HACKING CONCLUSIONS AND GUIDE

Peto · 07-29-2008, 12:18 PM

Hello there,

I am reading and reading and got quite lost with all the movement around the Universal Flasher, the clock hack and all this.

Can someone put it all in order (say what they do), add the attachments and explain it so us mere readers can apply them successfully?

Check this thread for an automated way to do all this below, courtesy of Jeff Elkins
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27177

Check this thread for another great utility to move/erase files to and from the SD and the Reader, courtesy of llasram
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21636

Thanx

jakewastaken · 07-29-2008, 12:31 PM

Well the first step is to get the new firmware upgrade which can be found from Sony's Reader support site. The next step is to download the Universal Flasher 2.0 from here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/att...5&d=1216947954

You'll want to unzip this to a (preferably blank) SD card. The key step here is that you don't have a folder called Universal Flasher. The contents of THAT folder need to be the top directory of the card, as in, from the moment you open the card the readme.tx should be available. The readme tells you what to do from here, but I can recap that for you too:

"Usage

1) Extract the zip onto a flash card, keeping the directory structure. It's
best to use a card with not many files on it so that Reader can scan it quickly.
N.B. readme.txt should be in the root of the card, not in any subdirectory!
2) Insert the card in Reader.
3) Wait until the "Run Script" screen appears.
4) Press 5. Wait for the success message (the process will take about one to
two minutes).
5) Press 6. Wait for the success message.
6) Press 9 to reboot.
7) Extract the card.

* Using the clock display

To set the correct time on PRS-500, you need to connect it to
the PC and run the eBook Library software after each reset.
It should also be possible with libprs500 or Calibre.
For PRS-505, you can set the time in Settings or connect to PC with
the eBook Library software running.

To set up 12/24 hour format or turn off the clock, use the Settings-About
screen and the button 0 (check the status bar)."

Now if you want the enter key to shutdown and the unified font throughout you'll have to make some of the more complex manual edits those previous threads were discussing. The custom icons have yet to be integrated into the latest incarnation of this hack, unfortunately, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

Good luck! Let us know if you need more help.

-Jake

Peto · 07-29-2008, 12:43 PM

Thanks Jake!

Regretfully that is the part I had grasped. It is all the little fixes and the base font changing I didn't get (even after reading the reame in the Universal Flasher)

Your guide comes handy here, though

stgben · 07-29-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakewastaken

Now if you want the enter key to shutdown and the unified font throughout you'll have to make some of the more complex manual edits those previous threads were discussing. The custom icons have yet to be integrated into the latest incarnation of this hack, unfortunately, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

Good luck! Let us know if you need more help.

-Jake

Would you mind posting links to these manual edits? I've been trying to find a method that does not include "Russifying" my menu or fonts, but get unified font support and the custom icons.

gwynevans · 07-29-2008, 02:57 PM

Expand (or expand & copy) the Universal Flasher kit to an SD card as above, then choose from the list...

Unified fonts - replace the main.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\scripts\ on the SD card with the attached one.
New icons - place the attached kBookIcon.png alongside the main.xml in the folder above on the SD.
One-key shutdown - replace the applicationStart.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\ on the SD card with the attached one.

Then proceed as in the standard instructions, i.e. build the image & flash it.

Peto · 07-29-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Expand (or expand & copy) the Universal Flasher kit to an SD card as above, then choose from the list...

Unified fonts - replace the main.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\scripts\ on the SD card with the attached one.
New icons - place the attached kBookIcon.png alongside the main.xml in the folder above on the SD.
One-key shutdown - replace the applicationStart.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\ on the SD card with the attached one.

Then proceed as in the standard instructions, i.e. build the image & flash it.

Woha!

jwhayn · 07-29-2008, 04:11 PM

What are the unified fonts? Is this the same as the smaller font in the menu?

Peto · 07-29-2008, 04:25 PM

All titles same size.

stgben · 07-29-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Expand (or expand & copy) the Universal Flasher kit to an SD card as above, then choose from the list...

Unified fonts - replace the main.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\scripts\ on the SD card with the attached one.
New icons - place the attached kBookIcon.png alongside the main.xml in the folder above on the SD.
One-key shutdown - replace the applicationStart.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\ on the SD card with the attached one.

Then proceed as in the standard instructions, i.e. build the image & flash it.

Thank you very much, exactly what I was looking for!

Ret · 07-29-2008, 05:18 PM

Thanks for this guide, I'm going to try it. I was missing all those "hack" features.

After browsing this XML code:
<boolean key="0x27-hold" do="doDeviceShutdown"/>
I wonder if you could change the One-key-shutdown key to be used while holding the Slider (the one used to go to sleep mode).
Would it be possible to have: <boolean key="kSleep-hold" do="doDeviceShutdown"/>
(I think it makes more sense to have complete-shutdown and go-to-sleep features on the same key/slider.)

Another question. Is it possible to make the bottom black bar thinner? Or maybe turning it off?

Thanks again!

JSWolf · 07-29-2008, 05:40 PM

Actually, using the slider is a bad idea. Because it would actually use more battery that way and you'd have no way to put it into sleep mode other then waiting an hour without use for it to go to sleep.

jakewastaken · 07-29-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Expand (or expand & copy) the Universal Flasher kit to an SD card as above, then choose from the list...

