Sony eBook Library, PRS-600 and Mac Snow Leopard -- Works with External USB Hub!!!

gadgetfreak · 09-24-2009, 10:30 AM

Hi there...

I basically found this out by accident, and thought I'd share it everybody out there who are trying to use Sony eBook Library 3.0 with Mac OSX Snow Leopard. I have been getting mixed success in getting eBook Library to work with my Macbook Air, and then realised that there was one thing in common in every instance that it worked successfully: I had my PRS-600 plugged into the external USB hub that's incorporated into my external Apple Cinema Display.

Upon realising this, I did a number of experiments to test it out, and sure enough, when I plug the PRS-600 directly into my Macbook Air's USB port, the behaviour is very different. The "LAUNCHER" drive pops up immediately, but it takes a while for "READER" to mount. Then, the icon for Sony eBook Library starts up, but usually it the window for the application doesn't come up. If the window does come up, it's very slow in interacting with the reader. Actually, if I try to open up the READER drive in Finder, it's very slow as well.

If I plug the PRS-600 into the USB hub on my display, though, and then plug the display's USB cable into the Macbook Air, the LAUNCHER and READER drives mount immediately, and the Sony eBook Library loads quickly and without any problems. Browsing the READER drive in Finder is very fast as well.

Please note that I've set the Sony eBook Library to run in Rosetta -- I had a bunch of random freezes if I didn't, regardless of which USB port I plugged the PRS-600 into.

I don't know enough about how USB works, so can't begin to guess why it works properly through the external USB hub and not when directly connected to the Macbook Air. Maybe it's a USB driver issue?

I hope that this is helpful to any Mac users out there running Snow Leopard!

Seventh Son · 09-24-2009, 01:42 PM

Maybe Air doesn't provide enough power to the USB port. I've seen this happen with other laptops. External hub in you display most likely has additional power going in.

capnttom · 09-24-2009, 08:53 PM

I too have a Macbook Air running Snow Leopard, but my circumstances are very different. eBook Library ran fine on my MBA for a couple of weeks then all of a sudden I didn't see a display and parts of the menu bar are missing. I've uninstalled and installed many times to no avail. I finally gave up and installed eBook Library on my Mac Pro and all is well. It's a real mystery to me. Hopefully Sony will release a software fix in the near term.

gadgetfreak · 09-25-2009, 05:08 AM

Hmmmm.... Interesting idea. However, I thought the Macbook Air had more power available through the USB port than other Mac laptops (due to having to power the external SuperDrive)?

Seventh Son · 09-25-2009, 05:26 AM

Maybe it's a bad USB cable then, that one has too much resistance. So of my cables can power my external HDD and some don't, even when connected to a powered hub.

myrrhs · 09-25-2009, 05:56 AM

@capnttom

You should erase the preferences for the Sony Library, to make it work again. Been there, done that.

Regards,

IEG

capnttom · 09-25-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myrrhs

@capnttom

You should erase the preferences for the Sony Library, to make it work again. Been there, done that.

Regards,

IEG

Thanks myrrhs. I tried the preference route and that didn't work for me.

Late last night I uninstalled/installed again and tried to run in Rosetta, which worked. After that I said "let's try to run without Rosetta." Voila, that worked. Something happened when I switched to Rosetta; damned if I understand it.

If you think about it, the v3.0 release is really beta software at best.

Juliette · 09-25-2009, 11:50 AM

Just in case somebody else stumble upon this, may I suggest resetting the PRAM as a way to check if the USB is ok?

gadgetfreak · 09-26-2009, 09:03 AM

Just an update... I've tried using a different USB cable, and I'm getting the same results... works through the USB hub, and doesn't work properly when plugged directly into the USB port on the computer.

I've also just tried resetting the PRAM as recommended by Juliette, and that didn't have any effect either.

Juliette · 09-26-2009, 10:03 AM

Ugh. Erase pref files? Now that I think about it, it's kind of more sluggish these days, but I have my PRS-600 since last week and I can't really compare.

EDIT: to add more fun, now the software doesn't like to import files. It goes like that:

1. I add the file to the directory of books I don't buy and get on free sites (like PG).
2. I dutifully open the ebook Library and press cmd-I. Select files, give ok.
3. They don't open!
3b. The search won't work anymore!
4. Close, restart, they work.

