Font, ScreenSaver & USBNetwork Hacks for Kindle 2.x, 3.x & 4.x

[strawberrykit]

I just got a kindle 3 and tried the font hack so that I could read chinese on my kindle.

For any given file, it works for the first 10 pages and then I'm back to the [_] in place of characters problem.

Does anyone else experience this issue?

[mnwcsult]

@NiluJe

This file "kindle-x-tc.tar.gz" is used to patch what. I am looking to get access to the Kindle development kit.

What I would like is to get TC running. What else to I actually need?

[cujo]

Originally Posted by strawberrykit

I just got a kindle 3 and tried the font hack so that I could read chinese on my kindle.

For any given file, it works for the first 10 pages and then I'm back to the [_] in place of characters problem.

Does anyone else experience this issue?

I'm in exactly same situation, just applied hack dated 11/19/10, after several pages it'll show a large empty block, from that point on the file can't be recognized any more, and all subsequent files (those w/ chinese font) access will fail, even ones that I was once able to open.

Any one help? Thanks.

[JDShaffer]

Hi, all.

Thanks for the great hacks and explanation.

I successfully applied the jailbreak, SS, and Font hack,

and I tried to follow the instructions I found about renaming the CJK.ttf to the Mono_*.ttf file names...

But I still don't see Japanese coming up in the web browser (I only want Japanese support to check my e-mail...)

Did I make a mistake? I've tried looking through the thread here, but at this length, I'm having trouble finding my answer...

What do I do with the CJK.ttf file again? Did I mess that part up?

Many Thanks,
Jeffrey

PS -- Running a k2i

[JDShaffer]

Hmm...

I tried replacing the "Mono_Regular.ttf" font as suggested elsewhere (as one that was believed to control the web browser font), but I didn't any difference, and I noticed that the font still had serifs, which the CJK.tff doesn't have...

So, I went hunting for the file that controls the web browser's main font and I only noticed a change when I replaced the Serif_Regular.ttf. When I replaced this font, I could then see Japanese in my browser. Strange...

I'm not sure what else will be affected by replacing that font, but at least it's working for now.

Anyone else have this problem on a k2i with FW 2.5.4?


Jeffrey

[hydin]

Hey

Strange question, but if you hack/root the kindle, can you use calibre to keep book collections in order? I mean instead of alphabetical or by author, keeping them in the order they need to be read.

Wasn't sure to ask this here or the calibre forum.

Thanks!

[NiLuJe]

@yzhuqing: Check the dedicated 'Kindle stuck on software update' thread for pointers.

@cc200:

* Err, that's weird, I'm pretty sure it works fine, especially with both hacks installed. Do note that it's actually triggered on the *unplug* event, not *eject* . As always, make sure the file has the right name, without any hidden file extension.

Also,

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

To use the autoreboot feature: Just drop a blank file named reboot in the linkss folder (by copying and renaming the already existing "autoreboot" blank file, for example) (or in the linkfonts folder if you also have the fonts hack installed!), and your Kindle will do a quick reboot 10s after you've unplugged it!

* As for a 'true' random, no, probably not doable without hacking the java framework.

@strawberrykit: What's the missing characters supposed to be, how is the document encoded (ie. UTF-8?), and what fonts are your using?

@mnwcsult: Answered in more detail in the other thread .

@cujo/@strawberrykit: So that's with CJK content... No idea, probably the same kind of issues people seem to be having on some Kindles... Try using the autohint or bci setting, see if that helps...

@JDShaffer: The K2 browser mostly uses the Serif & Sans families, so you might need to switch other families besides Mono. (Depends on how your webmail is styled, of coursed). As for which font does what, check the first post, there's a link to another post with detailed info. about that.

@hydin: You don't need any hack to do this. It's controlled by the 'published' date metadata, when sorting by anything other than Title. (Latest releases shown on top). A quick search in the Kindle or Calibre forum should get your more detailed instructions.

[LTCSZ]

In trying to apply the Jailbreak hack, I reach a point at which the Kindle tells me there is an error and press "R" to continue using the unit...The hack is not applied...What should I do at this point?...What could I be doing wrong? The unit is a Kindle 2, serial number beginning B003...I am using the Jailbreak hack file for K2...Is this correct? Really appreciate the advice!

Steve

[NiLuJe]

@LTCSZ: Read the instruction more carefully.

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

Don't try to force a custom update by rebooting your Kindle. You should *always* install custom hacks via the Settings page. If the 'Update Your Kindle' link is greyed out, it's because you uploaded the wrong binfile for your device. Don't try to force an install by rebooting. It'll, at best, fail, and at worst, force you to start your Kindle in recovery mode to delete the offending update.

[JDShaffer]

NiLuJe,

How hard is it to edit ttf files? I'm using the CJK.ttf file for asian support, but of course when I apply that for __Bold.ttf, I lose all the bold English characters, too.

But, if it's easy enough to edit ttf files, I'd like to open the default __Bold.ttf and copy the bold English characters over into the file so at least English is properly bolded... :-)

Any thoughts?

[NiLuJe]

@JDShaffer: Or, easier, don't switch the _Bold & _Italic, that should probably be enough for what you want without having to mess with a font editor.

[JDShaffer]

I thought of that... so I didn't switch the italic (as there is no italic in Japanese, anyway.) But I need the BOLD because Gmail makes new e-mails show up in boldface... so they'll end up all garbled if I don't replace the __Bold.ttf file as well.

I found fontforge as a possible program to try -- seems to work cross platform. I copy-pasted the Boldface english characters to the CJK file, but I haven't had time to test them out yet...

I wonder if I can snag a bold.ttf file from my laptop and use that -- is there special requirements of ttf files for them to work on the Kindle?

Thanks for all your hard work and for taking time to write back.

Cheers,
Jeffrey

[NiLuJe]

@JDShaffer: Yes, using another font is also a possibility, of course. It may not look all that great on an e-Ink screen, though, so YMMV. (Pretty much any decent font format should work, with the exception of OpenType Collections (usually .ttc files), so long as you rename them correctly (even if they're not TrueType fonts).

[JDShaffer]

OK, I'll just have to try it and see. Can't hurt as long as I keep a backup of the "working" fonts. :-)

Thanks, and cheers!
Jeffrey

[JDShaffer]

@NiLuJe -- Thanks for the tip about being able to use other font types! I did a little looking online to see what Japanese font people seem to like and Meiryo seems to be by far the best one. And if you have a windows machine (Vista or 7) it should already be on there. :-) I think it can also be downloaded by XP people for free.

So, I renamed meiryo.ttc as Serif_Regular.ttf and meiryob.ttc as Serif_Bold.ttf and it looks wonderful. Now even the Japanese in my documents appear properly and nice.

Thanks again!

PS -- XP users can download it for free: here.