Sony Reader Wifi Hacked – Now Runs Kindle, ezPDF, and more (video)

Posted on 23 October, 2011 by Nate Hoffelder in e-Reading Hardware // 96 Comments

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It looks like I jumped the gun yesterday when I announced a new hack for the Sony Reader. Last night the developer released a new version of the hack which added a bunch of new functionality. Most importantly, the update finally let me install new apps.

It's been just over a week since the first proof of concept video, and I'd say that we now have a hack that's finally ready for the end user. I've installed various versions of the hack 3 or 4 times this weekend and all the installs went off without a hitch.

The hack doesn't come with much (but now that I can install apps that 's no longer a problem). All it has at the moment is ADW Launcher, CoolReader, Dropbox, as well as a few things that we can't use (phone, camera, etc).

If there's an app you'd like me to try, please ask.

I now have the Kindle Android app running on my PRS-T1, and I got it from the Amazon Appstore. The app turns the page a little slower than my K4, but it does run. I've sent several ebooks to the T1 and I even downloaded a library book. The T1's page turn buttons don't work with the Kindle app, but the rest of the app works just like it should (bookmarks, highlights, etc).

I also tried Angry Birds (just because it's there). I could download it from Amazon but I couldn't install it. This might be due to the space limitations; I'm told there's a limit on how much space the T1 will provide for apps.

The install process is pretty simple. I feel comfortable in suggesting that you try it and it looks relatively foolproof.

Download and unzip the hack from here. Look for one that says "package installer"; that's what you'll need in order to install apps.
Plug your T1 into your PC and put it in USB mode.
Find the folder for the hack and double click on flash_reader.bat. Read the prompts on the screen and respond.
Let the T1 sit until the software finishes installing. If successful, your T1 will reboot.

If it doesn't work, you can ask for help here. BTW, if you have already hacked the T1 then you might need to install the restore firmware first. That will remove any remaining parts of the hack. If you don't install the restore then the broken parts might hang around.

Okay, now that the initial joy of hacking the T1 has worn off, I'm beginning to see it in a different light. Yes, this is a $150 Android tablet with a funky screen, but so is the Nook Touch. And the Nook Touch is actually a better option because you can get it for $80 - or just over half the price of the Sony Reader PRS-T1. True, that's the refurb price, but it comes with the same warranty and it's only $80.

On the other hand, I am liking the buttons on the T1 as well as the general appearance. It's a sleek looking tablet.

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About Nate Hoffelder (9941 Articles)

Nate Hoffelder is the founder and editor of The Digital Reader:He's here to chew bubble gum and fix broken websites, and he is all out of bubble gum. He has been blogging about indie authors since 2010 while learning new tech skills at the drop of a hat. He fixes author sites, and shares what he learns on The Digital Reader's blog. In his spare time, he fosters dogs for A Forever Home, a local rescue group.

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59 Comments on Sony Reader Wifi Hacked – Now Runs Kindle, ezPDF, and more (video)

