Hacks for Users

[ali]

This is a first attempt for non-intrusive Iliad hack for the geek-but-non-techhead user.

Users: Please test it. You could browse the web.

Developers: Please test it. I have no connectivity right now. If it doesn't work, fix it. If it works, extend it.

The zip contains a hacks.tex that is just needed to extend this stuff.


Usage:

1. Copy hacks.pdf and addressbar.html to the iliad
2. "Read" hacks.pdf to enable permanent networking. (Don't forget your Iliad is now wide open for intruders!)
3. Use addressbar.html to begin browsing.

The addressbar was stolen from schestowitz.com. It's not by me. Credit belongs to whoever wrote it.

Please tell me if it works.

EDIT: This is an old thread, referring to the outdated Iliad software release 2.4. The hack doesn't work anymore.

[ali]

Ok, I tried it myself (where is everyone?): It works!

I could start networking, and the addresssbar works, too. See evidence in the attachment.

[TadW]

ali, it seems like you did an impressive job here. Could you just explain for me layman what exactly this hack does?

[ali]

Originally Posted by TadW

ali, it seems like you did an impressive job here. Could you just explain for me layman what exactly this hack does?

Um, is the question "what's it good for" or "how does it work"?

What's it good for: You can browse the web. The hack enables networking permanently, the html file provides an address bar where you can enter www.mobileread.com, or whatever.

How does it work: The pdf contains links to the Iliad's internal programs to start networking. Other than with the iDS update thing, the network will not be disabled after a minute, but stay active until you reboot. Then, the html viewer can display online websites. Because it has no addressbar to enter addresses, there's a html file that simulates one.

Question answered?

[TadW]

Yes

Sorry I wasn't sure what this did; I don't have the iRex (yet), so it's sometimes difficult to follow. So before using this hack, networking stayed active for only a minute or so, and browsing external sites wasn't really possible (without an addressbar)?

[arivero]

TadW, yes, the network was active only during update from iRex iDs site. Check the more technical theads for evolution of the hack.

Some other ideas for the browser were deployed by R2D2 at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=270.

[R2D2]

I updated the frameset with a textfield to input an url without "http://" at the beginning.

[tribble]

anyone know if creating a pdf form to start WLAN with ssid and key is possible?

[Tscherno]

Originally Posted by tribble

anyone know if creating a pdf form to start WLAN with ssid and key is possible?

Should be. But everyone has to make his own PDF to start. Or is it possible with an PDF-Form?!?

The Wireless-Script allows it:

wirelessUsage()
{
echo "Usage:"
echo " $0 stop"
echo " $0 start <ssid> [enc <wepkey>]"
echo " $0 scan [<ssid>]"
echo "Note: always dhcp"
exit $EXIT_ERROR
}

[CommanderROR]

WOW!

That was fast and impressive work!

Somebody from iRex should give you money for this...:-)

But this also brings me back to something else...I asked a while ago. but didn't really get a useful answer...

Can a variant of this procedure be used to switch off the WLAN completely? I don't mean permanently, only for the time between the activation of the hack and the rebooting of the device...
Thanks.

[DHer]

nope, not really, unfortunately.

There is already a line in wireless.sh stop which should power down the wlan unit.

The only problem is: it doesn't.

I think this is something iRex has to fix, we've got no real chance to do it.

[tribble]

Originally Posted by Tscherno

Should be. But everyone has to make his own PDF to start. Or is it possible with an PDF-Form?!?

I meant using a pdf form, so anyone can use a generic pdf file we make. can xpdf do forms? can we make a df save button, so it remembers form contents?

And for the wlan, i made a shell scipt and put in an eba file like ali suggested. works fine, but only for the more experienced i think.

[arivero]

Originally Posted by tribble

I meant using a pdf form, so anyone can use a generic pdf file we make. can xpdf do forms? can we make a df save button, so it remembers form contents?

xpdf should be able to visualize forms, and scribble or pdflatex can make them. But I have not found yet how entered data can be used to modify another part of the same pdf. All the examples are about sending the data somewhere.

Of course adventureous advanced users could first apply the patch from ali http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=38 and then forget about pdf holing, getting bash script execution directly. But such solution is a patch... it breaks warranty.

[Riocaz]

I'm confused...

Originally Posted by DHer

nope, not really, unfortunately.

There is already a line in wireless.sh stop which should power down the wlan unit.

The only problem is: it doesn't.

I think this is something iRex has to fix, we've got no real chance to do it.

Originally Posted by ali

wireless.sh stop contains "iwpriv $wifiIf deepsleep 1". So I assume either turning off the wifi is working, or it is currently impossible because deepsleep isn't implemented in the kernel module.

So does the wifi unit power down or not? Or am I misunderstanding one them?

[tribble]

Originally Posted by Riocaz

I'm confused...

So does the wifi unit power down or not? Or am I misunderstanding one of the questions?

i cant say for sure, but my guess is, they try to turn it off, but it doesnt.

does anyone know, how to determine for sure? can a wlan sniffer detect the card? can you check it in proc somewhere? i just dont know enough about hardware