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Sony Reader PRS-T2 Hacked – Not Yet Stable Enough for Prime Time

Remember how I wrote yesterday that a hack was in the works for Sony’s new ereader? It turns out that I was about 12 hours ahead of the actual hack being released. I think I should have waited.

The complete multi-step hack was posted this morning on The-eBook.org. It requires updating your T2, jailbreaking it, and then installing a new set of apps (here). The process takes a bit of time but it does work, as you can see from the image at right.

But I’m not sure it is worth doing just yet. My T2 is surprisingly unstable. Virtually every app from the web browser to the search widget to the Amazon Appstore client has crashed at one point or another. I have not even tried to install any new apps and I’m not planning to do so.

The set of apps i installed are basically the same set of instal files as used on the earlier PRS-T1. It includes the Zeam launcher, CoolReader, FBReader,  Dropbox, and other apps. These apps work, so at the very least I have a minimum function tablet- not that it is worth much.

Now that I have hacked it I know that this ereader is running Android 2.2. That’s rather disappointing considering that the previous model, the T1, is also running Android  2.2. Sony cares so little about this device that they didn’t even bother to update the OS it is running on. Okay, the average user wasn’t going to be able to use the features of the newer versions of Android, but they would still benefit from the under the hood improvements found in newer versions of Android.

If you have the T2, I would recommend waiting for a more stable version of the hack. And if you’re thinking about getting this ereader, I’d go for the earlier model instead. It’s cheaper now and has a headphone jack, which the T2 does not.

But if you are dead set on hacking your PRS-T2, here are the instructions.

  1. Update your Sony Reader to the latest firmware.
  2. This will take a will to download and run, so go get this ZIP file and this ZIP file while you are waiting.
  3. Reboot.
  4. Plug your T2 back in to the USB. Click yes on the screen.
  5. UnZIP the jailbreak file. Find the file labeled flash_reader. Run it.
  6. Reboot.
  7. Plug your T2 back in to the USB. Click yes on the screen.
  8. UnZIP the minimal-root-zeam file. Find the file labeled flash_reader. Run it.
  9. Reboot.
  10. When asked to choose between "Home" and "Zeam launcher",

At this point you should be looking at a standard Android home screen. If not, make sure you updated the ereader and then repeat steps 3 through 9.

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Comments


fjtorres October 10, 2012 um 4:53 pm

Can you even get the T1 anywhere this side of ebay?

I checked with all the usual online suspects when the T2 reviews came out… 😉

Nate Hoffelder October 10, 2012 um 4:55 pm

Sony might still have them as refurbs.

fjtorres October 10, 2012 um 5:23 pm

I’ll check. Thanks.

Tyler October 10, 2012 um 9:41 pm

you can buy mine. I have the white model and the case with a light.


Joel October 11, 2012 um 11:59 am

Do you Know which android version that runs on prs-t2 ?

Nate Hoffelder October 11, 2012 um 1:03 pm

Yes. As I wrote in the post, this ereader is running Android 2.2.


Angel3245 November 6, 2012 um 2:13 pm

Actually I’ve had my prs-t2 jail broken and rooted for over two weeks now and I’ve no complaints. It hasn’t crashed at all and everything appears to be quite stable. Having apps like Dropbox, amazon kindle, wikipedia offline (aard app with SDHC card) as well as lots of alternative dictionaries and readers really bring out the best in this device.


noar12 November 17, 2012 um 11:16 am

Thank you for this todo. It’s warked fine. I can now sync with dropbox the news catch by my mediacenter through calibre. Very usefull because the default browser in the prs can’t download epub through the web interface.

Thanks a lot


JB December 6, 2012 um 3:06 pm

I rooted my PRS-T2 and noticed it does not come with Google play store. Is there any way to install it? I tried a couple of versions and it always crashes. Basically I want to install nook, kindle, kobo and Alkido ereader software. I also want to install gmail.

fjtorres December 6, 2012 um 4:10 pm

Getting Play and Gmail would be a further hack; not sure if it’s been done.
You don’t need it to get Kindle, Kobo, Overdrive, or Aldiko; they are available via the Amazon appstore which (at least on the T1) installs fine.
Otherwise, you can get the installation APK files from the freeware lovers website, among other places.
(Overdrive offers their reader app straight from their website.)

Angel3245 December 8, 2012 um 8:16 am

Google play store works on the prs-t2. Take a look at this this, it should still work for the prs-t2:
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRST1_Rooting_and_Tweaks#App_Markets

nelo December 28, 2012 um 12:14 pm

Can anyone confirm, that all these apps listed on mobileread will work also on the T2? Thanks, nelo


Tam January 5, 2013 um 2:17 pm

i jailbroke and rooted my t2, but didn’t like the way it was running, so i restored my reader back to factory settings and all is well, except that now the touch keyboard doesn’t come up. so i can’t connect to my wifi or make notes etc. does anyone know how to fix this?

Catfishman May 15, 2014 um 2:53 am

I have this same damned problem and it’s driving me crazy. I think I’m going to ditch this reader. No blame on Sony, as I chose to hack a perfectly functioning device. Oh well, I think it was just about time to get something with a back lit screen anyway.
That said, I would still love to know if there is a way to get my keyboard and other missing functions back.


tony January 24, 2013 um 11:42 am

i have a prs t2 japan version
but i can’t find any information about that.
probably, urs is US version… i guess 🙁
if u can find information about root of japan version.
pls find for me.


tony January 24, 2013 um 11:18 pm

do you know any developer about prs t2?
if you know them, please request to them.
i can’t get a any information on internet about it 🙁


fernando October 16, 2013 um 12:54 pm

hi everyone!i’ve a nook simple touch and i want to try the sony prs t1 or t2 sotck reader aplication ,can anyone send it to my? I will be very grateful!my e-mail is [email protected] 🙂


Lucy December 14, 2013 um 7:01 am

Hi, The only reason I want to root is so I can install a good app for reading pdfs. Is the root above stable now? Advice please. Thanks.


Jact July 3, 2014 um 12:17 am

OMG! My prs-t2 is updated. it’s my mistake..
Please rooting prs-t2 firmware v1.1.00.15240.


Sony DPT-S1 Hacked, Now Runs Android | The Digital Reader November 3, 2016 um 11:55 pm

[…] last three ereaders in the PRS line ran Android 2.2 (and could be hacked to access the OS), and Sony must have reused some of the code developed for those 6" ereaders when they developed […]


Chewie November 7, 2016 um 4:16 pm

Hello, is this hack still workin and did it ever left the unstable space. And with android 2.2 does it even still have apps that work on this android version. Just got mine as loaner recently.

Greeting,

Nate Hoffelder November 7, 2016 um 5:34 pm

I thought it was finished, yes, but now I can’t find any evidence.

I don’t know if it is still available, though.


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