Okay, it's nice to see that after all you can work it out, but it's still a very annoying process. Open-add-close-open. Not a nice piece of software at all, they gave us.

karinc · 10-02-2009, 11:38 PM

I have installed and reinstalled NUMEROUS times, and I still can't even see any windows! I think I'll start a new thread, but I thought it would be worth adding my two cents. I have a MacBook Pro running OS 10.5.8. I've also installed Adobe Digital Editions, which shows windows, but doesn't see the Reader. The only software I can use is calibre but I can't use that with my public library. ;0(

gadgetfreak · 10-03-2009, 07:37 AM

Have you tried running it in Rosetta? Does it start up if the Reader isn't plugged in?

pilotbob · 10-03-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karinc

I have installed and reinstalled NUMEROUS times, and I still can't even see any windows! I think I'll start a new thread, but I thought it would be worth adding my two cents. I have a MacBook Pro running OS 10.5.8. I've also installed Adobe Digital Editions, which shows windows, but doesn't see the Reader. The only software I can use is calibre but I can't use that with my public library. ;0(

What is your Mac's region and language set to?

BOb

karinc · 10-03-2009, 07:40 PM

Hi everybody. Now I see why you're not supposed to put the same thing on multiple posts! ;0) oops. My System Prefs are English and US, and I don't know what Rosetta is. Is that like Linux? It starts up fine with or without the Reader being plugged in. In either case I can't see any windows, only the menu. So I choose any option in the menu and nothing really happens.

karinc · 10-09-2009, 01:12 AM

Hi folks. I talked to support and he got me to do what I had done before (I thought) but perhaps it was the order in which I did the steps, or the phase of the moon... but anyhoo we got the Mac version to work. I tossed the app from the application folder and then tossed the Sony stuff from the Library and from the Preferences. Then I reinstalled and it seems to work now. I'm not going to use the Adobe software (still can't get that to "see" the Reader anyway), but I'll let everyone know in case you need to know that version 3 WILL work with the files you download from the (public) library. You just have to say "YES" when the Sony Library prompts you to make the file association with .epub files. Then you download the files you have checked out from the (public) library, and when you double-click on them the Sony software opens them up. ;0)

09-24-2009, 10:30 AM	#1
gadgetfreak Member Posts: 12 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London, UK Device: PRS-600	Sony eBook Library, PRS-600 and Mac Snow Leopard -- Works with External USB Hub!!! Hi there... I basically found this out by accident, and thought I'd share it everybody out there who are trying to use Sony eBook Library 3.0 with Mac OSX Snow Leopard. I have been getting mixed success in getting eBook Library to work with my Macbook Air, and then realised that there was one thing in common in every instance that it worked successfully: I had my PRS-600 plugged into the external USB hub that's incorporated into my external Apple Cinema Display. Upon realising this, I did a number of experiments to test it out, and sure enough, when I plug the PRS-600 directly into my Macbook Air's USB port, the behaviour is very different. The "LAUNCHER" drive pops up immediately, but it takes a while for "READER" to mount. Then, the icon for Sony eBook Library starts up, but usually it the window for the application doesn't come up. If the window does come up, it's very slow in interacting with the reader. Actually, if I try to open up the READER drive in Finder, it's very slow as well. If I plug the PRS-600 into the USB hub on my display, though, and then plug the display's USB cable into the Macbook Air, the LAUNCHER and READER drives mount immediately, and the Sony eBook Library loads quickly and without any problems. Browsing the READER drive in Finder is very fast as well. Please note that I've set the Sony eBook Library to run in Rosetta -- I had a bunch of random freezes if I didn't, regardless of which USB port I plugged the PRS-600 into. I don't know enough about how USB works, so can't begin to guess why it works properly through the external USB hub and not when directly connected to the Macbook Air. Maybe it's a USB driver issue? I hope that this is helpful to any Mac users out there running Snow Leopard!

09-26-2009, 10:03 AM	#10
Juliette I eat books Posts: 601 Karma: 5124 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG	Ugh. Erase pref files? Now that I think about it, it's kind of more sluggish these days, but I have my PRS-600 since last week and I can't really compare. EDIT: to add more fun, now the software doesn't like to import files. It goes like that: 1. I add the file to the directory of books I don't buy and get on free sites (like PG). 2. I dutifully open the ebook Library and press cmd-I. Select files, give ok. 3. They don't open! 3b. The search won't work anymore! 4. Close, restart, they work. Okay, it's nice to see that after all you can work it out, but it's still a very annoying process. Open-add-close-open. Not a nice piece of software at all, they gave us. Last edited by Juliette; 09-26-2009 at 11:12 AM.

