4A grey29
        75: ( 75, 75, 75) #4B4B4B rgb(75,75,75)
        76: ( 76, 76, 76) #4C4C4C rgb(76,76,76)
        77: ( 77, 77, 77) #4D4D4D grey30
        78: ( 78, 78, 78) #4E4E4E rgb(78,78,78)
        79: ( 79, 79, 79) #4F4F4F grey31
        80: ( 80, 80, 80) #505050 rgb(80,80,80)
        81: ( 81, 81, 81) #515151 rgb(81,81,81)
        82: ( 82, 82, 82) #525252 grey32
        83: ( 83, 83, 83) #535353 rgb(83,83,83)
        84: ( 84, 84, 84) #545454 grey33
        85: ( 85, 85, 85) #555555 rgb(85,85,85)
        86: ( 86, 86, 86) #565656 rgb(86,86,86)
        87: ( 87, 87, 87) #575757 grey34
        88: ( 88, 88, 88) #585858 rgb(88,88,88)
        89: ( 89, 89, 89) #595959 grey35
        90: ( 90, 90, 90) #5A5A5A rgb(90,90,90)
        91: ( 91, 91, 91) #5B5B5B rgb(91,91,91)
        92: ( 92, 92, 92) #5C5C5C grey36
        93: ( 93, 93, 93) #5D5D5D rgb(93,93,93)
        94: ( 94, 94, 94) #5E5E5E grey37
        95: ( 95, 95, 95) #5F5F5F rgb(95,95,95)
        96: ( 96, 96, 96) #606060 rgb(96,96,96)
        97: ( 97, 97, 97) #616161 grey38
        98: ( 98, 98, 98) #626262 rgb(98,98,98)
        99: ( 99, 99, 99) #636363 grey39
       100: (100,100,100) #646464 rgb(100,100,100)
       101: (101,101,101) #656565 rgb(101,101,101)
       102: (102,102,102) #666666 grey40
       103: (103,103,103) #676767 rgb(103,103,103)
       104: (104,104,104) #686868 rgb(104,104,104)
       105: (105,105,105) #696969 DimGray
       106: (106,106,106) #6A6A6A rgb(106,106,106)
       107: (107,107,107) #6B6B6B grey42
       108: (108,108,108) #6C6C6C rgb(108,108,108)
       109: (109,109,109) #6D6D6D rgb(109,109,109)
       110: (110,110,110) #6E6E6E grey43
       111: (111,111,111) #6F6F6F rgb(111,111,111)
       112: (112,112,112) #707070 grey44
       113: (113,113,113) #717171 rgb(113,113,113)
       114: (114,114,114) #727272 rgb(114,114,114)
       115: (115,115,115) #737373 grey45
       116: (116,116,116) #747474 rgb(116,116,116)
       117: (117,117,117) #757575 grey46
       118: (118,118,118) #767676 rgb(118,118,118)
       119: (119,119,119) #777777 rgb(119,119,119)
       120: (120,120,120) #787878 grey47
       121: (121,121,121) #797979 rgb(121,121,121)
       122: (122,122,122) #7A7A7A grey48
       123: (123,123,123) #7B7B7B rgb(123,123,123)
       124: (124,124,124) #7C7C7C rgb(124,124,124)
       125: (125,125,125) #7D7D7D grey49
       126: (126,126,126) #7E7E7E gray
       127: (127,127,127) #7F7F7F grey50
       128: (128,128,128) #808080 fractal
       129: (129,129,129) #818181 rgb(129,129,129)
       130: (130,130,130) #828282 grey51
       131: (131,131,131) #838383 rgb(131,131,131)
       132: (132,132,132) #848484 rgb(132,132,132)
       133: (133,133,133) #858585 grey52
       134: (134,134,134) #868686 rgb(134,134,134)
       135: (135,135,135) #878787 grey53
       136: (136,136,136) #888888 rgb(136,136,136)
       137: (137,137,137) #898989 rgb(137,137,137)
       138: (138,138,138) #8A8A8A grey54
       139: (139,139,139) #8B8B8B rgb(139,139,139)
       140: (140,140,140) #8C8C8C grey55
       141: (141,141,141) #8D8D8D rgb(141,141,141)
       142: (142,142,142) #8E8E8E rgb(142,142,142)
       143: (143,143,143) #8F8F8F grey56
       144: (144,144,144) #909090 rgb(144,144,144)
       145: (145,145,145) #919191 grey57
       146: (146,146,146) #929292 rgb(146,146,146)
       147: (147,147,147) #939393 rgb(147,147,147)
       148: (148,148,148) #949494 grey58
       149: (149,149,149) #959595 rgb(149,149,149)
       150: (150,150,150) #969696 grey59
       151: (151,151,151) #979797 rgb(151,151,151)
       152: (152,152,152) #989898 rgb(152,152,152)
       153: (153,153,153) #999999 grey60
       154: (154,154,154) #9A9A9A rgb(154,154,154)
       155: (155,155,155) #9B9B9B rgb(155,155,155)
       156: (156,156,156) #9C9C9C grey61
       157: (157,157,157) #9D9D9D rgb(157,157,157)
       158: (158,158,158) #9E9E9E grey62
       159: (159,159,159) #9F9F9F rgb(159,159,159)
       160: (160,160,160) #A0A0A0 rgb(160,160,160)
       161: (161,161,161) #A1A1A1 grey63
       162: (162,162,162) #A2A2A2 rgb(162,162,162)
       163: (163,163,163) #A3A3A3 grey64
       164: (164,164,164) #A4A4A4 rgb(164,164,164)
       165: (165,165,165) #A5A5A5 rgb(165,165,165)
       166: (166,166,166) #A6A6A6 grey65
       167: (167,167,167) #A7A7A7 rgb(167,167,167)
       168: (168,168,168) #A8A8A8 grey66
       169: (169,169,169) #A9A9A9 DarkGray
       170: (170,170,170) #AAAAAA rgb(170,170,170)
       171: (171,171,171) #ABABAB grey67
       172: (172,172,172) #ACACAC rgb(172,172,172)
