Firmware updates, dictionaries, fonts and third-party software for M92

[Schmitti]

Kirith, thank you! This actually worked. Seems like my memory was messed up somehow. I'll now try to install Booxtor's latest firmware again. If that doesn't work I'll return to the default firmware from OnyxBoox Europe.

PS: Yup, Booxtor's firmware still doesn't work. The weird thing is that it didn't even try to extract the files this time; it booted right away. The first time around it actually started unzipping Booxtor's 1.8 firmware onto my device and then froze. That's when all the problems began.

So my M92 is incompatible, even though it's not the "black pearl"? Weird. Anyway, at least the default update from OB Europe seems to work.

PPS: What does "black pearl" mean anyway? Black case and pearl display? I have a white case M92 (late 2011 model) with pearl display, but isn't a pearl display the standard for the M92 anyway? And why are there different hardware versions of the same device depending on the retail store? This is all very confusing.

[BNoir]

Originally Posted by Randy11

The Black Pearl use a password for the update (ZIP file), like the M92 - http://ereader-store.eu. Some files in the password are protected by this password. So, I don't think that you can merge the firmwares because you doesn't know the Arta's password nor the standard password.

And if you change the firmware you can loose the warranty.

Thanks,
Actually, I would'nt mind that much about loosing the warranty as long as I can use the device in anyway I want. I had some hope about device flexibility ... I guess that also means that if one day Android becomes available that won't work on the Black Pearl edition ?

[BNoir]

Black Pearl means that there is an M92 version sold by a company named Arta Tech that uses another firmware flavor which is unfortunately incompatible with the others. This indeed causes a lot of confusion for users who try to update their system.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by BNoir

Black Pearl means that there is an M92 version sold by a company named Arta Tech that uses another firmware flavor which is unfortunately incompatible with the others. This indeed causes a lot of confusion for users who try to update their system.

What is the technical reason for an arta tech black pearl device being unable to load Booxstor firmware?
Is it just that the device 'knows' the zip password of the firmware?
Also, what is 'part' of firmware and what is just an application ?
Standalone applications like OTFM file manager, for example, works fine on my arta tech 'black pearl'.

[BNoir]

Originally Posted by underscore

What is the technical reason for an arta tech black pearl device being unable to load Booxstor firmware?
Is it just that the device 'knows' the zip password of the firmware?
Also, what is 'part' of firmware and what is just an application ?
Standalone applications like OTFM file manager, for example, works fine on my arta tech 'black pearl'.

see link below,
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=190029

Basically you can mess with some parts but not others that are protected.
I like the Arta Tech product version, although it has some slight tilts toward the Polish market (the first link in the main menu points to a polish bookstore, I would prefer it to be easily configurable), it has apparently some nice features that are not available in other releases (cloud ...). But I don't use most of them . I would prefer to be able to pick the best of the two worlds.

[Schmitti]

That's what I mean with "weird". Granted, I bought my M92 from Onyx Boox Europe (in the Netherlands), but it's the early model, not the black pearl version. Booxtor's firmware still doesn't work on my device. So whether it's black pearl or not doesn't seem to matter… it all seems to be about license/territory/retailer restrictions. And I have to admit, this is really annoying, because I bought the M92 precisely because I wanted to be able to tweak it. OB Europe in Venlo never informed its customers that this is not possible with their M92 models (black pearl or standard versions).

[BNoir]

Originally Posted by Schmitti

That's what I mean with "weird". Granted, I bought my M92 from Onyx Boox Europe (in the Netherlands), but it's the early model, not the black pearl version. Booxtor's firmware still doesn't work on my device. So whether it's black pearl or not doesn't seem to matter… it all seems to be about license/territory/retailer restrictions. And I have to admit, this is really annoying, because I bought the M92 precisely because I wanted to be able to tweak it. OB Europe in Venlo never informed its customers that this is not possible with their M92 models (black pearl or standard versions).

Weird, indeed. The hardware is supposed to be the same (I think). So here unless you contact the store directly for more info it's not possible to rule out anything. Like you I don't appreciate the fact that they force and lock a firmware. BTW to me Onyx Boox Europe is https://www.onyx-boox.com is the one selling the Black Pearl version of firmware

[Mono]

I am not sure for 100%, but I think that all ArtaTech M92 readers have proprietary firmware.

