PRS+: Enhanced firmware for Sony Reader, Folders, Games & more

[pthwaite]

Having the PRS505 I find the 3 zoom sizes insufficient in some cases. I'd like the 5 availabale to some of the newer readers. Now I've installed your folders view I'm quite happy with most of the rest as we are ignoring font functionality.

[surquizu]

Customized iconset with new icons. Install with Igorsk Flasher (pepak method):

[just_jeepin]

I've been watching this thread with interest. I also would love more than 3 font sizes.

Also, just a question... why start an enhanced version, why not help get OpenInkpot working on a PRS505? Just curious.

I think the Sony Interface is fairly good I just like the idea of replacing the firmware with an open one.

[kartu]

The font sizes decision is done by the viewer, js code just checks how many steps of font scaling it supports. Setting values outside its range has no effect.

just_jeepin
OpenInkPot development for PRS505 is stalled (even though one or 2 devices were donated to devs) and further development requires quite in-depth linux kernel/driver knowledge, which I lack. Besides, I like the existing interface and I already found ways to accomplish all goals I had and even those that I hadn't.

[cythraul]

Wow. I just stumbled on this post.

Nice ideas. I'm reading that we'll be able to bind certain keys to specific actions. One thing I would love is the ability to control the mp3 player while reading. Most importantly a "next track" button would be awesome.

Alternatively, any way to play tracks in random mode? :)

thanks for your work!
cyth

[lconover]

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this kit. I managed to get this up and running on my PRS-505, and using folders has made my reader a lot easier to use.

Thank you.

[dieterpops]

Originally Posted by pepak

How to combine PRS Customizer and Books By Folder

1) Install PRS Customizer, prepare all your customizations and copy them to your SD card.

2) Edit file (SD Card)/files.505.1.1.00.18040/opt/sony/ebook/application/resources/applicationStart.xml (replace the first part of the path according to your reader's firmware version).

3) Near the end of the file you will see this code:

		<function id="initialized">
			USBDispatcher.doRegister(this.getWindow())
			this.getDevice().doProcessed(100);
			this.getDevice().enableBlueLED(true);
		</function>

4) Replace that code with this (stolen/lifted/adapted from kartu's excellent work):

		<function id="initialized">
			USBDispatcher.doRegister(this.getWindow())
			this.getDevice().doProcessed(100);
			this.getDevice().enableBlueLED(true);
			try {
				var path = "/Data/autorun.js";
				if(FileSystem.getFileInfo(path)) {
					var f = new Stream.File(path);
					try {
						var fn = new Function("target", f.toString(), path, 1);
						fn(this);
					} finally {
						f.close();
					}
				}
			} catch(ignore) {
			}
		</function>

5) Copy autorun.js and the folder addons and its contents from Kartu's Book By Folder ZIP file to the root of your reader's internal memory.

6) Continue flashing as you would with PRS Customizer (boot with SD card inserted, choose "5) Make a new image", then "6) Flash the image")

7) Reboot and you are done!

Sorry for not being techincal enough...can you elaborate on exactly where the "root" of the reader is? Not sure where to copy all of the files from Kartu.

[pthwaite]

The root is the highest level directory you can access.
It is the one in which all the subfolders are listed.
For instance in PC terms it would be c:\
for the Sony it will be whatever drive it mounts as, eg: d:\
from where you will probably find several sub-folders listed such as Music, eBooks etc.

Note it is the Sony itself and NOT the SD card

[kartu]

What pthwaite said. By the way, you should also copy the kbookIcon.png file (located, if I remember correctly, /opt/sony/ebook/application/resources/scripts), to get new icons like "Folder" and "Game", but it's an optional step.

cythraul
Doable, but probably not in the first release.

[Nocturno]

Originally Posted by pepak

How to combine PRS Customizer and Books By Folder

1) Install PRS Customizer, prepare all your customizations and copy them to your SD card.

2) Edit file (SD Card)/files.505.1.1.00.18040/opt/sony/ebook/application/resources/applicationStart.xml (replace the first part of the path according to your reader's firmware version).

