Got the 505. - Page 2

Leaping Gnome · 10-03-2007, 10:47 AM

There are some pretty easy hacks to make the 500 have page turn buttons on both sides, it changes the joystick left and right motion to be page turns.

MSWallack · 10-03-2007, 11:32 AM

What can you tell us about the new version of the software that came with the 505?

yvanleterrible · 10-03-2007, 11:56 AM

@ Kaitou Ace

Nice comparison pictures. Is the Sony logo on the top as shiny as the old one? It might seem stupid to ask but I use pretty strong lighting when I read and that aluminum brightness is annoying when the angle reaches critical.

"Available in Canada"... How sweet the words...

Will you try the 500 hacks on the 505 to see if they work?

NatCh · 10-03-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

I am curious about 2 things.

Ghosting and page turn speed?
Any improvement?

It's Vizplex. Sony isn't using the term because they don't feel like it will mean much to most of their customers, but we know. It should have performance similar to what we've seen in the Gen3 video, I'd expect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azayzel

It would make a little more sense to have a device setting where you can flip the screen 180 so you can use the buttons to your satisfaction (not too many buttons on it to mess up by being upside down). Guess it's too late for that idea, unless a firmware update can add the capability.

I'd think that if this can be done at all (I don't know of any reason it shouldn't be possible, but displays can be complex), it could be pushed out through a firmware update.

From taking my 500 apart, I can attest that the main reason that they don't have buttons on both sides is probably that the connector for the display is smack in the middle of one of its long edges, and it's fairly long itself. They don't really have room for both the connector and the buttons unless they want to make the whole device about half an inch wider.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Will you try the 500 hacks on the 505 to see if they work?

They won't work from the SD card, since they disabled the AutoRun.XML thing as a security issue.

However, now that we'll have direct USB access to the thing, I wouldn't expect it to take too long for the hacks to be re-worked, assuming someone's interested enough to do it (I know igorsk has already expressed understandable disinterest in investing another $300+ in the project, but perhaps there's someone else waiting for a go).

Kaitou Ace · 10-03-2007, 12:55 PM

It's actually not, the new logo is printed on, instead of the reflective metal letters on the old one.

I don't think I am willing to test the hacks just yet

still want to enjoy it a bit before I experiment with it, tho it does sound like they won't work anyway.

Software looks very similar so far, past the collections on card working.

NatCh · 10-03-2007, 12:58 PM

I think (guessing) they'll probably still work, we will just have to find a new way to apply them is all.

irishjew · 10-03-2007, 03:02 PM

If they got the collections on SD cards working, is there a chance that they might put this function on the next firmware update for the 500?

NatCh · 10-03-2007, 03:18 PM

Okay, once more: They said they were still considering what improvements they could back-port to the 500. I don't know what the considerations are, so I can't do more than guess what they'll end up deciding is possible.

At the moment, so far as I know, they have neither ruled out nor committed to back-porting any of the improvements to the 500.

So the short answer is they may, they may not -- they're not saying, and may not even know yet.

Mr. Goodbar · 10-03-2007, 04:05 PM

Haven't posted in awhile, but I picked up a blue 505 today to replace my 500. I just had to have the latest! A few comments:

Screen definitely has better contrast, but not exponentially so. It is noticeable, but maybe not as great as some people will expect.

Refresh is faster, but similar comments as to the contrast.

It is thinner by a few millimeters and is more square in all dimensions as opposed to all of the slight curves on the 500.

Collections on the card work very well and the alphabetic segmentation of the list view does make navigation quite a bit easier.

The new cover is definitely more leather like. The blue comes with a blue cover and the silver comes with a nice dark tan cover. I wish I could have swapped them around, but they wouldn't let me do that

I'm happy to answer any other questions

JSWolf · 10-03-2007, 04:08 PM

I've seen the 505 in action. The screen is faster and nicer. More contrast and Bold is bolder. What the new screen does is put up the text on screen and then you get the black surrounding the text instead of all black and then text.

igorsk · 10-03-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

However, now that we'll have direct USB access to the thing, I wouldn't expect it to take too long for the hacks to be re-worked, assuming someone's interested enough to do it.

We'll have "direct USB access" only to the media partition, not the full FS. That's not very exciting

NatCh · 10-03-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

We'll have "direct USB access" only to the media partition, not the full FS.