       173: (173,173,173) #ADADAD grey68
       174: (174,174,174) #AEAEAE rgb(174,174,174)
       175: (175,175,175) #AFAFAF rgb(175,175,175)
       176: (176,176,176) #B0B0B0 grey69
       177: (177,177,177) #B1B1B1 rgb(177,177,177)
       178: (178,178,178) #B2B2B2 rgb(178,178,178)
       179: (179,179,179) #B3B3B3 grey70
       180: (180,180,180) #B4B4B4 rgb(180,180,180)
       181: (181,181,181) #B5B5B5 grey71
       182: (182,182,182) #B6B6B6 rgb(182,182,182)
       183: (183,183,183) #B7B7B7 rgb(183,183,183)
       184: (184,184,184) #B8B8B8 grey72
       185: (185,185,185) #B9B9B9 rgb(185,185,185)
       186: (186,186,186) #BABABA grey73
       187: (187,187,187) #BBBBBB rgb(187,187,187)
       188: (188,188,188) #BCBCBC rgb(188,188,188)
       189: (189,189,189) #BDBDBD grey74
       190: (190,190,190) #BEBEBE grey
       191: (191,191,191) #BFBFBF grey75
       192: (192,192,192) #C0C0C0 silver
       193: (193,193,193) #C1C1C1 rgb(193,193,193)
       194: (194,194,194) #C2C2C2 grey76
       195: (195,195,195) #C3C3C3 rgb(195,195,195)
       196: (196,196,196) #C4C4C4 grey77
       197: (197,197,197) #C5C5C5 rgb(197,197,197)
       198: (198,198,198) #C6C6C6 rgb(198,198,198)
       199: (199,199,199) #C7C7C7 grey78
       200: (200,200,200) #C8C8C8 rgb(200,200,200)
       201: (201,201,201) #C9C9C9 grey79
       202: (202,202,202) #CACACA rgb(202,202,202)
       203: (203,203,203) #CBCBCB rgb(203,203,203)
       204: (204,204,204) #CCCCCC grey80
       205: (205,205,205) #CDCDCD rgb(205,205,205)
       206: (206,206,206) #CECECE rgb(206,206,206)
       207: (207,207,207) #CFCFCF grey81
       208: (208,208,208) #D0D0D0 rgb(208,208,208)
       209: (209,209,209) #D1D1D1 grey82
       210: (210,210,210) #D2D2D2 rgb(210,210,210)
       211: (211,211,211) #D3D3D3 LightGray
       212: (212,212,212) #D4D4D4 grey83
       213: (213,213,213) #D5D5D5 rgb(213,213,213)
       214: (214,214,214) #D6D6D6 grey84
       215: (215,215,215) #D7D7D7 rgb(215,215,215)
       216: (216,216,216) #D8D8D8 rgb(216,216,216)
       217: (217,217,217) #D9D9D9 grey85
       218: (218,218,218) #DADADA rgb(218,218,218)
       219: (219,219,219) #DBDBDB grey86
       220: (220,220,220) #DCDCDC gainsboro
       221: (221,221,221) #DDDDDD rgb(221,221,221)
       222: (222,222,222) #DEDEDE grey87
       223: (223,223,223) #DFDFDF rgb(223,223,223)
       224: (224,224,224) #E0E0E0 grey88
       225: (225,225,225) #E1E1E1 rgb(225,225,225)
       226: (226,226,226) #E2E2E2 rgb(226,226,226)
       227: (227,227,227) #E3E3E3 grey89
       228: (228,228,228) #E4E4E4 rgb(228,228,228)
       229: (229,229,229) #E5E5E5 grey90
       230: (230,230,230) #E6E6E6 rgb(230,230,230)
       231: (231,231,231) #E7E7E7 rgb(231,231,231)
       232: (232,232,232) #E8E8E8 grey91
       233: (233,233,233) #E9E9E9 rgb(233,233,233)
       234: (234,234,234) #EAEAEA rgb(234,234,234)
       235: (235,235,235) #EBEBEB grey92
       236: (236,236,236) #ECECEC rgb(236,236,236)
       237: (237,237,237) #EDEDED grey93
       238: (238,238,238) #EEEEEE rgb(238,238,238)
       239: (239,239,239) #EFEFEF rgb(239,239,239)
       240: (240,240,240) #F0F0F0 grey94
       241: (241,241,241) #F1F1F1 rgb(241,241,241)
       242: (242,242,242) #F2F2F2 grey95
       243: (243,243,243) #F3F3F3 rgb(243,243,243)
       244: (244,244,244) #F4F4F4 rgb(244,244,244)
       245: (245,245,245) #F5F5F5 grey96
       246: (246,246,246) #F6F6F6 rgb(246,246,246)
       247: (247,247,247) #F7F7F7 grey97
       248: (248,248,248) #F8F8F8 rgb(248,248,248)
       249: (249,249,249) #F9F9F9 rgb(249,249,249)
       250: (250,250,250) #FAFAFA grey98
       251: (251,251,251) #FBFBFB rgb(251,251,251)
       252: (252,252,252) #FCFCFC grey99
       253: (253,253,253) #FDFDFD rgb(253,253,253)
       254: (254,254,254) #FEFEFE rgb(254,254,254)
       255: (255,255,255) #FFFFFF white
  Rendering intent: Undefined
  Interlace: None
  Background color: white
  Border color: rgb(223,223,223)
  Matte color: grey74
  Transparent color: black
  Compose: Over
  Page geometry: 758x1024+0+0
  Dispose: Undefined
  Iterations: 0
  Compression: Zip
  Orientation: Undefined
  Properties:
    date:create: 2015-09-20T07:12:24-05:00
    date:modify: 2015-09-20T07:12:24-05:00
    signature: 4585b49e0960d2433f6985c30d1ddda6141e232941c79bb6abc3d6338b18e019
  Artifacts:
    verbose: true
  Tainted: False
  Filesize: 5.14KB
  Number pixels: 776KB
  Pixels per second: 77.62MB
  User time: 0.020u
  Elapsed time: 0:01.009
  Version: ImageMagick 6.6.0-4 2012-08-17 Q16 http://www.imagemagick.org

