Tips, tricks & just plain cool stuff. - Page 11

NatCh · 11-23-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

If you can't feel those tiny buttons your girlfriend must be very lonely!

ScottPhil · 12-13-2007, 09:35 PM

I bought a Zap universal battery pack to charge my plethora of portable toys when I'm on the road. It came with interchangeable tips for my phone, mp3, and pmp. In addition to charging USB devices, it is also able to charge DC devices from 5-11 volts and comes with a tip to charge my PRS-500. One added bonus is it came with a USB cable that I can plug the 500's tip into, allowing me to charge it from any USB port, since it plugs into the reader's DC jack.

Andy Baird · 12-28-2007, 11:13 PM

Folks, my PRS-500 appears to be frozen.

I hadn't used it in a couple of months, since getting a PRS-505, and when I looked at it I found a message indicating that the battery had expired. There was also some display garbage on the screen.

I plugged the unit into a USB port for a few hours to recharge it, and when I disconnected, I saw the usual "Starting up..." screen. But that's as far as it got. No controls work, and the reset button in back is ignored. When it's plugged back into the conputer, the DocuDesk PRS Browser (Mac software required to use a PRS-500) says there's no reader connected.

It's been this way for hours--still displaying the "Starting up..." screen--and nothing I do will make it respond. Since the battery isn't removable, I can't power-cycle it. Before I resort to disassembly, does anybody have any suggestions to jog this thing out of its coma?

stustaff · 12-29-2007, 07:23 AM

try charging overnight with a psp charger rather than usb.

Andy Baird · 12-29-2007, 03:30 PM

"try charging overnight with a psp charger rather than usb."

Thanks, Stustuff! I had completely forgotten: page 16 of the PRS-500 manual warns that when the battery is seriously depleted, you can't charge via USB. Duh! It's working now. :-)

My apologies for not posting this in the troubleshooting folder, by the way.

stustaff · 12-30-2007, 05:43 AM

Good news Andy

itry · 02-02-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Baird

"try charging overnight with a psp charger rather than usb."

Thanks, Stustuff! I had completely forgotten: page 16 of the PRS-500 manual warns that when the battery is seriously depleted, you can't charge via USB. Duh! It's working now. :-)

My apologies for not posting this in the troubleshooting folder, by the way.

I found this out too. But why does the battery go flat when not used? Seems to take only a few days from full to flat. I assumed longer life.

NatCh · 02-02-2008, 01:29 PM

The reason is that the Reader isn't really off when it's "off" but rather in a sleep/suspend mode. Everything's cranked way down, but it still uses power, so it eventually drains the battery.

If you know ahead of time you're not going to be using it for a while, you can prevent most of that drainage by resetting it (the pinhole on the back) or if you have a 505, you can use the "full off" option in the utilities menu.

That's the short answer, if you want the long one it's posted around here in a number of places.

tgharold · 02-03-2008, 11:28 PM

Or at least remove any memory cards before letting it sit in sleep mode for a week or two.

Leaving the memory cards in seems to be the biggest "gotcha" for battery life, based on experiences here in the forums.

itry · 02-08-2008, 02:07 AM

Thanks to you all. I do leave the memory card in. I will try the reset button too.

Victoria · 03-30-2008, 05:39 PM

I bought a u-shaped neck pillow that they sell at the airport (small beanbag). The opening is perfect for proping the Reader up in bed - with the cover open - I can read with both hands tucked under the warm covers! I've tried to devise a way to prop my book open for years

, with no luck.

Ah - perfect!

yvanleterrible · 03-30-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victoria

I bought a u-shaped neck pillow that they sell at the airport (small beanbag). The opening is perfect for proping the Reader up in bed - with the cover open - I can read with both hands tucked under the warm covers! I've tried to devise a way to prop my book open for years

, with no luck.

Ah - perfect!

Unfortunately one would need the dreamed of remote control to keep one's hands warmly under the covers.

Peto · 03-31-2008, 09:10 AM

Tatatata... So much effort for nuffin'

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19418

astra · 03-31-2008, 09:20 AM

Why would you build one yourself (well unless you enjoyed the process of course), if you can buy almost an identical one such as:
Book chair

As far as I can see there are plastic chairs as well.

Peto · 05-17-2008, 07:59 AM

Mmmmmm... nothing to do with what you show. The DIY bookchair is far more stable when poised on your belly in bed or sitting. The design is simple yet much more ergonomic than these stright rod based stands. It frees your hand and allows for a decent amount of freedom of movement without falling. The little curve on the base of the DIY fits your body curve and holds.

Probably the biggest difference is that it rotates the reader so, when you lie sidewards, the text lines are always parallel to your eye line. You always keep the relative position between your eyes and the reader, whatever your position.

I have been using mine for months (made the 1st prototype two days after I got my reader) and I don't even remove the Reader from the stand. When I a m not reading, it is like a picture frame. I just made a cloth cover to prevent it from gathering dust when not in use.

And if you do it yourself, the materials cost is below 6€ for sure (that is a guess, I made it from leftovers and cost me nothing, xcept the sticky velvet). You can produce one in an evening, and even though you don't get it perfect, it will work alright.

