First Sony Reader Update Available!

NatCh · 02-09-2007, 12:25 PM

The much expected first update to the Sony Reader appears to be available now -- perhaps fittingly, today seems to be the day that the Reader forum has pulled ahead of the iLiad forum in number of posts (it may not stay that way, of course, but the Reader forum has been behind up 'til now, so I thought it was worth mentioning

)

I haven't played with it yet, so I can't give much direct information, but I have managed to dig up some details as to what's included in this update. It's mostly mundane stuff, but there are a few interesting bits, and as I've mentioned previously, I think this is most likely a first update, in the sense of more to follow, so we'll see what happens there.

Vista compatibility supporting:

Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Basic
Microsoft® Windows® VistaHome Premium
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Business
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Ultimate

ConnSoft

Support for Microsoft® Windows® Vista (Home Basic/ Home Premium/ Business/ Ultimate)
Reading books on the PC in Full-screen mode
Continuous page scrolling in Preview mode, rather than page by page
Added Eject button which safely removes the Reader once all transfer activity is completed
Improvement of the Status Icon
System stability enhancements

Reader Firmware

Longer audio playback Battery life
Faster transfer speeds for Memory Stick Media 4GB or larger
Improved handling of white bands on audio playback screen
System stability enhancements

The update came down in two parts. I checked for the update with the Reader connected, and the first part seemed to be to the Reader's firmware (it restarted in the process), and the second seemed to be ConnSoft itself, and launched when I restarted that app after the installation of the first part.

I've attached some screen caps of the more interesting message boxes that came up during the update.

Laurens · 02-09-2007, 12:35 PM

Amazing! It now renders pages in COLOUR!

Laurens · 02-09-2007, 12:37 PM

Seriously, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Longer MP3 playback was not exactly the most desirable feature. (Who uses it for music playback anyway?) What about organizing books in folders?

NatCh · 02-09-2007, 12:51 PM

My impression/guess is that this is more aimed to fix the actual functionality issues that became apparent in the first weeks after release, rather than to add new functionality, but I've seen some indications that there's likely more to come.

On a specific note, I have a really huge RTF file that had been resetting my Reader when I switched it to L size -- it goes through the sizes just fine now, and seems to do so significantly more quickly.

The ConnSoft seems to be running significantly faster too, and I think I like the full screen reading mode.

yvanleterrible · 02-09-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurens

Amazing! It now renders pages in COLOUR!

b3t Nice going NatCh!

sic · 02-09-2007, 12:59 PM

do you guys know what this is:
"Addresses security vulnerabilities" ?

It's a new feature of the firmware upgrade... I wonder what they mean. did they screw up the reverse engineered USB protocol?

stxopher · 02-09-2007, 01:13 PM

Soooooo, will my audio be better for ANY white band or just an Average White Band?

Honestly, my knowledge of audio is hideous and the first thing I thought of was that they've changed the settings to help market Andy Williams records instead of Beyonce. (Sonys new marketing slogan in Newsweek: Less threatening than an iPod!)

Still, can't wait to get home and see what still works and what doesn't.

tsgreer · 02-09-2007, 01:14 PM

Anyone know how we update our Reader if we have a Mac? I'm at my brothers and I haven't had a chance to get to the site, so sorry if I am asking something that is really obvious!

ThomWill · 02-09-2007, 01:20 PM

I'm updated. Reading with fingers crossed is difficult, but I think I can manage.

Nightwing · 02-09-2007, 01:37 PM

No bricking here.. Went well...

Wonder if it will alter all battery life.

scotty1024 · 02-09-2007, 01:43 PM

My prs500 on my Macbook Pro 10.4.8 was working prior to the upgrade and is now dead in the water.

My filesystem code is still working.

Aprilbeginnings · 02-09-2007, 01:50 PM

I guess we know why the server was down for those few days. Thanks for the headsup, guess I will go and get my updates and pray, LOL

Max Introvert · 02-09-2007, 01:55 PM

After a harrowing hour or so --

The new version of ConnSoft still doesn't work under 64-bit XP. I know that's a niche, but it doesn't bode well for 64-bit Vista, and they say this supports Vista.

In other news, don't try to update firmware running inside a virtual machine. I've seen the "Updating firmware now ..." screen a LOT more than is healthy recently. *grin*

scotty1024 · 02-09-2007, 01:59 PM

Make that my regression tests were working.

The filesystem itself is toast on the same error as is nailing prs500, can't execute pathquery on /.

scotty1024 · 02-09-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Introvert

After a harrowing hour or so --

The new version of ConnSoft still doesn't work under 64-bit XP. I know that's a niche, but it doesn't bode well for 64-bit Vista, and they say this supports Vista.

In other news, don't try to update firmware running inside a virtual machine. I've seen the "Updating firmware now ..." screen a LOT more than is healthy recently. *grin*

I upgraded using Parallels 3180 under XP SP2. I just terminated the firmware update after it came up and said I now had the latest firmware. Then I relaunched Sony Connect and let it update itself.

