IQ Pocketbook 701 IQ Firmware Release v.2.05

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

on the TTS instructions, they do say that only 4 are preinstalled as all kind of hell is going to break lose if you have more - if you need a voice which is not installed, you first have to unistall one, then add the one you want. Instructions are here - for the e-ink devices, but it should hopefully be along the same lines for the IQ (at least this is how I understood it from the Russian forum).

Thanks.
4 is enough for me and I'll have no problem choosing which to drop.

[citac]

Originally Posted by tselling

Thanks, that worked. It seems to stutter alot though.

Yes, it's not perfect by any means, but it's a lot better than that Godawful Microsoft Sam voice. I've been spoiled by the awesome podfic that I listened to, but I can listen to this TTS without feeling that it's too jarring.

[fjtorres]

Upon further testing...

Things to like:
- stable, no system crashes so far
- sleep mode seems to work
- greatly increased app install space; I have 40 apps taking up 120MB space with two in the 15 MB range. I saw the low drive space icon during the angry birds Rio install but it went away afterwards and I added 2 more 6 MB apps with no problems. Considering I have about a dozen apps I can do without in the newsfeed area alone, install space is a non-issue even without rooting/ hacking

Things that need work:
- PB reader can't possibly come from the GiK. It shows zero improvement. Still launches the resource-eating indexer service even if invoked from the file manager which slows everything including the reader to a crawl.
- Package management panel allows viewing and removing but not installing.
- Dictionaries can be deleted but not added--at least I haven't found where they go.
- TTS voices get deleted in the management panel but can only be added in the file manager -- the installed manual, while much improved, has it wrong.
- TTS voices are pretty good but the pauses!! About 15 seconds between sentences, paragraphs, and pages (even in the middle of a sentence). Speed adjustment does not reduce the wait, not does feeding it plain text. Occasional mid-sentence pauses don't help.

Verdict:
The generic webpad side of the IQ is probably as good as Android 2.0 gets.
(Without moving to 2.2 I doubt things will get much better.)
The Pocketbook Reader side of the IQ is just about useless. The Reader app pales before almost every other android reader app in appearance and functionality, the TTS engine is as bad as the voices are good, and the previously useful dictionary app has been neutered by the new dictionary management scheme.

Presumably the update was pulled back to fix the TTS and dictionary issues but the lack of progress on the Reader in 5 months suggests that what it is is what it will be. (As is the persistence of the unnecessary indexer service.) PB Reader on android is looking like a lost cause.

It's a good thing there are plenty of choices in quality reader apps. I'm using mostly Coolreader 3 now that it has prc and pdb support, plus Kindle, Aldiko, and Overdrive occasionally. I'm looking forward to the Bluefire release to see if I can cut Aldiko and Overdrive out.

[bellak]

I need help. I have the repack 2.03 on my IQ.. I attempted to update it to 2.05.. but it won't work. I get the android guy, the bar underneath him gets about halfway done, then the screen goes black and back to 2.03. I tried downloading it again, but the links are not working anymore. Are we suppose to unzip this one first? Android newbie here.. so please have patience with me.

[sergeifrost]

Привет Вам. Вот выложил на трекере прошивку (Firmware 2.0.5 Pocketbook IQ701)
http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3508139
По английски, извините не умею))Ваш сайт тоже читаю через Google перводчик) Удачи!

[fjtorres]

Try installing 2.0.2 first.
Then try 2.0.5.
No unziping of either.
Do hold the volume+ key until well after the progress bar appears.
It takes a while to install so I just plugged it in, started the update and walked away.
Came back later in time to set the timezone.

[lglake]

@ fjtorres
Have you tried flashing this repack " repack-20110118193656_PB701SWUPDATE.zip" over the new PocketBook upgrade?
The repack that has working 'Market" and 'a2sd'.
Thanks for helping us noobs out.
lglake

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by lglake

@ fjtorres
Have you tried flashing this repack " repack-20110118193656_PB701SWUPDATE.zip" over the new PocketBook upgrade?
The repack that has working 'Market" and 'a2sd'.
Thanks for helping us noobs out.
lglake

I'm afraid not.
Google doesn't want my money and I've managed fine without their market so the 2.0.3 repack doesn't buy me much over what I get from 2.0.5 and the other markets/freeware sites.
The only thing I'm (maybe) missing is trying out aldiko 2 and with bluefire incoming that'll be a moot point soon.

[bellak]

Thanks so much for your help. I am back to the ugly white opening screen 2.02..

I think I do not have the full download of 2.05.. it is only 433K in size.. is that correct? The other updates are much larger. That may be my problem. I can't get it to work with the 2.02 version either.


Does any one have a working link to 2.05? Maybe I should try downloading it again.

[musicman2523]

Yup, set up the tts in the tools section. Make sure to press "use this as default". Now get a book up on the screen and long press the center of screen. Menu will come up, choose tts.

[musicman2523]

Nope, wherever you store your download is where it will run from.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by bellak

I think I do not have the full download of 2.05.. it is only 433K in size.. is that correct? The other updates are much larger. That may be my problem. I can't get it to work with the 2.02 version either.

No, I don't think you do. It is on the order of 400MB.

[bellak]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

No, I don't think you do. It is on the order of 400MB.

That is what I thought.. thank you for confirming it, and for your help today. I guess I will have to wait, til they post new links.

[Farhad]

its still only the FW2.0.3 which is available on PB's website

[lglake]

Now that's scary. I downloaded 2.0.5 from that website.
Any guesses or real info on why they pulled the update and the associated files?

Hopefully they are making some new tweaks for our good.
lglake