3) Near the end of the file you will see this code:

		<function id="initialized">
			USBDispatcher.doRegister(this.getWindow())
			this.getDevice().doProcessed(100);
			this.getDevice().enableBlueLED(true);
		</function>

4) Replace that code with this (stolen/lifted/adapted from kartu's excellent work):

		<function id="initialized">
			USBDispatcher.doRegister(this.getWindow())
			this.getDevice().doProcessed(100);
			this.getDevice().enableBlueLED(true);
			try {
				var path = "/Data/autorun.js";
				if(FileSystem.getFileInfo(path)) {
					var f = new Stream.File(path);
					try {
						var fn = new Function("target", f.toString(), path, 1);
						fn(this);
					} finally {
						f.close();
					}
				}
			} catch(ignore) {
			}
		</function>

5) Copy autorun.js and the folder addons and its contents from Kartu's Book By Folder ZIP file to the root of your reader's internal memory.

6) Continue flashing as you would with PRS Customizer (boot with SD card inserted, choose "5) Make a new image", then "6) Flash the image")

7) Reboot and you are done!

If I don´t want the sudoku game, can I delete it from the addons folder?

What are the other addons? (1_utils, joypadpageforward and sandbox)

[Nocturno]

book by folder doesn´t work to explore pictures,
is it possible to make work to explore pictures?

it would be awesome to have this feature to read scaned manga..

[JSWolf]

One thing I would like is the ability to have true bold and true italics in the BBeB viewer. Is this possible?

Also could someone please post a version or PRSCustomizer with all these nice features added in?

[pepak]

Originally Posted by Nocturno

If I don´t want the sudoku game, can I delete it from the addons folder?

Yes. I did it, too.

What are the other addons? (1_utils, joypadpageforward and sandbox)

1_utils are needed by BooksByFolder - keep it. I didn't use the others, but I assume they add some of the features of PRS Customizer.

Originally Posted by jswolf

One thing I would like is the ability to have true bold and true italics in the BBeB viewer. Is this possible?

I very much doubt it. All of these hacks just modify the frontend of the reader. Modifying the renderer itself would be a completely different work.

Also could someone please post a version or PRSCustomizer with all these nice features added in?

I wanted to do it, but the problem is, I would have to provide one versions of PRS Customizer for each combination of options. (E.g. I use only the "uniform menu item size" and "owner customization", but not the other hacks, while someone else might want joypad control or volume button control etc. Not to mention that everyone likes a different icon file and different fonts.) Just stick to my guide for now.

[kartu]

JSWolf

One thing I would like is the ability to have true bold and true italics in the BBeB viewer. Is this possible?

Adding new fonts is possible, but setting fonts works only in the text viewer. LRF books is explicitly referencing them by name. So what you'd need would be a book that is referencing your custom fonts (by name). fb2lrf utility (by obelix) could do it (you'd have to edit the ini files). I don't know if there is lrf2fb2 utility (in case your sources are LRF, you could convert back and forth)

Also could someone please post a version or PRSCustomizer with all these nice features added in?

1) I don't like the idea of mixing it with other "hacks", as most hacks will be included into enchanced firmware (and that will happen very soon) and it is quite difficult to support the mixture.
2) PRSCustomizer's author states that his program is GNU PLed, yet I cannot find the sources. I might end up writing small java web start "customizer" for stuff that is not doable by scripts alone, like startup screen etc. I'll need some kind of utility for the dictionary feature anyway.

[kartu]

Nocturno

book by folder doesn´t work to explore pictures,
is it possible to make work to explore pictures?

Yes. Will look into it soon.

If I don´t want the sudoku game, can I delete it from the addons folder?

Yes.

What are the other addons? (1_utils, joypadpageforward and sandbox)

Everything starting with underscore is a system utility.
Joypadpageforward is a temporary solution that allowes joypad browsing (in books).
sandbox.js is not supposed to be used by non-developers. (did i forget to delete it from the release?)

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I expect to do RC release in a couple of days. Then there will be 3-4 weeks break, then I'll come back to (at least) do the dictionary the way I like it.