New firmware for the Sony Reader 505: NOW! - Page 2

maggotb0y · 01-15-2008, 09:24 AM

Of course, the best part of all this is that with a Sony firmware updater to unbrick his devices, Igorsk will be able to bring us hacks for the 505!!!

vivaldirules · 01-15-2008, 09:37 AM

I think it's way to early to start flaming Sony for things they haven't done yet. I fully expect that the 500 will be supported if it is possible with the hardware that it has.

Alexander Turcic · 01-15-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maggotb0y

Of course, the best part of all this is that with a Sony firmware updater to unbrick his devices, Igorsk will be able to bring us hacks for the 505!!!

I forgot. Yeah!!!!!!

recycledelectron · 01-15-2008, 11:27 AM

Good news.

I hope they add support for .html, .chm, and .djvu documents at some point. (I won't ask about .wma audio.)

File browsing would be a GREAT add-on. (Alphabetical listings by title and author, plus date annoy me. I've been using directories since the commodore 64, and I don't want to change.) File browsing would also let me open files that do not end in a known extension that I want to read - .m, .c, or .cpp for example. If I browse to a source code file called "fractal.m" I should be able to select it, and have the reader ask me what format to pretend it is. I select text. Then I can read it. (I just spent 30 minutes creating .txt copies of my .m MatLab source code files, and to renaming them to group them by title.)

Once file browsing is added, the ability to turn off the wait (while it loads the database with books) would also be welcome.

Dare I ask about the ability to copy or move files between the 2 memory cards and the internal memory?

Andy

NatCh · 01-15-2008, 01:05 PM

Late February was when the first 500 firmware update came out, so I was kinda hoping that the 505's first one would be out in the same range. Good to see some specific info on it.

Nate the great · 01-15-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycledelectron

Once file browsing is added, the ability to turn off the wait (while it loads the database with books) would also be welcome.

Dare I ask about the ability to copy or move files between the 2 memory cards and the internal memory?

Andy

Don't get your hopes up. If the firmware includes any file management, I would be terribly surprised.

TadW · 01-15-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Don't get your hopes up. If the firmware includes any file management, I would be terribly surprised.

Terribly as in terribly good or terribly bad?

flamaest · 01-15-2008, 03:43 PM

Folks,

I also wanted to point out that David from Sony directly mentioned the great work done by many people on these forums. He specifically mentioned igorsk, Hadrien, and kovidgoyal as some of the people who are making major advancements in what these Sony reader can do.

David said he frequently reads these forums and was actually interviewed by MobileRead sometime ago. I believe Sony takes our input on MobileRead seriously.

Thanks,
Fabian.

kovidgoyal · 01-15-2008, 03:45 PM

Yeah I notice the occasional sony domain in the list of visitors to libprs500.kovidgoyal.net as well. Now if only SONY would actually advertise these third party tools so that new users become aware of them.

Nate the great · 01-15-2008, 03:50 PM

He probably does appreciate Kovid and Igor doing his job for him. One opened the Reader to some nice little features, and the other wrote the converter that Sony never bothered the release.

NatCh · 01-15-2008, 03:56 PM

If I recall correctly from the Blogger's Day back in '06 and the Conference Call last October, he was actually the Product Marketing Manager, so his say on design questions may not have been as ... influential as seems to be the assumption here.

Penforhire · 01-15-2008, 04:35 PM

I am extra encouraged to hear that some Sony folks at least look at these forums! Any firmware update at all is more than I expect considering the device does not have a fatal flaw, so great news!

rhadin · 01-15-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

He probably does appreciate Kovid and Igor doing his job for him. One opened the Reader to some nice little features, and the other wrote the converter that Sony never bothered the release.

I'm a newbie to ebooks, having just gotten my Sony 505 for Christmas. I know about Kovid's converter but what enhancements has Igor provided (and where do you find them and learn about them)?

