Astak Video on How To Do Firmware Upgrades

Robertb · 10-13-2009, 02:30 PM

Dear All:

I realize that many of you are highly skilled and could do Firmware Upgrades in your sleep.

BUT... there are others that are relatively new and Astak wants to do a series of HELP videos to try to give clear instructions so all can learn!

In this video we have Amy demonstrating how to do a "by the book" approach to firmware upgrades on both the Pocket PRO and EZ Reader Basic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USEOxj8P2M

Comments are welcome!! I think it is edited very well and Amy really nailed it!

kacir · 10-13-2009, 03:09 PM

In the first part of video you could make a screen capture video showing somebody visiting the site, downloading the file and unzipping it. Then you can demonstrate formating an SD card and putting the file at the root of the card. You do not mention that important detail. I believe the update file must not be in any directory.

0:46
"SD card must be 16GB or smaller for ..."
Lots of people will not pay attention to the or smaller part and will complain loudly that they had to purchase very expensive card just to update the reader...
I think the sentence should be more like
"... you can use any SD card as long as it is smaller than 16 MB ..."

1:33
"you'l notice that screen says to press any key to update the ..."
Well, I think the screen says "OK to start, other key to cancel"

You might also consider using units without protective screen foil - it could give an impression that there is glare problem with the screen.

2:49
"You can take out the battery and then use the USB cable to charge the device"
I fail to understand that one. The battery is out. What I am charging? A reader without battery?
3:02
"... after that happens, please put the battery back in ..."
Again this leaves lots of room for misunderstanding.
Should I put the battery in while the device is connected to the power? Should I switch off the device before attempting to connect the battery?

You also might want to mention that after successful update the user should delete the firmware update file from the card.

DaleDe · 10-13-2009, 04:12 PM

FAT16 is usual for 2 Gig and less cards and the update will work fine formatted in FAT16. Generally there is no need to format the card.

The caution about the state of the battery should be early. The unit should have a battery with a full charge or be plugged into the AC outlet prior to beginning the update. It is better to be safe than sorry.

No need to have to go through resetting the device if the instructions are correct.

Dale

Robertb · 10-13-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

In the first part of video you could make a screen capture video showing somebody visiting the site, downloading the file and unzipping it. Then you can demonstrate formating an SD card and putting the file at the root of the card. You do not mention that important detail. I believe the update file must not be in any directory.

0:46
"SD card must be 16GB or smaller for ..."
Lots of people will not pay attention to the or smaller part and will complain loudly that they had to purchase very expensive card just to update the reader...
I think the sentence should be more like
"... you can use any SD card as long as it is smaller than 16 MB ..."

1:33
"you'l notice that screen says to press any key to update the ..."
Well, I think the screen says "OK to start, other key to cancel"

You might also consider using units without protective screen foil - it could give an impression that there is glare problem with the screen.

2:49
"You can take out the battery and then use the USB cable to charge the device"
I fail to understand that one. The battery is out. What I am charging? A reader without battery?
3:02
"... after that happens, please put the battery back in ..."
Again this leaves lots of room for misunderstanding.
Should I put the battery in while the device is connected to the power? Should I switch off the device before attempting to connect the battery?

You also might want to mention that after successful update the user should delete the firmware update file from the card.

Dear Kacir:

ALL noted!! You are right on top of this and that is great. We will improve!!

GA Russell · 10-14-2009, 04:24 PM

Robert, that video is for people who are already quite tech savvy. I believe that it should be dumbed down for people like me who don't know anything more than how to type a letter on MS Word.

For example, it is necessary for the consumer to update from time to time his firmware. But the firmware comes zipped. So the consumer needs a program to unzip it. Astak doesn't provide the program to unzip it, and Amy doesn't say where you could get one. So the URL of such a website should be shown on the screen.

(Personally, I think that such information should be in the user's manual. Not every customer is going to see this video.)

If Amy is not going to explain what FAT is and how it is relevant, she should not mention it.

Your Luddite pal,

GA

theducks · 10-14-2009, 06:26 PM

I just noticed that the file was RAR not ZIP, which windows XP can handle.
I suggest Astak convert the file to ZIP (or offer a choice) to allow Windows users extract the file without additional software.
Nothing against RAR, I have it, which is why I did not notice this issue before.

DaleDe · 10-14-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I just noticed that the file was RAR not ZIP, which windows XP can handle.
I suggest Astak convert the file to ZIP (or offer a choice) to allow Windows users extract the file without additional software.
Nothing against RAR, I have it, which is why I did not notice this issue before.

I would agree. They have to make their own version anyway with their logos. They could just as easy build a zip version. Windows has zip built in.

Dale

Toeknee · 10-15-2009, 07:20 AM

Alternatively, Astak could include links to freeware utilities (such as 7zip under Windows) that can handle the filetype provided.

wpeace · 10-21-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I just noticed that the file was RAR not ZIP, which windows XP can handle.
I suggest Astak convert the file to ZIP (or offer a choice) to allow Windows users extract the file without additional software.
Nothing against RAR, I have it, which is why I did not notice this issue before.

