Battery Drain with PDFs and/or RTFs?

jpt · 07-01-2010, 02:34 PM

Hey--

I'm running the latest Astak firmware. I usually use Mobipocket files for my ebooks. Lately, however, I've been viewing PDFs (~10 page ones that are printouts from PowerPoint -- with 6 slides per page, occasionally zooming in and out and/or using reflow), and using RTFs for ebooks (using CoolReader, of course). I've found that the battery life is significantly impacted -- I usually lose at least one bar during the day, and yesterday, it went as low as only one bar left.

Any idea what's causing this? I haven't quite kept up on the latest firmware issues, but I'm assuming it's CoolReader, as it takes several seconds to load/index/paginate books (and has to do so again whenever the layout changes. If this is the problem, is there anything I should do to try to fix it? Would the lBook firmware work better?

Thanks,

-- J.P.

Dave_S · 07-01-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpt

Would the lBook firmware work better?

The Lbook firmware from 22 June 2010 would probably work MUCH better. It works very well for me anyway.

5" PocketPRO
http://www.lbook.ua/templates/files/...p-20100622.zip

6" EZReader
http://www.lbook.ua/templates/files/...e-20100622.zip

jpt · 07-01-2010, 11:42 PM

Thanks. I'm running it; I'll have to see how well it works battery-wise. I do have another issue -- I think the lBook firmware's copy of CoolReader seems to be generating corrupt cache files. I have to keep deleting them to open some of my books!

Any ideas?

-- J.P.

Dave_S · 07-02-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpt

Thanks. I'm running it; I'll have to see how well it works battery-wise. I do have another issue -- I think the lBook firmware's copy of CoolReader seems to be generating corrupt cache files. I have to keep deleting them to open some of my books!

Any ideas?

-- J.P.

I think that I may also have noticed that on my 5" PocketPRO when reading directly from the SD card, but no problem when using only the internal memory. On my 6" Hanlin V3 (EZReader) it works fine both ways so far. I put the problem down to the generally buggy nature of my own PocketPRO, but maybe the problem is more widespread than that?

jpt · 07-02-2010, 07:57 AM

Ah.

Seems the thing also ignores the lock switch on my SD card... figured that would prevent it from writing to it...

-- J.P.

theducks · 07-02-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpt

Ah.

Seems the thing also ignores the lock switch on my SD card... figured that would prevent it from writing to it...

-- J.P.

Everything about what you read on the SD card is stored there.

Last Read (book and location) , Bookmarks....

Locking should be honored, but should only pop a message:

"SD Card is Locked.

Having a Locked card may actually keep the card in a "Retry loop" trying to save your current location.

Unlock, if you wish to use this SD-CARD"

and not let you proceed past the directories (This would allow a LBook type Copy to be done), no book viewing.

jpt · 07-08-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Everything about what you read on the SD card is stored there.

Last Read (book and location) , Bookmarks....

Locking should be honored, but should only pop a message:

"SD Card is Locked.

Having a Locked card may actually keep the card in a "Retry loop" trying to save your current location.

Unlock, if you wish to use this SD-CARD"

and not let you proceed past the directories (This would allow a LBook type Copy to be done), no book viewing.

It doesn't seem to do that... weird. Anyway, the battery life is much better -- it finally went down a bar today, and I charged it last weekend. The lBook firmware is quite nice.

-- J.P.

Sunspark · 07-09-2010, 02:00 AM

I also have the cache issue. It's related to font changes imho.

Dave_S · 07-09-2010, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunspark

I also have the cache issue. It's related to font changes imho.

Can you explain if your problem is with the cache on the SD card or with the cache in internal memory? The reason that I ask is because I only seem to have a problem with my PP when the cache is on the SD card. On my 6" reader there seems to be no problem either way. I am beginning to suspect that the PP is just a bit unreliable with it's SD writes. Possibly related to the problem that some PP devices have with USB2.0?

