ideas for Kindle Touch

[thatworkshop]

5. Purge cache memory:
This very simple lovely extension purges cache memory... it means more free memory and less resources taken, which in my opinion is very important for such embedded systems. Yes I know, Linux is pretty damn good at memory management but still...

Requirements:
GUI Launcher

Install:
extract the attached file in extension folder.

Test:
First run

free -m

in SSH. Then run this simple script via GUI Launcher and run free -m again to see the difference in memory usage and free memory.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by cscat

5. Purge cache memory:
This very simple lovely extension purges cache memory... it means more free memory and less resources taken, which in my opinion is very important for such embedded systems. Yes I know, Linux is pretty damn good at memory management but still...

Requirements:
GUI Launcher

Install:
extract the attached file in extension folder.

Test:
First run

free -m

in SSH. Then run this simple script via GUI Launcher and run free -m again to see the difference in memory usage and free memory.

A couple of notes:

That script presumes it is being run by the user 'root' - only 'root' has write permission on /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

The 'sync' is not required, dropping caches causes the dirty cache entries to be written, even if the underlying file system does not support 'sync' (like FAT-32).

There is no need to pipe the output of echo through tee.

echo 3 >/proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

does the same thing, without executing another process (which would just dirty some of the just cleared VFS buffers).
And since it is now down to a single line of code, why not just assign a shell alias to that operation in /etc/profile? Your choice of alias name, but would look like:

alias dc="echo 3 >/proc/sys/vm/drop_caches"

After which, entering dc at a command prompt would 'drop_caches'.

You can be more selective than taking a big hammer to the VFS system;

You can flush the caches of any specific file system using:

mount -o remount <mount point or device>

Note: There is no argument following 'remount' above (where you might expect rw or ro)!
This is a special version of the 'remount' function intended to flush the caches of the mentioned file system's mount point (or device).
This also works on file systems that do not support 'sync'.

[thatworkshop]

6. Universal Orientation (Landscape home screen):
The existing landscape hacks don't apply on the home screen, BUT in one of my restarts, I noticed for a very short time, the home screen was displayed in landscape mode; so I guess it's possible.

Update: I made a simple extension that does EXACTLY this. All credits go to eureka. Just extract the attached file in your extension folder.

Known issues:
Screensavers are by default 600x800. I have a KT3G-SO, so when it goes to sleep I see the ad improperly but it doesn't bother me at all. Well I don't want to disable ads or alter my Kindle to show customized 800x600 ads because I like Amazon and it is not fair. All in all I'm happy with it.

[thatworkshop]

UPDATE: This is now done. Take a look at here and here.

2. Katie Terminal:
Having a little extra line (maybe under URL/Search box) where you can type commands and the results be shown as a pop up dialog or a line at the bottom of screen (like K3).
Seems pretty tough if possible at all!

Or even nicer would be to just add another option as "Terminal" at right side of the main text box (along with Wikipedia, Dictionary, ...) Or a KT java app that simulates a terminal.


EDIT: Seems I proposed to reinvent the wheel! There already is a solution for this (AjaxTerm) in this thread but it doesn't work for KT (at least I couldn't!).

[miguelos]

a very good idea would be to add some options for PDF viewer
1. remove margins (a lot of space is wasted)
2. option for stable zoom-in between the pages (e.g. choosing 110% would force header & footer outside of visible area - it would improve page readability..)
3. implement rotation (not this from UI itself, but only in PDF viewer)

[knc1]

Either inetd or one of the more modern "improved versions" of the Internet Super Server

This standard *nix utility starts network services (daemons) "on demand" - if/when they are not in use, they don't run.

Ref: http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-inetd.html

A use case:

You want an httpd daemon (service in en_M$) to run for changing settings remotely, but you don't want to take up the RAM or CPU cycles of having it idling in the background.
This is a good case of using inetd - the httpd daemon doesn't run until you try to connect to it - then inetd kicks in and fires up a copy for your connection to use.

Can be used for any "on demand" network service.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by knc1

Either inetd or one of the more modern "improved versions" of the Internet Super Server

This standard *nix utility starts network services (daemons) "on demand" - if/when they are not in use, they don't run.

Ref: http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-inetd.html

A use case:

You want an httpd daemon (service in en_M$) to run for changing settings remotely, but you don't want to take up the RAM or CPU cycles of having it idling in the background.
This is a good case of using inetd - the httpd daemon doesn't run until you try to connect to it - then inetd kicks in and fires up a copy for your connection to use.

Can be used for any "on demand" network service.

