PRS-950 Firmware update for 950 - Page 2

Bookworm_Girl · 12-15-2010, 03:16 PM

Well said, screaminglemon. I agree that an update, even incremental, is a positive step by Sony especially given their history on previous units of a lack of updates. I think this update is good because it adds functionality to match the Kindle and Nook. Weblinks is a big deal to me and so is syncing if it works with the coming-soon phone apps. If you don't want or need the new features, then don't use them. In the next update I would like to see landscape orientation and download capability.

rhadin · 12-15-2010, 03:52 PM

I tried to update and kept getting the message that the battery didn't have enough power to perform the update. It was only down 1 bar. I'm charging it now so I'll try again later.

igorsk · 12-15-2010, 04:10 PM

I think they implemented page sync in preparation for the release of mobile apps.

Ken401 · 12-15-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

I think they implemented page sync in preparation for the release of mobile apps.

This is usually when some smart a__ comes along and says to me "ya think?"

As matter of fact, I do!

jswinden · 12-15-2010, 05:06 PM

I'm not got going to put a positive spin on this, as I don't think any update is necessarily a movement in the direction of future updates. I've owned six different Sony Readers and this is only the second update to any of them. The first update was when they decided to change over to ePubs instead of LRF, so that too was for Sony's business model. I'm glad they switched to epubs, but it was not an update to address our complaints or wishes. Instead we got stuck with a crappy ePub viewer on the 300 and 600. And it is still a crappy ePub viewer on those models. They improved it greatly with the 900 and then the 350, 650, and 950, but refused to update the older models.

elcreative · 12-15-2010, 05:17 PM

Third update surely... one for 505, one for 500 and one for 950

Ken401 · 12-15-2010, 05:20 PM

I need to see the update when I get home before judging it, but I agree that this one update does not necessarily mean we have entered into a new era of Sony support. As I wrote in an earlier thread, it is odd that other Sony products like their Dash and apparently PS3 (I don't own one) receive regular updates but their readers just languish once sold.

Nevertheless, I commend Sony for the update and hope it builds positive feedback for them so that they can see a real business opportunity (increased sales) in better supporting their readers.

antistar · 12-15-2010, 08:56 PM

I might be wrong but I am under the impression that an official firmware means you have something to flash back to when the unofficial ones don't work. So I am very pleased to see the update

doctj · 12-15-2010, 09:41 PM

Installed the update. Now I can download free books from google over wifi, neat.

jessie102 · 12-15-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctj

Installed the update. Now I can download free books from google over wifi, neat.

You can see google books, Only after the update? link in the Sony store always had google books before the update. I even downloaded a few books last week from it.

Bookworm_Girl · 12-15-2010, 11:31 PM

Just installed the update! I also got the not enough charge warning even though my battery was at 3 bars. The only thing that I've found that was not listed in the update description is the direct Google Books link similar to the Purchased Content link. And, I verified that weblinks work. Cool!

danamr · 12-16-2010, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screaminglemon

Funny! This reminds me of every time the playstation3 gets an update. Everyone chimes in complaining that the update is BS because the particular feature they want wasnt addressed. Cant we agree that this update, ANY update, is a step in the right direction? I would rather have small incremental updates every now and then as opposed to no updates at all.

That's my thought too.
Never was a update for my 900, and the day I get the 950 there is one. Sony at least appears to be trying.

trekchick · 12-16-2010, 09:58 AM

The Applications tab has been rearranged. Shortcuts to Google Books and Purchased Content are now in the Network section along with the browser. We could always get to that content through the Reader Store, but the direct links are nice handy.

You can now take a screen shot of drawings made in the Handwriting app. You can then see your drawing in Pictures and use it as a standby screen. It's a little clunky. You have to click "Done" and then reopen the drawing, then Capture Screenshot will appear on the Options menu. While editing, there's no Options menu. (You can also capture a screenshot in the browser - I'm not sure if that was in the Option menu before or not).

Dictionary, Handwriting and Text Memo applications are now listed together in a new Reference section and the Multimedia section contains Pictures and Audio, as expected.

Reader Store notices are optional. Turn them on or off under General Settings. As soon as I updated, I had links to a bunch of books that I bought on my computer and read on my 350, but never put on my 950. I can see where that might be useful for future purchases.

Page Sync is also optional (default is off), that setting is under Application Preferences. Details are sketchy on how this will work and with what content. I'm wondering if it will sync with the application on Mac and if that, in turn, can keep my PRS-350 in sync.

Lilly · 12-20-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Like I want those idiots to send me spam on my 950!

I get too much Sony spam via email.