Blossom · 07-09-2010, 12:03 PM

I just delete the cache every time I pop my SD card into my PC. I guess it's old habit of mine with anything that has a cache. I haven't had a issue with it yet though. It would be great if they could add a clean cache option to the firmware. Even if you delete a book from the card it stays in the cache making you have to manually delete it just like the Restore folder.

I can change fonts without problems. The other day I went through all my fonts viewing them in Coolreader then went back to reading without any problem. I love I can have as many fonts I want in CR!

Maybe it's the type of SD Card? I'm using a Sandisk SDHC 8GB.

theducks · 07-09-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

I just delete the cache every time I pop my SD card into my PC. I guess it's old habit of mine with anything that has a cache. I haven't had a issue with it yet though. It would be great if they could add a clean cache option to the firmware. Even if you delete a book from the card it stays in the cache making you have to manually delete it just like the Restore folder.

Why would you mess with the Restore folder?
I believe that if you remove/rename the book, the folder cleans up the obsolete entries.

Blossom · 07-09-2010, 04:14 PM

I suppose I don't have to now I have a delete book option with the Lbook firmware before after I finished a book I would just leave it on there after while the folder was just full of files so I would delete them. I like my SD Card neat and Tidy.

I delete the Digital Editions folder too when I accidentally open up a EPUB in ADE instead of CR. I wish it was the other way around, short press CR and long press ADE. I can never get the press long enough sometimes. lol

Sunspark · 07-10-2010, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Can you explain if your problem is with the cache on the SD card or with the cache in internal memory? The reason that I ask is because I only seem to have a problem with my PP when the cache is on the SD card. On my 6" reader there seems to be no problem either way. I am beginning to suspect that the PP is just a bit unreliable with it's SD writes. Possibly related to the problem that some PP devices have with USB2.0?

A bit off-topic at this point, but that's ok.

The reason I believe it is related to font changes is because it seems to get triggered when I pound it by making font changes and size changes repeatedly and then exiting the book. I don't recall it happening with older versions of the firmware. I haven't tried with the internal memory only. I tend to prefer using the card because it's easier to pop it in and out of a reader. The problem doesn't seem to occur if one doesn't do much if any changes with fonts and sizes, likewise using the non-coolreader readers like the pdf module.

It's unfortunate because the non-technical person will not know how to erase the cache directory or even what the problem is.. all they'll see is that the book no longer opens.

Dave_S · 07-10-2010, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunspark

A bit off-topic at this point, but that's ok.

The reason I believe it is related to font changes is because it seems to get triggered when I pound it by making font changes and size changes repeatedly and then exiting the book. I don't recall it happening with older versions of the firmware. I haven't tried with the internal memory only. I tend to prefer using the card because it's easier to pop it in and out of a reader. The problem doesn't seem to occur if one doesn't do much if any changes with fonts and sizes, likewise using the non-coolreader readers like the pdf module.

That makes sense since those actions are all going to cause the cache to be rewritten, and the more writes that occur will provide more chances for a write failure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunspark

It's unfortunate because the non-technical person will not know how to erase the cache directory or even what the problem is.

Yes it does seem unfortunate that the PocketPRO is not more reliable at writing to the SD. Now that I put the cache in internal PocketPRO memory I have not yet seen the problem reappear and it never has occurred on my 6" reader.

Sunspark · 07-10-2010, 11:24 AM

[QUOTE=Dave_S;1001922Yes it does seem unfortunate that the PocketPRO is not more reliable at writing to the SD. Now that I put the cache in internal PocketPRO memory I have not yet seen the problem reappear and it never has occurred on my 6" reader.[/QUOTE]

I believe a newer linux kernel would go a long way toward fixing this. But for some reason manufacturers never seem to update the kernel even though by doing so you usually get better driver support for things like flash devices.

The kernel hasn't been updated once since the PP was released. It is the kernel that interfaces with the hardware components.

