iLiad Storming the JTAG walls

[scotty1024]

iRex has officially said NO to providing JTAG support.

That also means waiting for them to finish their "grail quest" to implement a re-flash via a media card. They feel they have that well in hand even though most teams get that working in a couple days: not several months...

I suspect part of the slow down is that they're encrypting/signing it as well to avoid the Sony Reader embarrassment of providing us with a custom code re-flash tool.

If we want real debugger support for things like the ipdf crash we are going to at some point need to hook up JTAG debuggers. Someone mentioned seeing an extra connector when they cracked open their iLiad.

If someone is game to trace that connector's connections, there are economical JTAG PC interfaces available that could exploit that connector (if it is indeed the JTAG port.)

[CommanderROR]

Well...that was unexpected...just as as I was starting to believe in their goodwill again...

Maybe what Angel once told me is the reason for all this mess...the Boss at iRex is an old-fashioned guy...and he won't let his employees disclose anything without a big fight...which in this case they lost...pity really...

So I guess you'll just have to continue with your hacking then?

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by scotty1024

iRex has officially said NO to providing JTAG support.

Sniff.

I suspect part of the slow down is that they're encrypting/signing it as well to avoid the Sony Reader embarrassment of providing us with a custom code re-flash tool.

I think I missed this one. What happened with the Sony Reader?

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

I think I missed this one. What happened with the Sony Reader?

This, I guess.

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by igorsk

This, I guess.

Ahh but I wouldn't call it an embarrassment... quite happy actually that you made it, igorsk

But Scotty perhaps meant that this was an embarrassment for Sony to happen. Well, I am sure some of them are happy to see that people care enough about the device to tinkle with its system.

[tribble]

Hmm, really sad news. But some clever person will find a way. Right scotty ?

[jæd]

Originally Posted by scotty1024

If we want real debugger support for things like the ipdf crash we are going to at some point need to hook up JTAG debuggers.

Did you publish the diff for this...? Perhaps if someone else can take a look at it then we can figure out the problem...? Many eye-balls make good code...!

[k2r]

Originally Posted by CommanderROR

the Boss at iRex is an old-fashioned guy

Well, as much as I like this device - there will be other linux based devices with this great screen within the next two years...
This company is not Microsoft and it's not Sony so they'll need all the sales they can make.
We'll see whether they go on dreaming of getting some great DRM-B2B sales until they have to shut down or if they get a clue earlier and open up their device to all those who want to buy and use it.

And then there's still the GPL, this could hurt much. I talked to some people and am still considering to ask for the (complete) sources formally in January. If they make money on somebody elses work they have to obey certain rules.

Too bad that there are always some anal people who (tend to) ruin it for all.

[arivero]

Originally Posted by k2r

Well, as much as I like this device - there will be other linux based devices with this great screen within the next two years...

So do you have access to the patent agreements of e-ink?

[arivero]

Originally Posted by scotty1024

Someone mentioned seeing an extra connector when they cracked open their iLiad.

If someone is game to trace that connector's connections, there are economical JTAG PC interfaces available that could exploit that connector (if it is indeed the JTAG port.)

Has JTAG got some physical standards of connectivity? The extra connector in the board is just one of these for flat conductive plastic as the ones to attach extra boards. It is about 22 pins.

[k2r]

Originally Posted by arivero

So do you have access to the patent agreements of e-ink?

Phillips is owner of the patent and though iRex is a Phillips spin-off I doubt that iRex will be the only company Phillips is willing to sell displays to.

At the very moment we have Hanlin, iRex, Sony and soon Hitachi building epaper devices. There will be more companys soon. The iLiad's Hardware is not very exotic, there's only the great display and then the wacom tablet.

iRex' iLiad could become the omnipresent WRT54G among ebook-devices if they let people adapt the device to their needs. But I think that the timeframe for this to happen is not bigger than maybe another year.

[vranghel]

Originally Posted by k2r

Phillips is owner of the patent and though iRex is a Phillips spin-off I doubt that iRex will be the only company Phillips is willing to sell displays to.

At the very moment we have Hanlin, iRex, Sony and soon Hitachi building epaper devices. There will be more companys soon. The iLiad's Hardware is not very exotic, there's only the great display and then the wacom tablet.

iRex' iLiad could become the omnipresent WRT54G among ebook-devices if they let people adapt the device to their needs. But I think that the timeframe for this to happen is not bigger than maybe another year.

Unfortunately the iLiad's resemblance with WRT54G is minimal:

First of all WRT54G is a VERY CHEAP device that can be made into a very powerful router/firewall etc.(iLiad is everything BUt cheap)

Secondly Linksys seems not to mind people messing with the device (something iRex seems to have a problem about)

Thirdly the WRT54G is omnipresent because it is CHEAP (imo thats the most important reason) and a LOT of people have laptops and multiple computers;

I do hope that the iLiad will be the next WRTG54, but i doubt it.

[k2r]

Originally Posted by vranghel

Unfortunately the iLiad's resemblance with WRT54G is minimal:

I meant: the WRT54G is Linux based and has been modified without Dlink's support but even without Dlink getting in the way. This makes big sales for them.
(Being 10% of an iLiad's price helps, too, I agree. But it's not the cheapest device on the block!)

[arivero]

Originally Posted by k2r

Phillips is owner of the patent .

Not exactly. Phillips has rights to the patent from e-ink.com and we do not know the terms of the agreement. From the continental distribution of the devices I would guess that they involve some "territorial exclusivity". But we can not guess for how many years.

[vranghel]

Originally Posted by k2r

I meant: the WRT54G is Linux based and has been modified without Dlink's support but even without Dlink getting in the way. This makes big sales for them.
(Being 10% of an iLiad's price helps, too, I agree. But it's not the cheapest device on the block!)

iRex helped a bit with the modifications as they opened some doors, but still they havent opened the device wide open; Seems that Linksys knew when them not interfering was actually good for them! The cheapest device on the block isnt even half as decent as the WRT54G. It is a good robust product thats why so many people use it;