Seems it has been included in Busybox for awhile now:

Author: Glenn L McGrath <bug1@ihug.co.nz>
Date:   Sun Feb 9 06:51:14 2003 +0000

    New applet, inetd, make httpd features more configurable, update authors, last_patch_80
    from Vladimir N. Oleynik

Which doesn't mean it was included in the Kindle Busybox build - but re-building Busybox with that feature enabled would be the smallest memory footprint way to provide it.

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by knc1

Seems it has been included in Busybox for awhile now:

Author: Glenn L McGrath <bug1@ihug.co.nz>
Date:   Sun Feb 9 06:51:14 2003 +0000

    New applet, inetd, make httpd features more configurable, update authors, last_patch_80
    from Vladimir N. Oleynik

Which doesn't mean it was included in the Kindle Busybox build - but re-building Busybox with that feature enabled would be the smallest memory footprint way to provide it.

Oh this is such a useful feature! How can we go about it?

Also, I am in love with my Kindle with new universal landscape mode... I updated my previous post, so go here.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by cscat

Oh this is such a useful feature! How can we go about it?

Also, I am in love with my Kindle with new universal landscape mode... I updated my previous post, so go here.

Need to build an updated Busybox.
Simple for the developers here who have had a Build System setup for years.

Me, still waiting -
Support went into Buildroot for the Freescale processors last week.
So soon (once I invent a Kindle "def_config") will be able to build things also.

Then the telnet, ssh, ftp, http daemons can all go under "on demand" control in the inetd config file - rather than taking up RAM when not in use.

Also know we want to build usb_modeswitch -
Just for those folk who want to plug a regular sized keyboard and mouse into their Kindle.
(Yes, the USB port is an OTG version - it can run as a Host not just a Device - that is the reason for the fifth pin on the micro-usb connector - the Host/Device mode control line.)

[knc1]

Originally Posted by knc1

Also know we want to build usb_modeswitch -
Just for those folk who want to plug a regular sized keyboard and mouse into their Kindle.
(Yes, the USB port is an OTG version - it can run as a Host not just a Device - that is the reason for the fifth pin on the micro-usb connector - the Host/Device mode control line.)

If someone has a microUSB HOST cable, plug it in, it might "just work" -
If not, then we will need usb_modeswitch to override the mode select line.

micro-USB HOST cables are available from your favorite high-tech supplier:
http://www.amazon.com/Micro-USB-Host.../dp/B005GGBYJ4

[yiming]

@cscat

i have the auto-rotate and Yifanlu's Launcher on my KT. the auto-rotate works well and i can use manual Orientation in the Launcher to override the auto-rotate. but, to restore the auto-rotate function i'll need to restart my KT.

i've tried your universal orientation hack, but it doesn't work. i suspect it's because it conflicts with the auto-rotate hack. do you think you can make them compatible just like Yifanlu's. thanks.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by knc1

If someone has a microUSB HOST cable, plug it in, it might "just work" -
If not, then we will need usb_modeswitch to override the mode select line.

micro-USB HOST cables are available from your favorite high-tech supplier:
http://www.amazon.com/Micro-USB-Host.../dp/B005GGBYJ4

I bought some USB OTG cables (cheap ones with no Host Mode LED) when I discovered in the Freescale documentation that the external USB port is OTG. The internal USB port is Host only, and is available for other things on wifi-only kindles (like add-in bluetooth in place of the missing 3G modem). It did not automatically change to host mode for me, so a custom usb_modeswitch is probably required.

Even if you can route power out the OTG port, it may not be enough to power most devices. You probably need an external battery powered USB hub between the OTG cable and any USB-powered devices.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

Even if you can route power out the OTG port, it may not be enough to power most devices. You probably need an external battery powered USB hub between the OTG cable and any USB-powered devices.

I thought of that and almost put it into the suggestion post but left it out.

I also suggest using an external powered hub, the Kindle(s) are low power devices and that may not even be a full 5v USB interface port.

But first, have to figure out if we can make it work in host mode.

Note:
The 3G models use a USB-3G modem/radio and another interesting thing to play with (which also uses USB_modeswitch):
http://www.sakis3g.org/

Anyone interested, don't wait for me, my todo list is already pretty long.

[thomass]

8- Landscape mode using the already-existed motion sensor

well, there is no need for more explenation.

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by thomass

8- Landscape mode using the already-existed motion sensor

well, there is no need for more explenation.

This feature was implemented a while ago by Mehdi, see this thread.

It looked fancy for me and I got excited and tried it sometime ago, but it turned out not to be what I can live with. So I like my manual universal screen rotation better. I don't personally use this.