I was throwing this idea around, and was wondering if it would be possible to take the "Square Up" card reader and put it to other uses. Say perhaps reading data from a state license or other bar code wielding card. I would guess that its just a generic card reader, and would just be a matter of writing the software to present it's data in the correct manner. Anyone out there have the knowledge or software skills to make this possible?
im gonna work on this... i need some help with signal processing and decoding though...
im on twitter @cartercole
bother me so i can get working on it
This is something I've been interested in working on as well. I haven't managed to get my hands on a square reader yet, but I'm hoping that the reader doesn't encode the info at all. Then you could simply record the audio from the card and play it back through an electro-magnet/current amp setup like this project instructables.com/id/Magnetic-stripe-card-spoofer/ This way, I could "record" my student ID and not have to worry about losing it and getting locked out of my dorm in 10 degree weather at 5 AM haha.
TLDR: Does anyone know if the reader encodes the card info at all, or if the audio is identical to the bitstream on the card and can simply be played back to send the same exact signal that's on the card.
I'm also interested in giving this a try. PM me if you want to get something going.
Have you guys started anything on this? I'm interested in getting this thing to read any card that I come across.
I'm also interested in this and have a reader that I'm already messing with.
Okay, so I've been obsessing over this a bit lately... I came up with some results, but nothing that actually works yet.
There are two other projects that work with this. The first is mslib (https://github.com/ieatlint/mslib) which is used in the Symbian App MagRead, which already can use the square reader to read driver's licenses, rewards cards, etc. It doesn't support a wide range of card encodings, though.
The other one is a bit older. It's called magstripper (http://sourceforge.net/projects/magstripper/). It contains a java implementation (huge plus for Android development), and can do virtually any known card encoding, but doesn't seem to actually be able to decode recorded swipes made with the square reader (Maybe it's picky about noise? Either way... It's a big down side).
Has anyone come up with anything?
I hacked an app together which reads cards using the square reader. It doesn't do anything particularly fancy, just decodes tracks 1 and 2 according to the most common format.
To read track 1, you have to physically reposition the card in the reader with a shim to move the magnetic strip relative to the read head.
I'm hesitant to release it given the whole verifone brewhaha, and also because it's not particularly polished yet.
I will write up a description on my blog, though. I'll post here when that's done.
Feel free to email me to talk about it if you are working on something similar. [email protected]
As promised, I wrote up stuff about my app on my blog. I have decided not to publicly release the app or source code, but I did a fairly detailed writeup about what went into getting the data off the cards.
hxxp://cosmodro.me/blog/2011/mar/25/rhombus-square-iskewedi/
I'm not allowed to post links yet. You know how to fix the above.
steve s said:
As promised, I wrote up stuff about my app on my blog. I have decided not to publicly release the app or source code, but I did a fairly detailed writeup about what went into getting the data off the cards.
hxxp://cosmodro.me/blog/2011/mar/25/rhombus-square-iskewedi/
I'm not allowed to post links yet. You know how to fix the above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice writeup. I know next to nothing about that stuff but it was a fun read regardless. Seems like a fun hack too.
I feel bad for the fun card though
my idea 4 square up card reader
ok i want a app to unlock my phone with a card you pick card and setup app so that when you go to unlock the phone you will need a reader and a single card of your choice that would be cool
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.cosmodro.app.rhombus
I doubt it works with newer readers.
Ok, I need to use square readers, or some other readers to read college ID cards to allow students to clock in to their job, can anybody help out with source code? Is it hard to "de-compile" apps from the app store perhaps? There seem to be a number of them that will work with the Square Reader?
Thanks
critofur said:
Ok, I need to use square readers, or some other card reader to read college ID cards to allow students to clock in to their job, can anybody help out with source code? Is it hard to "de-compile" apps from the app store perhaps? There seem to be a number of them that will work with the Square Reader?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you can directly use one card reader that can read and writer college student ID, such as SYNCOTEK SC-600P.
Related
Hi!
