Sony Reader PRS-900 fonts are not dark

mcpprofjai · 11-17-2017, 06:59 AM

My Sony Reader PRS-900 fonts are not dark (blurred). I've searched forums to see any articles helps me to increase darkness of font. Nothing found. Service manual for PRS-900 is not available and other manuals refer to go to Test mode and there is no test mode software is available to download. Also, let me know whether you have lastest software to upgrade my PRS-900. Please let me know.

Thanks in Advance

Jay

gingerbeardman · 11-20-2017, 07:04 PM

Hi Jay,

The manual for the PRS-900 is here:
https://www.e-reading.club/readers/files/52/PRS900.pdf

You're right that there's no contrast adjustment on that model. There's also no newer software, either official or unofficial.

If you had a PRS-300/350/505/600/650/950, you could install PRS+ and its additional system settings which adds the contrast adjustment option.

Anyway, you can mitigate the issue a few ways:

1. use larger fonts
2. use the device in landscape for even larger fonts
3. edit the ePub to make all text bold, see this thread

Good luck!

mcpprofjai · 11-24-2017, 01:01 AM

Thanks gingerbeardman for your answers.

I've been looking for Repair Manual for PRS900, The link you shared is for user manual. Also, There is a way to increase a darkness when i see the other Repair manuals, it give instructions to enter into Test Mode and get files from manufacturer. But, I've tried searching for software files to enter Test Mode, i didn't get any results, but definitely the files available with service persons.

Thanks a lot for other suggessions you have provided to see font better.

I have tried to flash the reader with the following flashes but i don't see any changes to the device.

PRS900.Flash.Package.1.02d.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.02e.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.03b.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.04c.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.05a.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06a.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06b.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06c.zip
PRS900.Flash.Package.1.0a.zip

JSWolf · 11-24-2017, 05:27 AM

The 900 has problems. The first problem is the touch layer. It makes the screen look like a mirror. Also it makes the screen not as clear as it should be. Next, the default fonts are lousy. There's nothing you can do to change that. All you can do is embed better fonts in your ePub eBooks.

Unless you want to buy a Kobo o replace your 900. A Kobo Aura H2O 2nd edition would be much better to read with. You can adjust the font weight to your liking and you have more options, a proper aspect ration screen (instead of just stretched), a high-resolution Carta screen, and a front light (with the blue light removing orange light). The screen on the H2O2 is going to be much sharper and clearer.

gingerbeardman · 11-25-2017, 04:31 PM

@JSWolf dismissing @mcpprofjai's choice of reader is not helpful, nor is saying "buy a different reader". They are obviously here because they'd rather not buy a different reader and want to try to fix what they have and are otherwise happy with.

Which is why I offered some alternative ways of increasing legibility on the PRS-900.

JSWolf · 11-25-2017, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingerbeardman

@JSWolf dismissing @mcpprofjai's choice of reader is not helpful, nor is saying "buy a different reader". They are obviously here because they'd rather not buy a different reader and want to try to fix what they have and are otherwise happy with.

Which is why I offered some alternative ways of increasing legibility on the PRS-900.

The default fonts are what they are. They cannot be changed. The only way to change the fonts is to embed different fonts.

Making the font size larger may not be wanted. Making the font bold won't work in every case as some books do use bold. Landscape may not be wanted. There isn't a solution other than to embed or a different Reader. The 900 has a touch layer that diminishes sharpness and contrast. There's nothing that can be done about that. It is what it is and it is not all that good and what the OP wants is not able to be done easily. No firmware version will help. There are no hacks/mods for the 900 to fix this. Only embedding a font with more weight such as ChareInk will work. But the problems such as reflection and what I mentioned won't be going away.

Dr. Drib · 11-27-2017, 04:43 AM

All of Gingerbeardman's suggestions are fine - as they stand. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they don't go far enough with this reader due to the inherent limitations of the technology at the time.

You see, ebook technology has really passed the Sony 900 by. I owned one, and Jon is correct in what he says, although we do differ on our opinions concerning the Kobo/Kindle choices. (It's all a matter of choice, I feel.)