JJ // 23 October, 2011 at 2:31 pm // Reply
I’m waiting for my T1 to arrive. I’ve read about a bunch of problems with page flipping, have you heard anything yet?
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153031
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1773427
fjtorres // 23 October, 2011 at 5:26 pm // Reply
Any luck with Audible and Overdrive?
This hack will come in handy when the T1 starts getting discounted in january.
- Nate Hoffelder // 23 October, 2011 at 5:47 pm // Reply
  Thanks for the suggestion!
  Audible installed and ran just fine, but with Overdrive I had a little trouble with their website.
  - fjtorres // 23 October, 2011 at 8:15 pm // Reply
    Well, since the Sony and Kindle readers do library books, too, it’s no biggie.
    But audible is something no epub reader can do but Kindles can so it’s a win.
    Now to wait for the T1 to start getting discounted. 😉
    (Or Sony to wise up and do an android 950.)
Tyler // 23 October, 2011 at 7:42 pm // Reply
How about the Kobo app?
- Nate Hoffelder // 23 October, 2011 at 8:24 pm // Reply
  I cannot see it in the Amazon Appstore and the copy on Freeware Lovers will not install.
  - fjtorres // 23 October, 2011 at 9:54 pm // Reply
    Try a search for, ahem, Nook.
    It should offer up Kobo and Aldiko. 😀
    - Nate Hoffelder // 23 October, 2011 at 10:05 pm // Reply
      No. The Amazon Appstore won’t show apps if they’re not compatible. That’s why I didn’t find them. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.
      - fjtorres // 23 October, 2011 at 10:23 pm //
        Ah. I’ve found the appstore app search to be…unreliable. Which is odd for Amazon. The web-based store will show everything, regardless of compatibility, though.
    - fjtorres // 23 October, 2011 at 10:14 pm // Reply
      Uh, it used to.
      Now its offering up an AA app.
      Kobo is here, though:
      http://www.amazon.com/Kobo-Inc-eBooks/dp/B004SIEZ8I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=mobile-apps&qid=1319422330&sr=1-1
      - Nate Hoffelder // 23 October, 2011 at 11:31 pm //
        I’ve noticed that when I visit via the Amazon appstore client I am not shown apps that aren’t compatible with the device I’m holding at the moment.
Mike Cane // 23 October, 2011 at 9:01 pm // Reply
Graffiti for Android. GO!
And you just HAD to put Dragon Tattoo on it, didn’t you? To twist the knife!
- Nate Hoffelder // 23 October, 2011 at 9:24 pm // Reply
  It installed and it runs. But I’m not sure how to get it to pop up somewhere useful.
  - Mike Cane // 24 October, 2011 at 6:29 am // Reply
    How can you say it runs if you can’t get it to pop up?
    As for useful, just as a bloody test, create a note in a book and write with G instead of the KB. Can that be done?
cookie // 24 October, 2011 at 1:58 pm // Reply
We are readers people. I would only be interested if it ran Instafectch, Google Reader, Gmail, Read it later, Aldiko, USA Today, Opera Mobile
- Nate Hoffelder // 26 October, 2011 at 12:00 am // Reply
  The apps don’t work (I’m told), but Gmail and Google reader are surprisingly useful in the browser. No, really, it’s better on the Sony Reader Wifi than on most Android tablets. That’s weird, I know, but it’s true.
  Instafetch installed and opened just fine. I got the app from freeware lovers.
  Aldiko 2.0 did not install, but Aldiko v1.2 did. I don’t think it’s usable; it wants to scroll the page turn and I find the extra flashing to be annoying.
  I cannot see an app for read it later.
  USA Today installed and launched just fine.
  - fjtorres // 6 November, 2011 at 12:29 pm // Reply
    Just noticed this.
    Did you try to set the Aldiko page turn to zero seconds?
    - Nate Hoffelder // 6 November, 2011 at 12:39 pm // Reply
      The lowest I can set it to is 0.2 second.
      - fjtorres // 6 November, 2011 at 1:03 pm //
        Really? I’m running 1.2.13 which goes all the way to zero.
        Let me see if I can figure out which apk I used.
      - fjtorres // 6 November, 2011 at 1:48 pm //
        Found 14.
        Check your mail. Hope it works.
      - Nate Hoffelder // 6 November, 2011 at 4:08 pm //
        That fixed it. Thanks.
      - fjtorres // 6 November, 2011 at 4:39 pm //
        Good to know, really.
