WIFI on a PRS 505

jerryleejr · 06-21-2008, 10:43 AM

Does anyone know if it is possible that with the proper firmware release a PRS 505 could recognize and use a SD WIFI Card. Or is it impossible with the current hardware? Maybe Sony will just include it in the next model. But the WIFI SD card was geared toward PDA'S produced without the capability. It was just a matter of updating the systems firmware to enable the use as well as software to take advantage of it.

JJ

edembowski · 06-21-2008, 11:16 AM

The 505 firmware won't recognize the wifi card. Even if it did, there's nothing in the app to take advantage of it.

- Ed

JeffElkins · 06-21-2008, 01:32 PM

The firmware (a linux kernel+userspace apps) could certainly be updated to include support for SDIO wifi. But the 505's SD slot would have to support the serial peripheral interface bus or SPI in order for this to work. Like SDHC, I don't think this is a given with all SD slots.

DaveNB · 06-21-2008, 10:32 PM

I was hoping that something like the EyeFi wifi would work on the Sony Reader:
http://www.eye.fi/overview/

It's a SD Flash memory card with built in 802.11 WiFi capabilities. It's actually designed to work with digital cameras. Unfortunately, it only seems to send data from the Eye Fi card to a computer running their software on the network or to a designated photo sharing web site. It does NOT (as of yet) allow wireless uploading of files TO the SD card.

Too bad, as that would be pretty cool to be able to send books to your Sony Reader without having to hook up a USB cable. All without having to have the Sony Reader itself being WiFi capable. Still, even if this worked, it would not allow for Web browsing or checking e-mail (at least not directly).

Maybe one day they'll add the capability to do this or someone will figure out a hack to enable this capability. Though, somehow I don't think this can happen without some integration/two way communication to the device holding the SD card (ie. the card would have to tell the Camera/Reader that new files had been added and to update it's directory data and in the process, the card may or may have to be unmounted while being written to and re-mounted again after files have uploaded into the card).

Dave

igorsk · 06-21-2008, 10:54 PM

The R5C807 Ricoh controller used in 505 does support SDIO. However, there are no public datasheets or sources available for it.

JeffElkins · 06-22-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

The R5C807 Ricoh controller used in 505 does support SDIO. However, there are no public datasheets or sources available for it.

Well, that's excellent news! Does the controller also support SDHC?

jerryleejr · 06-22-2008, 03:30 AM

I was just really wondering it was a hardware or firmware/software limitation, As for web browsing or email I just want to read a book I have too many other toys for all the other stuff. Plus it kind of gives you an idea on where the device is headed, If they do come out with a firmware update to enable WIFI that tells me the 505 will be around a bit longer before a new model comes out or God forbid they drop the line altogether.

JJ

spooky69 · 06-22-2008, 05:28 AM

I bet you could do it.

edembowski · 06-22-2008, 11:33 AM

Even if the kernel were recompiled to support the wifi card, there is no application support for the wifi card. A new set of applications would need to be written for the reader to support this. It's not impossible, just unlikely.

- Ed

Ervserver · 06-22-2008, 01:07 PM

would be nice to send books to my 505 via wireless

DrMoze · 06-22-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ervserver

would be nice to send books to my 505 via wireless

Personally, I don't mind hooking mine up to a usb cable once every week or 2. Especially because I'm recharging it anyway. And there's easily 3-4 months of leisure reading on it, even without a memory card.

Don't need wifi. At all.

JeffElkins · 06-22-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

Personally, I don't mind hooking mine up to a usb cable once every week or 2. Especially because I'm recharging it anyway. And there's easily 3-4 months of leisure reading on it, even without a memory card.

Don't need wifi. At all.

Currently, I don't even bother with an SD card. W/o folder support, I don't see a need. However, I hate to see hardware underutilized...if the 505 is SDIO/SDHC capable, for goodness sakes, create software that lives up to the device.

jerryleejr · 06-23-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffElkins

Currently, I don't even bother with an SD card. W/o folder support, I don't see a need. However, I hate to see hardware underutilized...if the 505 is SDIO/SDHC capable, for goodness sakes, create software that lives up to the device.

I totally agree, If the Sony had WIFI then in my opinion it would be on a level playing field with the kindle, I really am not interested in web surfing and emails on it but maybe direct buying of books, or if the Sony store got a book in that fits what you like it could pop a sample on to your reader and have it waiting on you when you turn it on.

