PRS+: Enhanced firmware for Sony Reader, Folders, Games & more

[yolan]

Originally Posted by Analogus

A view words from my viewpoint concerning battery-problem:

I have 2 350 with latest PRS+ installed (without games).
Both normally doesn't suffer mentioned battery-problem. Nor with older version of PRS+ nor with newer ones. I've to admit that since a couple of months I use my own custom builds without games.
Every time I startet a game, battery drained very quickly, esp. chess.

Very seldom battery drained over night. So far as I can say that - reason has been in any case a specific eBook, not PRS+. After deleting this book problems vansihed.

Hi Analogus.
I have the Zork version installed on my 650, and I have also noticed that the battery does not last very long, sometimes from a full battery I lost 1 bar overnight. I supposed it was because I need to check the dictionary frequently and this may be power-consuming...

But, last week I put the reader to sleep manually with only 1 bar in the battery, and after 3-4 days of not using it... the reader didn't power on: the battery was completely empty...
So now I'm starting to think that it really drains some battery while on sleep mode


Just for the record, I only use the device for reading books (epub mostly) and dictionary look-ups.

Thanks!

[Analogus]

yolan:

Hmmmm... no idea.
But: ZORK-Version for 650 is over one moth old. Version for 350 is new. I'll produce a new version for PRS650 over the weekend. Try this version then.

I have read somwhere on this forum that esp. the 650-model could have a bug (or whatever else) that makes battery drain fast randomly.

A.

[imageraw]

Hello, I'm wondering if you could help me with this (or should I post it on the Ubuntu Forums?):

in Ubuntu, on terminal, I can unpack the PRS+ zip as follows:

~$ sudo unzip PRSP_650_2.1.01alpha.zip

then I'd have to cp + sync it to the READER folder in the Sony PRS 650, and here I'm stuck...

I tried ~$ cp PRSP /media/READER/ but it doesn't work. Most likely I need to cp the name of the package but I can't find it...any idea?

thanks!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by imageraw

Hello, I'm wondering if you could help me with this (or should I post it on the Ubuntu Forums?):

in Ubuntu, on terminal, I can unpack the PRS+ zip as follows:

~$ sudo unzip PRSP_650_2.1.01alpha.zip

then I'd have to cp + sync it to the READER folder in the Sony PRS 650, and here I'm stuck...

I tried ~$ cp PRSP /media/READER/ but it doesn't work. Most likely I need to cp the name of the package but I can't find it...any idea?

thanks!

Find a friend with a Windows machine to do the install.

[Mark Nord]

imageraw

For the first time installation, JSWolf is right, it must be done by running setup.exe from a Windows-Box, reader connected via USB.

Any further update can be done from Linux as well.
Expand the archive, there will be a folder "update" with a folder "PRSPInstaller"
Copy this folder to the IM (Internal Memory) of your reader /<mountpoint>/READER/
shutdown and restart the device.
Update will be installed during restart.

[imageraw]

thanks both, I'll try as soon as I get hold of a PC with windows.

I've got a question in the meantime (plz forgive me if I got it all wrong): on Ubuntu, if I install PRS+, will I be able to organize the PRS+ folder content on the Sony PRS 650 by mounting it on Ubuntu as /media/reader/ and dealing with it as if it were an external hard drive? Any reason why the PRS+ folder system should not be compatible with the Calibre metadata filing system?

[imageraw]

...and will I be able to install Arabic fonts to read epub in Arabic (right to left) with PRS+?
If I won't, I suppose the alternative would be to turn articles in the epub format into pdf files? but I don't know if that's possible...I'll do a little search.
Thank you for your help!

[Analogus]

You will not be able to read right-->left in EPUBs. That's because the reader does not support it even with PRS+.
Converting into PDF is possible.

A.

[doremifaso]

Hi, I have a question about changing fonts.

I have the fonts installed and I can see them in the User EPUB Style (CSS File) menu. However, after I select a particular font, it doesn't seem to have any affect on the books when I open them.

Am I missing something?

[Analogus]

That depends on the EPUB itself. If you have good luck, it works out of the box.


Points responsible for working/not working:

1) What version of PRS+ do you use? (official version or for example my 'ZORK' edition)

2) If you use the official version, you have to prepare your own CSS-file(s). You have to do it the right way.

3) If you use the ZORK-edition you have a couple CSS-files on your reader. They will not work with all ebooks.

4) Did you copy one of the 'ready-made-packages' from my website? They will not work with every ebook out of the box.

In all cases the crucial point is:

Most EPUBs use their own intern CSS-file. You can override its definitions with mentioned CSS-files, but you need to use appropriate CSS-tags (p, @page, div, ...). Most problematic are EPUBs with embedded fonts.
My ready-made-packages CSS-files use common CSS-tags. Sad but true - it's not possible to cover any EPUB file existing.

To add CSS-tags in your CSS-files you have to find out which tag is responsible for the formatting in your epub-file. I use CALIBRE therefor:
Open an ebook with calibre (just double-click on it) --> scroll further to the main text --> right-click on it and select 'inspect'. Have a look there and learn how to use those informations you will be offered there...

Often a quick solution is to remove embedded fonts from the ebook and/or convert the ebook with CALIBRE from epub to epub. Sounds senseless but works well. CALIBRE in that case alters CSS-tags, which can be the solution.

A very rough and brute solution is to remove the internal CSS-file from the ebook.

Removing fonts and removing CSS-file goes that way:

Use a PC and rename the ebook-file. Change the file-ending from 'epub' to 'zip'. Open the ZIP-file and remove fonts and CSS-file you find inside.

Other way is to use CALIBRE. use right-mouse onto your file. The menu-point should be 'enhance ebook' or something like that. This functions 'explodes' the EPUB-file in the same manner as described above with using ZIP-functionality.


A view words at the end:

I fear you will not be able to bypass the necessity to edit CSS-files in the one or the other way and gain at least little knowledge about CSS-code if you want to change font in epub with using PRS+.

I myself have had no knowledge about CSS and very, very little knowledge about developing. But Sony's PRS-x50 series in combination with PRS+ made it worth improving skills in those topics. What I want to say is:

Do not give up too early ;-)

A.

[imageraw]

Would it be possible to install the "locales" + "alphabets" only? Much as I like the "features", I'm not really sure I need them right now...locales and alphabets are what I really need urgently on my Prs 650. If this is a possibility, could you tell me how to install locales and alphabets as a package? It's not urgent, when you can. Thank you!

[Analogus]

Could you explain what you mean with "locales & alphabets"?

If you mean FONTS with letters for various languages (japanese, chinese, arabic, ...) you are on the topic 'CSS' and 'EPUBs'. Foreign fonts in RTF, LRF ord TXT files are another topic.

If you mean the interface of the reader, you would have to programm/compile your own version of PRS+ with the language you want.

In both cases you need PRS+. To remove 'features' of PRS+ you would have to reprogramm it. I regard that as sensless and maybe much work.

A.

[imageraw]

"locales" and "alphabets" as table-listed at http://code.google.com/p/prs-plus/

I see your point about programming/compiling. I'll install PRS-Plus. Just that...I'm feeling a bit dumb right now (after years on Linux)...once I've downloaded the .zip file onto a Windows desktop, what am I supposed to do? Just copy onto the sony reader main card and double-clock on "setup"? (one of the three items I see if I open the PRSP_650_2.1.01alpha file). Thank you again for your help and support!

[imageraw]

I'm sorry - feeling even dumber just done it. Thanks again.

[Analogus]

You are wellcome ;-)

Don't hesitate asking if troubles/questions occur.

A.