        At the discounted price the hacked T1 is an interesting option for a webpad/reader.
  - klodeko // 20 November, 2011 at 5:54 am // Reply
    Hi. Did you tried to add Evernote?
    - Nate Hoffelder // 20 November, 2011 at 7:21 am // Reply
      Yep. It installed and launched okay.
      - Klodeko // 20 November, 2011 at 8:02 am //
        Great ! Congratulations from France!
sinha // 25 October, 2011 at 1:48 pm // Reply
please try out Vudroid ….the .djvu reader!…want to see how it works on prs t1..
- Nate Hoffelder // 25 October, 2011 at 4:02 pm // Reply
  It loads, but I don’t have any books to try.
JuanMa // 25 October, 2011 at 5:49 pm // Reply
I just tried one .djvu on my T1 and it works fine, but you should notice that the e-ink display flicks a lot when scrolling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BDeGXiTvGg
- Mike Cane // 25 October, 2011 at 6:17 pm // Reply
  Sony did something funky with their screen redraw that’s unlike what other eInk devices do. It looks like they’re controlling refresh by smaller regions, which accounts for all the damn flashing. That needs to be redone.
  - sinha // 26 October, 2011 at 2:51 am // Reply
    thank u Juan..I checked your video..yeah it should’ve been painful..I hope the flickering issues get corrected it future hacks..
    by the way does the hardware keys work in the app vudroid??
    if yes then the use of them might have lesser flickering…
- Steve // 26 October, 2011 at 4:21 am // Reply
  Can you please try ebookdroid with the djvu document. You can download it here: http://code.google.com/p/ebookdroid/ its free.
  Vudroid has been discontinued
steve // 26 October, 2011 at 2:01 am // Reply
Hi can you try “Ebookdroid” for the djvu file. Vudroid has been discontinued and the author started a new project called “Ebookdroid” and it renders pages much faster.
JuanMa // 26 October, 2011 at 8:18 pm // Reply
Sorry, Ebookdroid failed during the instalation. I’ll report the logcat
Vudroid scrolls half page with the hardware button. Works fine
Stefano // 30 October, 2011 at 5:26 am // Reply
Hi, could you please try the Scholarley app (Mendeley app for academic pdf reading)?
Thanks a lot.
- Nate Hoffelder // 30 October, 2011 at 8:24 am // Reply
  My hacked Sony Reader Wifi doesn’t have access to the Android Market, and I cannot find the app on a site that looks trustworthy.
  - Ingo Lembcke // 5 November, 2011 at 12:20 pm // Reply
    I tried one andorid market app but it did not install. Amazon Store installed but is no use, as I am in Germany and the store says not available in your country.
    Weird thing this morning, Reader was off, battery empty. WLAN was turned off, I read a book in bed, am reasonably sure that I send it to sleep (which it would have gone after 10min. anyway). Battery display not checked, but showed full sometime in the evening. My guess is, that it was some android app running in the background (?).
Thoimas Arthur // 15 November, 2011 at 11:09 am // Reply
I want to get my mother-in-law the Kindle Fire this Xmas. All she will do is read books. I have thousands of books in epub format and I want to load some of them on the KiFire for her use. It seems very hazy about Amazon allowing you to install Aldiko on the Fire. I know it is in the Amazon App Store but I don’t think that means it will work on the Fire. If I can’t load my epubs on the Fire for MIL I don’t think I want the Fire. Does anyone know the answer to this question. Please, if you don’t know don’t post a reply just to see your name in print. Accurate answers, please, it is getting close to Xmas and I got to buy something.
- Nate Hoffelder // 15 November, 2011 at 11:26 am // Reply
  The Nook app is already running on the Kindle Fire. (Gizmodo posted that this morning.) I’d say that the the reading apps will also work okay.
- fjtorres // 15 November, 2011 at 11:28 am // Reply
  Yes, you will be able to install Aldiko, Coolreader3, Overdrive, or even Kobo or Nook on the FIRE.
  http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-sideload-apps-on-the-kindle-fire?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LaptopMagazineNews+%28LAPTOP+Magazine+-+The+Pulse+of+Mobile+Technology%29
  Mostly it’s a matter of getting your hands on the installation apk file.
Eduardo // 19 November, 2011 at 1:02 pm // Reply
