Firmware updates, dictionaries, fonts and third-party software for M92

[bartp5]

Originally Posted by CJY

I have just installed the latest firmware, so far, so good - but a few things are really beginning to bug me:

1. Every time I update, the time, date and time zone has to be set again.
2. Boot splash custom image has to be set again (minor issue, I'll grant).
3. All my added start pages for the browser has been wiped out.
4 The MAC address keeps changing (guys, this is supposed to be a hardware address!), and I have to change router settings to re-gain access.
... (snip)
Cheers!
CJ

I wrote a litlle script for people who want to change their MAC address as I ran into issue 4 (I have to apply in writing for accessing the WLAN at work with a certain MAC. I did this and flashed my boox the next day ). It is pretty simple to change your MAC once you find where it is, all you need it root access to /lib/hotplug/firmware/sofmac.

In order to use the script you must first install the script UI primitives posted here in "/usr/local/bin". After that you should be able to run setmac.oar. The script allows to edit and set your mac address. It makes a copy of your softmac file in "/lib/hotplug/firmware/sofmac_bkup".

The script serves my purposes but obviously usage of the script is at your own risk...

Cheers,
Bart

[jbsavitz]

Originally Posted by bartp5

I wrote a litlle script for people who want to change their MAC address as I ran into issue 4 (I have to apply in writing for accessing the WLAN at work with a certain MAC. I did this and flashed my boox the next day ). It is pretty simple to change your MAC once you find where it is, all you need it root access to /lib/hotplug/firmware/sofmac.

In order to use the script you must first install the script UI primitives posted here in "/usr/local/bin". After that you should be able to run setmac.oar. The script allows to edit and set your mac address. It makes a copy of your softmac file in "/lib/hotplug/firmware/sofmac_bkup".

The script serves my purposes but obviously usage of the script is at your own risk...

Cheers,
Bart

Both,

Thank you for pointing this out. I thought I was going crazy too. This is something they have to get under control. I wonder if the MAC address is the same on all Boox e-readers? It doesn't make sense.

[CJY]

Originally Posted by jbsavitz

Both,

Thank you for pointing this out. I thought I was going crazy too. This is something they have to get under control. I wonder if the MAC address is the same on all Boox e-readers? It doesn't make sense.

+1

CJ

[bartp5]

The MAC's all start with the vendor part (20:59:A0 of Paragon Technologies Inc.). The rest I presume is randomly generated when the firmware is flashed (I could not verify this). I believe these sort of practices are not all that uncommon, it is very practical and simple. It may not strictly ensure uniqueness but with the address space of Paragon Technologies consisting of about 17 million addresses it practically does. Obviously, it poses a problem when updating firmware while relying on the MAC address being always the same. However, in most cases a constant MAC address is required because MAC filtering often gives people a false sense of security. It is trivial to change your hardware address in software and trivial to sniff out a MAC address that is granted access. For security I do not think it really makes a difference if you make it a firmware address instead.

[Defenderland]

I'm wondering how much longer we will have to wait, until we finally will get the new, better firmware?
At the current "speed" of development, in five years the promised features maybe would be available...

[tuxor]

I agree with you. Last update is from 20120607 and there are lots of improvements that have been announced. It's obvious that Onyx is trying to compensate the pressure by stating things like this (see first post):

We decided we won't call our updates "Beta" or "RC" or "Final" any more.

We will just publish regularly the most current state of the firmware.
We will also publish the changelog to the last published firmware and what they are going to do next with due regard to the wishlist (m92 Wiki).

[PF4Mobile]

I just hope that we are not in for a surprise: the new firmware will have all our suggestions but it will run on a new and improved hardware :-D.
Just curious, does the new software run on M90?
If it doesn't, have all the new features been ported to the M90 as well in the new firmware releases for M90?

[BCotton]

Originally Posted by PF4Mobile

I just hope that we are not in for a surprise: the new firmware will have all our suggestions but it will run on a new and improved hardware :-D.
Just curious, does the new software run on M90?
If it doesn't, have all the new features been ported to the M90 as well in the new firmware releases for M90?

M90 got no update after 9/22/2011, neither did their older products like A60. A real shame. Doubt M92 would get any updates if it were not for Booxtor. I do hope M90 gets the new software. How difficult could it be to port it to the only slightly different hardware?

[PF4Mobile]

Originally Posted by BCotton

M90 got no update after 9/22/2011, neither did their older products like A60. A real shame. Doubt M92 would get any updates if it were not for Booxtor. I do hope M90 gets the new software. How difficult could it be to port it to the only slightly different hardware?

Interesting.
Are we being used ?
Shall we stop helping, testing and making suggestions till a promise is made that the new software will be compatible with M92?