The reason for closed solution is to my understanding mainly protection of copyright for TTS. Second reason might be the competition with other distribution channels. But that is my wild guess.

The reason why I thing, it might be like that is that all effort of Booxstor and possibly also of Russian channel go to all firmwares. But ArtaTech's improvements like cloud, do not go to other firmwares.

So, my understanding, but I might be wrong, is that ArtaTech receives contribution from others, but does not give anything in return.

For example, I translated M92 interface to my language and Booxstor offered me some small gift in return. But my translation was also in ArtaTech devices, I guess.

All M92s are the same hardwareside (there might be hardware revisions, so that there might be slight differences, but not important for users), except for part of devices sold on Russian market.

Should not be problem to install Booxstor's firmware on ArtaTech devices. But one must know the password for Booxstor's and ArtaTech's firmware.

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by Schmitti

That's what I mean with "weird". Granted, I bought my M92 from Onyx Boox Europe (in the Netherlands), but it's the early model, not the black pearl version. Booxtor's firmware still doesn't work on my device. So whether it's black pearl or not doesn't seem to matter… it all seems to be about license/territory/retailer restrictions. And I have to admit, this is really annoying, because I bought the M92 precisely because I wanted to be able to tweak it. OB Europe in Venlo never informed its customers that this is not possible with their M92 models (black pearl or standard versions).

Hi,
if you want I can help you to overwrite your current software with ours. I could provide you some tools for it. Just send me a PM

[seaniko7]

@Booxtor, you don't actually need any tools to install ArtaTech FW on Boox from other distribution and vice versa. Only difference is in password, which encrypts update. So obviously one needs to repack update using appropriate password. Funnily, Onyx-Intl used to host these on GitHub.

I would be glad if you could share tools, which are used to flash M92 whilst in downloader mode (e.g mfgTool, sb_loader)...

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

Hi,
if you want I can help you to overwrite your current software with ours. I could provide you some tools for it. Just send me a PM

To understand if i got the point and i'm speaking theoretically :-D
The procedure of updating a firmware implies the device itself to unzip a protected zip files containing basically the linux operating system + all the readers and programs.
The password of the zip files differs so it's stored in the device in a form of bios.
Booxstor, the tools you are saying now are supposed to flash this password area on what i called bios, right?

If i take one of your firmware and copy all the content inside the other_vendor zip file (without knowing their password), will i produce a 100% identical 'distribution' of your software for the "other vendor" device?

This will move the 'unbranding' issue to just a distribution issue.
We can selfdo it and still have a device that can revert to a vendor firmware
(for example during warranty time).

[seaniko7]

Upgrade procedure is following:
- User holds button whilst booting reader
- Bootloader (probably) checks if button is pressed
- Second kernel is unpacked and init process of initramfs executes update script
- Update script has embedded password (ArtaTech / Different Vendor) which is used for unpacking
- If password matches, update proceeds, otherwise Boox restarts

Updates are essentially whole rootfs plus kernel, which is flashed upon update as well.

So basically, yes; copying of firmware from other device would be sufficient, but here's the trick: you cannot do this on running system. To do that you will either need to flash memory using 'raw' access (using flasher in download mode) or use 'faked' updater ( with changed password ).

If you're interested, search for "Mixed FW" for M92, which combines Booxtor FW with ArtaTech FW. Note that I used ArtaTech encryption for Mixed FW due to legal implications, thus it works only for ArtaTech devices.

I guess, Booxtor could get in touch with ArtaTech guys and ask if they are ok with extracting their changes (obviously w/o IVONA TTS, which requires commercial licence). If yes, then I can handle combining Mixed FW for different vendors.

[Booxtor]

New updates are available. First post has been updated.

[Mhaly]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

New updates are available. First post has been updated.

Thanks mate.

The i62HD (w/o light) link seems to be wrong, it's just the changelog.

Greetings.

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by Mhaly

Thanks mate.

The i62HD (w/o light) link seems to be wrong, it's just the changelog.

Greetings.

Oh, thanks!
a little bit messed up in the hurry....
If you already start download Please check correct links now:

for M92 it is "mega.co.nz/#!yQ....."
for i62HD "mega.co.nz/#!OZ..."
for i62HD ML (Firefly) "mega.co.nz/#!HF...."