PRS-500 Flashing the Reader via SD/MS - Page 2

jakeluck · 02-16-2007, 02:54 AM

drm is irritating, if anything, i want to be able to quote passages from the CONNECT software into the clipboard.

Azayzel · 02-16-2007, 06:13 AM

This is a tricky bit, but IMO, I don't think it would be abused to exploit the DRM of the device. While any new technology can be exploited to do things its not supposed to, I cannot think of anything I'd need to exploit on my Reader that I can't do from my desktop first. It's cool that you've figured out how to do this, and judging from peoples' threads in this group, I think everyone here is responsible enough that they wouldn't abuse your work.

Corwin · 02-22-2007, 06:16 AM

Scotty, do you have any news?

RWood · 02-22-2007, 09:45 AM

The DRM of the Reader is not the point at all. The real issue is what rights, if any, do we have if we change readers. There are many people out there with DRM Palm files and IMP files that cannot use these files on the Reader. (PDF and DRM PDF is still another issue.)

The better question is what are we going to do with the DRM BBeB files if a new and better Reader comes along that (surprise) does not support them. Sure the non-DRM content can be converted (again), as it has been in the past. Are we to keep multiple readers around to read our full collections?

Even Microsoft changed their music DRM system when they launched the Zume. They want us to pay for each item (book, music, film) on each platform. The Reader is just an output device.

scotty1024 · 02-22-2007, 12:27 PM

I've got a toolchain cobbled together that makes executable files for the Reader.

However, the trick forwarded from igorsky to execute that code is experiencing technical issues. As soon as that gets ironed out we should have some very rapid progress.

NatCh · 02-22-2007, 12:31 PM

That news makes me very happy.

kacir · 02-25-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakeluck

drm is irritating, if anything, i want to be able to quote passages from the CONNECT software into the clipboard.

http://www.structurise.com/kleptomania/

With this SW you can copy and paste ANY text ANYWHERE on the screen.
It works by making a printscreen and running an OCR on it ;-)

vvaann · 03-06-2007, 03:54 PM

scotty1024
just wonder to know if there is any news?

alex_d · 03-25-2007, 05:08 AM

I'd really like to try writing software for the reader. (with... omg... pages enterable via the keypad! or... prerendering the next page... or using using 1-bit mode for faster turns... or refreshing the page every ten seconds for a crisper display... or...)

How's the toolchain coming along?

RWood · 03-26-2007, 10:39 AM

Alex, you lost me. How would refreshing a static display of e-ink every ten seconds make for a crisper display?

NatCh · 03-26-2007, 11:09 AM

It kinda fades after a while, but I'd think a refresh every 10 minutes would be sufficient for my eyes.

alex_d · 03-28-2007, 06:23 AM

It depends at what font size you're reading. With large fonts (ie, regular ebooks), it takes maybe 10-20 minutes for contrast to get annoyingly bad. For teeny tiny fonts (ie, pdfs), it takes less than a minute for the text to become considerably harder to read. Often, this is quicker than the time for me to do the actual reading. Even 10s after a page turn there is a noticeable decline in quality in a situation where you're trying to get all the readability you can.

anyway, a more interesting use would be to quickly page turn using 1-bit mode and then follow up with 2-bit refreshes to regain antialiasing and images. At the extreme, a 1-bit page turn without the negative-positive transition (and with precaching) would be less than 1/4 of a second! I'm drooling already... (the point here being to easily flip through pdf non-fiction. again, regular ebooks are fine as is.)

dstampe · 03-28-2007, 08:44 AM

The only problem would be battery life. Refreshing that often would quickly drain the battery (realiztic 4000 page flips per charge, update every 15 seconds, battery dies in 1000 minutes=12 hours). Also, the "negative image" flashed during reset would be annoying. However, I suspect for a refresh the negative image used to clear the screeen would not be needed. So maybe there would be less effect on battery life by a factor of 2 or 3 (assume little CPU time needed, and display refresh is shorter so the high-voltage power supply is needed for a shorter period.

I just use the joystick to go back and forward 1 page with RTF files. I use fairly large print so unless I leave the reader sitting for 15 minutes contrast is fine.

alex_d · 04-06-2007, 12:12 AM

scotty... your private message inbox is full, i can't reply to you

alex_d · 04-09-2007, 07:31 AM

sigh.. I still can't send you a private message. Hopefully you'll check back on this thread. I'll repost our conversation here (and i'm sure some people are interested in this topic too).

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_d

hey. In one thread you stated that you've put together a toolchain for creating programs for the reader. But I think you also said that maybe you got stuck in running them.

Anyway, I'm very interested in creating some of my own programs to run on it and would appreciate it if you'd let me know how that was going or if I could pick up and finish your work somehow.

I have a working tool chain but so far it's a big "So what?"

You can't execute native executables from card and the built in filesystems you can execute from have very limited space left over. :-(

Scotty

So the limit is the size of the executable? What kind of size are we talking about? I'm not trying to compile and load some big package like ghostscript so maybe that isn't a problem. Also, maybe some things (e.g. mp3 decode library) could be deleted to make room?

