Now what ??

lcbannon · 07-28-2009, 09:53 PM

Ok, got the 505 last night, got Calibre (Great Program), then put on Sony Ebook- kinda wish I had not done that- have books on and read first one - its great..

But I see info about how to add other items,
1. Flash it or hack it, not sure which should I?
2. Do I d/l the firmware update? Do I need it??

So I ask all of those who have went before me- What do I do next..

Thanks for the input.

Evi1d33d · 07-28-2009, 11:12 PM

There's only one firmware you can hack so you don't have any choice if you are going through the hack route.

Experiment with different hacks, it's pretty hard to break the PRS505 from bad hacks since all you have to do is reset the device.

Elsi · 07-28-2009, 11:24 PM

Ah -- I just use my Sony reader just as they configured it. After all, it's all about the books!

Welcome to MobileRead.

khalleron · 07-29-2009, 02:39 PM

I did use the PRSCustomizer to change the default font and a few other tweaks - love the clock - but I wasn't *unhappy* with it before.

I was kind of afraid to hack it, but as Evi said, it's hard to break it - you can just just reflash the firmware if you're not happy with it.

dreams · 07-29-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

Ah -- I just use my Sony reader just as they configured it. After all, it's all about the books!

I have the 505, and just like Elsi, I just read.

carlobee · 07-29-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

Ah -- I just use my Sony reader just as they configured it. After all, it's all about the books!

Welcome to MobileRead.

i would agree with this. i would also suggest that you use your sony reader just as they configured it. After that, just enjoy reading!

Hellmark · 07-30-2009, 01:09 AM

I just read with mine. No real want to hack it. The only real thing I do, is tweak the book files to have smaller margins and text. Pride and Prejudice that comes with the 505 just is way too big. I prefer getting more text on screen at one time.

toomanybooks · 07-30-2009, 01:20 AM

Don't bother tweaking their Pride and Prejudice. Just download the beautifully crafted Mobileread version in the ebooks section.

richman · 07-30-2009, 08:53 AM

The hacks are pretty simple to do and it's not like hacking other devices, you can reflash it with sony's firmware and I haven't heard of anybody bricking their device because of these hacks.

I like the clock.

I put better font on it. ... its' bolder and the one the people in the forum room recommended as the best because it fits the dot pitch and size for the screen. It offers more contrast for me since font looks darker.

I also used the ONE button turn off hack , I hold the PAD button 5 seconds and unit turns completely off. It beats having to go into 4 or 5 pages of menu's to turn it off.

I like making the history forward key the next page button too.

p.s. I forgot one last hack , CONTACT hack , ...you can put your name , telephone number, and email address on the unit, and if it is lost , people can contact you. If police recovered it , they could contact you. And if you had to prove it was your unit, you could show them it has your name on it!

Even if some bad guy took off all the books by deleting them, your name is still on it and he couldn't take it off!

Now if this unit came with built in lo-jack, that would be better , but something is better than nothing.

Those are the features I'm using from the hacks , and maybe others will post the ones they like too. if there was danger of ruining the 505 , yeah, I might caution there use , but I don't see any downside and if you guys can come up with one , let me know.

Ea · 07-30-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evi1d33d

There's only one firmware you can hack so you don't have any choice if you are going through the hack route.
...

I used PRSCostumizer with the UK firmware with no problems.

I think it was worth spending time on it. I like the clock, and I set a different font (I prefer .LRF), and I like that I can now use the right "wheel button" as back-forward button, too. Oh, and I think uniformly sized book titles in library view is nicer looking.

lcbannon · 07-30-2009, 03:23 PM

These are great comments, please keep them coming- Is there a way to set it to always be white letters on dark background or must you do it for each book on pc? and do you like it or not- my night sight is not as good.

Kostas · 07-30-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcbannon

Is there a way to set it to always be white letters on dark background or must you do it for each book on pc?

Have a look: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52114

07-28-2009, 09:53 PM	#1
lcbannon Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Sony PRS 505	Now what ?? Ok, got the 505 last night, got Calibre (Great Program), then put on Sony Ebook- kinda wish I had not done that- have books on and read first one - its great.. But I see info about how to add other items, 1. Flash it or hack it, not sure which should I? 2. Do I d/l the firmware update? Do I need it?? So I ask all of those who have went before me- What do I do next.. Thanks for the input.

07-30-2009, 08:53 AM	#9
richman Addict Posts: 269 Karma: 58 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: sony prs-505 BLUE,itouch,netbook	The hacks are pretty simple to do and it's not like hacking other devices, you can reflash it with sony's firmware and I haven't heard of anybody bricking their device because of these hacks. I like the clock. I put better font on it. ... its' bolder and the one the people in the forum room recommended as the best because it fits the dot pitch and size for the screen. It offers more contrast for me since font looks darker. I also used the ONE button turn off hack , I hold the PAD button 5 seconds and unit turns completely off. It beats having to go into 4 or 5 pages of menu's to turn it off. I like making the history forward key the next page button too. p.s. I forgot one last hack , CONTACT hack , ...you can put your name , telephone number, and email address on the unit, and if it is lost , people can contact you. If police recovered it , they could contact you. And if you had to prove it was your unit, you could show them it has your name on it! Even if some bad guy took off all the books by deleting them, your name is still on it and he couldn't take it off! Now if this unit came with built in lo-jack, that would be better , but something is better than nothing. Those are the features I'm using from the hacks , and maybe others will post the ones they like too. if there was danger of ruining the 505 , yeah, I might caution there use , but I don't see any downside and if you guys can come up with one , let me know. Last edited by richman; 07-30-2009 at 09:08 AM.

07-28-2009, 11:12 PM	#2
Evi1d33d Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 14 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Red PRS-505	There's only one firmware you can hack so you don't have any choice if you are going through the hack route. Experiment with different hacks, it's pretty hard to break the PRS505 from bad hacks since all you have to do is reset the device.

07-28-2009, 11:24 PM	#3
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Ah -- I just use my Sony reader just as they configured it. After all, it's all about the books! Welcome to MobileRead.

07-29-2009, 02:39 PM	#4
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,700 Karma: 3605799 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour	I did use the PRSCustomizer to change the default font and a few other tweaks - love the clock - but I wasn't unhappy with it before. I was kind of afraid to hack it, but as Evi said, it's hard to break it - you can just just reflash the firmware if you're not happy with it.

07-30-2009, 01:09 AM	#7
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	I just read with mine. No real want to hack it. The only real thing I do, is tweak the book files to have smaller margins and text. Pride and Prejudice that comes with the 505 just is way too big. I prefer getting more text on screen at one time.

07-30-2009, 01:20 AM	#8
toomanybooks Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 1039424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Ipad, Ipod Touch, KIndle Fire	Don't bother tweaking their Pride and Prejudice. Just download the beautifully crafted Mobileread version in the ebooks section.

07-30-2009, 03:23 PM	#11
lcbannon Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Sony PRS 505	These are great comments, please keep them coming- Is there a way to set it to always be white letters on dark background or must you do it for each book on pc? and do you like it or not- my night sight is not as good.