gadgets
Kindle 2 firmware updated to v2.3 with native PDF support
25/11/2009 20:37
Amazon announced today the software update that bring Kindle firmware version to 2.3. It add native supports for PDF and claim 85% more battery life for Kindle 2 Global wireless version. Kindle with Whispernet connection will eventually update itself and there is no action required.
For users who feel the need to update sooner, they can access the Kindle manual update page.
Users with the Unicode Fonts Hack should first uninstall the hacks before upgrade. After upgrading, my Kindle now shows Version: Kindle 2.3 (399380047). Unicode support for v2.3 could be re-applied after the firmware upgrade.
For users who feel the need to update sooner, they can access the Kindle manual update page.
Users with the Unicode Fonts Hack should first uninstall the hacks before upgrade. After upgrading, my Kindle now shows Version: Kindle 2.3 (399380047). Unicode support for v2.3 could be re-applied after the firmware upgrade.
Unicode Font for Kindle International now available
04/11/2009 20:35
I have just tried out the instruction in BlogKindle for the hack Unicode Fonts hack for Kindle. I am happy to report that it works with the International version of Kindle.
Not that I have many non-English books to display but at least my own documents in both Chinese and English can now be displayed correctly.
You do need to jailbreak Kindle International version first before the font installation. The hack could be reversed by the uninstall binary for International Kindle.
Not that I have many non-English books to display but at least my own documents in both Chinese and English can now be displayed correctly.
You do need to jailbreak Kindle International version first before the font installation. The hack could be reversed by the uninstall binary for International Kindle.
Kindle
16/10/2009 14:56
My Amazon Kindle arrived today. As of today Amazon also consolidated the domestic version and International version and lowered the price to USD259 to compete with the nook from Barnes & Nobles.
Overall I found the screen of Kindle crisp, sharp and very readable. The wireless purchase is convenient and fast. While I gave up some capability to randomly browse through paper books, the entire book purchase delivery experience took less than 2 minutes and is very, very good.
I found the experimental browser feature only barely adequate for general use. This feature is currently only available in Hong Kong, Japan and Mexico, so friends in other country may not get the benefit of this. Being able to search Wikipedia and check mobile GMail using the device is certainly a big plus and add considerable selling point to the device. I hope Amazon could negotiate the deal with the telecom operators in more country and make this a permanent feature of Kindle.
Overall I found the screen of Kindle crisp, sharp and very readable. The wireless purchase is convenient and fast. While I gave up some capability to randomly browse through paper books, the entire book purchase delivery experience took less than 2 minutes and is very, very good.
I found the experimental browser feature only barely adequate for general use. This feature is currently only available in Hong Kong, Japan and Mexico, so friends in other country may not get the benefit of this. Being able to search Wikipedia and check mobile GMail using the device is certainly a big plus and add considerable selling point to the device. I hope Amazon could negotiate the deal with the telecom operators in more country and make this a permanent feature of Kindle.
Jailbreaking iPod touch with Firmware 3.0
01/07/2009 20:39
I have my iPod Touch 1G jailbreak while at firmware version 1.x but since upgraded to version 2.x, I have been using the stock firmware as the standard firmware are 'good enough'.
Recently I found that the Home button was not responding well. Searching on the forum identify this iPod Touch home button issue to be a major problem as the button is fixed to the system board and that there is no easy fix to replace it. I took the iPod touch to CASE, the authorized Apple service center and found that repair(replacing) that cost me HK$1000 (about US$130). This is basically a complete swap for an refurbished version with new battery and exterior enclosure but possibly old parts.
Although this is not an unreasonable sum of money to pay, my iPod touch was completely functional other than the Home button issue, so the sum seems high for such a small problem. So right before the Home button gone completely dead, I managed to Jailbreak the 3.0 Firmware on Mac and install mQuickDo that use gesture to replace the Home button. mQuickDo is the pay version of the iHome software. Unfortunately it can only be installed on Jailbreak machine and you do need the Home button to enter into DFU mode to complete the Jailbreaking.
If you suspect that the Home button is going South, do the Jailbreaking and install mQuickDo before it is too late.
** Added in September 2009 **
Just in case the Home Button is already dead, you can still use the pwnage tools to create a jailbroken version of the firmware which you then use iTunes to restore using the Recovery mode (instead of DFU mode).
Recently I found that the Home button was not responding well. Searching on the forum identify this iPod Touch home button issue to be a major problem as the button is fixed to the system board and that there is no easy fix to replace it. I took the iPod touch to CASE, the authorized Apple service center and found that repair(replacing) that cost me HK$1000 (about US$130). This is basically a complete swap for an refurbished version with new battery and exterior enclosure but possibly old parts.
Although this is not an unreasonable sum of money to pay, my iPod touch was completely functional other than the Home button issue, so the sum seems high for such a small problem. So right before the Home button gone completely dead, I managed to Jailbreak the 3.0 Firmware on Mac and install mQuickDo that use gesture to replace the Home button. mQuickDo is the pay version of the iHome software. Unfortunately it can only be installed on Jailbreak machine and you do need the Home button to enter into DFU mode to complete the Jailbreaking.
If you suspect that the Home button is going South, do the Jailbreaking and install mQuickDo before it is too late.
** Added in September 2009 **
Just in case the Home Button is already dead, you can still use the pwnage tools to create a jailbroken version of the firmware which you then use iTunes to restore using the Recovery mode (instead of DFU mode).
iPod Firmware
29/01/2008 21:08
For users who need to downgrade/upgrade their iPod touch or iPhone, you can find the older firmware at http://www.mhour.com/iPod/
iPod Diagnostic and disk mode
28/01/2008 21:08
I could never remember all the correct sequence of keystrokes to put an iPod classic/mini/nano into diagnostic or disk mode. The page at http://www.command-tab.com/2006/03/30/hidden-ipod-commands/ comes in handy as a graphic cheat-sheet.