sony Library software - does it work OK on a Mac? - Page 5

elcreative · 08-15-2011, 02:22 PM

Would help to know which reader, they aren't all the same in their behaviour...

mwheinz · 08-15-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatingPie

This is NOT AT ALL an accurate description.

It's a drag-to-the-trash uninstall.

You know, I'm a computer engineer. I write device drivers for a living.

I want you, just for giggles, to explain to us:

1) Why the application is delivered as an mpkg file, and not as an app.

2) How a user can uninstall a loaded kernel driver by dragging it to the trash.

3) Why Sony's official uninstall procedure includes manually deleting several hidden directories, or why Sony includes a shell script hidden in the system libraries for removing these files.

If Reader Library used Apple's built-in USB drivers, it would work fine on Lion, in 32-bit or in 64-bit. The only possible reason it does not is for DRM.

gianfri · 08-15-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

Would help to know which reader, they aren't all the same in their behaviour...

Sorry - that is a 950.

mwheinz · 08-15-2011, 04:41 PM

gianfri,

If you're not seeing the reader appear on the desktop at all, the next step is to verify that the USB cable works and that the USB port on your Mac is working.

1) Do you have an ipod, phone or something else you can plug into the mac and verify that the USB port is working?
2) Do you have another usb cable you can try with your 950?
3) Does the 950 appear if you plug it into a different computer?

Bookworm_Girl · 08-15-2011, 04:46 PM

The 950 seems to have recognition issues. There is a small amount of people who have not been able to get their 950 to be recognized on both Macs and PCs no matter what they try. These same computers will recognize a 350 for example. They have gotten their 950 to be recognized on other spare computers that they had at home/work. Sorry I don't have better news than that. Good luck!

gianfri · 08-15-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

gianfri,

If you're not seeing the reader appear on the desktop at all, the next step is to verify that the USB cable works and that the USB port on your Mac is working.

1) Do you have an ipod, phone or something else you can plug into the mac and verify that the USB port is working?
2) Do you have another usb cable you can try with your 950?
3) Does the 950 appear if you plug it into a different computer?

Good questions.

1. Tried different USB ports on the Mac - same result (failure to recognize the reader)
2. Connected iPhone using the same ports - success with the iPhone.
3. Tried different cables - same results (failure)
4. Connected reader to different (Windows) PC - success, reader recognized, and software working.

So it really boils down to the software conflict created by upgrading to Lion. The same reader, on the same Mac, was working fine before Lion.

mwheinz · 08-15-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gianfri

So it really boils down to the software conflict created by upgrading to Lion. The same reader, on the same Mac, was working fine before Lion.

Oof. That's really frustrating.

Here's one way to check to see if something is preventing Lion from showing you the device on the desktop: Plug in your reader, then click on the apple logo, then "About this Mac", and then click "More Info", and then "System Report", you get a big screen listing details of your machine in exhaustive detail. Click on "USB" on the left, then look at the "device tree" on the right - do you see your reader appear in that list anywhere?

gianfri · 08-16-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Oof. That's really frustrating.

Here's one way to check to see if something is preventing Lion from showing you the device on the desktop: Plug in your reader, then click on the apple logo, then "About this Mac", and then click "More Info", and then "System Report", you get a big screen listing details of your machine in exhaustive detail. Click on "USB" on the left, then look at the "device tree" on the right - do you see your reader appear in that list anywhere?

OK, it gets even more strange. So I connected my reader with a USB cable while the iMac was running. No result. Then I rebooted while keeping the Reader connected. As soon as the booting process started, the Reader displayed the message CHARGING - good sign! And, sure enough, once the iMac booted, the Reader was recognized.

HOWEVER:
- Moving the Reader to a different USB port resulted in no detection.
- Connecting the Reader to the same USB port, but using a different cable, resulted in no detection.

Both the alternate port and cable worked with other equipment.

SO, it looks like the Reader is detected and mounted only when connected to a certain port, with a certain cable. Any other combination = no detection.

Now, if anyone can figure THAT out.....

pidgeon92 · 08-16-2011, 02:22 PM

Have you tried booting in 32-bit mode?

Also, remove all other USB devices, except your keyboard/mouse.

mwheinz · 08-16-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Have you tried booting in 32-bit mode?