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09-24-2009, 01:42 PM	#2
Seventh Son lurker Posts: 123 Karma: 356 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: EU Device: I should probably stop	Maybe Air doesn't provide enough power to the USB port. I've seen this happen with other laptops. External hub in you display most likely has additional power going in.

09-24-2009, 08:53 PM	#3
capnttom Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 46 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony PRS-600	I too have a Macbook Air running Snow Leopard, but my circumstances are very different. eBook Library ran fine on my MBA for a couple of weeks then all of a sudden I didn't see a display and parts of the menu bar are missing. I've uninstalled and installed many times to no avail. I finally gave up and installed eBook Library on my Mac Pro and all is well. It's a real mystery to me. Hopefully Sony will release a software fix in the near term.

09-25-2009, 05:08 AM	#4
gadgetfreak Member Posts: 12 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London, UK Device: PRS-600	Hmmmm.... Interesting idea. However, I thought the Macbook Air had more power available through the USB port than other Mac laptops (due to having to power the external SuperDrive)?

09-25-2009, 05:26 AM	#5
Seventh Son lurker Posts: 123 Karma: 356 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: EU Device: I should probably stop	Maybe it's a bad USB cable then, that one has too much resistance. So of my cables can power my external HDD and some don't, even when connected to a powered hub.

09-25-2009, 05:56 AM	#6
myrrhs poetic terrorist Posts: 5 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Sony PRS600	@capnttom You should erase the preferences for the Sony Library, to make it work again. Been there, done that. Regards, IEG

09-25-2009, 11:50 AM	#8
Juliette I eat books Posts: 601 Karma: 5124 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG	Just in case somebody else stumble upon this, may I suggest resetting the PRAM as a way to check if the USB is ok?

09-26-2009, 09:03 AM	#9
gadgetfreak Member Posts: 12 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London, UK Device: PRS-600	Just an update... I've tried using a different USB cable, and I'm getting the same results... works through the USB hub, and doesn't work properly when plugged directly into the USB port on the computer. I've also just tried resetting the PRAM as recommended by Juliette, and that didn't have any effect either.

10-02-2009, 11:38 PM	#11
karinc Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 18 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: winnipeg, canada Device: Sony 505	I have installed and reinstalled NUMEROUS times, and I still can't even see any windows! I think I'll start a new thread, but I thought it would be worth adding my two cents. I have a MacBook Pro running OS 10.5.8. I've also installed Adobe Digital Editions, which shows windows, but doesn't see the Reader. The only software I can use is calibre but I can't use that with my public library. ;0(

10-03-2009, 07:37 AM	#12
gadgetfreak Member Posts: 12 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: London, UK Device: PRS-600	Have you tried running it in Rosetta? Does it start up if the Reader isn't plugged in?

10-03-2009, 07:40 PM	#14
karinc Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 18 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: winnipeg, canada Device: Sony 505	Hi everybody. Now I see why you're not supposed to put the same thing on multiple posts! ;0) oops. My System Prefs are English and US, and I don't know what Rosetta is. Is that like Linux? It starts up fine with or without the Reader being plugged in. In either case I can't see any windows, only the menu. So I choose any option in the menu and nothing really happens.

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10-09-2009, 01:12 AM	#15
karinc Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 18 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: winnipeg, canada Device: Sony 505	Hi folks. I talked to support and he got me to do what I had done before (I thought) but perhaps it was the order in which I did the steps, or the phase of the moon... but anyhoo we got the Mac version to work. I tossed the app from the application folder and then tossed the Sony stuff from the Library and from the Preferences. Then I reinstalled and it seems to work now. I'm not going to use the Adobe software (still can't get that to "see" the Reader anyway), but I'll let everyone know in case you need to know that version 3 WILL work with the files you download from the (public) library. You just have to say "YES" when the Sony Library prompts you to make the file association with .epub files. Then you download the files you have checked out from the (public) library, and when you double-click on them the Sony software opens them up. ;0)