Comments on: Sony PRS-505 firmware update—for ePUB and DRMed PDF—is NOW online

By: Rich Adin

Rich Adin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:36:25 +0000

It has been pointed out to me privately that I am wrong about the touchscreen capability. What may have occurred is that when I went to delete a book from my 505, I may well have unknowingly pressed the bookmark button before pressing the icon on the screen and thus deluded myself. (Can I chalk this up to my old age? :))

I apologize if I mislead anyone; it was unintentional. I really did think I happened on something significant.

By: Rich Adin

Rich Adin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:51:36 +0000

To me the most interesting part of the firmware update is how I can directly delete books from my Reader without plugging the Reader into my computer. The reason why it is significant is the procedure involved: Before a book is deleted, you have to confirm the deletion by — get this — touching an icon in the middle of the eInk screen with your finger. The firmware has brought touchscreen capability to the 505. Granted not in a very sophisticated way, but think of the future possibilities now that touchscreen capability can be added via a firmware update.

By: Paul Biba

Paul Biba — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:44:03 +0000

According to David’s earlier report:

Sony’s upgrade does not extend to the earlier PRS-500, and Mullin revealed that the Sony eBook Store would still offer books only in the company’s BBeB format—partly with the 500 in mind, and partly for commercial reasons. Mullin told me that Sony wanted “creative control”—for example, the ability of Sony to link content to its format. I’ll root for Sony to rethink that one.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:18:37 +0000

Looks like the library software is also available for the older PRS 500. But there is no firmware update.

Does anyone have any idea if the features listed work on the PRS 500 as well? I suspect not, but the notes on the library software suggest that it does.

By: Paul Biba

Paul Biba — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:17:13 +0000

Update worked fine. It is a 3 step process. You must download Adbobe Digital Editions from Adobe if you want reflowability. Sony provides the link. You must also download a new edition of the Sony library software 2.200.18100, dated today. Then you download the firmware.

Nicely, the firmware update does not destroy any of your books on the machine. It went very quickly. After the update the machine seems to run faster and seems to be more responsive. There is, finally, a menu item that lets you delete a book directly from the 505. No need to use the library for this any more.

I used my Eee PC and it worked fine.