Prospects for a Kindle Voyage hack?

rogerinnyc · 10-29-2014, 10:48 AM

I apologize if this is addressed elsewhere, but I haven't been able to find it.

I received my Kindle Voyage yesterday and it is a very impressive screen in terms of font sharpness and black on white contrast (I already had the PW2). But, without NiLuJe's screensaver and font hacks, I'm not sure I want to keep it for the small upgrade-- and high additional cost -- it represents.

Are any developers here intending to get the device and try to work on it? Can I help in any way (short of removing the back cover!)? My software is listed as 5.5.0, and my serial number starts with B054. I presume it would be idiotic to try the most recent jailbreak exploit on this new device?

Absent the wonderful hacks of this forum -- or at least a reasonable prospect that they will be coming -- I think this KV is going back to Amazon. Aside from the marginally better screen, I find the other upgrades not all that helpful. The physical page turn press areas are misplaced (too low) for how I hold the device, and the auto dimmer function, for me, over dims in normal and bright light and I have quickly turned it off. Certainly they're not worth the trade-off of not having Georgia font on my device and my book covers as screensavers!

eschwartz · 10-29-2014, 11:19 AM

I am positive they are working on it

but no word on when a fix may be discovered.

The question is -- all things being equal, is a marginally better screen worth the extra dough even if both have the hacks?

rogerinnyc · 10-29-2014, 11:27 AM

I think the answer to your question will vary with each individual (as evidenced by the number and range of reviews on Amazon's site!). For me, if the KV gets the needed hacks, I'll probably keep it, but I can't say it's actually WORTH the extra dough. Maybe if you're upgrading from PW1 or earlier...

knc1 · 10-29-2014, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerinnyc

- - - - -
Are any developers here intending to get the device and try to work on it?
Can I help in any way (short of removing the back cover!)? - - - - - - -

If you have access to a Linux (not Windows) PC - probably yes - PM me.

BrentB · 10-30-2014, 09:14 AM

I too am anxiously awaiting the Voyage jailbreak. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a Linux PC, or I would help in a heartbeat.

knc1 · 10-30-2014, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrentB

I too am anxiously awaiting the Voyage jailbreak. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a Linux PC, or I would help in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, there isn't a Windows equivalent of what we need done **at first** power-on.

Akirainblack · 10-30-2014, 10:46 AM

Can't wait for my Voyage to begin.

(See what I did there? Yes I know it was terrible)

HarryT · 10-30-2014, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

Unfortunately, there isn't a Windows equivalent of what we need done **at first** power-on.

Can't use you one of those "boot Linux from a DVD" thingies? (Name escapes me.)

rogerinnyc · 10-30-2014, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

Unfortunately, there isn't a Windows equivalent of what we need done **at first** power-on.

OK, what if I installed Ubuntu inside (or next to) Windows 7 on my PC? Would that work? I've never used Linux, so I might need a bit of hand holding on the specific steps, but I'd be willing to try over the weekend if it would help....

Akirainblack · 10-30-2014, 12:21 PM

Yes, it would work. It's pretty simple.
As KNC1 mentioned to me in a PM there's an excellent guide in the Ubuntu Wiki on how to dual boot windows and Ubuntu.

rogerinnyc · 10-30-2014, 12:25 PM

OK, thanks. I'll PM KNC1 to follow up.

eschwartz · 10-30-2014, 12:43 PM

The hardest part will be creating the LiveUSB.

I suggest using http://rufus.akeo.ie

Usually Unetbootin gets recommended, but I have never found it to be reliable. Rufus has served me well, though.

Glorfindel · 11-13-2014, 10:20 AM

+10 On Rufus. I wish there were a linux equivilent

knc1 · 11-13-2014, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

+10 On Rufus. I wish there were a linux equivilent

If you don't have Wine installed (most distributions do), install it.
Then try running Rufus under Linux/Wine and report back.
- - - -
OR, although a bit more work, see if it can be ported from Mingw to Linux:
https://github.com/pbatard/rufus

eschwartz · 11-13-2014, 11:23 AM

On linux we don't need those workarounds, we can just use "dd".