Wouldn't it be even easier to just convert it to a .exe file to avoid having to use any other program? That way people don't have to think about it, just click on the file to extract. I notice quite a few other vendors are doing that.

Solicitous · 10-21-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeace

Wouldn't it be even easier to just convert it to a .exe file to avoid having to use any other program? That way people don't have to think about it, just click on the file to extract. I notice quite a few other vendors are doing that.

Then that causes issues for Linux/Mac users, how will they extract a .exe? Best to just keep it as a .rar and let anyone be able to extract it.

theducks · 10-22-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpeace

Wouldn't it be even easier to just convert it to a .exe file to avoid having to use any other program? That way people don't have to think about it, just click on the file to extract. I notice quite a few other vendors are doing that.

I see your BillyG badge

exe is not portable.
zip has been around longer than rar so almost any OS can handle it without purchasing a 3rd party program (or trusting freeware).
There is absolutely no real reason that Astak could not put multiple self extracting versions up on their Web page aimed at the various OS

Server Disc space is cheap, they could also run a bittorrent tracker to control the distribution that way. I leave my seeds of the Baen CD's available (a Legal torrent use), a few more would not impact me much. All Astak needs to do is make an "Official" tracker site.

wpeace · 10-22-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I see your BillyG badge

exe is not portable.
zip has been around longer than rar so almost any OS can handle it without purchasing a 3rd party program (or trusting freeware).
There is absolutely no real reason that Astak could not put multiple self extracting versions up on their Web page aimed at the various OS

Server Disc space is cheap, they could also run a bittorrent tracker to control the distribution that way. I leave my seeds of the Baen CD's available (a Legal torrent use), a few more would not impact me much. All Astak needs to do is make an "Official" tracker site.

[pulling out eraser.... frantically trying to remove all traces....]

Good point.

10-13-2009, 02:30 PM	#1
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Astak Video on How To Do Firmware Upgrades Dear All: I realize that many of you are highly skilled and could do Firmware Upgrades in your sleep. BUT... there are others that are relatively new and Astak wants to do a series of HELP videos to try to give clear instructions so all can learn! In this video we have Amy demonstrating how to do a "by the book" approach to firmware upgrades on both the Pocket PRO and EZ Reader Basic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8USEOxj8P2M Comments are welcome!! I think it is edited very well and Amy really nailed it!

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10-13-2009, 03:09 PM	#2
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	In the first part of video you could make a screen capture video showing somebody visiting the site, downloading the file and unzipping it. Then you can demonstrate formating an SD card and putting the file at the root of the card. You do not mention that important detail. I believe the update file must not be in any directory. 0:46 "SD card must be 16GB or smaller for ..." Lots of people will not pay attention to the or smaller part and will complain loudly that they had to purchase very expensive card just to update the reader... I think the sentence should be more like "... you can use any SD card as long as it is smaller than 16 MB ..." 1:33 "you'l notice that screen says to press any key to update the ..." Well, I think the screen says "OK to start, other key to cancel" You might also consider using units without protective screen foil - it could give an impression that there is glare problem with the screen. 2:49 "You can take out the battery and then use the USB cable to charge the device" I fail to understand that one. The battery is out. What I am charging? A reader without battery? 3:02 "... after that happens, please put the battery back in ..." Again this leaves lots of room for misunderstanding. Should I put the battery in while the device is connected to the power? Should I switch off the device before attempting to connect the battery? You also might want to mention that after successful update the user should delete the firmware update file from the card.

10-13-2009, 04:12 PM	#3
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	FAT16 is usual for 2 Gig and less cards and the update will work fine formatted in FAT16. Generally there is no need to format the card. The caution about the state of the battery should be early. The unit should have a battery with a full charge or be plugged into the AC outlet prior to beginning the update. It is better to be safe than sorry. No need to have to go through resetting the device if the instructions are correct. Dale

10-14-2009, 04:24 PM	#5
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Robert, that video is for people who are already quite tech savvy. I believe that it should be dumbed down for people like me who don't know anything more than how to type a letter on MS Word. For example, it is necessary for the consumer to update from time to time his firmware. But the firmware comes zipped. So the consumer needs a program to unzip it. Astak doesn't provide the program to unzip it, and Amy doesn't say where you could get one. So the URL of such a website should be shown on the screen. (Personally, I think that such information should be in the user's manual. Not every customer is going to see this video.) If Amy is not going to explain what FAT is and how it is relevant, she should not mention it. Your Luddite pal, GA

10-14-2009, 06:26 PM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,800 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I just noticed that the file was RAR not ZIP, which windows XP can handle. I suggest Astak convert the file to ZIP (or offer a choice) to allow Windows users extract the file without additional software. Nothing against RAR, I have it, which is why I did not notice this issue before.

10-15-2009, 07:20 AM	#8
Toeknee Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 12 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Device: Astak EZReader Pro	Alternatively, Astak could include links to freeware utilities (such as 7zip under Windows) that can handle the filetype provided.

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