For the ones that are broke, you can use imagemagick to correct them ('identify' is just one of its command line tools).

I suppose if you got this much correct, it would work:

Geometry: 758x1024+0+0
Resolution: 28.35x28.35
Print size: 26.7372x36.1199
Units: PixelsPerCentimeter
Type: Grayscale
Base type: Grayscale
Endianess: Undefined
Colorspace: RGB
Depth: 8-bit
Channel depth:
gray: 4-bit

## I mean, get ^^^ part correct, the following is just the stats of critical battery image:

Channel statistics:
Gray:
min: 0 (0)
max: 255 (1)
mean: 249.337 (0.977791)
standard deviation: 35.8775 (0.140696)
kurtosis: 40.0845
skewness: -6.41622
Histogram:
13199: ( 0, 0, 0) #000000 black
3817: ( 68, 68, 68) #444444 rgb(68,68,68)
3101: (153,153,153) #999999 grey60
756075: (255,255,255) #FFFFFF white

In the above case, four shades of gray out of the 16 (i.e: depth=4bits).

The gimp does not give out with that many details:

[NiLuJe]

Yep, ideally, PNG8 (256c), properly dithered to 16 shades of grey.

If you do dither yourself, the tricky thing is that some image processors will then store that as a true 16c palette, which, err, the Kindle doesn't like, it really, really wants a 256c palette.

[knc1]

Listen to NiLuJe, graphics really isn't my field -
I never got much beyond 'crop' and 'rotate'.

[Brynwall]

So, if the resolution is above 28.35x28.35 would that cause them to error out? Everything else seems to be in order...

[Brynwall]

These are the problem images.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Brynwall

These are the problem images.

I only looked at the first one:

  Colorspace: RGB
  Depth: 8-bit
  Channel depth:
    gray: 8-bit

Try dithering that down to 4-bit grayscale.
Perhaps the Kindle firmware is having problems with the dithering.
That may not be as 'optional' as it once was.

PS: Mention your firmware version please.

Hint: The images provided by Amazon use only a 4-bit grayscale channel.