Could someone point me to info how can I use SD card as real Secure storage of data?
What I need to do - to use it under Win Mobile platform?
is Any 3-rd part software available?
thanks for any information.
ryhor said:
Hi!
Could someone point me to info how can I use SD card as real Secure storage of data?
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess it depends on how you define secure?
If you mean 'nobody else can access the data if they get a hold of the card' ... there are many articles on the web discussing this issue - here's a decent (but slightly dated) one: http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Securing-Pocket-PC.html
There are a LOT of app's which will provide you with varying levels of encryption for your data - Resco Explorer has an option to encrypt, for example.
Use google (or your preferred search engine) to search for "pocket pc" and "security" (or perhaps "encryption") and you'll get plenty of hits.
I must point out though that we are talking about an extremely portable device. A PDA is just so easy to steal! An SD card is even more so. So if you are talking about data which really MUST remain secure ... you may well be better served by not putting it on your unit in the first place.
Hi
Actually we wanna do a simple thing.
we wanna put our application and data on SD card and allow access to this storage only to someone who have right to do it. (it isn't top secret )
SD category 3 of levels of SDMI security requirements will be fine for us.
http://www.sandisk.com/Oem/DocumentInfo.aspx?DocumentID=1344
But as I understand - there is some problem with it. It is a little bit strange - because every normal SD card has to provide this feature (and it is), but just there is no any suuport of it from OS? even there is no some 3-rd part File System Drivers?
It isn't sounds so hard to implement.
Why do I feel like we got gipped again?
I believe SD is a scam over MMC cards just like 1.44MB 3.5" floppy disks was a scam over the 720KB version... :x
SDMI
ryhor said:
Hi
But as I understand - there is some problem with it. It is a little bit strange - because every normal SD card has to provide this feature (and it is), but just there is no any suuport of it from OS? even there is no some 3-rd part File System Drivers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did some research into SDMI last year, as a part of a contract I was on. I've dug into my notes and found this:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/drm/sdksandversions.aspx#version
It may be of some use to you. Probably not ... frankly I find the whole approach of DRM to be a joke
Would it be possible to use one of the cameras to scan buisnesscards ?
And save the info. to the contacts ?
Just a thought...
Superb Idea.
Would need an accurate scanning software and image to text conversion - but I think it's a very good idea.
Dont believe this is possible. Business cards dont have any set layout. How would you be able to tell the persons name apart from their company name, etc?
I did a google, and it has already been done:
Motorola Ming phone.
The two megapixel camera found on MING allowed engineers to incorporate a business card scanner and optical-character recognition software.
The two megapixel camera found on MING allowed engineers to incorporate a business card scanner and optical-character recognition software.
MING incorporates the industry's leading Chinese handwriting recognition software, now upgraded to recognize Pinyin input.
yeah, it can't easily be done automatically - but you can certainly grab the text with some OCR and then manually tell it where to stuff the data. Obviously some distinction can be made... e.g.
[plain strings]
name
company name
job title
['word' with an @ and a . in it in that order]
e-mail
[starting with 'http' or 'www']
website
[bunch of numbers]
phone
fax
btw... for someting not entirely similar but sorta neat, and involving the camera as well, see ShotCodes; http://www.shotcode.com/
Basically they're 'bar codes' that point to some file that you would automatically download after the camera takes a picture of one of those shotcode bits
The SE P990 has a built in business card scanner "out of the box", so it's certainly possible. Not sure exactly how they've implemented it though. I guess I'll have to wait 'til I have one to find out...
read this...
its alread in the Hermes..
http://translate.google.com/transla...http://www.ppcreviews.net/content/view/737/7/
Not really a universal solution but I read somewhere that the next version of OneNote for Microsoft Office 2007 is supposed to have this kind of functionality included with it.
Although there is a mobile version of this being prepared too but I don't know how much of these features it will have.
