Post-update battery weirdness - Page 10

yvanleterrible · 04-27-2007, 04:59 PM

I don't look at the bar anymore. When the reader asks, I charge. If I need it on a trek I charge. It's no more complicated than fueling a car.

I have an Apple usb charger, has anyone tried this yet?

diabloNL · 04-27-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I don't look at the bar anymore. When the reader asks, I charge. If I need it on a trek I charge. It's no more complicated than fueling a car.

I have an Apple usb charger, has anyone tried this yet?

I tried it and it doesn't work.

JSWolf · 04-27-2007, 05:46 PM

From what I gather, you cannot read while it's connected to the USB port anyway. So that's not a good idea. But what I was thinking was since it supposedly can chrge from USB, getting a USB tip for the cell phone charger and using that int he car when needed. Would that be a good idea you think?

Aprilbeginnings · 04-27-2007, 05:56 PM

You know I was just thinking....... a hard reset puts the reader back to the way we bought it correct? which in turn would undue the fix Sony sent us....and I think the battery problem still existed even before the update? So how could this be fixed or am I full of hot air? LOL

dhbailey · 04-28-2007, 07:01 AM

I don't think that the hard reset puts the Reader back to the way it was bought. It resets all user-altered things to their original status, using the system software which is currently burned into the flash bios. The update would have overwritten data in the flash bios, which would not be reset in such an instance.

At least that's the case with my Palm units -- whenever I've done system updates, they have held even through hard resets, while all other things which I have changed have returned to the original state. The same with my computer motherboards -- once the system bios flash has been changed it stays changed. Same with my digital cameras and my mp3 player as well.

yvanleterrible · 04-28-2007, 10:59 AM

OK! Had three notches on the charge bar so I decided to try the Apple USB charger.
Left it on for two hours and took it off. ARGH! It got down to one notch. Did a soft reset, ditto. Put the Sony charger to it while the reader was on and pulled it right back out... back to three notches.
Conclusion Same as diabloNL. No effect
Advice keep to Sony charger.

Gravitas · 04-28-2007, 11:30 AM

I got my Reader yesterday and installed the connect software, authorized my reader and was asked if I wanted to upgrade the firmware - after reading this thread I said no.

So far so good.

Am I missing anything vital by not upgrading my firmware? Was there any benefits to the upgrade?

HarryT · 04-28-2007, 12:30 PM

USB chargers don't work with the Reader - you'll find that the charge light doesn't come on. Even charging on a PC's USB port won't work unless the "Connect" software is installed on that PC!

Gravitas - the problem you'll have is that you'll be asked if you want to upgrade every time you connect the Reader to your PC. May as well just do it and get it over with. The battery thing is completely irrelevent, IMHO. All you have to do is, after you've charged the Reader (which is a "once ever few weeks" thing), just momentarily plug in the mains charger with the Reader turned on. The battery meter will immediately reset itself to where it should be, and you're done.

Aprilbeginnings · 04-28-2007, 03:35 PM

Actually I just charged mine the other day with it on and the batter never went above three bars charged. I had to unplug, turn it off and found it still read three bars, the trick is having to once again plug the charge in and that is what resets it....... or is it at least with mine......... crazy crazy.

HarryT · 04-29-2007, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aprilbeginnings

the trick is having to once again plug the charge in and that is what resets it.......

Yes, that's exactly what I said

. You have to plug in the mains charger cable a SECOND time WITH THE READER TURNED ON. It's that second connection - after you've done a charge until the light's gone out - which resets the battery meter.

Aprilbeginnings · 04-29-2007, 12:30 PM

Yep, that is what you said and what I said, LMAO

ducking.

Nightwing · 04-30-2007, 12:34 AM

Been a major pain to NOT use the reader for two week. But think I have a confirmed on some speculation.

Two weeks ago recharged and reset as per listed by other posters. Also remove the SD card so its just itself. Nothing else draining.

After the first week. Turned on and fliped about 4 pages. Power droped one bar.
After the 2nd week. Turned on and fliped about 5 pages. Power droped another bar.

Either:

A) Battery is bad.
b) Update software is eating power that it did not do before.

Am leaning on the 2nd one. Before it ran over a month with use. After software barely can keep a charge.

Have not tried the reset the battery bar. Thinking on it.

halljames · 05-03-2007, 10:17 AM

Regarding this bizarre charging issue.

What happens if you were to buy a sony reader today, does it have the latest firmware on, meaning it has the funny battery meter issues, or does it have the old firmware on it that had no such problem. OR does it have a secret new firmmare that is not available for download yet.

I wish sony would get a new firmware out that fixes this.

Aprilbeginnings · 05-03-2007, 10:21 AM

Good Question......

HarryT · 05-03-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwing

Been a major pain to NOT use the reader for two week. But think I have a confirmed on some speculation.