JSWolf · 01-15-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

I'm a newbie to ebooks, having just gotten my Sony 505 for Christmas. I know about Kovid's converter but what enhancements has Igor provided (and where do you find them and learn about them)?

Nothing yet for the 505. The enhancements are for the 500 only right now.

NatCh · 01-15-2008, 05:23 PM

Basically, igorsk figured out how to replace the firmware, and the rudiments of what to replace it with. That started a flurry of hacking for various purposes (adding a clock display, for example. You can find the gritty details here and here, if you're interested.

01-15-2008, 01:05 PM	#20
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	Late February was when the first 500 firmware update came out, so I was kinda hoping that the 505's first one would be out in the same range. Good to see some specific info on it. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

01-15-2008, 03:56 PM	#26
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	If I recall correctly from the Blogger's Day back in '06 and the Conference Call last October, he was actually the Product Marketing Manager, so his say on design questions may not have been as ... influential as seems to be the assumption here. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

01-15-2008, 05:23 PM	#30
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	Basically, igorsk figured out how to replace the firmware, and the rudiments of what to replace it with. That started a flurry of hacking for various purposes (adding a clock display, for example. You can find the gritty details here and here, if you're interested. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

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01-15-2008, 09:24 AM	#16
maggotb0y Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 1166 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey, Outside of Philadelphia Device: Sony Reader	Of course, the best part of all this is that with a Sony firmware updater to unbrick his devices, Igorsk will be able to bring us hacks for the 505!!!

01-15-2008, 09:37 AM	#17
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 9,843 Karma: 12304195 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I think it's way to early to start flaming Sony for things they haven't done yet. I fully expect that the 500 will be supported if it is possible with the hardware that it has.

01-15-2008, 11:27 AM	#19
recycledelectron Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 854 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Nokia 770 & 800, PRS-500 & 505, SmartQ Q7, V7 & T7, Q1 Ultra UMPC	Good news. I hope they add support for .html, .chm, and .djvu documents at some point. (I won't ask about .wma audio.) File browsing would be a GREAT add-on. (Alphabetical listings by title and author, plus date annoy me. I've been using directories since the commodore 64, and I don't want to change.) File browsing would also let me open files that do not end in a known extension that I want to read - .m, .c, or .cpp for example. If I browse to a source code file called "fractal.m" I should be able to select it, and have the reader ask me what format to pretend it is. I select text. Then I can read it. (I just spent 30 minutes creating .txt copies of my .m MatLab source code files, and to renaming them to group them by title.) Once file browsing is added, the ability to turn off the wait (while it loads the database with books) would also be welcome. Dare I ask about the ability to copy or move files between the 2 memory cards and the internal memory? Andy

01-15-2008, 03:43 PM	#23
flamaest Zealot Posts: 144 Karma: 1016907 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: prs-500	Folks, I also wanted to point out that David from Sony directly mentioned the great work done by many people on these forums. He specifically mentioned igorsk, Hadrien, and kovidgoyal as some of the people who are making major advancements in what these Sony reader can do. David said he frequently reads these forums and was actually interviewed by MobileRead sometime ago. I believe Sony takes our input on MobileRead seriously. Thanks, Fabian.

01-15-2008, 03:45 PM	#24
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre Posts: 22,511 Karma: 2944574 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yeah I notice the occasional sony domain in the list of visitors to libprs500.kovidgoyal.net as well. Now if only SONY would actually advertise these third party tools so that new users become aware of them.

01-15-2008, 03:50 PM	#25
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 10,034 Karma: 2422819 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	He probably does appreciate Kovid and Igor doing his job for him. One opened the Reader to some nice little features, and the other wrote the converter that Sony never bothered the release.

01-15-2008, 04:35 PM	#27
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 1,846 Karma: 5514220 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle PW, PRS-650, iPhone 4, iPad 4	I am extra encouraged to hear that some Sony folks at least look at these forums! Any firmware update at all is more than I expect considering the device does not have a fatal flaw, so great news!


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