Everything but the 3rd party apps are working now for me. I even bought and downloaded a new ebook after the upgrade.

02-09-2007, 12:25 PM	#1
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	First Sony Reader Update available! The much expected first update to the Sony Reader appears to be available now -- perhaps fittingly, today seems to be the day that the Reader forum has pulled ahead of the iLiad forum in number of posts (it may not stay that way, of course, but the Reader forum has been behind up 'til now, so I thought it was worth mentioning ) I haven't played with it yet, so I can't give much direct information, but I have managed to dig up some details as to what's included in this update. It's mostly mundane stuff, but there are a few interesting bits, and as I've mentioned previously, I think this is most likely a first update, in the sense of more to follow, so we'll see what happens there. Vista compatibility supporting: Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Basic Microsoft® Windows® VistaHome Premium Microsoft® Windows® Vista Business Microsoft® Windows® Vista Ultimate ConnSoft Support for Microsoft® Windows® Vista (Home Basic/ Home Premium/ Business/ Ultimate) Reading books on the PC in Full-screen mode Continuous page scrolling in Preview mode, rather than page by page Added Eject button which safely removes the Reader once all transfer activity is completed Improvement of the Status Icon System stability enhancements Reader Firmware Longer audio playback Battery life Faster transfer speeds for Memory Stick Media 4GB or larger Improved handling of white bands on audio playback screen System stability enhancements The update came down in two parts. I checked for the update with the Reader connected, and the first part seemed to be to the Reader's firmware (it restarted in the process), and the second seemed to be ConnSoft itself, and launched when I restarted that app after the installation of the first part. I've attached some screen caps of the more interesting message boxes that came up during the update. Attached Thumbnails

02-09-2007, 12:35 PM	#2
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	Colour! Amazing! It now renders pages in COLOUR!

02-09-2007, 12:51 PM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	My impression/guess is that this is more aimed to fix the actual functionality issues that became apparent in the first weeks after release, rather than to add new functionality, but I've seen some indications that there's likely more to come. On a specific note, I have a really huge RTF file that had been resetting my Reader when I switched it to L size -- it goes through the sizes just fine now, and seems to do so significantly more quickly. The ConnSoft seems to be running significantly faster too, and I think I like the full screen reading mode. Attached Thumbnails

02-09-2007, 01:14 PM	#8
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	Anyone know how we update our Reader if we have a Mac? I'm at my brothers and I haven't had a chance to get to the site, so sorry if I am asking something that is really obvious! Last edited by tsgreer; 05-23-2007 at 06:33 PM.

02-09-2007, 01:43 PM	#11
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	Upgrade broke my prs500 My prs500 on my Macbook Pro 10.4.8 was working prior to the upgrade and is now dead in the water. My filesystem code is still working. Last edited by scotty1024; 02-09-2007 at 01:50 PM.

02-09-2007, 12:37 PM	#3
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	Seriously, I'm a bit underwhelmed. Longer MP3 playback was not exactly the most desirable feature. (Who uses it for music playback anyway?) What about organizing books in folders?

02-09-2007, 12:59 PM	#6
sic Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 692 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: SONY reader	do you guys know what this is: "Addresses security vulnerabilities" ? It's a new feature of the firmware upgrade... I wonder what they mean. did they screw up the reverse engineered USB protocol?

02-09-2007, 01:13 PM	#7
stxopher Nameless Being	Soooooo, will my audio be better for ANY white band or just an Average White Band? Honestly, my knowledge of audio is hideous and the first thing I thought of was that they've changed the settings to help market Andy Williams records instead of Beyonce. (Sonys new marketing slogan in Newsweek: Less threatening than an iPod!) Still, can't wait to get home and see what still works and what doesn't.

02-09-2007, 01:20 PM	#9
ThomWill Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 68 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500 (Sony Reader)	I'm updated. Reading with fingers crossed is difficult, but I think I can manage.

02-09-2007, 01:37 PM	#10
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	No bricking here.. Went well... Wonder if it will alter all battery life.

02-09-2007, 01:50 PM	#12
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	I guess we know why the server was down for those few days. Thanks for the headsup, guess I will go and get my updates and pray, LOL

02-09-2007, 01:55 PM	#13
Max Introvert Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2007 Device: Sony PRS-T1	After a harrowing hour or so -- The new version of ConnSoft still doesn't work under 64-bit XP. I know that's a niche, but it doesn't bode well for 64-bit Vista, and they say this supports Vista. In other news, don't try to update firmware running inside a virtual machine. I've seen the "Updating firmware now ..." screen a LOT more than is healthy recently. grin

02-09-2007, 01:59 PM	#14
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	Make that my regression tests were working. The filesystem itself is toast on the same error as is nailing prs500, can't execute pathquery on /.

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