Latest Pandigital Novel firmware discussions

Go to this thread: http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-firmware-development/new-firmware-11111-is-available/90/

Where to find modded Pandigital Novel firmware

If the Advance Guide made you squeemish, go here instead:

http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-firmware-development/

where you will find a fine collection of Pandigital Novel Firmware, hacked to within an inch of it’s life, and for which we have the great slatedroid dev community to thank!

Here are your choices:

Alternate WPDN firmware: Cruz Reader UI mod (latest update is 2.2.0, 01/11/11) Alternate White PDN firmware: Stock-based framework with Market Alternate WPDN firmware: PD Open Platform based UI (functional beta) Alternate WPDN firmware (roebeet v1 to v4 version): Stock-based, with Gapps PreModded and PreConfigured PDNW Firmwares - nchntr_experience_v1 Android 2.2 (Froyo) (BETA) Port of my 2.1 button bar to PD 8_20 firmware Cyanogenmod 6.x (beta) Alternate hacked firmware for Black PDN attempt - Alpha Firmware Update Patches (Volkey, Root, Pandahome, Notification & Rotation Fixes) Eclair/Froyo Dev - NO NOOBS ALLOWED :p

As you can see, the White Pandigital Novel is eminently hackable, but not the black one. Sorry.

Where to find apps that work on the Pandigital Novel

Here is a very helpful list of links from the Slatedroid forums:

Here is a list of links I've accumulated so far where you can download apk files to your computer. Simple click on the download link rather than having to get from market. They have freebie and demos as well as pay. AFAIK they are not bootlegs. Moderators feel free to remove any links you feel are inappropriate. Thought this might make life easier for newbies like me. Android Freeware: Download Free Android Software and Games Android Freeware: Best and Free Software for Android mobile platform AndAppStore : New Releases List of Applications tested to work - Wiki.ArchosFans.com Phones Android programs: Softonic GetJar - Appsolutely Everything for Nokia, BlackBerry, Android, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Palm. Free Mobile Apps: Free Apps: Handango CurveFish SlideME | Android Community and Application Marketplace Download free Android Apps, Games, Themes Android Download Center Free Android Games, Android apps, Android Wallpapers, Android Themes - AndroidSoft4u Blackdroid.net - Android Files Repository Blackdroid barebones list with no graphics

How to enable Android Market on the Pandigital Novel

Sit down, make a nice cup of tea, and get your nerdy computer genuis buddy to do this one for you! The Advance guide will walk you through how to enable the Android Market on your Pandigital Novel the hard way!