The bigger question, though, is whether it's possible to manipulate the display on any meaningful or advanced level? (e.g. switch to 1bit mode, access the front buffer, cause a redraw)?

View Poll Results: Can we be trusted with this technoiogy?
Yes, I believe it will be used properly	27	69.23%
No, I believe someone will abuse it, don't do it!	3	7.69%
Someone will abuse it, but I will stand firm to help stop them	5	12.82%
The ends justify the means and anyway: Sony made us do it.	4	10.26%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

03-28-2007, 06:23 AM	#27
alex_d Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 187 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Reader	It depends at what font size you're reading. With large fonts (ie, regular ebooks), it takes maybe 10-20 minutes for contrast to get annoyingly bad. For teeny tiny fonts (ie, pdfs), it takes less than a minute for the text to become considerably harder to read. Often, this is quicker than the time for me to do the actual reading. Even 10s after a page turn there is a noticeable decline in quality in a situation where you're trying to get all the readability you can. anyway, a more interesting use would be to quickly page turn using 1-bit mode and then follow up with 2-bit refreshes to regain antialiasing and images. At the extreme, a 1-bit page turn without the negative-positive transition (and with precaching) would be less than 1/4 of a second! I'm drooling already... (the point here being to easily flip through pdf non-fiction. again, regular ebooks are fine as is.) Last edited by alex_d; 03-28-2007 at 06:31 AM.

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02-16-2007, 02:54 AM	#16
jakeluck Groupie Posts: 193 Karma: 3252 Join Date: Dec 2004	drm is irritating, if anything, i want to be able to quote passages from the CONNECT software into the clipboard.

02-16-2007, 06:13 AM	#17
Azayzel Cache Ninja! Posts: 643 Karma: 1002300 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: PRS-500, HTC Shift, iPod Touch, iPaq 4150, TC1100, Panasonic WordsGear	This is a tricky bit, but IMO, I don't think it would be abused to exploit the DRM of the device. While any new technology can be exploited to do things its not supposed to, I cannot think of anything I'd need to exploit on my Reader that I can't do from my desktop first. It's cool that you've figured out how to do this, and judging from peoples' threads in this group, I think everyone here is responsible enough that they wouldn't abuse your work.

02-22-2007, 06:16 AM	#18
Corwin Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Scotty, do you have any news?

02-22-2007, 09:45 AM	#19
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	The DRM of the Reader is not the point at all. The real issue is what rights, if any, do we have if we change readers. There are many people out there with DRM Palm files and IMP files that cannot use these files on the Reader. (PDF and DRM PDF is still another issue.) The better question is what are we going to do with the DRM BBeB files if a new and better Reader comes along that (surprise) does not support them. Sure the non-DRM content can be converted (again), as it has been in the past. Are we to keep multiple readers around to read our full collections? Even Microsoft changed their music DRM system when they launched the Zume. They want us to pay for each item (book, music, film) on each platform. The Reader is just an output device.

02-22-2007, 12:27 PM	#20
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	I've got a toolchain cobbled together that makes executable files for the Reader. However, the trick forwarded from igorsky to execute that code is experiencing technical issues. As soon as that gets ironed out we should have some very rapid progress.

02-22-2007, 12:31 PM	#21
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	That news makes me very happy.

03-06-2007, 03:54 PM	#23
vvaann Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006	scotty1024 just wonder to know if there is any news?

03-25-2007, 05:08 AM	#24
alex_d Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 187 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Reader	I'd really like to try writing software for the reader. (with... omg... pages enterable via the keypad! or... prerendering the next page... or using using 1-bit mode for faster turns... or refreshing the page every ten seconds for a crisper display... or...) How's the toolchain coming along?

03-26-2007, 10:39 AM	#25
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Alex, you lost me. How would refreshing a static display of e-ink every ten seconds make for a crisper display?

03-26-2007, 11:09 AM	#26
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	It kinda fades after a while, but I'd think a refresh every 10 minutes would be sufficient for my eyes.

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03-28-2007, 08:44 AM	#28
dstampe dstampe Posts: 50 Karma: 17 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada Device: Sony PRS-500	The only problem would be battery life. Refreshing that often would quickly drain the battery (realiztic 4000 page flips per charge, update every 15 seconds, battery dies in 1000 minutes=12 hours). Also, the "negative image" flashed during reset would be annoying. However, I suspect for a refresh the negative image used to clear the screeen would not be needed. So maybe there would be less effect on battery life by a factor of 2 or 3 (assume little CPU time needed, and display refresh is shorter so the high-voltage power supply is needed for a shorter period. I just use the joystick to go back and forward 1 page with RTF files. I use fairly large print so unless I leave the reader sitting for 15 minutes contrast is fine.

04-06-2007, 12:12 AM	#29
alex_d Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 187 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Reader	scotty... your private message inbox is full, i can't reply to you