[BCotton]

Originally Posted by PF4Mobile

Interesting.
Are we being used ?
Shall we stop helping, testing and making suggestions till a promise is made that the new software will be compatible with M92?

Any new device would be full of bugs and barely usable Unless ofcourse their R&D partners help them out. But plans for the plastic screen seem to be on hold.

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by PF4Mobile

Interesting.
Are we being used ?
Shall we stop helping, testing and making suggestions till a promise is made that the new software will be compatible with M92?

Hey, don't panic!
1. there are no plans currently for M92 successor
2. The software is permanently in development (new update will be published next Monday)

[mundey]

I received my M92 on July 18, 2012. To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed looking at the level of software and usability provided. On top of this many things does not work. So here are we:

1. upon PDF zoom (by hide margins or navigation-key zoom), the images are vanished off the document. Images can only be seen in no-zoom mode.

2. doc file opens but all formatting/tables are dropped. As a result it's as good as no doc file support.

3. docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx cannot be opened. I don't know why in the manual they say these are supported.

4. (Wifi) whenever i want to use wifi - it connects to a non-secured wifi which is just found in search rather than connecting to my-wifi which is secure. On top of that the wifi settings are not stored in the system. So i always have to go through the hassle of going back from default connect to manually connect and choose my wifi and provide settings, every time i need to connect to wifi. Rench in front of every network found does nothing.

5. The moment we change preferred application, book-marks are lost, so need to go to right place again to start reading.

6. I read from booxter on how to update (using navigation key press while booting). The system checks there is no update found (which is ok coz there was not any) and proceeding to normal boot. What i realized that all my internal folder's files are missing, reading list missing. Only upon a reboot could these files are shown back.

7. Despite 800Mhz and 256M. response of applications is dead slow, specially while using a keyboard to type or while traversing in file-system which is not yet so heavy. I think it's problem of the baseline software.

5. (Feature request) - playing audio file and and reading comprehension.

6. (Enhancement) TTS needs lot of improvement. What i listened to on one of the sites showing preview and what was played by the device are totally different.

7. (Enhancement) One click dictionary look up while reading a document.

[Booxtor]

Originally Posted by mundey

I received my M92 on July 18, 2012. To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed looking at the level of software and usability provided. On top of this many things does not work. So here are we:

1. upon PDF zoom (by hide margins or navigation-key zoom), the images are vanished off the document. Images can only be seen in no-zoom mode.

2. doc file opens but all formatting/tables are dropped. As a result it's as good as no doc file support.

3. docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx cannot be opened. I don't know why in the manual they say these are supported.

4. (Wifi) whenever i want to use wifi - it connects to a non-secured wifi which is just found in search rather than connecting to my-wifi which is secure. On top of that the wifi settings are not stored in the system. So i always have to go through the hassle of going back from default connect to manually connect and choose my wifi and provide settings, every time i need to connect to wifi. Rench in front of every network found does nothing.

5. The moment we change preferred application, book-marks are lost, so need to go to right place again to start reading.

6. I read from booxter on how to update (using navigation key press while booting). The system checks there is no update found (which is ok coz there was not any) and proceeding to normal boot. What i realized that all my internal folder's files are missing, reading list missing. Only upon a reboot could these files are shown back.

7. Despite 800Mhz and 256M. response of applications is dead slow, specially while using a keyboard to type or while traversing in file-system which is not yet so heavy. I think it's problem of the baseline software.

5. (Feature request) - playing audio file and and reading comprehension.

6. (Enhancement) TTS needs lot of improvement. What i listened to on one of the sites showing preview and what was played by the device are totally different.

7. (Enhancement) One click dictionary look up while reading a document.

Hi,
please install the last update first. Some mentioned problems were already solved.
Regarding TTS - we are in contact to Acapela now and the old TTS will be replaced by best available TTS solution of Acapela soon. In my opinion TTS is just a nice to have feature. More important were to improve and develope the PDFReader.

[PF4Mobile]

Originally Posted by Booxtor

Hey, don't panic!
1. there are no plans currently for M92 successor
2. The software is permanently in development (new update will be published next Monday)

OK OK if we have your word then it is reassuring.

[zs1901]

Hi Booxter,
I bought my M92 just a few days ago, and I have tried both your update-20120105.zip and update-20120607.zip. Here is my problem:
When plugged to PC via usb, a message box asking "do you want to connect to PC?", after answering yes, the M92 shows a picture of hooking up.

Unfortunately, nothing happens on the PC side. The PC can't detect any device. I tried this on two different PC, one with Window XP and the other one is with Window 7.

Is this the common issue with M92? My Nook Simple Touch works perfectly on both PC, so I don't think it's the PC problem. Please help...