You might want to check this out:
http://www.scanr.com/bc.aspx
I would love a piece of software like this on my universal. I believe abbyy have an SDK for OCR for just about any ppc platform. Wouldn't have a clue on developing my own one. It can be found here http://www.abbyy.com/sdk/?param=56223
Google have a free OCR engine if anyone's writing an app.
V
Im not sure how good OCR software are now. At times when I was checking it out, they were terrible, consider that I tried the 'world leader' in OCR software (I think it is called Omnipage). And, (the one I've tested) OCR don't just do visual recognition, but it also check the grammer, so it is language dependant. So, it will start giving you rubbish if you have technical terms and equations on it. I'm not sure how good a OCR software can be using the terrible camera (eg my Wizard) on the phone.
However, having said that, those little bar code thinky are pretty impressive. I think I've tested the Japan version of the barcode like scanning thing, QRCode, which is widely popular now in Japan (as I've read). However, the sad thing is that, this 'thing' is not universal. I think US they have their very own code and.. Europe has their very own code. So, business card wise, probably you want to consider putting such codes onto your business card.
rattler said:
read this...
its alread in the Hermes..
http://translate.google.com/transla...http://www.ppcreviews.net/content/view/737/7/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this application integratetd in ROM, or installed via ExtROM? If it is in ExtROM I guess we could rip it out an install it on any WM5 device with camera.
Regards
PK
Hi guys, I'm really glad i found this place, i just hope i can learn enough to help contirbute down the road as well! But for now....
so, i went to the wiki list of hacks and apps, and i decided to try downloading the phone pad program, just to try.
There's not much literature there to help you out, so i just downloaded it to my lappy, and unzipped.
THe setup file is an XML doc, and i don't know what i'm supposed to do with that to get it on my phone....
Thanks for lending a noob a hand!!
Dillsnik said:
Hi guys, I'm really glad i found this place, i just hope i can learn enough to help contirbute down the road as well! But for now....
so, i went to the wiki list of hacks and apps, and i decided to try downloading the phone pad program, just to try.
There's not much literature there to help you out, so i just downloaded it to my lappy, and unzipped.
THe setup file is an XML doc, and i don't know what i'm supposed to do with that to get it on my phone....
Thanks for lending a noob a hand!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the file was a CAB file then do not extract on PC just transfer the CAB file to the device and double tap it to run it.
Mike
Thank you, i got it on the phone and opened it....
now i just don't know where to get it or how to use it.
BTW, the program i was installing is the phone pad that is posted in the Wiki thread.
No info on it there...
Dillsnik said:
Thank you, i got it on the phone and opened it....
now i just don't know where to get it or how to use it.
BTW, the program i was installing is the phone pad that is posted in the Wiki thread.
No info on it there...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
This particular application installs an additional way for you to input text and numbers on large touchscreen keys (bigger than the ones on normal touchscreen keyboard)
So for example if you are texting somebody and you touch the little keyboard symbol at bottom of screen you will see a little arrow beside the keyboard symbol. (i.e. don't open the keyboard by tapping it - tap the arrow beside it) A list will pop up allowing you to select different ways to input your text, anything from handwriting to your newly installed Phone Pad!!
This option for the keyboard is now available for all programmes where you would use the on screen keyboard. Keys large enough to save you the bother of using stylus and just use fingers.
Any problems ask here or send PM/e-mail details below
Mike
THanks very much mike, i found it!
Still a little tricky to get used to...It's funny, with all that my new PPC can do, i am finding i miss some of the simplicity of my old flip phone for things like just calling and texting. Maybe ei need more getting used to it still
That phone pad is a little different than i'm use to for texting....its a little tricky figuring out how to just select the word you want...or for ex, if you hit 1 and you want an !, do you select it at the list at top or is there a button that scrolls through the choices? those buttons on the left are a little tight up against the side to hit cleanly it seems, although no real misses yet.
Dillsnik said:
THanks very much mike, i found it!
