New firmware for the Sony Reader 505: NOW! - Page 5

astra · 02-27-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

Well, dammitall, I went ahead and flashed my 505 anyway. And it worked fine.

Now I have the excellent clock display back,and uniform menu fonts.Plus it's Russified as a bonus.(I previously Russified my 500 for a gift--I don't read Russian.)

Ha!
You are a brave one!

smaulz · 02-27-2008, 09:52 AM

Yup, just did mine too. Thanks for being the guinea pig DrMoze & maggotb0y! I definitely didn't want to be the first one to try it.

gwynevans · 02-27-2008, 10:46 AM

Did mine at lunchtime too, as I was intrigued what the alternative icons & clock would look like - Photo attatched in case anyone else is interested.

JSWolf · 02-27-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Did mine at lunchtime too, as I was intrigued what the alternative icons & clock would look like - Photo attatched in case anyone else is interested.

I did mine as well. Looks good now and I like the smaller menu font. Glad to have that back. Plus, I did miss the clock.

revmike · 02-27-2008, 04:06 PM

Did you guys use the sd flash 1.2 or hack builder?

JSWolf · 02-27-2008, 04:09 PM

I used the flash that was part of the Russhify package and all I did was replace the image with the one for the icons, menu font, and clock. Flashing took like 30 seconds.

gwynevans · 02-28-2008, 03:49 AM

Same thing here - the flasher (here) identifies itself as "PRS-505 flasher 1.3 by igorsk", and I also replaced the included image with this one, giving me alternative icons, a unified menu font, and the clock. (Other combinations available - see the translated thread.)

Then...

Unpack the contents of the archive.
(Optional) Replace the incuded 'new_opt.img' with an alternative one. (Renaming the new one to 'new_opt.img'.)
Copy the exploded archive to the root of a SD card. (I'd reformatted mine to FAT/FAT16 - may not be required.)
Check you have a "/tmp" folder in the root of the Reader when viewed as a USB device, (create one if you haven't,) then unmount the reader.
Plug the flash card into the PRS-505
Press 6
Wait for the PRS-505 to report "Reflashing was successful. Rebooting."
Take the flash card out of the PRS-505
Wait for the unit to reboot
Enjoy

sdoane57 · 02-28-2008, 10:25 AM

Thanks to gwynevans for the step by step instructions AND links to the files. I got up the nerve and tried it. Love it. Makes an already great product even better.

The Old Man · 02-28-2008, 12:49 PM

It certainly sounds simple enough. I read the instructions, downloaded the files, unzipped to a SD flash, renamed the img file and copied it over the old file.
Now I'm ready to flash my 505 and...no guts...I'm chicken... do I really want to do this?
What does "Russhify" mean?
Will displaying the clock use up the battery?
Does the 505 operate just as fast or just as slow?
Will future updates by Sony be affected?
Is there a way to de-flash - return the old files?
What use is there for a 505 brick?

HarryT · 02-28-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The only hack I want next but will wait till the next firware is to replace Dutch Roman BT with Times New Roman.

What makes you believe that Sony are going to switch to a different font supplier, Jon?

gwynevans · 02-28-2008, 01:24 PM

> do I really want to do this?

Well, it took me a while or so to decide whether to or not...

> What does "Russhify" mean?

Not sure - Probably allow it to show Russian chars if you add Russian books, but there's no effect if you stick to the normal English books/chars.

> Will displaying the clock use up the battery?

No, it only gets updated when you turn the page - it can be switched off too, if not wanted.

> Does the 505 operate just as fast or just as slow?

Exactly the same as far as I can tell.

> Will future updates by Sony be affected?

Would expect them to reset it, so you'll be left to wait for an updated image before you can get the 'improved' UI back.

> Is there a way to de-flash - return the old files?

I think the basic 'new_obj.img' in the flash kit is the closest to the old files, but I'm not sure if anyone's asked got (or asked for) the original image.

> What use is there for a 505 brick?

We thought igorsk had bricked his, but he managed to find what had changed from the 500 to the 505 and produce this flasher & get working again.

gwynevans · 02-28-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What makes you believe that Sony are going to switch to a different font supplier, Jon?

I'd guess that once there's a firmware update, it'll be safer to use a HackBuilder to create your own images, as there'll be an 'official' method of recovery then - at the moment, they're all pre-prepared images for the 505.

