01-14-2008, 04:52 PM | #1 |
Groupie
Posts: 155
Karma: 1044459
Join Date: Jul 2007
Device: prs-500
|
New firmware for the Sony Reader 505: NOW!
This may not be news anymore, but I confirmed with the SONY Reader product manager at CES that there will be a new firmware for the 505 which will include the ability to properly resize PDFs inside the reader [thus, without using rasterfarian].
I actually saw this PDF functionality and it works much better than on our 500's! Some other things I noticed on the 505 [with the experimental firmware] are:
There was also some talk of a future compatibility with a new Adobe book format but I didn't know what that was. Alas, still no PLAY/PAUSE while reading a book, but I pounded that into Sony's head because I personnel love controlling my music without having to exit the book. Maybe next time. Time line for the firmware is sometime in Late Feb 2008. Of course, I begged the manager to get these features into the 500. He said he is pushing for this to happen very hard. Enjoy, Fabian. Last edited by flamaest; 01-14-2008 at 05:24 PM. |
01-14-2008, 04:57 PM | #2 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Can you remember the name?
I was told that there was no definite time frame for release. And this was by one of the Sony people at CES. |
Advert | |
|
01-14-2008, 05:03 PM | #3 |
Groupie
Posts: 155
Karma: 1044459
Join Date: Jul 2007
Device: prs-500
|
Found it, the name is : David Seperson and he was definitely the guy in charge of the reader models. Very nice to talk to also.
F. |
01-14-2008, 05:13 PM | #4 |
Groupie
Posts: 155
Karma: 1044459
Join Date: Jul 2007
Device: prs-500
|
I think David was happy to interact with someone who knows a thing or two about the Sony Reader Product Line. He indicated that he hadn't shown these features to other folks simply because no one asked [or grilled him about it]. I must have been chatting with him up for 20-30 minutes.
There are a lot of media-heads at CES and very few of them know the difference between an e-ink display and an LCD. As an attendee, you get a sense for this when the engineers reserve the nitty-gritty for us MobileRead forum folks who care about their reader experience. F. |
01-14-2008, 05:14 PM | #5 |
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Karma: 10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Device: Sony reader
|
Please forgive my ignorance, but would this firmware update be available as a download? Thanks. Doug.
|
Advert | |
|
01-14-2008, 05:18 PM | #6 |
Groupie
Posts: 155
Karma: 1044459
Join Date: Jul 2007
Device: prs-500
|
For the 505, the time line for the firmware is sometime in Late Feb 2008. I suspect this will be pushed to end of Q1, as most firmware's are usually.
For the 500, no idea. Wishful thinking. Tell Sony you want this in your 500 if you just bought it like many of us. |
01-14-2008, 05:24 PM | #7 |
When's Doughnut Day?
Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
I think the answer is certainly yes. The last firmware for the 500 was this summer and the PC software simply notified you of the update, prompted you to connect to Reader, and downloaded it for you.
|
01-14-2008, 05:36 PM | #8 |
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Karma: 10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Device: Sony reader
|
Thank you Vivaldirules. I love my 505!!
|
01-14-2008, 07:15 PM | #9 | |
Feedbooks.com Co-Founder
Posts: 2,263
Karma: 145123
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Paris, France
Device: Sony PRS-t-1/350/300/500/505/600/700, Nexus S, iPad
|
Quote:
|
|
01-14-2008, 08:26 PM | #10 |
Out of print
Posts: 484
Karma: 1549538
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Madrid, Spain
Device: Sony PRS-500 (recycled), Pocketbook Inkpad X Pro
|
Does this mean that Sony has definitely abandoned the 500 and its users?
|
01-14-2008, 11:44 PM | #11 |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Not necessarily, but even though it's not really old the 500 is no longer a current device. It may be that at least some of the changes aren't feasible for the 500 due to memory or processor speed or something---or it may be that all or most of the features will eventually be available for the 500. They will certainly put out the update for the 505 first since they're still selling them & any enhancements might help sell more readers. Fabian said in his OP that the guy he talked to was pushing for it for the 500. If you're a 500 owner maybe an email to Sony, just to remind them you're there & that you want these updates too.
|
01-15-2008, 05:47 AM | #12 |
Wizard
Posts: 3,442
Karma: 300001
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Belgium
Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear
|
"Alphabetically grouped book listings" and "complete off option" are already there. Although it's nice to hear they're adding the delete feature.
|
01-15-2008, 07:04 AM | #13 |
Member
Posts: 24
Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: SONY PRS-505
|
Thank you flamaest, that's indeed very good news.
I'm no big fan of PDF's but the few others additionnal functionnalities look good to me. |
01-15-2008, 09:19 AM | #14 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 59
Karma: 97
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Jersey
Device: Sony PRS-500
|
This is typical corporate BS not upgrading the software on the 500. Its the plan to phase out the older models. There are very few companies that take the effort to update older models and Sony is not one of them.
According to what I read, both 500 & 505 have the same amount of memory. Also I thought I read the processor is the same. The 505 might be faster but that only means slower to process. So in theory it would be minor change get this to work with the 500. Its there Sony's choice to not do it if they don't. |
01-15-2008, 09:20 AM | #15 |
Uebermensch
Posts: 2,583
Karma: 1094606
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Italy
Device: Kindle
|
|
Tags |
505, firmware, sony reader |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Firmware Sony 505 | max3131 | Sony Reader | 2 | 12-26-2009 08:20 AM |
1.2 Firmware for Sony 505 UK version | dsenior | Sony Reader | 0 | 12-04-2009 12:38 AM |
SONY PRS-505 Firmware-Update + Customizing | Thoran | Sony Reader | 108 | 09-02-2009 07:24 AM |
Is calibre tested with new sony 505 firmware? | stustaff | Calibre | 1 | 07-25-2008 10:42 AM |
Another Sony Reader firmware update | RectalPro | Sony Reader | 13 | 11-30-2007 04:56 PM |