Still a little tricky to get used to...It's funny, with all that my new PPC can do, i am finding i miss some of the simplicity of my old flip phone for things like just calling and texting. Maybe ei need more getting used to it still
That phone pad is a little different than i'm use to for texting....its a little tricky figuring out how to just select the word you want...or for ex, if you hit 1 and you want an !, do you select it at the list at top or is there a button that scrolls through the choices? those buttons on the left are a little tight up against the side to hit cleanly it seems, although no real misses yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being honest I agree WM devices aren't the easiest of phones and there is a bit of a compromise between getting all the other fancy stuff and the phone part of the device. You will get more used to it as you say. To be honest I'm never in so much of a rush to call someone that I don't have time to use the stylus on the full touchscreen keyboard. And just think there are all those thousands of freeware application downloads for WM5 out there - just waiting for you to try!! Mind you a lot of garbage as well.
One follow on thought just for info:
CAB files as you now know you install fromm the device
EXE files for WM5 you run on PC whilst connected via Active Sync and they'll install automatically.
If I have a choice I go for the CAB file as I store it on the SD card rather than cluttering up my PC. Also If I need to hard reset all my cabs will be sitting their waiting for a quick tap and their programmes are back on again. Although I do use Mobsync which is an addon for Active Sync that allows me to back up my SD card to my PC and anything I drop into the PC Backup gets put onto my PC card when I do a Sync.
Mike
Mike
Great tips mike....
You are right, i am excited to make the most of my new wonder with all the free (and not free!) ware out there. That is what i think it's probably all about, cause i feel like out of the box it leaves a lot left to be desired.
I need to get myself an sd card quickly for that! Only problem is, i'm sure i'll want/need a 2GB card. A 1GB card is like 20-30, a 2 gb is closer to $90!! i bought this in a large part for nav software and the map data should take up a lot of space on a card. I guess i could get a 1gb for now or even have two, but swapping will suck i'm sure. What do you have for yours?
I have just 1gb, but despite having maybe 20-30 apps loaded and a copy of their cab files, a few photos and usual odds and ends it's only one third full. (Mind you, I put on lots but end up removing almost as many so application numbers only grow slowly) WM apps are really quite small. But certainly nav software and and maps will take a considerable amount. Spotted a package the other day bundling a TyTn + Blue tooth GPS receiver and Tom Tom software all for a price £50UK less than I paid for the Device alone and no SDcard.
Makes yer sick dunnit!
PS In early days I loaded all apps onto device memory and a surprising number it took. BUT it began to seriously slow down device even with quite a bit of memory to spare. Now I load everything to Storage Card with the important exception of those things the device needs to start up. e.g. Phone skins and any programs that run on today screen. It is essential to load these things to device memory as folks have found the phone alarms may not ring or device will freeze when calls come in if something it needs to start is buried on SDcard. The main ring tone as well - although it will work from SD card may cause a ring delay if on SD card leaving as few as two rings for you to hear before voicemail comes on. Live and Learn!!
This forum contains a wealth of info - more than I will ever need. Getting to be too many multiple threads on same issue though which gets confusing as some appear to find no solution to a problem and yet another may have just the answer needed.
Mike
EDIT: By the way if you like paying for apps.!! I think Wisbar Advance and Wisbar Advance Desktop are great. BUT learning curve is quite steep and a bit of an on-going project but allows multiple desktops to hold all those today themes and gadgets that just won't fit on one today screen.
that's some good stuff to know, and it's nice of you to explain all that too me. really helps clear some things up so i'm not asking as many q's later or just generally in the dark.
i've heard of others speak of WA before. in your opinion, what are the biggest must have programs and also some of the best values out there? i'm willing to pay for a good program but I like a free one as much as the next guy!
FYI...I work in sales and managing accounts in different areas will be key for me. so if u know anything that lends well for that I'd be interested.
thanks,
dan
Dillsnik said:
that's some good stuff to know, and it's nice of you to explain all that too me. really helps clear some things up so i'm not asking as many q's later or just generally in the dark.
i've heard of others speak of WA before. in your opinion, what are the biggest must have programs and also some of the best values out there? i'm willing to pay for a good program but I like a free one as much as the next guy!
