New firmware for the Sony Reader 505: NOW!

flamaest · 01-14-2008, 05:52 PM

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:

Alphabetically grouped book listings
Book delete function
Complete off option to conserve battery power
Some kind of Bookmark viewer in the Sony PC software.

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.

Nate the great · 01-14-2008, 05:57 PM

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.

flamaest · 01-14-2008, 06:03 PM

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.

flamaest · 01-14-2008, 06:13 PM

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.

doug41472 · 01-14-2008, 06:14 PM

Please forgive my ignorance, but would this firmware update be available as a download? Thanks. Doug.

flamaest · 01-14-2008, 06:18 PM

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.

vivaldirules · 01-14-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug41472

Please forgive my ignorance, but would this firmware update be available as a download? Thanks. Doug.

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.

doug41472 · 01-14-2008, 06:36 PM

Thank you Vivaldirules. I love my 505!!

Hadrien · 01-14-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamaest

There was also some talk of a future compatibility with a new Adobe book format but I didn't know what that was.

That's epub. The DRM is from Adobe, the format itself is a standard: http://idpf.org

Andanzas · 01-14-2008, 09:26 PM

Does this mean that Sony has definitely abandoned the 500 and its users?

AnemicOak · 01-15-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andanzas

Does this mean that Sony has definitely abandoned the 500 and its users?

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.

igorsk · 01-15-2008, 06:47 AM

"Alphabetically grouped book listings" and "complete off option" are already there. Although it's nice to hear they're adding the delete feature.

ronnn · 01-15-2008, 08:04 AM

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.

vinniet · 01-15-2008, 10:19 AM

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.

TadW · 01-15-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamaest

... [with the experimental firmware] ...

Darn, weren't you able to snatch a copy of it?

01-14-2008, 05:52 PM	#1
flamaest Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 149 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: Alphabetically grouped book listings Book delete function Complete off option to conserve battery power Some kind of Bookmark viewer in the Sony PC software. 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 06:24 PM.

01-14-2008, 09:26 PM	#10
Andanzas Madrileño en el exilio Posts: 227 Karma: 266 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Does this mean that Sony has definitely abandoned the 500 and its users? __________________ Two short stories I published on Feedbooks: Deriva and At a Loss for Words

01-15-2008, 06:47 AM	#12
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,111 Karma: 17432 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. __________________ Yet another reverse engineering blog Like to chat? Join #mobileread

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01-14-2008, 05:57 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 8,208 Karma: 58191 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Airpanel 100, Jornada 720, Kindle, Smart Q7, Zelda has Sony 600 & 700	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.

01-14-2008, 06:03 PM	#3
flamaest Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 149 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, 06:13 PM	#4
flamaest Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 149 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, 06:14 PM	#5
doug41472 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.

01-14-2008, 06:18 PM	#6
flamaest Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 149 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, 06:36 PM	#8
doug41472 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony reader	Thank you Vivaldirules. I love my 505!!

01-15-2008, 08:04 AM	#13
ronnn Member Posts: 20 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, 10:19 AM	#14
vinniet Connoisseur Posts: 50 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.