I was worried about that myself but the 8 and last item on the General Settings is the Reader Store Notifications tag. You can turn it off. Of course it updated with that feature turned on so anyone who does not want it has to definitely turn it off.

patomonk · 12-21-2010, 06:42 PM

I am happy with the update because it has fixed my connectivity problems!

12-15-2010, 05:20 PM	#22
Ken401 Addict Posts: 218 Karma: 417978 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO USA Device: PRS-T1, PRS-950, PRS-505, Nexus 10, Xoom	I need to see the update when I get home before judging it, but I agree that this one update does not necessarily mean we have entered into a new era of Sony support. As I wrote in an earlier thread, it is odd that other Sony products like their Dash and apparently PS3 (I don't own one) receive regular updates but their readers just languish once sold. Nevertheless, I commend Sony for the update and hope it builds positive feedback for them so that they can see a real business opportunity (increased sales) in better supporting their readers. Last edited by Ken401; 12-15-2010 at 05:22 PM.

12-15-2010, 09:41 PM	#24
doctj Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: sony prs-950, HP Touchpad	Installed the update. Now I can download free books from google over wifi, neat. Last edited by doctj; 12-15-2010 at 09:51 PM.

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12-15-2010, 03:16 PM	#16
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Well said, screaminglemon. I agree that an update, even incremental, is a positive step by Sony especially given their history on previous units of a lack of updates. I think this update is good because it adds functionality to match the Kindle and Nook. Weblinks is a big deal to me and so is syncing if it works with the coming-soon phone apps. If you don't want or need the new features, then don't use them. In the next update I would like to see landscape orientation and download capability.

12-15-2010, 03:52 PM	#17
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I tried to update and kept getting the message that the battery didn't have enough power to perform the update. It was only down 1 bar. I'm charging it now so I'll try again later.

12-15-2010, 04:10 PM	#18
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	I think they implemented page sync in preparation for the release of mobile apps.

12-15-2010, 05:06 PM	#20
jswinden Nameless Being	I'm not got going to put a positive spin on this, as I don't think any update is necessarily a movement in the direction of future updates. I've owned six different Sony Readers and this is only the second update to any of them. The first update was when they decided to change over to ePubs instead of LRF, so that too was for Sony's business model. I'm glad they switched to epubs, but it was not an update to address our complaints or wishes. Instead we got stuck with a crappy ePub viewer on the 300 and 600. And it is still a crappy ePub viewer on those models. They improved it greatly with the 900 and then the 350, 650, and 950, but refused to update the older models.

12-15-2010, 05:17 PM	#21
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	Third update surely... one for 505, one for 500 and one for 950

12-15-2010, 08:56 PM	#23
antistar Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 32758 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Taiwan Device: PRS-500, dr800sg, prs-950, MS SP3, Boox i86ML, Sony Z3TC, KV, Sony RP1	I might be wrong but I am under the impression that an official firmware means you have something to flash back to when the unofficial ones don't work. So I am very pleased to see the update

12-15-2010, 11:31 PM	#26
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	Just installed the update! I also got the not enough charge warning even though my battery was at 3 bars. The only thing that I've found that was not listed in the update description is the direct Google Books link similar to the Purchased Content link. And, I verified that weblinks work. Cool!

12-16-2010, 09:58 AM	#28
trekchick Lurker Posts: 226 Karma: 9245 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Walton, KY Device: Sonys and Kindles and Nooks, oh my!	The Applications tab has been rearranged. Shortcuts to Google Books and Purchased Content are now in the Network section along with the browser. We could always get to that content through the Reader Store, but the direct links are nice handy. You can now take a screen shot of drawings made in the Handwriting app. You can then see your drawing in Pictures and use it as a standby screen. It's a little clunky. You have to click "Done" and then reopen the drawing, then Capture Screenshot will appear on the Options menu. While editing, there's no Options menu. (You can also capture a screenshot in the browser - I'm not sure if that was in the Option menu before or not). Dictionary, Handwriting and Text Memo applications are now listed together in a new Reference section and the Multimedia section contains Pictures and Audio, as expected. Reader Store notices are optional. Turn them on or off under General Settings. As soon as I updated, I had links to a bunch of books that I bought on my computer and read on my 350, but never put on my 950. I can see where that might be useful for future purchases. Page Sync is also optional (default is off), that setting is under Application Preferences. Details are sketchy on how this will work and with what content. I'm wondering if it will sync with the application on Mac and if that, in turn, can keep my PRS-350 in sync.

12-21-2010, 06:42 PM	#30
patomonk Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 400 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: U.S.A Device: PRS-950	I am happy with the update because it has fixed my connectivity problems!