FYI...I work in sales and managing accounts in different areas will be key for me. so if u know anything that lends well for that I'd be interested.
thanks,
dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dan
Here's a link to just some of the apps. I have on mine:
Look for the post by TCO who did a great job of finding all the links to the applications.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=283085
Here's a few mostly freeware application sites. Lots of rubbish in these but some maybe worth it. For anything specific for example if I wanted Excel on my device I'd just do a google search on: excel wm5. Freeware sites are everywhere but have your popup blocker on, some are good others are terrible. A google search on freeware WM5 will throw up lots of these. Also there can be the odd Java application that's good so may be worth a try.
I'm no expert in your work areas so guess you'll need to track down the good work related ones yourself though your kind of work would seem ideally suited to the typical tracking and accounting sorts of application. Some sites are nicely categorized.
http://www.pdagold.com/software/list.asp?p=1
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/tags.php?tag=clocks&order=date&page=2
http://www.getjar.com/software/universal/all/Applications/Email/set2
Mike
Imagine you are standing in a store looking at DVDs. You photograph a barcode with your phone and press a couple of buttons. By the time you make it home, the movie is waiting for you in your torrent client.
This is the link for the app which is available on Android. I wonder if anyone could come up with something like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05KrEjHW6g
and VERY legal indeed...
While it is a clever idea, that kind of talk really isn't allowed here.. I think this thread will be closed!
thats amazing.. wonder how he is getting away with that!
not that i encourage illegal behavior or download anything illegaly, but i would love to see someone get something like that working for winmo too (not that i would use it)!
Illegal downloads
Its not like im encouraging illegal movie downloads. Just because a shop is providing bullets and guns doesnt mean that they are encouraging shooting and killing...
I think this would be a wonderful app and could have many uses other than illegal movie downloads so take a chill pill...
Yes, the implications are incredible. I'm sure there are *many* other uses other than illegal movie downloads, I just can't think of any right now.
..
Oh wait, got one! Music download?!
Hardly saying I'm against it, but do you really think this is the place for you to request an app which would make you a trigger-happy barcode reader?
other possible use
instead of having it take you to a torrent of the movie you can you use it log you dvds or cds to make a list of all your dvds or possibly use it with microsofts netflix app to add the scanned dvd to you rental list
Think outside the box lill fella there could be a lot more uses than just piracy... I saw the video on youtube and was very impressed so lighten up and go BUY a dvd or something if it makes u happy...
I already downloaded a torrent client on my mobile and am able to download content from many sites... Its called winmobile torrent if anyone is interested.
Please posts messages regarding development or alternatives to this rather that sarcy comments from now on.
p.s.
Dashraider that is an excellent idea...
Yeah, lets NOT discuss the legality of this application, in stead lets find out how to get this on our WM phones
To get it to work we would at least need
1. A barcode reading Lib, open source/free
2. A way of searching barcode number -> title
Google-ing for both ...
Mr_Gee said:
Yeah, lets NOT discuss the legality of this application, in stead lets find out how to get this on our WM phones
To get it to work we would at least need
1. A barcode reading Lib, open source/free
2. A way of searching barcode number -> title
Google-ing for both ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Koushik Dutta's Windows Mobile Bar Code Manager and API.
Another possible use:
It scans the barcode, then identifies the product and checks online for different prices. So you can find the lowest price or whatever.
Thanks...
Thanks for your help on this guys...
Mandragore said:
Try Koushik Dutta's Windows Mobile Bar Code Manager and API.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could only find the barcod creation part..
But... we could already start with just typing in the number
the rest could/would be automatic
jmckeejr said:
Another possible use:
It scans the barcode, then identifies the product and checks online for different prices. So you can find the lowest price or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an FYI there is already a WM program being developed that does this called Barcorama. It's a little crude in the fact that it doesn't actually "read" the barcode, it just searches a predefined string using the barcode numbers that you photograph, and opens a browser page with the prices.