I have been working on a "remote" to shift pages using a reflex camera shooting cable, but so far, I don't have the hardware to produce the metal attachment required and when pressing the remote shooter, the attachment yields instead of pressing the button. However, I don't care much for this gadget since I don't have a problem having my hands out of the blankets, so maybe someone else can develop the idea if interested.

But believe me, the DIY Bookchair is far better than what you show.

12-13-2007, 09:35 PM	#152
ScottPhil Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS-500	USB Charging I bought a Zap universal battery pack to charge my plethora of portable toys when I'm on the road. It came with interchangeable tips for my phone, mp3, and pmp. In addition to charging USB devices, it is also able to charge DC devices from 5-11 volts and comes with a tip to charge my PRS-500. One added bonus is it came with a USB cable that I can plug the 500's tip into, allowing me to charge it from any USB port, since it plugs into the reader's DC jack.

03-30-2008, 05:39 PM	#161
Victoria Wizard Posts: 1,013 Karma: 19767610 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nova Scotia Canada Device: ipad, Kindle PW, Kobo Clara; iphone 7	Height of Laziness I bought a u-shaped neck pillow that they sell at the airport (small beanbag). The opening is perfect for proping the Reader up in bed - with the cover open - I can read with both hands tucked under the warm covers! I've tried to devise a way to prop my book open for years, with no luck. Ah - perfect!

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12-28-2007, 11:13 PM	#153
Andy Baird Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	Folks, my PRS-500 appears to be frozen. I hadn't used it in a couple of months, since getting a PRS-505, and when I looked at it I found a message indicating that the battery had expired. There was also some display garbage on the screen. I plugged the unit into a USB port for a few hours to recharge it, and when I disconnected, I saw the usual "Starting up..." screen. But that's as far as it got. No controls work, and the reset button in back is ignored. When it's plugged back into the conputer, the DocuDesk PRS Browser (Mac software required to use a PRS-500) says there's no reader connected. It's been this way for hours--still displaying the "Starting up..." screen--and nothing I do will make it respond. Since the battery isn't removable, I can't power-cycle it. Before I resort to disassembly, does anybody have any suggestions to jog this thing out of its coma?

12-29-2007, 07:23 AM	#154
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	try charging overnight with a psp charger rather than usb.

12-29-2007, 03:30 PM	#155
Andy Baird Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	"try charging overnight with a psp charger rather than usb." Thanks, Stustuff! I had completely forgotten: page 16 of the PRS-500 manual warns that when the battery is seriously depleted, you can't charge via USB. Duh! It's working now. :-) My apologies for not posting this in the troubleshooting folder, by the way.

12-30-2007, 05:43 AM	#156
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Good news Andy

02-02-2008, 01:29 PM	#158
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	The reason is that the Reader isn't really off when it's "off" but rather in a sleep/suspend mode. Everything's cranked way down, but it still uses power, so it eventually drains the battery. If you know ahead of time you're not going to be using it for a while, you can prevent most of that drainage by resetting it (the pinhole on the back) or if you have a 505, you can use the "full off" option in the utilities menu. That's the short answer, if you want the long one it's posted around here in a number of places.

02-03-2008, 11:28 PM	#159
tgharold Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Or at least remove any memory cards before letting it sit in sleep mode for a week or two. Leaving the memory cards in seems to be the biggest "gotcha" for battery life, based on experiences here in the forums.

02-08-2008, 02:07 AM	#160
itry Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: HP Ipaq	Thanks to you all. I do leave the memory card in. I will try the reset button too.

03-31-2008, 09:10 AM	#163
Peto Legal Alien Posts: 288 Karma: 105 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505/T1/Kindle PW2	Tatatata... So much effort for nuffin' https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19418

03-31-2008, 09:20 AM	#164
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Why would you build one yourself (well unless you enjoyed the process of course), if you can buy almost an identical one such as: Book chair As far as I can see there are plastic chairs as well.

05-17-2008, 07:59 AM	#165
Peto Legal Alien Posts: 288 Karma: 105 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505/T1/Kindle PW2	Mmmmmm... nothing to do with what you show. The DIY bookchair is far more stable when poised on your belly in bed or sitting. The design is simple yet much more ergonomic than these stright rod based stands. It frees your hand and allows for a decent amount of freedom of movement without falling. The little curve on the base of the DIY fits your body curve and holds. Probably the biggest difference is that it rotates the reader so, when you lie sidewards, the text lines are always parallel to your eye line. You always keep the relative position between your eyes and the reader, whatever your position. I have been using mine for months (made the 1st prototype two days after I got my reader) and I don't even remove the Reader from the stand. When I a m not reading, it is like a picture frame. I just made a cloth cover to prevent it from gathering dust when not in use. And if you do it yourself, the materials cost is below 6€ for sure (that is a guess, I made it from leftovers and cost me nothing, xcept the sticky velvet). You can produce one in an evening, and even though you don't get it perfect, it will work alright. I have been working on a "remote" to shift pages using a reflex camera shooting cable, but so far, I don't have the hardware to produce the metal attachment required and when pressing the remote shooter, the attachment yields instead of pressing the button. However, I don't care much for this gadget since I don't have a problem having my hands out of the blankets, so maybe someone else can develop the idea if interested. But believe me, the DIY Bookchair is far better than what you show.

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