07-01-2010, 02:34 PM	#1
jpt Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: OLPC; Nokia 770; White EZ Reader Pocket Pro; Bookeen Cybook Odyssey	Battery Drain with PDFs and/or RTFs? Hey-- I'm running the latest Astak firmware. I usually use Mobipocket files for my ebooks. Lately, however, I've been viewing PDFs (~10 page ones that are printouts from PowerPoint -- with 6 slides per page, occasionally zooming in and out and/or using reflow), and using RTFs for ebooks (using CoolReader, of course). I've found that the battery life is significantly impacted -- I usually lose at least one bar during the day, and yesterday, it went as low as only one bar left. Any idea what's causing this? I haven't quite kept up on the latest firmware issues, but I'm assuming it's CoolReader, as it takes several seconds to load/index/paginate books (and has to do so again whenever the layout changes. If this is the problem, is there anything I should do to try to fix it? Would the lBook firmware work better? Thanks, -- J.P.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DR1000 Battery drain with 1.7.1	Gogolo	iRex	11	09-14-2010 06:37 AM
Classic Battery Drain	Pomtroll	Barnes & Noble NOOK	2	07-11-2010 09:58 PM
PRS-600 Should I intentionally drain the battery now and then?	ziegl027	Sony Reader	2	02-11-2010 11:21 AM
Recent battery drain on K2	dwallbaum	Amazon Kindle	1	10-09-2009 09:29 AM
Battery drain when off?	Avenger	iRex	19	06-17-2009 11:46 AM

07-01-2010, 11:42 PM	#3
jpt Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: OLPC; Nokia 770; White EZ Reader Pocket Pro; Bookeen Cybook Odyssey	Thanks. I'm running it; I'll have to see how well it works battery-wise. I do have another issue -- I think the lBook firmware's copy of CoolReader seems to be generating corrupt cache files. I have to keep deleting them to open some of my books! Any ideas? -- J.P.

07-02-2010, 07:57 AM	#5
jpt Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: OLPC; Nokia 770; White EZ Reader Pocket Pro; Bookeen Cybook Odyssey	Ah. Seems the thing also ignores the lock switch on my SD card... figured that would prevent it from writing to it... -- J.P.

07-09-2010, 02:00 AM	#8
Sunspark Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: EZ Reader Pocket PRO	I also have the cache issue. It's related to font changes imho.

07-09-2010, 12:03 PM	#10
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I just delete the cache every time I pop my SD card into my PC. I guess it's old habit of mine with anything that has a cache. I haven't had a issue with it yet though. It would be great if they could add a clean cache option to the firmware. Even if you delete a book from the card it stays in the cache making you have to manually delete it just like the Restore folder. I can change fonts without problems. The other day I went through all my fonts viewing them in Coolreader then went back to reading without any problem. I love I can have as many fonts I want in CR! Maybe it's the type of SD Card? I'm using a Sandisk SDHC 8GB.

07-09-2010, 04:14 PM	#12
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I suppose I don't have to now I have a delete book option with the Lbook firmware before after I finished a book I would just leave it on there after while the folder was just full of files so I would delete them. I like my SD Card neat and Tidy. I delete the Digital Editions folder too when I accidentally open up a EPUB in ADE instead of CR. I wish it was the other way around, short press CR and long press ADE. I can never get the press long enough sometimes. lol

07-10-2010, 11:24 AM	#15
Sunspark Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: EZ Reader Pocket PRO	[QUOTE=Dave_S;1001922Yes it does seem unfortunate that the PocketPRO is not more reliable at writing to the SD. Now that I put the cache in internal PocketPRO memory I have not yet seen the problem reappear and it never has occurred on my 6" reader.[/QUOTE] I believe a newer linux kernel would go a long way toward fixing this. But for some reason manufacturers never seem to update the kernel even though by doing so you usually get better driver support for things like flash devices. The kernel hasn't been updated once since the PP was released. It is the kernel that interfaces with the hardware components.

Advert

Advert