In another post, he mentioned that he has tried that.

gianfri,

That really really sounds like your initial conclusion was right: There's a bug in Lion's USB drivers - the USB driver chip is obviously not detecting the reader, except under odd conditions.

About the only thing I could suggest you try (besides calling Apple and complaining) is to try a powered USB hub - i.e., connect the hub to the Mac and then connect the reader to the hub. Obviously, that's not a good solution, but it's the only idea I have left. Sorry.

gianfri · 08-16-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

In another post, he mentioned that he has tried that.

gianfri,

That really really sounds like your initial conclusion was right: There's a bug in Lion's USB drivers - the USB driver chip is obviously not detecting the reader, except under odd conditions.

About the only thing I could suggest you try (besides calling Apple and complaining) is to try a powered USB hub - i.e., connect the hub to the Mac and then connect the reader to the hub. Obviously, that's not a good solution, but it's the only idea I have left. Sorry.

Right now I am sort of satisfied, because at least I found one way, albeit odd, to mount the Reader and move files there. I cannot use the Reader Library software to move the files, but then I never did even when it worked. Hopefully when Sony releases their update it will take care of that.

Thanks to all of you who provided suggestions!! I love this community!

ScalyFreak · 08-16-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

That really really sounds like your initial conclusion was right: There's a bug in Lion's USB drivers - the USB driver chip is obviously not detecting the reader, except under odd conditions.

Easy way to prove this: Someone who is running Bootcamp or Parrallells can try the reader in their Windows install. If the problem stops, it's definitely the driver. If it continues, then it's probably not a software thing.

mwheinz · 08-16-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Easy way to prove this: Someone who is running Bootcamp or Parrallells can try the reader in their Windows install. If the problem stops, it's definitely the driver. If it continues, then it's probably not a software thing.

I thought about that, but the cost of buying a copy of Windows just to test the problem seems a bit much...

I suspect Parallels or VMWare wouldn't work, since they depend on OS X to interface with devices.

gianfri · 08-16-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Easy way to prove this: Someone who is running Bootcamp or Parrallells can try the reader in their Windows install. If the problem stops, it's definitely the driver. If it continues, then it's probably not a software thing.

I do not have Bootcamp, but I do have Parallels installed on the same iMac with Lion. I tried to connect the reader to a Windows XP VM in Parallels, but the Reader would not be recognized. In fact, Parallels, like Lion, was not even aware that the reader was connected. That would make sense, I suppose, because Parallels can only "pass on" to the VM whatever the Mas OS (and, therefore, Parallels) can detect.

However, I have not tried the same experiment after I managed to have the Mac detect the reader. I will try tonight.

pidgeon92 · 08-16-2011, 07:41 PM

I am having no trouble with the Sony 950 in Lion, in 64-bit or 32-bit mode. It is connected directly to the back of the iMac, no USB hub. I removed my hub and all other USB peripherals after having trouble with the Sony software not recognizing the 950, and everything has been fine since then.

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08-15-2011, 02:22 PM	#61
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	Would help to know which reader, they aren't all the same in their behaviour...

08-15-2011, 04:41 PM	#64
mwheinz award-winning bozo Posts: 258 Karma: 172703 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Device: Kobo Libra 2	gianfri, If you're not seeing the reader appear on the desktop at all, the next step is to verify that the USB cable works and that the USB port on your Mac is working. 1) Do you have an ipod, phone or something else you can plug into the mac and verify that the USB port is working? 2) Do you have another usb cable you can try with your 950? 3) Does the 950 appear if you plug it into a different computer?

08-15-2011, 04:46 PM	#65
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	The 950 seems to have recognition issues. There is a small amount of people who have not been able to get their 950 to be recognized on both Macs and PCs no matter what they try. These same computers will recognize a 350 for example. They have gotten their 950 to be recognized on other spare computers that they had at home/work. Sorry I don't have better news than that. Good luck!

08-16-2011, 02:22 PM	#69
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Have you tried booting in 32-bit mode? Also, remove all other USB devices, except your keyboard/mouse.

08-16-2011, 07:41 PM	#75
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I am having no trouble with the Sony 950 in Lion, in 64-bit or 32-bit mode. It is connected directly to the back of the iMac, no USB hub. I removed my hub and all other USB peripherals after having trouble with the Sony software not recognizing the 950, and everything has been fine since then.

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