Important note (2013-01-09)
since firmware 5.3.2 the "time to read" feature is enabled by default and this extension is not needed anymore (and must not be installed).
Reading timer hidden feature (Kindle Touch with firmware 5.1.2)
Eureka has found a disabled Kindle Touch 5.1.2 feature which seems to be used in the latest Kindle Paperwhite model announced by Amazon (advertised as "Time to read"). He noticed that in
/opt/amazon/ebook/config/reader_plugins.xml there's a commented plugin called Reading Timer (located in
/opt/amazon/ebook/lib/ReadingTimer.jar).
Well, I uncommented the plugin and restarted the framework and ... It seems to work.
When you open a book, in the menu you find a new item "Activate reading timer" (already localized in IT, DE, FR, ES, ...).
After a first phase of "training" the timer begins to work. It gives (on the status bar) a projection of how much you have already read and how much you miss to the end of the book even if I don't know how accurate it is.
The initial training can be reset by removing the reading preferences file (warning: also font and margin preferences are reset, and the introductory page teaching how to turn pages is shown again once).
You can tap on the status line ad the bottom of the display to switch between different infos (time elapsed since beginning, time to the end of the section and of the book).
For more screenshots see
here.
Reading timer launcher extension
Implementing a "Launcher" extension to load/unload this plugin is quite simple: remove comments from the appropriate line in
/opt/amazon/ebook/config/reader_plugins.xml file or set them back and then
restart the framework.
Prerequisites:
- Amazon Kindle Touch with firmware 5.1.2 (maybe 5.1.0 is OK, but I havent checked)
- Jailbreak
- GUI Launcher for Kindle touch.
To activate the extension, unzip the files in the extensions directory. A new "readingtimer" subfolder should appear, containing a shell script in readingtimer/bin which does the trick.
Warning:
This extension has been tested only on my 5.1.2 kindle touch. Don't use it on different firmwares and in particular don't use it with firmwares from 5.3.2 on (it's no longer needed and could damage your KT). In any case don't use it unless you know what you're doing. Do a complete backup before trying since it could damage your kindle.
After tapping on "Load/Unload Reading Timer plugin" you will see your display turn white. Wait until the framework has restarted.
At the end of the book menu (that which pops up when touching the top of the display) you will find an "Activate reading timer" entry. Tap it and the plugin will start counting time. «
At this moment, 3h 45m at the end of the book I'm reading and 10 minutes to the end of the section. I've enough time to read the section to the end and maybe I'm going to finish the whole book within tuesday». ;-)
This extension has been tested only on my 5.1.2 kindle touch. Don't use it on previous firmwares and in any case don't use it unless you know what you're doing. Do a complete backup before trying since it could damage your kindle.
To install:
- connect your kindle to the computer;
- open the extensions folder (if it's not present, you're missing point 3 in prerequisite list);
- unpack the contents of the readingtimer-vX.Y.Z.zip file directly to the "extensions" folder on your kindle.
- unconnect the kindle;
- restart your kindle;
To uninstall:
- unload the readingtimer plugin (if you don't it will remain active);
- connect your kindle to the computer
- open the extensions folder;
- remove the readingtimer subfolder;
- unconnect the kindle;
- restart your kindle;
A regular .bin package
may come as soon as I'll understand how to do it (thanks to twobob for addressing me to the
proper infos). By the way, installation is such straightforward that I don't feel that a bin package is actually needed.
The Reading Timer plugin is actually bundled into the firmware of KT. Actually this extension just uncovers an hidden feature but doesn't add anything to the system. Could it make sense to add it directly into the Launcher package?
Any comment welcome.
Some possible issues/developments
- It would be nice to "forget" a book and start timing it again;
- It would be also nice to integrate this plugin's data with Ixtab JBPatch toolbar patch.
Changes- v0.0.4 [29/11/2012]: preference file is now backed-up to the extension directory;
- v0.0.3 [29/11/2012]: the reading timer training can now be reset by deleting the reading preferences file (many thanks to thomass).
- v0.0.2 [16/9/2012]: previous version was uploaded with "unload plugin" as the the default menu, which is obviously wrong since by default the plugin is unloaded.
- v0.0.1 [16/9/2012]: initial release