I wold like to know if you can install a program that can be used as a writing tool like taking notes with the stylus?
By the way does the sony reeader come witha app to take notes with the sylus or it just to take notes on books and pdf’s?
Samson // 26 November, 2011 at 2:10 pm // Reply
I guess whispersync works with the kindle app?
- Nate Hoffelder // 26 November, 2011 at 2:34 pm // Reply
  It does for the ebooks you buy from Amazon yes.
  - Samson // 27 November, 2011 at 5:39 pm // Reply
    Thanks!
    Does the android kindel app/the sony ereader with hack support all the formats the kindle does? like HTML, DOC, DOCX, TXT and so on?
    thanks again. your blog is really helpful!
    - Nate Hoffelder // 27 November, 2011 at 5:57 pm // Reply
      The Kindle Android app only supports the one Kindle format.
fjtorres // 26 November, 2011 at 4:46 pm // Reply
Just remembered: does the native reading app do dual-column landscape?
It might need a very small font size to kick in.
- Nate Hoffelder // 26 November, 2011 at 4:55 pm // Reply
  I’m not sure the native app does landscape, much less a 2 column mode. The screen isn’t wide enough to need the second column.
  - fjtorres // 26 November, 2011 at 6:09 pm // Reply
    Just checking; I’ve heard conflicting reports about the earlier models.
    It’s mostly a matter of taste but at small font sizes (the kind I grew used to on my Dell PDA) 6in screens can do dual column landscape nicely and the Sony paging buttons are (to me) awkwardly placed for portrait but perfect for landscape. (Which is something cooreader 3 does well.)
    I’m still debating which reader to get for hacking: Sony or Nook STR. Nook is cheaper but lacks audio and B&N seems determined to block hacking.
    I thought the native app might tip the balance.
    Oh, well; it’s not as if I really need either. 🙂
    (I do wish somebody would sell a decently priced eink android tablet.)
    - cookie // 26 November, 2011 at 6:43 pm // Reply
      “I’m still debating”
      My recommendation is that you wait 6 to 12 months. Something better is bound to come along.
      - fjtorres // 27 November, 2011 at 6:10 am //
        Yup. That’s how it usually works.
        Plus, waiting costs nothing. 😉
Eduardo // 27 November, 2011 at 9:25 am // Reply
I wold like to know if you can install a program that can be used as a writing tool like taking notes with the stylus?
By the way does the sony reeader come witha app to take notes with the sylus or it just to take notes on books and pdf’s?
- Nate Hoffelder // 27 November, 2011 at 11:19 am // Reply
  The original Sony apps include a sketchpad/note taking app.
Bertram // 9 December, 2011 at 11:57 am // Reply
I am not very used to these things. I have installed the ADWLauncher EX and Zeam Launcher. But how exactly do I get the Kindle App? I do not see any instruction for that anywhere.
- Nate Hoffelder // 9 December, 2011 at 12:10 pm // Reply
  I first installed the Amazon Appstore and then got the app from there.
  But you can also search for the app on Freeware Lovers and download it direct to your Sony Reader Wifi.
frank // 11 December, 2011 at 4:42 am // Reply
I installed and tested the hack and it works; then I anhacked the Prs to restore the original firmware.Now I find only 207 MB free space on the internal memory of the device to store books.I have now charged 10 ebooks and one audiobook .Any idea to empty the disk?
Michael // 18 December, 2011 at 8:35 am // Reply
Hi, Nate,
Did you by any chance try the app “Moon+ Reader” on your Sony PRS-T1? Does it work, and would there be sufficient space to add a dictionary? Many thanks!
- Nate Hoffelder // 18 December, 2011 at 9:04 am // Reply
  The one I tried did not want to install. Then again I’ve added and removed so many apps that I probably caused the difficulty. And I’m not sure if there is room for a dictionary. There’s not much space for apps. If you’re talking about a stand alone app, then no. But if he dictionary is an ebook, then there’s probably room.
  - Michael // 18 December, 2011 at 9:10 pm // Reply
    Thanks!
guest // 19 January, 2012 at 2:56 am // Reply
Anything for PRS900?
R0tten // 13 September, 2012 at 12:33 am // Reply
I Second this request…. Anything for the PRS-900? Thank you…