Unified fonts - replace the main.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\scripts\ on the SD card with the attached one.
New icons - place the attached kBookIcon.png alongside the main.xml in the folder above on the SD.
One-key shutdown - replace the applicationStart.xml in files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\ on the SD card with the attached one.

Then proceed as in the standard instructions, i.e. build the image & flash it.

Hells yeah. I had mine all hacked out already but I was missing the new icons. Thanks!

DrMoze · 07-29-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, using the slider is a bad idea. Because it would actually use more battery that way and you'd have no way to put it into sleep mode other then waiting an hour without use for it to go to sleep.

Why? Is there no difference between activating the slider and holding the slider?

jwhayn · 07-29-2008, 09:04 PM

I first had to reload the Sony firmware then the reflash worked. I have the new icons, the standard menu, and the time display now.

Has anyone solved the time 'truncation' problem in AM/PM mode?

stgben · 07-29-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwhayn

I first had to reload the Sony firmware then the reflash worked. I have the new icons, the standard menu, and the time display now.

Has anyone solved the time 'truncation' problem in AM/PM mode?

I've made two quick edits to main.xml which truncates "am" to "a" and "pm" to "p." Unfortunately I'm not home to test it, but this should be the only change you need to make. Put the main.xml file in

Code:

files.505.1.1.00.18040\opt\sony\ebook\application\ resources\scripts\

Good luck.

EDIT: I've been able to verify that it does in fact work. Enjoy.

07-29-2008, 12:18 PM	#1
Peto Legal Alien Posts: 288 Karma: 105 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505/T1/Kindle PW2	HACKING CONCLUSIONS AND GUIDE Hello there, I am reading and reading and got quite lost with all the movement around the Universal Flasher, the clock hack and all this. Can someone put it all in order (say what they do), add the attachments and explain it so us mere readers can apply them successfully? Check this thread for an automated way to do all this below, courtesy of Jeff Elkins https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27177 Check this thread for another great utility to move/erase files to and from the SD and the Reader, courtesy of llasram https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21636 Thanx Last edited by Peto; 08-01-2008 at 07:55 AM.

07-29-2008, 04:11 PM	#7
jwhayn Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2685 Join Date: Aug 2004 Device: Kindle Voyage	Unified Fonts What are the unified fonts? Is this the same as the smaller font in the menu?

07-29-2008, 09:04 PM	#14
jwhayn Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2685 Join Date: Aug 2004 Device: Kindle Voyage	Got it to work I first had to reload the Sony firmware then the reflash worked. I have the new icons, the standard menu, and the time display now. Has anyone solved the time 'truncation' problem in AM/PM mode?

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07-29-2008, 12:31 PM	#2
jakewastaken Media Whore. Posts: 118 Karma: 265 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Device: PRS-505	Well the first step is to get the new firmware upgrade which can be found from Sony's Reader support site. The next step is to download the Universal Flasher 2.0 from here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/att...5&d=1216947954 You'll want to unzip this to a (preferably blank) SD card. The key step here is that you don't have a folder called Universal Flasher. The contents of THAT folder need to be the top directory of the card, as in, from the moment you open the card the readme.tx should be available. The readme tells you what to do from here, but I can recap that for you too: "Usage 1) Extract the zip onto a flash card, keeping the directory structure. It's best to use a card with not many files on it so that Reader can scan it quickly. N.B. readme.txt should be in the root of the card, not in any subdirectory! 2) Insert the card in Reader. 3) Wait until the "Run Script" screen appears. 4) Press 5. Wait for the success message (the process will take about one to two minutes). 5) Press 6. Wait for the success message. 6) Press 9 to reboot. 7) Extract the card. * Using the clock display To set the correct time on PRS-500, you need to connect it to the PC and run the eBook Library software after each reset. It should also be possible with libprs500 or Calibre. For PRS-505, you can set the time in Settings or connect to PC with the eBook Library software running. To set up 12/24 hour format or turn off the clock, use the Settings-About screen and the button 0 (check the status bar)." Now if you want the enter key to shutdown and the unified font throughout you'll have to make some of the more complex manual edits those previous threads were discussing. The custom icons have yet to be integrated into the latest incarnation of this hack, unfortunately, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time. Good luck! Let us know if you need more help. -Jake

07-29-2008, 12:43 PM	#3
Peto Legal Alien Posts: 288 Karma: 105 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505/T1/Kindle PW2	Thanks Jake! Regretfully that is the part I had grasped. It is all the little fixes and the base font changing I didn't get (even after reading the reame in the Universal Flasher) Your guide comes handy here, though

07-29-2008, 04:25 PM	#8
Peto Legal Alien Posts: 288 Karma: 105 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505/T1/Kindle PW2	All titles same size.

07-29-2008, 05:18 PM	#10
Ret Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 480 Join Date: Dec 2004	Thanks for this guide, I'm going to try it. I was missing all those "hack" features. After browsing this XML code: <boolean key="0x27-hold" do="doDeviceShutdown"/> I wonder if you could change the One-key-shutdown key to be used while holding the Slider (the one used to go to sleep mode). Would it be possible to have: <boolean key="kSleep-hold" do="doDeviceShutdown"/> (I think it makes more sense to have complete-shutdown and go-to-sleep features on the same key/slider.) Another question. Is it possible to make the bottom black bar thinner? Or maybe turning it off? Thanks again!

07-29-2008, 05:40 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Actually, using the slider is a bad idea. Because it would actually use more battery that way and you'd have no way to put it into sleep mode other then waiting an hour without use for it to go to sleep.

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