JSWolf · 02-28-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What makes you believe that Sony are going to switch to a different font supplier, Jon?

I'm not thinking they will switch fonts. I just want to do it. I want to see if Times new Roman will look better. It definately looks better using eBook Library's emulator. The hinting built into Times New Roman does work better for sure.

HarryT · 02-28-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

I'd guess that once there's a firmware update, it'll be safer to use a HackBuilder to create your own images, as there'll be an 'official' method of recovery then - at the moment, they're all pre-prepared images for the 505.

Good point - thanks!

JSWolf · 02-28-2008, 01:37 PM

Does anyone know how to unpack an IMG file so we can see how they are all made?

02-27-2008, 10:46 AM	#63
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	Did mine at lunchtime too, as I was intrigued what the alternative icons & clock would look like - Photo attatched in case anyone else is interested. Attached Thumbnails

02-28-2008, 03:49 AM	#67
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	Same thing here - the flasher (here) identifies itself as "PRS-505 flasher 1.3 by igorsk", and I also replaced the included image with this one, giving me alternative icons, a unified menu font, and the clock. (Other combinations available - see the translated thread.) Then... Unpack the contents of the archive. (Optional) Replace the incuded 'new_opt.img' with an alternative one. (Renaming the new one to 'new_opt.img'.) Copy the exploded archive to the root of a SD card. (I'd reformatted mine to FAT/FAT16 - may not be required.) Check you have a "/tmp" folder in the root of the Reader when viewed as a USB device, (create one if you haven't,) then unmount the reader. Plug the flash card into the PRS-505 Press 6 Wait for the PRS-505 to report "Reflashing was successful. Rebooting." Take the flash card out of the PRS-505 Wait for the unit to reboot Enjoy

02-28-2008, 10:25 AM	#68
sdoane57 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Sony PRS505SC	Great Improvement! Thanks to gwynevans for the step by step instructions AND links to the files. I got up the nerve and tried it. Love it. Makes an already great product even better.

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02-27-2008, 09:52 AM	#62
smaulz Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony Reader (PRS-505)	Yup, just did mine too. Thanks for being the guinea pig DrMoze & maggotb0y! I definitely didn't want to be the first one to try it.

02-27-2008, 04:06 PM	#65
revmike Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 5282 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: hanford, ca Device: Sony Readers 505 \ T-2, Nook Glowlight Plus 7.8	Did you guys use the sd flash 1.2 or hack builder?

02-27-2008, 04:09 PM	#66
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,841 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I used the flash that was part of the Russhify package and all I did was replace the image with the one for the icons, menu font, and clock. Flashing took like 30 seconds.

02-28-2008, 12:49 PM	#69
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 525 Karma: 1300001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini, iPad Pro, Fire 8", iPhone, PaperWhite 2	It certainly sounds simple enough. I read the instructions, downloaded the files, unzipped to a SD flash, renamed the img file and copied it over the old file. Now I'm ready to flash my 505 and...no guts...I'm chicken... do I really want to do this? What does "Russhify" mean? Will displaying the clock use up the battery? Does the 505 operate just as fast or just as slow? Will future updates by Sony be affected? Is there a way to de-flash - return the old files? What use is there for a 505 brick?

02-28-2008, 01:24 PM	#71
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	> do I really want to do this? Well, it took me a while or so to decide whether to or not... > What does "Russhify" mean? Not sure - Probably allow it to show Russian chars if you add Russian books, but there's no effect if you stick to the normal English books/chars. > Will displaying the clock use up the battery? No, it only gets updated when you turn the page - it can be switched off too, if not wanted. > Does the 505 operate just as fast or just as slow? Exactly the same as far as I can tell. > Will future updates by Sony be affected? Would expect them to reset it, so you'll be left to wait for an updated image before you can get the 'improved' UI back. > Is there a way to de-flash - return the old files? I think the basic 'new_obj.img' in the flash kit is the closest to the old files, but I'm not sure if anyone's asked got (or asked for) the original image. > What use is there for a 505 brick? We thought igorsk had bricked his, but he managed to find what had changed from the 500 to the 505 and produce this flasher & get working again.

02-28-2008, 01:37 PM	#75
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,841 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Does anyone know how to unpack an IMG file so we can see how they are all made?