Well, to start with, sure!

drgnbear · 10-03-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhbailey

Personally, I don't like the movement of the page-turn buttons to the right edge. I hold my books in my left hand and the 500 places the page turn buttons directly under my left thumb, making it very easy to turn the page. With the 505 I'll have to either change my entire reading posture (something learned over 55 years of living and something I doubt I'll change just for a piece of technology) or have the inconvenience of having to move my right hand over to turn the page. Which isn't a big deal, since it's involved in turning pages in paper books now, but isn't technology supposed to make things easier? Why can't they simply put TWO sets of page turn buttons directly opposite each other (in the old left-edge position as well as the new right-edge position) and let the person reading have greater choice?

That's funny this is a major selling point for me since I usually hold my books with my right hand. They could put them on each side...

NatCh · 10-03-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgnbear

They could put them on each side...

The connector for the display is in the center of one of the long sides. The only way they could put buttons on both sides is if they made the whole device about half an inch wider.

I'd like to see them do a screen flip option -- that would effectively give us buttons on both sides without having them on both sides. Shouldn't cost all that much more, assuming the display controller (and their programmers) can handle the challenge.

starship · 10-03-2007, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the review. How is the new Library software working?

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10-03-2007, 10:47 AM	#16
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	There are some pretty easy hacks to make the 500 have page turn buttons on both sides, it changes the joystick left and right motion to be page turns.

10-03-2007, 11:32 AM	#17
MSWallack Right, Except When Wrong Posts: 363 Karma: 4323767 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis Device: Kindle Oasis 3 (sometimes iPad Mini).	What can you tell us about the new version of the software that came with the 505?

10-03-2007, 11:56 AM	#18
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	@ Kaitou Ace Nice comparison pictures. Is the Sony logo on the top as shiny as the old one? It might seem stupid to ask but I use pretty strong lighting when I read and that aluminum brightness is annoying when the angle reaches critical. "Available in Canada"... How sweet the words... Will you try the 500 hacks on the 505 to see if they work?

10-03-2007, 12:55 PM	#20
Kaitou Ace Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 1352743 Join Date: Oct 2002	It's actually not, the new logo is printed on, instead of the reflective metal letters on the old one. I don't think I am willing to test the hacks just yet still want to enjoy it a bit before I experiment with it, tho it does sound like they won't work anyway. Software looks very similar so far, past the collections on card working.

10-03-2007, 12:58 PM	#21
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I think (guessing) they'll probably still work, we will just have to find a new way to apply them is all.

10-03-2007, 03:02 PM	#22
irishjew Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 108 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Sony Reader	If they got the collections on SD cards working, is there a chance that they might put this function on the next firmware update for the 500?

10-03-2007, 03:18 PM	#23
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Okay, once more: They said they were still considering what improvements they could back-port to the 500. I don't know what the considerations are, so I can't do more than guess what they'll end up deciding is possible. At the moment, so far as I know, they have neither ruled out nor committed to back-porting any of the improvements to the 500. So the short answer is they may, they may not -- they're not saying, and may not even know yet.

10-03-2007, 04:05 PM	#24
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	Haven't posted in awhile, but I picked up a blue 505 today to replace my 500. I just had to have the latest! A few comments: Screen definitely has better contrast, but not exponentially so. It is noticeable, but maybe not as great as some people will expect. Refresh is faster, but similar comments as to the contrast. It is thinner by a few millimeters and is more square in all dimensions as opposed to all of the slight curves on the 500. Collections on the card work very well and the alphabetic segmentation of the list view does make navigation quite a bit easier. The new cover is definitely more leather like. The blue comes with a blue cover and the silver comes with a nice dark tan cover. I wish I could have swapped them around, but they wouldn't let me do that I'm happy to answer any other questions

10-03-2007, 04:08 PM	#25
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've seen the 505 in action. The screen is faster and nicer. More contrast and Bold is bolder. What the new screen does is put up the text on screen and then you get the black surrounding the text instead of all black and then text.

10-03-2007, 08:45 PM	#30
starship Member Posts: 12 Karma: 13 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Washington,DC Device: Treo 680/Sony PRS 500/Apple iPhone	Thanks for the review. How is the new Library software working?