903 PB 903 Question

rias · 03-04-2011, 12:59 PM

Hi Experts,

I bought this week the PB 903, which is really an excellent device . One of the important reasons why I ordered this reader was to read news paper in the web, it looks fine except the issue of displaying Arabic Web Pages:

Arabic alphabets appear in the right order (from right to left) BUT letters are separated!!

I am attaching 2 screenshots of a web page (Arabic BBC) and how it appears on the BP reader and same page on my iPhone

Even tried to change the language of the device from English to Arabic did not solve the issue
Can you please advise what I can do in order to get Arabic HTML pages displayed correctly?

PS: I have seen there is an option in the web browser under encoding to select "Custom" Is there a way to add manually any files there which would help
to read Arabic properly?

The device firmware version is: D903.2.0.420110106_160908
I checked the date of the SWUPDATE.BIN file in the root directory: Last Modified 20. ‎January ‎2011, ‏‎18:32:00, which seems to be the latest one ?

I really appreciate your help

Many thanks in advance

Sil_liS · 03-04-2011, 02:00 PM

Is Arabic displayed correctly in ebooks?

rias · 03-04-2011, 03:16 PM

All PDF files (converted from Arabic docs) can be displayed correctly. I tried to convert an arabic PDF to epub using a shareware, it seems to work.
And the device itself it does support Arabic, so you can change the language of the menus to Arabic, all the system messages are displayed in correct Arabic. Even the file names of the books is presented in the library correctly.

I added additional Arabic fonts to the fonts directory, but I can not see them within the webbrowser (I can select them for the system menus)
Is there a way to tell/force the browser to use a particular font?

Many thanks for the help, really appreciated!

doublezed · 03-04-2011, 06:10 PM

Hi Rias,
Midori uses another system to render fonts that pass through DirectFB. Just to give it a try and see your additional fonts into the browser do as follow:

1. Connect the 903 to the PC
2. Copy the attached fonts.conf in the main folder of the PB903
3. copy the attached browser.app in the /applications folder
4. copy all your additional fonts in /system/fonts

Remove the PB903 from the pc and power it up. Go into "Applications" and start the "Browser.app". Test to see if your additional fonts are visible inside midori.

Let us know if it worked! Good luck.

rias · 03-04-2011, 08:23 PM

Thanks doublezed!

I tried your steps, but the new "Browser.app" will not start. The screen just goes back for a second.

FYI: I already have the "webbrowser-enhanced.app" which I am using because it changes the resolution to the better size "mode=828x1200" . Additionally there is the default webbrowser.app

So I tried and switched device off and on but can not get the new browser.app running

Another note: I currently don't have SD card inserted in the PB 903 device (need to buy one soon) Could this have an issue with starting the app?

I am attaching the one I have "webbrowser-enhanced.app" which I am using now.

paola · 03-05-2011, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rias

Another note: I currently don't have SD card inserted in the PB 903 device (need to buy one soon) Could this have an issue with starting the app?

I do not think it could be that, as I have no cards and review's webbrowser works perfectly well (I am on the December version of 2.0.4, tough)

rias · 03-05-2011, 06:43 AM

Thanks!
I updated yesterday to the latest firmware, now the PB 903 has: D903.2.0.4 20110120_182526

Still having same behavior and can not start the new "Browser.app".

doublezed · 03-05-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rias

Thanks doublezed!

I tried your steps, but the new "Browser.app" will not start. The screen just goes back for a second.

FYI: I already have the "webbrowser-enhanced.app" which I am using because it changes the resolution to the better size "mode=828x1200" . Additionally there is the default webbrowser.app

So I tried and switched device off and on but can not get the new browser.app running

Another note: I currently don't have SD card inserted in the PB 903 device (need to buy one soon) Could this have an issue with starting the app?

I am attaching the one I have "webbrowser-enhanced.app" which I am using now.

Ops... sorry Rias, i misread your model and sent you the browser.app for my PB603 that will not work on your device.
I modified your webbrowser-enhanced to use another fontconfig file. In the attached zip file you will find the fonts.conf file that you have to copy in the main folder of the PB903. I renamed the webbrowser-enhanced in webbrowser-enhanced_arabic-test.app so you have not to overwrite the one that is working for you.
I supposed all your added fonts are in /system/fonts. If not so please copy them there.

I'm sorry but i have to ask you to test this file by your own but i have no PB903 device to test on

Give it a try and let us know.

rias · 03-05-2011, 08:32 AM

Many Thanks!

My quick update: I tried the new "webbrowser-enhanced_arabic-test.app" and got strange encrypted error, when I clicked "ignore" the browser opened for a a few seconds with a strange GUI and was closed afterwords

Now even my original "webbrowser-enhanced.app" starts with an error message which I can ignore and continue working with the browser
I attached related screens,

Thanks for the help again!!!

rias · 03-05-2011, 12:22 PM

Good news!! I got now the browser and I can select additional fonts in the browser and Arabic displaying is correct!!!
I am still testing the menu where you can select the fonts in the browser (fixed size font, default font family) I need to know how they affect the behavior. As now the menu text in the browser (menu, back, refresh, stop,...) appear too small.