You may - if you wish - take a trip over to the "Which one should I buy" forum and read over some of the threads there on choices for new readers. When (or IF) you decide to buy a new reader, it's always helpful to get other member's opinions regarding the different readers that are out there.

So, without dismissing the reader you own, please realize that your reader is rather long-in-the-tooth and that other - newer - readers will give you additional benefits.

11-17-2017, 06:59 AM	#1
mcpprofjai Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2017 Device: Sony Reader PRS900	Sony Reader PRS-900 fonts are not dark My Sony Reader PRS-900 fonts are not dark (blurred). I've searched forums to see any articles helps me to increase darkness of font. Nothing found. Service manual for PRS-900 is not available and other manuals refer to go to Test mode and there is no test mode software is available to download. Also, let me know whether you have lastest software to upgrade my PRS-900. Please let me know. Thanks in Advance Jay

11-20-2017, 07:04 PM	#2
gingerbeardman Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1001024 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cornwall, UK Device: Various Sony Readers, Kobo Touch Edition, iPhone	Hi Jay, The manual for the PRS-900 is here: https://www.e-reading.club/readers/files/52/PRS900.pdf You're right that there's no contrast adjustment on that model. There's also no newer software, either official or unofficial. If you had a PRS-300/350/505/600/650/950, you could install PRS+ and its additional system settings which adds the contrast adjustment option. Anyway, you can mitigate the issue a few ways: 1. use larger fonts 2. use the device in landscape for even larger fonts 3. edit the ePub to make all text bold, see this thread Good luck! Last edited by gingerbeardman; 11-20-2017 at 07:45 PM.

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11-24-2017, 01:01 AM	#3
mcpprofjai Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2017 Device: Sony Reader PRS900	Thanks gingerbeardman for your answers. I've been looking for Repair Manual for PRS900, The link you shared is for user manual. Also, There is a way to increase a darkness when i see the other Repair manuals, it give instructions to enter into Test Mode and get files from manufacturer. But, I've tried searching for software files to enter Test Mode, i didn't get any results, but definitely the files available with service persons. Thanks a lot for other suggessions you have provided to see font better. I have tried to flash the reader with the following flashes but i don't see any changes to the device. PRS900.Flash.Package.1.02d.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.02e.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.03b.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.04c.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.05a.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06a.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06b.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.06c.zip PRS900.Flash.Package.1.0a.zip

11-24-2017, 05:27 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,943 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The 900 has problems. The first problem is the touch layer. It makes the screen look like a mirror. Also it makes the screen not as clear as it should be. Next, the default fonts are lousy. There's nothing you can do to change that. All you can do is embed better fonts in your ePub eBooks. Unless you want to buy a Kobo o replace your 900. A Kobo Aura H2O 2nd edition would be much better to read with. You can adjust the font weight to your liking and you have more options, a proper aspect ration screen (instead of just stretched), a high-resolution Carta screen, and a front light (with the blue light removing orange light). The screen on the H2O2 is going to be much sharper and clearer.

11-25-2017, 04:31 PM	#5
gingerbeardman Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1001024 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cornwall, UK Device: Various Sony Readers, Kobo Touch Edition, iPhone	@JSWolf dismissing @mcpprofjai's choice of reader is not helpful, nor is saying "buy a different reader". They are obviously here because they'd rather not buy a different reader and want to try to fix what they have and are otherwise happy with. Which is why I offered some alternative ways of increasing legibility on the PRS-900.

11-27-2017, 04:43 AM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	All of Gingerbeardman's suggestions are fine - as they stand. Unfortunately, in my opinion, they don't go far enough with this reader due to the inherent limitations of the technology at the time. You see, ebook technology has really passed the Sony 900 by. I owned one, and Jon is correct in what he says, although we do differ on our opinions concerning the Kobo/Kindle choices. (It's all a matter of choice, I feel.) You may - if you wish - take a trip over to the "Which one should I buy" forum and read over some of the threads there on choices for new readers. When (or IF) you decide to buy a new reader, it's always helpful to get other member's opinions regarding the different readers that are out there. So, without dismissing the reader you own, please realize that your reader is rather long-in-the-tooth and that other - newer - readers will give you additional benefits.

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