PRS-T1 Sony has released new Reader Library software

[gander2112]

I dug out my reader a couple months back. I had switched to my iPad solely for reading, and it is good, but for a night time read, the PRS-600 is just better.

I saw the update. Said "Why not?" and then the fun began.

On my Windows box (Win7 ultimate x64) it failed to stop or uninstall the old reader library helper. This caused me untold troubles. Finally uninstalled the old reader, uninstalled the new reader, rebooted, and reinstalled the new reader. Reset my PRS-600, remove the memorystick (as it seemed to prevent the reader from being recognized), and finally, it recognized, and re-authorized my reader.

But, the software is buggy. It stops responding, and that requires a trip to the Task Manager, and killing the services/application. Sigh. This is not uncommon for badly written software running in 64bit systems.

I repeat this process on my Mac. It "seems" to work better, but trying to organize the books into collections and syncing causes the long hang, and finally a force quit. Sigh. I will give Caliber a shot. It does suck, because I do buy titles, and I do need to get Adobe Adept protected epubs to my reader from time to time.

Sigh.

[Shopaholic]

Gander2112 unless you have the new T1 don't upgrade the Sony Library software on your computer. It's a nightmare and a half!! I actually like the Sony software - the older version not the new one for the T1.

The stupid thing defaults to putting your entire library on your device. PITA if you have several hundred books, many of which you've ready already. There is no more manual making of collections for the device via the software. If you've got the 600 & the 700 - stick with the older version of the Sony Library. Save yourself the headaches.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by chrisridd

Right, they're both written using Qt. But the spacing between widgets does seem a little different - much wider on the Mac, where non-Qt Mac apps are much narrower.

I have it set to use medium size icons (Preferences - Look and Feel) and show text under icons if there is enough room. Also under Look and Feel - Cover Browser tab I have it set to show 17 covers in the Cover browser window. Additionaly I have changed my font size to Arial Narrow (13pt). As an aside, note that the main color scheme is based off of your OS choices.

Originally Posted by chrisridd

That may be relevant - the icons you're using in the panel on the left look smaller than the default ones. But I tried those icon sets and they didn't really work well - hilighting an icon in the left panel changed it to a green plus.

I just preferred the Ubuntu icon set.

[Kai Winters]

I always used the Sony library software, from my old 500 model, 300 and now the T1.
The T1 library software is miserable and I have gone over to Calibre.
I hated the sonyware trying to synch my entire library to my T1 every time I connected the darn thing. I have unchecked all the synch boxes but it still tries.
The latest sonyware library update did nothing to make me want to keep the craptastic library.

I spent several hours yesterday importing my entire book collection to the Calibre system. Cleaned out all the duplicates, made sure I had all the "tags", all the cover art. Calibre did a fantastic job using Google and Amazon to show me the cover art for the books that just had the plain jane black and white covers. I used the "series" function to group all my series into proper order.
Calibre is so much better than sonyware. I have even donated to Calibre.
I've used Calibre in the past to convert books to the epub format and change book cover pictures but not to this extent. I was satisfied with the old sonyware library for my 300 but now it is Calibre all the way.

Thanks Calibre...well done : )

[Skip_intro]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

That is native to the app.

The cover flow (top), tag browser (left), and Book details (right) can be opened and hidden individually on the fly via the three icons at the bottom right.

I do however have a completely different set of icons in use.

Thanks for the info. Busy playing with the 'look and feel' now.

[chrisridd]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I have it set to use medium size icons (Preferences - Look and Feel) and show text under icons if there is enough room. Also under Look and Feel - Cover Browser tab I have it set to show 17 covers in the Cover browser window. Additionaly I have changed my font size to Arial Narrow (13pt). As an aside, note that the main color scheme is based off of your OS choices.

The icon size pref only seems to affect the toolbar icons for me. I have reduced the font size down, but there are still large gaps between widgets. I rather fear this is just how Qt works, which might mean it is not fixable

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I just preferred the Ubuntu icon set.

The problem I saw with clicked icons turning into a green plus seems to affect stock Calibre 0.8.25 on OS X. Maybe there's a missing icon somewhere.

I'll try the Ubuntu icons.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by chrisridd

I rather fear this is just how Qt works, which might mean it is not fixable

You are most likely correct.

Originally Posted by chrisridd

The problem I saw with clicked icons turning into a green plus seems to affect stock Calibre 0.8.25 on OS X. Maybe there's a missing icon somewhere.

This is a feature not a missing icon, but at the level your describing it doesn't do much for you.

The icons you click in the tag browser change to a + (Plus) if clicked once or a - (Minus) if clicked a second time. At the top level it is just selecting if a book record has the item or not in the list view window. Click on formats (+) and the search bar is filled in with formats:true any book record that isn't empty is shown. Click again (-) then it will be formats:false and show all empty books (books with no format.)

I have never clicked a top level icon before since I never needed to do this. You can expand the top level menu by clicking the dropdown arrow to the left. Once the list is expanded selecting an item will fill in the search box with the appropriate search, either limiting the search to that item (+) or eliminating the search from seeing the item (-).

At least you gave it a second look, but if you need beauty I guess you'll have to look elsewhere.

[chrisridd]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

The icons you click in the tag browser change to a + (Plus) if clicked once or a - (Minus) if clicked a second time. At the top level it is just selecting if a book record has the item or not in the list view window. Click on formats (+) and the search bar is filled in with formats:true any book record that isn't empty is shown. Click again (-) then it will be formats:false and show all empty books (books with no format.)

You are right! It is a three-way button. I see the search field changing to publisher:false and publisher:true for the - and + icons (and clicking the publishers item.)

Originally Posted by dwanthny

At least you gave it a second look, but if you need beauty I guess you'll have to look elsewhere.

I'll certainly keep it around. Maybe I can find or write a plugin that beats it into submission

[JakesFriend]

I installed the new Reader for PC shortly after it was released. Not too sure if I like it, but each time I connect my PRS-950 it stops responding.
I checked the online Help -- it tells me to disconnect the USB cable and connect it again. I'll try that and post the results.

Also: when I installed the new software, it offered to link the contents of the "old" software (books, etc.), and I went along with that. I imagine this means I can't uninstall the old software. That doesn't sound too good.

Update: I updated the software (again), and all is fine.