I will give you another update later, Big Thanks again to doublezed

doublezed · 03-05-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rias

Good news!! I got now the browser and I can select additional fonts in the browser and Arabic displaying is correct!!!
I am still testing the menu where you can select the fonts in the browser (fixed size font, default font family) I need to know how they affect the behavior. As now the menu text in the browser (menu, back, refresh, stop,...) appear too small.

I will give you another update later, Big Thanks again to doublezed

I'm really happy for you

Enjoy!

atango · 03-06-2011, 11:53 PM

Hi doublezed,
your tip worked for Korean webpage, too. I now can use Korean fonts I saved in the system/fonts directory.
Thanks!

doublezed · 03-07-2011, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atango

Hi doublezed,
your tip worked for Korean webpage, too. I now can use Korean fonts I save in the system/fonts directory.
Thanks!

GREAT! It's a good news!

rias · 03-09-2011, 08:38 PM

Hi all

After many tests with different fonts I can confirm that the workaround by doublezed really fixed the issue with displaying Arabic web pages. Again my thanks for the great help.

On the other hand I am facing similar issue with the fbreader:
I tried all possible options/settings available with different fonts for the fbreader in order to get Arabic ebook (mainly epub but same for html, doc,...) displayed correctly, but unfortunately without success

FBreader does show Arabic letters from right to left but the letters are separated (not rendered)

I am attaching a sample Arabic book which I tried. Any idea? It is really strange as the fbreader offers the option for Unicode, but doesn't complete the job correctly,

Many thanks in advance for any help

rias · 03-09-2011, 08:43 PM

a quick comment to my last post: I noticed that table of content (TOC) of any Arabic epub book are always displayed correctly in fbreader.

03-04-2011, 12:59 PM	#1
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	PB 903 Question Hi Experts, I bought this week the PB 903, which is really an excellent device . One of the important reasons why I ordered this reader was to read news paper in the web, it looks fine except the issue of displaying Arabic Web Pages: Arabic alphabets appear in the right order (from right to left) BUT letters are separated!! I am attaching 2 screenshots of a web page (Arabic BBC) and how it appears on the BP reader and same page on my iPhone Even tried to change the language of the device from English to Arabic did not solve the issue Can you please advise what I can do in order to get Arabic HTML pages displayed correctly? PS: I have seen there is an option in the web browser under encoding to select "Custom" Is there a way to add manually any files there which would help to read Arabic properly? The device firmware version is: D903.2.0.420110106_160908 I checked the date of the SWUPDATE.BIN file in the root directory: Last Modified 20. ‎January ‎2011, ‏‎18:32:00, which seems to be the latest one ? I really appreciate your help Many thanks in advance Attached Thumbnails

03-05-2011, 08:32 AM	#9
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	Many Thanks! My quick update: I tried the new "webbrowser-enhanced_arabic-test.app" and got strange encrypted error, when I clicked "ignore" the browser opened for a a few seconds with a strange GUI and was closed afterwords Now even my original "webbrowser-enhanced.app" starts with an error message which I can ignore and continue working with the browser I attached related screens, Thanks for the help again!!! Attached Thumbnails

03-05-2011, 12:22 PM	#10
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	Good news!! I got now the browser and I can select additional fonts in the browser and Arabic displaying is correct!!! I am still testing the menu where you can select the fonts in the browser (fixed size font, default font family) I need to know how they affect the behavior. As now the menu text in the browser (menu, back, refresh, stop,...) appear too small. I will give you another update later, Big Thanks again to doublezed Attached Thumbnails

03-06-2011, 11:53 PM	#12
atango Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seoul, Korea Device: PocketBook 902pro	Hi doublezed, your tip worked for Korean webpage, too. I now can use Korean fonts I saved in the system/fonts directory. Thanks! Last edited by atango; 03-07-2011 at 04:27 AM.

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03-04-2011, 02:00 PM	#2
Sil_liS Wizard Posts: 4,896 Karma: 33602910 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: PocketBook 903 & 360+	Is Arabic displayed correctly in ebooks?

03-04-2011, 03:16 PM	#3
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	All PDF files (converted from Arabic docs) can be displayed correctly. I tried to convert an arabic PDF to epub using a shareware, it seems to work. And the device itself it does support Arabic, so you can change the language of the menus to Arabic, all the system messages are displayed in correct Arabic. Even the file names of the books is presented in the library correctly. I added additional Arabic fonts to the fonts directory, but I can not see them within the webbrowser (I can select them for the system menus) Is there a way to tell/force the browser to use a particular font? Many thanks for the help, really appreciated!

03-05-2011, 06:43 AM	#7
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	Thanks! I updated yesterday to the latest firmware, now the PB 903 has: D903.2.0.4 20110120_182526 Still having same behavior and can not start the new "Browser.app".

03-09-2011, 08:43 PM	#15
rias Member Posts: 13 Karma: 50 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: PB 903	a quick comment to my last post: I noticed that table of content (TOC) of any Arabic epub book are always displayed correctly in fbreader.

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