It is by far the most accurate.

Of course, there is a lot to say for cp'ing the iso contents and using extlinux to install syslinux then writing just the MBR with, well, good old dd again, at least for the ArchLinux dual-bit installer so you can still use it as a mounted drive.

10-29-2014, 10:48 AM	#1
rogerinnyc Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 944808 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Forma and Aura One; Kindle Voyage; Galaxy Note 10	Prospects for a Kindle Voyage hack? I apologize if this is addressed elsewhere, but I haven't been able to find it. I received my Kindle Voyage yesterday and it is a very impressive screen in terms of font sharpness and black on white contrast (I already had the PW2). But, without NiLuJe's screensaver and font hacks, I'm not sure I want to keep it for the small upgrade-- and high additional cost -- it represents. Are any developers here intending to get the device and try to work on it? Can I help in any way (short of removing the back cover!)? My software is listed as 5.5.0, and my serial number starts with B054. I presume it would be idiotic to try the most recent jailbreak exploit on this new device? Absent the wonderful hacks of this forum -- or at least a reasonable prospect that they will be coming -- I think this KV is going back to Amazon. Aside from the marginally better screen, I find the other upgrades not all that helpful. The physical page turn press areas are misplaced (too low) for how I hold the device, and the auto dimmer function, for me, over dims in normal and bright light and I have quickly turned it off. Certainly they're not worth the trade-off of not having Georgia font on my device and my book covers as screensavers!

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10-29-2014, 11:19 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I am positive they are working on it but no word on when a fix may be discovered. The question is -- all things being equal, is a marginally better screen worth the extra dough even if both have the hacks?

10-29-2014, 11:27 AM	#3
rogerinnyc Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 944808 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Forma and Aura One; Kindle Voyage; Galaxy Note 10	I think the answer to your question will vary with each individual (as evidenced by the number and range of reviews on Amazon's site!). For me, if the KV gets the needed hacks, I'll probably keep it, but I can't say it's actually WORTH the extra dough. Maybe if you're upgrading from PW1 or earlier...

10-30-2014, 09:14 AM	#5
BrentB Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 30012 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	I too am anxiously awaiting the Voyage jailbreak. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a Linux PC, or I would help in a heartbeat.

10-30-2014, 10:46 AM	#7
Akirainblack abibliophobic Posts: 220 Karma: 219708 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: KV jailbroken	Can't wait for my Voyage to begin. (See what I did there? Yes I know it was terrible)

10-30-2014, 12:21 PM	#10
Akirainblack abibliophobic Posts: 220 Karma: 219708 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: KV jailbroken	Yes, it would work. It's pretty simple. As KNC1 mentioned to me in a PM there's an excellent guide in the Ubuntu Wiki on how to dual boot windows and Ubuntu.

10-30-2014, 12:25 PM	#11
rogerinnyc Addict Posts: 227 Karma: 944808 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Forma and Aura One; Kindle Voyage; Galaxy Note 10	OK, thanks. I'll PM KNC1 to follow up.

10-30-2014, 12:43 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The hardest part will be creating the LiveUSB. I suggest using http://rufus.akeo.ie Usually Unetbootin gets recommended, but I have never found it to be reliable. Rufus has served me well, though.

11-13-2014, 10:20 AM	#13
Glorfindel Force-Aware Elf Posts: 4,757 Karma: 11557898 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Valinor Device: Kindle 4 w/SO	+10 On Rufus. I wish there were a linux equivilent

11-13-2014, 11:23 AM	#15
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	On linux we don't need those workarounds, we can just use "dd". It is by far the most accurate. Of course, there is a lot to say for cp'ing the iso contents and using extlinux to install syslinux then writing just the MBR with, well, good old dd again, at least for the ArchLinux dual-bit installer so you can still use it as a mounted drive.