Likebook Alita

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by bazz2004

It may be easy for ottischwenk but it looks pretty involved to me with loads of steps where things can go wrong. I'll wait for a really clear guide in English, plus some very convincing reasons for doing it. Oh yes and to see how it goes for those not used to tinkering with these devices.

It's easy - the hardest part was sticking the needle into the hole and holding it down while connecting the USB cable.
The rest is described in detail.

So everything is wiped from the device? What a pain. xD

Do I need to take my SD card out too? I have it formatted as storage and not part of the device. Will it be also wiped if I don't?

Google Play services still working?

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Merithyn

So everything is wiped from the device? What a pain. xD

Yes

Do I need to take my SD card out too? I have it formatted as storage and not part of the device.

I would do so.
Before the update, I also did a factory reset.

Will it be also wiped if I don't?

I donot know.

Google Play services still working?

immediately

[mbrisco]

@ottischwenk Have the boot times gotten better? This thing takes years to boot, and if you only put it on standby, it eats through it like candy.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by mbrisco

Have the boot times gotten better? This thing takes years to boot,

App half a minute.

and if you only put it on standby, it eats through it like candy.

WLan on?
I only turn on WiFi when I need it.
Otherwise I configure in developer mode that no sleep mode takes place when power is connected.

[viceant]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

App half a minute.WLan on?
.

App half a minute? So, it hasn't improved.

Enviado desde mi Mi Max mediante Tapatalk

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by viceant

App half a minute? So, it hasn't improved.

I start it about a minute before I want to use it - so the start time doesn't bother me at all.

I updated my Alita also. I didn't do any factory reset before the process.

No problems aside from my finger slipping from the upgrade button too early (before connecting to the USB) so I needed to go out of the setup menu (any long press - OK, short press - navigation trough menu) and shut down my reader again and repeat the process.

When inserting my SD card it detected it in no time and I didn't have to format it again which is great.

No visible improvements in performance or anything really but then again I'm not using default reader. There are probably some improvements there.

Btw, anyone have experience with restoring Tachiyomi library? I have tons of manga on my SD (local source) and it did restore the library metadata from backup json I backup-ed it to and the volumes are accessible but the cover images are empty. I tried clicking refresh library covers in advanced settings but there is no button and clicking on the text does nothing.

[parkher]

ottischwenk,
Well, I guess I could try updating OS on one of my 3 Alitas
But I'm not sure if I have any other than 512 GB card that fits into that thin tray slot.
I wonder what were the "technological reasons" for not using the 512 GB card.

Wait a minute! Now I looked over that pdf about updating to 8.1. I need a usb cable, but nothing on the card? So I just better remove my 512 GB card (just to make sure it is not wiped out during update or something) and then insert it back after the update.
For the update itself no card is needed?
So again, what is it all about the 128 GB card instead of 512 GB card and the technological reasons?
Did you find some problems with 512 GB cards and now are regularly using 128 GB cards instead?
I think that Samsung Evo Plus 512 GB is a great card for Boyue readers. Fits into the tray without filing anything off.

And where to find android 8.1 for Ares?

[ottischwenk]

Important: after upgrading to Android 8.1, the data on an internally formatted SD card is lost - it's like changing cards.
So, back up the data from the card beforehand!

Originally Posted by parkher

I wonder what were the "technological reasons" for not using the 512 GB card.

1.) About the technology of an SD card:
The problem lies in the MLC Flash technology: after a relatively small number of write processes (from 300 to 1000) this point becomes defective. "Replacement points" are therefore determined and used. For this, a certain space is specified on the flash memory. And if there is no more free space to "relocate" defective memory cells, then the card is defective.
When formatting internally, the Likebook does not determine this space according to the card size, but with 16 MB, which makes sense in terms of size for a 128 GB card - a 64 GB card would therefore last about twice as long. So you can assume that a 512 GB card will only stay fine 1/4 of the time - that was one of the reasons I switched.
2.) for Samsung and cards larger than 128 GB:
Every Samsung card that I have formatted for internal use has shown me twice the size, but half of which is already in use:
- 128 GB card - size 256 GB, 128 GB for system in use,
- 256 GB card - size 512 GB, 256 GB for system in use,
- 512 GB card - size 1 TB, 512 GB for system in use.
- every other brand (I have tested) with sizes over 128 GB has shown the same.

I have therefore decided to switch to 128 GB Sandisk Extreme cards - they are shown as slow during "internal" formatting, but they are not.

I now use the old "internal" (512 GB) with a stick as a USB OTG after I have "rebuilt" them again with the Minitool Partition Wizard - 128 MB free and then NTFS (128 because NTFS performs more write cycles).

And where to find android 8.1 for Ares?

Here

[parkher]

I wonder can such a defective card be re-formatted and the defective cells skipped during formatting.
But anyway, for an e-ink reader, with a very large card, I tend to put lots of dictionaries and lots of books - I add more books without removing the old ones, if the card still has lots of space, so, really not 300 writes, but more like 1.
And I stopped trying the internal formatting, I never use it, so I have all the size (the loss for many small files is acceptable) and probably more space is reserved for replacing the defective cells?
An external card - a win win win.

Thanks for 8.1 for Ares.
Perhaps there is a newer firmware for Mimas too...
My Mimas currently has also 6.0.1

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by parkher

I wonder can such a defective card be re-formatted and the defective cells skipped during formatting.

Unfortunately not - this is handled by the flash controller that is used in the cards.

But anyway, for an e-ink reader, with a very large card, I tend to put lots of dictionaries and lots of books - I add more books without removing the old ones, if the card still has lots of space, so, really not 300 writes, but more like 1.
And I stopped trying the internal formatting, I never use it, so I have all the size (the loss for many small files is acceptable) and probably more space is reserved for replacing the defective cells?
An external card - a win win win.

Well, but I can also use the 512 GB card externally via OSB-OTG, while some programs - e.g. Kiwix - require a lot of internal memory. Kiwix/Wikipedia (34 GB) does not have space in it and does not work with external (portable formatted) cards.
128 GB is enough space for me internally - Kiwix with Wikipedia (50 GB) and Calibre Companion library - and for external possibilities I can use USB-OTG e.g. 1 TB SSD NTFS (works with both, Ares and Alita).

Thanks for 8.1 for Ares.
Perhaps there is a newer firmware for Mimas too...
My Mimas currently has also 6.0.1

I didnt see any update for Mimas and Muses till now.

[viceant]

So, how has it gone? Is really worth to upgrade?

[viceant]

Alita is being sold in Likebook's Store in Aliexpress and now they ship it from Spain. Does somenone know whether the price shown there includes VAT?

I asked them in Aliexpress but they don't answer.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by viceant

Alita is being sold in Likebook's Store in Aliexpress and now they ship it from Spain. Does somenone know whether the price shown there includes VAT?

I asked them in Aliexpress but they don't answer.

I bought mine there and the price included VAT.
I am extremely satisfied with this store.
The first Alita had a defect in the power button, I reported it, got an address where I should send it, sent a scan of the mailing confirmation by email, and a new device was immediately dispatched and the postage fee was immediately transferred to my account.
I was without a device for about a week