JJ

igorsk · 06-23-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffElkins

Well, that's excellent news! Does the controller also support SDHC?

Yes, from what I can gather.

astrodad · 06-23-2008, 05:18 PM

Even if I didn't buy books over the wifi, it would be nice to sync up to calibre via wifi.

06-21-2008, 10:43 AM	#1
jerryleejr Koby-rific! Posts: 941 Karma: 191112 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 2' From My MacBook Pro Device: Kobo Sage,Kobo Aura One, Glo HD,PRS-T1,PRS-950, PRS 300, PRS 350	WIFI on a PRS 505 Does anyone know if it is possible that with the proper firmware release a PRS 505 could recognize and use a SD WIFI Card. Or is it impossible with the current hardware? Maybe Sony will just include it in the next model. But the WIFI SD card was geared toward PDA'S produced without the capability. It was just a matter of updating the systems firmware to enable the use as well as software to take advantage of it. JJ

06-21-2008, 10:32 PM	#4
DaveNB Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 399 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: Nook, Sony PRS-500, Nokia 770 (FBReader)	The EyeFi is close but not quite what we need... I was hoping that something like the EyeFi wifi would work on the Sony Reader: http://www.eye.fi/overview/ It's a SD Flash memory card with built in 802.11 WiFi capabilities. It's actually designed to work with digital cameras. Unfortunately, it only seems to send data from the Eye Fi card to a computer running their software on the network or to a designated photo sharing web site. It does NOT (as of yet) allow wireless uploading of files TO the SD card. Too bad, as that would be pretty cool to be able to send books to your Sony Reader without having to hook up a USB cable. All without having to have the Sony Reader itself being WiFi capable. Still, even if this worked, it would not allow for Web browsing or checking e-mail (at least not directly). Maybe one day they'll add the capability to do this or someone will figure out a hack to enable this capability. Though, somehow I don't think this can happen without some integration/two way communication to the device holding the SD card (ie. the card would have to tell the Camera/Reader that new files had been added and to update it's directory data and in the process, the card may or may have to be unmounted while being written to and re-mounted again after files have uploaded into the card). Dave

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06-21-2008, 11:16 AM	#2
edembowski Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 372 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Device: Sony PRS-600, Nook Color, iPad	The 505 firmware won't recognize the wifi card. Even if it did, there's nothing in the app to take advantage of it. - Ed

06-21-2008, 01:32 PM	#3
JeffElkins Guru Posts: 780 Karma: 1416 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kobo Clara 2E/HD, Kindle PW	The firmware (a linux kernel+userspace apps) could certainly be updated to include support for SDIO wifi. But the 505's SD slot would have to support the serial peripheral interface bus or SPI in order for this to work. Like SDHC, I don't think this is a given with all SD slots.

06-21-2008, 10:54 PM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	The R5C807 Ricoh controller used in 505 does support SDIO. However, there are no public datasheets or sources available for it.

06-22-2008, 03:30 AM	#7
jerryleejr Koby-rific! Posts: 941 Karma: 191112 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 2' From My MacBook Pro Device: Kobo Sage,Kobo Aura One, Glo HD,PRS-T1,PRS-950, PRS 300, PRS 350	I was just really wondering it was a hardware or firmware/software limitation, As for web browsing or email I just want to read a book I have too many other toys for all the other stuff. Plus it kind of gives you an idea on where the device is headed, If they do come out with a firmware update to enable WIFI that tells me the 505 will be around a bit longer before a new model comes out or God forbid they drop the line altogether. JJ

06-22-2008, 05:28 AM	#8
spooky69 Stats: Posts: 233 Karma: 1189 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	I bet you could do it.

06-22-2008, 11:33 AM	#9
edembowski Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 372 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Device: Sony PRS-600, Nook Color, iPad	Even if the kernel were recompiled to support the wifi card, there is no application support for the wifi card. A new set of applications would need to be written for the reader to support this. It's not impossible, just unlikely. - Ed

06-22-2008, 01:07 PM	#10
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	would be nice to send books to my 505 via wireless

06-23-2008, 05:18 PM	#15
astrodad Guru Posts: 962 Karma: 568242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle Paperwhite 1, iPad, iPhone	Even if I didn't buy books over the wifi, it would be nice to sync up to calibre via wifi.

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