cracked screen-can I hack kindle to only use part of screen?

[kindlecracked]

Hey all. I'm using a kindle with 5-way controller, dropped it, cracked the screen, rendering the bottom 1/3 useless. Can I hack the kindle to only display on the top 2/3?

I see here's a horizontal margin parameter in the system folder, but I'm guessing that's for the left and right margins? Any place for the bottom?

Thanks!

[susan_cassidy]

Not that I've ever heard of. That would require fairly extensive recoding of the basic display code. Also, how would you specify which part of the screen to use?

No bottom margin setting that I know of. Anyway, it almost certainly would not allow a margin that large.

Just buy a new Kindle. $59.00 with special offers for a new basic touch.

[kindlecracked]

I'm wading through some hack threads and, though there's no setting native to the kindle, there may be some hacks to add a bottom margin. Wish me luck!

I'm traveling outside the US and don't have access to those offers. I also don't need a touchscreen, backlit screen, or anything more than a basic ereader. Thanks anyway for the reply!

[susan_cassidy]

No eink screen is backlit. Eink is opaque. They are frontlit screens.

The Kindle basic does not have a lit screen. You can pay $79.00 and get a basic without special offers. All Kindles are now touchscreen.

[kindlecracked]

Good to know! I'll try to get this one working and check out deals on a low end kindle next time I'm back in the States. Thanks!

[eschwartz]

I've definitely seen a hack somewhere in the Developer's Corner by someone with the same problem. But I am afraid I cannot remember where.

[kindlecracked]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I've definitely seen a hack somewhere in the Developer's Corner by someone with the same problem. But I am afraid I cannot remember where.

Just found one that might work. Was this the one you saw?
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=38

Now I just have to learn how to read that. LOL

[eschwartz]

That looks like it. Should be easy for you to install.

[Bricorn]

Couldn't you just set the screen orientation to landscape, then adjust the horizontal margin to hide the broken bit?

[eschwartz]

P.S. Moved to the Developer's Corner.

[kindlecracked]

Originally Posted by Bricorn

Couldn't you just set the screen orientation to landscape, then adjust the horizontal margin to hide the broken bit?

Good idea, but the parameter is simply "horizontal margins", so if I edit that to avoid the 1/3 on one side, it would also increase the margin on the other side, leaving only 1/3 of the page in the middle for reading. Anyway better than my current work around, flipping the orientation to upside down to read the last 1/3 of the page, flipping it back to right side up on the next page, etc...

[kindlecracked]

Tried it anyway, and the margin seems to reset to default. Not successful.

[knc1]

A new screen would probably be nearly the same cost as a new "basic" Kindle.
Just toss the broken one in the re-cycle bin.

[dhdurgee]

Originally Posted by knc1

A new screen would probably be nearly the same cost as a new "basic" Kindle.
Just toss the broken one in the re-cycle bin.

In addition to the above, if you prefer the older kindles with keyboards or five-way controllers to the new touch models you can likely find one available on eBay for a good price if you can wait for one. The older ones also have the advantage that you can enhance them without the need to physically modify them.

Dave

[kindlecracked]

Originally Posted by dhdurgee

In addition to the above, if you prefer the older kindles with keyboards or five-way controllers to the new touch models you can likely find one available on eBay for a good price if you can wait for one. The older ones also have the advantage that you can enhance them without the need to physically modify them.

Dave

Thanks for the advice, Dave. I'm out of the country for at least another month or two, and would like to keep reading, so I'm still hoping someone can help me implement this scroller hack in the meantime.