You can edit the search string as well, I think it defaults to a Google Shop search, but you can make it search Amazon/Whatever fairly easily.
To take this a step further, basically what I imagine the general workings of this application would do would be something of the following.
Using pretty much the same foundation as barcorama you would take a pic of the barcode, but instead of displaying the pricing page it would instead parse the data for a title of a movie/artist/etc. This operation would likely be hidden to conserve resources. Beyond this you could take the data that you got from searching the UPC and then plug that into a torrent search site such as isohunt, and have it grab whichever torrent has the closest match or best seeds.
The problems would be that while you could do all the steps on the PPC, I'm not exactly sure how you would get the .torrent opened on your PC without some sort of remote feature/LogMeIn etc. which are probably difficult to integrate into the application.
An additional problem would be that the application would have to judge which torrent from the tracker is "best" to download which would probably have to be handled by some combo of which torrent has the most seeds and which most precisely matches the data it acquired from the barcode.
I'd imagine that this project can be done without too much trouble, but it will probably take awhile to work out the bugs/fine tune the search/etc.
-Edit: After rereading this I came up with an idea for a workaround to get the file to the PC. It's only an idea like I said and would require additional development, but I'm just planting the seed for the more creative minds to bloom.
Basically the steps would be the same as above, but when you reached the point where the .torrent has been found, have the program save the .torrent to a temporary directory, attach it to an email document, and email it to an address you would input. You would probably have to run an app always on the PC that would watch your email, and open any .torrents that came in, I'm not sure how difficult that would be.
I think something like this is the easiest way to do this, but anyone can feel free to chime in with tweaks/new ideas
Scorpion360 said:
Just an FYI there is already a WM program being developed that does this called Barcorama. It's a little crude in the fact that it doesn't actually "read" the barcode, it just searches a predefined string using the barcode numbers that you photograph, and opens a browser page with the prices.
You can edit the search string as well, I think it defaults to a Google Shop search, but you can make it search Amazon/Whatever fairly easily.
To take this a step further, basically what I imagine the general workings of this application would do would be something of the following.
Using pretty much the same foundation as barcorama you would take a pic of the barcode, but instead of displaying the pricing page it would instead parse the data for a title of a movie/artist/etc. This operation would likely be hidden to conserve resources. Beyond this you could take the data that you got from searching the UPC and then plug that into a torrent search site such as isohunt, and have it grab whichever torrent has the closest match or best seeds.
The problems would be that while you could do all the steps on the PPC, I'm not exactly sure how you would get the .torrent opened on your PC without some sort of remote feature/LogMeIn etc. which are probably difficult to integrate into the application.
An additional problem would be that the application would have to judge which torrent from the tracker is "best" to download which would probably have to be handled by some combo of which torrent has the most seeds and which most precisely matches the data it acquired from the barcode.
I'd imagine that this project can be done without too much trouble, but it will probably take awhile to work out the bugs/fine tune the search/etc.
-Edit: After rereading this I came up with an idea for a workaround to get the file to the PC. It's only an idea like I said and would require additional development, but I'm just planting the seed for the more creative minds to bloom.
Basically the steps would be the same as above, but when you reached the point where the .torrent has been found, have the program save the .torrent to a temporary directory, attach it to an email document, and email it to an address you would input. You would probably have to run an app always on the PC that would watch your email, and open any .torrents that came in, I'm not sure how difficult that would be.
I think something like this is the easiest way to do this, but anyone can feel free to chime in with tweaks/new ideas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually writing an app to read UPCs and search Amazon prices...
Mr_Gee said:
I could only find the barcod creation part..
But... we could already start with just typing in the number
the rest could/would be automatic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, didn't check the API code for scanning barcodes..
Mandragore said:
Sorry, didn't check the API code for scanning barcodes..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Geen probleem ;-)
Ontoppic
This could be an option :http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=368798
I need to look into it, and see if I/we can use it,
I also think we can use amazone.com for the dvd info
I just need to look in to the placing of the nzb/torrent
but we're getting there
winmobile torrent seems cool, but i dont really understand the point of downloading huge files over edge to your mobile, would make more sense if it synced with your computer like in the video so it would use a higher bandwith
I've always been interested in creating a barcode reading program.