Two weeks ago recharged and reset as per listed by other posters. Also remove the SD card so its just itself. Nothing else draining.

After the first week. Turned on and fliped about 4 pages. Power droped one bar.
After the 2nd week. Turned on and fliped about 5 pages. Power droped another bar.

Either:

A) Battery is bad.
b) Update software is eating power that it did not do before.

Am leaning on the 2nd one. Before it ran over a month with use. After software barely can keep a charge.

Have not tried the reset the battery bar. Thinking on it.

Hang on a minute. By your own figures, you could go a month without having to recharge. That hardly counts are "barely can keep a charge", does it?

If you've not reset your battery meter, eg by plugging in the wall charger briefly, as described here, how can you trust what the meter is showing you?

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04-27-2007, 04:59 PM	#136
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I don't look at the bar anymore. When the reader asks, I charge. If I need it on a trek I charge. It's no more complicated than fueling a car. I have an Apple usb charger, has anyone tried this yet?

04-27-2007, 05:46 PM	#138
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,740 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	From what I gather, you cannot read while it's connected to the USB port anyway. So that's not a good idea. But what I was thinking was since it supposedly can chrge from USB, getting a USB tip for the cell phone charger and using that int he car when needed. Would that be a good idea you think?

04-27-2007, 05:56 PM	#139
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	You know I was just thinking....... a hard reset puts the reader back to the way we bought it correct? which in turn would undue the fix Sony sent us....and I think the battery problem still existed even before the update? So how could this be fixed or am I full of hot air? LOL

04-28-2007, 07:01 AM	#140
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	I don't think that the hard reset puts the Reader back to the way it was bought. It resets all user-altered things to their original status, using the system software which is currently burned into the flash bios. The update would have overwritten data in the flash bios, which would not be reset in such an instance. At least that's the case with my Palm units -- whenever I've done system updates, they have held even through hard resets, while all other things which I have changed have returned to the original state. The same with my computer motherboards -- once the system bios flash has been changed it stays changed. Same with my digital cameras and my mp3 player as well.

04-28-2007, 10:59 AM	#141
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	OK! Had three notches on the charge bar so I decided to try the Apple USB charger. Left it on for two hours and took it off. ARGH! It got down to one notch. Did a soft reset, ditto. Put the Sony charger to it while the reader was on and pulled it right back out... back to three notches. Conclusion Same as diabloNL. No effect Advice keep to Sony charger.

04-28-2007, 11:30 AM	#142
Gravitas Muppet Posts: 123 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nottingham, England, UK Device: Zen Vision :M / Nokia 5800 musicXpress / Sony PRS500	I got my Reader yesterday and installed the connect software, authorized my reader and was asked if I wanted to upgrade the firmware - after reading this thread I said no. So far so good. Am I missing anything vital by not upgrading my firmware? Was there any benefits to the upgrade?

04-28-2007, 12:30 PM	#143
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	USB chargers don't work with the Reader - you'll find that the charge light doesn't come on. Even charging on a PC's USB port won't work unless the "Connect" software is installed on that PC! Gravitas - the problem you'll have is that you'll be asked if you want to upgrade every time you connect the Reader to your PC. May as well just do it and get it over with. The battery thing is completely irrelevent, IMHO. All you have to do is, after you've charged the Reader (which is a "once ever few weeks" thing), just momentarily plug in the mains charger with the Reader turned on. The battery meter will immediately reset itself to where it should be, and you're done.

04-28-2007, 03:35 PM	#144
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	Actually I just charged mine the other day with it on and the batter never went above three bars charged. I had to unplug, turn it off and found it still read three bars, the trick is having to once again plug the charge in and that is what resets it....... or is it at least with mine......... crazy crazy.

04-29-2007, 12:30 PM	#146
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	Yep, that is what you said and what I said, LMAO ducking.

04-30-2007, 12:34 AM	#147
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	Been a major pain to NOT use the reader for two week. But think I have a confirmed on some speculation. Two weeks ago recharged and reset as per listed by other posters. Also remove the SD card so its just itself. Nothing else draining. After the first week. Turned on and fliped about 4 pages. Power droped one bar. After the 2nd week. Turned on and fliped about 5 pages. Power droped another bar. Either: A) Battery is bad. b) Update software is eating power that it did not do before. Am leaning on the 2nd one. Before it ran over a month with use. After software barely can keep a charge. Have not tried the reset the battery bar. Thinking on it.

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05-03-2007, 10:17 AM	#148
halljames Zealot Posts: 116 Karma: 463 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newcastle, UK Device: Apple iPad	Regarding this bizarre charging issue. What happens if you were to buy a sony reader today, does it have the latest firmware on, meaning it has the funny battery meter issues, or does it have the old firmware on it that had no such problem. OR does it have a secret new firmmare that is not available for download yet. I wish sony would get a new firmware out that fixes this.

05-03-2007, 10:21 AM	#149
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	Good Question......