Before my two kids came along and took away all our free time, my wife used to collect coupons. She would put them all in a index card holder and reference them whenever she was buying something. The most time consuming part was keeping up with the expiration dates and what each coupon was for, then compare them to fliers from the supermarkets.
My idea was to barcode scan each coupon and have an online database of what the coupons were for, how much off, expiration date, and barcodes of products the coupon was valid for. I know that supermarkets have such a database but it would be great if it was available online somewhere.
Even as a community effort (users scan a coupon and type in the applicable info then upload and share with everyone else), this would be a useful little program.
In this economy, we can all use an app like this, can't we? My Wife and I used to leave the supermarket with a shopping cart full of food and personal hygiene products having only paid $3 - $10 bucks.
One of my main reasons for having a WinMo-based phone is for ebook reading.
Many of my books are in .PDB format which is read by EReader or Palm Reader software... not to be confused with the Barnes & Noble EReader software, which reads EPub files.
I installed the EReader software on my HD2 and have two issues with it.
1. It pulls up the lists of books EXTREMELY slowly... I have almost 800 .PDB books and it takes over 5 minutes to display the book list. It has been slow since I switched from Pocket PC handhelds to WinMo phones... slow on my T-Mobile Wing, faster on my TP2, but it is fatally slow on the HD2.
2. I cannot enter the unlock code for secured book. This is my name and CC number... the 'OPEN' button grays-out when I enter the last digit of the CC number, so I can't finish!
Anyone else encountered this? Solutions or suggestions?
I suspect the slow listing of books is related to the Sense scrolling... anyway to disable that? I've searched a bit and haven't found that tweak... but I'd like to try it, I really don't like the HD2 sense scrolling anyway and would like to go back to the version on the TP2 which looks like it uses the stock WinMo scrolling.
I don't have a good direction on the unlock issue... maybe the Sense Touch Input? Anyway to disable that?
TIA!
Greg in Mississippi
P.S. I should add that I have a recent TMoUSA HD2 with the stock ROM with a few of the HTC customizations shut down (I really don't like them!) and have not applied the 2.13.531.1 update yet.
I think the issue with the eReader opening your library is that it has to open and close each book to get the real title and author info for the display. A few things can help, move them from SD card to memory (there's tons of real memory, unlike prior PDAs), move ones you've read to a different directory or delete them (you can always re-download them from ereader.com), or get a faster SD card (Class 10?).
Marc
mknewman said:
I think the issue with the eReader opening your library is that it has to open and close each book to get the real title and author info for the display. <snip>
Marc
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Click to collapse
Marc,
Thanks for you reply.
I hear what you're saying, but why do both my Wing & TP2 open the very same list of books on the very same Micro SD card in under a minute while the HD2 takes over 5 minutes?
That's what has me suspecting something with the Sense interface upgrades on the HD2... and what has me suspecting that I won"t get much improvement from a card upgrade.
Any other thoughts?
Again, thanks!
Greg
Unlocking Issue
I had a similar problem that the Done button at the bottom was disabled (grayed out). I finally figured out that I had not entered the correct number of digits (16 for most credit cards). Double check the credit card number you are using. I just unlocked a book I had copied to my HD2 last night. I entered the correct number of digits for the card used, but I did not tab out or move from the number field. The Done button was enabled. I tapped it and the book opened. Of course, you can have the correct number of digits and not have the correct card number, but that is another issue. Because I had used different cards over time, I keep a printed list from my eReader.com account to show what cards were used for each book.
As to the slowness issue, I would consider removing most of the books. I am sure you have copies on your PC that you can download as you need them. Keep just the ones you refer to often or want to read in the near future. I have another program that loaded slowly. I removed all but the books I used regualrly and the program opened much faster.