ADVANCE GUIDES - This gets confusing for total newbies How to make Market work Credits to clockworx & enjoys1 Original Thread: Ugly hack to working market The way I did it was too easy since i had a rooted moto droid already. Takes the fun out of it. If you can root, then spin up your Motorola A855 (MotoDroid) drivers, head to the ADB/Android SDK folder and run this line: Code: [Select] adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.google.android.googleapps/databases/gls.db "select * from meta"; should just return your AndroidID (not Android_ID - this has alphanumeric chars) copy/paste it somewhere because you'll need it to activate market and talk For not so fortunate: This post sum'd everything up for me: Ugly hack to working market I'll edit it to water it down a bit 1) Download the android SDK and install it. - Android SDK | Android Developers - Run the setup. On available packages, expand the repo and look for Android SDK 1.6 API 4 Rev 3 - This is what you need to install. It'll download and add it to your list of VDs 2) Then create a virtual emu for Android 1.6 and then close the android emulator. - On the SDK setup - Virtual Devices - New - Name: "TEST", Target: "Android 1.6", SD Card Size: 0, Skin: Default (HVGA), Hardware: LCD Density "160", Device Ram Size "1024", Touchschreen Support - Create AVD 3) Then install (copy) the "system.img" file from: system.img - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download 4) Then on windows run box type : %userprofile%/.android/avd This will open a file explorer in that folder. Then copy the system.img file downloaded in step 3 there. - drop the file in the directory under the name for your AVD, in this case, i named the avd "test". so i need to copy the system.img in the test.avd folder - so it'll be %userprofile%/.android/avd/[name you used for your avd].avd 5) Now start the android emulator again and start the virtual dev for 1.6 (created in step 2). - Select the AVD, and click Start - A window with small Android and a cursor should show, next to it is your basic controls - Click and hold the "Power Button" for 5 secs. Should "boot up" the device. The bootanimation should start right after. it might take awhile since it's building cache, etc on the emulated device. - You should see a lock screen. Follow directions and press menu to unlock. - You will go through it like a brand new android phone. Skip through everything including signing into your google account. The problem i ran into was that i can't figure out why it's asking me to "slide the keyboard open". DO YOU NOT KNOW YOU CANT SLIDE MY EMULATED PHONE OPEN?! - Once in the main screen/home screen. Press menu and select settings. Proceed on 6) Then create/sign with google account. - Select Data Synchronization - This will let you "Sign in" into your google account but no need to slide the keyboard this time. - go through the wizard and sign on! - It will sync your contacts.. leave that window open. 7) Now on PC open the cmd prompt and go to SDK folder/tools - Make sure that the PD Novel is not connected. Now type following commands: > adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.google.android.googleapps/databases/accounts.db "select * from meta"; This will give you a number : androidId|| ...this number is your ID Now close the android emulator completely (Keep the CMD prompt window open if possible) and then connect your PDN. 9) Now run : adb devices (to check only PDN is connected) 10) Now run: adb shell sqlite3 /data/data/com.google.android.googleapps/databases/gls.db "update meta set intvalue='number_from_previous_commands' where name='androidId'"; 11) then disconnect PDN and reboot. REBOOT. I SAID REBOOT!!! ok, since you didnt want to reboot. check if google talk works. if it does, congratulations, its time to reboot so you can use your market. How to somewhat fix the WiFi Thanks to enjoys1 and spincontrol 1. Download and install Notepad++ (Download | 5.7) 2. Attach PDN to computer. 3. Goto Command Prompt 4. Change Directory to where ADB is (basically where you installed NateTheGreat's HackTheNovel files (I unzipped them to C:\NovelHack)) CD c:\NovelHack ##(your directory may be different)## 5. Type the following lines: Code: [Select] adb shell mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system adb shell chmod 755 /system/etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat adb pull /system/etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat ./RT2870STA.dat ##you'll see a response in the CommandPrompt of "68 KB/s (0 bytes in 1092.000s"## Keep Command Prompt open. 6. Open Notepad++ 7. Change Line 33 (PSMode=) to PSMode=CAM 8. Save file 9. Go back to Command Prompt 10. Type: Code: [Select] adb push ./RT2870STA.dat /system/etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/RT2870STA.dat ##you'll see a response in the CommandPrompt of "34 KB/s (0 bytes in 1092.000s"## You're Done. Optimized DVM w/ JIT (ARM11) - Makes your PDN a little more responsive creds to clockworx How to install: Download file to directory with adb.exe Code: [Select] adb remount [I](to mount system as read-write)[/I] adb shell mv /system/lib/libdvm.so /system/lib/libdvm.so.pdn [I](backup stock version, highly recommended. DONT do this more than once, otherwise you'll overwrite your backup with the newer version)[/I] adb push libdvm.so /system/lib/libdvm.so [I](push over the new one you downloaded)[/I] adb shell rm -r /data/dalvik* [I](very important, we've installed a new dalvik VM, so MUST clear out dalvik cache)[/I] adb shell reboot [I](reboot the device, and you're in business!)[/I] 1st boot will take a bit as the cache rebuilds If for some reason you want to go back: Code: [Select] adb shell mv /system/lib/libdvm.so.pdn /system/lib/libdvm.so [I](restore backup version)[/I] adb shell rm -r /data/dalvik* [I](very important, we've installed a new dalvik VM, so MUST clear out dalvik cache)[/I] adb shell reboot [I](reboot the device)[/I] Download link: libdvm.so

TROUBLESHOOTING:

Having problems? Trawl through this thread!

If however, you’d like to achieve the same thing without developing a brain fry, a much simpler method apparently exists but sadly, the links are dead (does anyone know why?):

There is a newer consolidated hack, and a couple of good update mods, including nchanterman's.  I really, really, really, really suggest you look around here while the thing charges.  you have a few options to the same goal. If you want nchntr's install here is a walkthrough for that http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-android-tablet-discussion/7009-real-noobie-guide-nchntr-install-google-experience-market.html If you want to install the all in one get this one, get the 8-20 file, drop the zip on your SD card, shut down the PDN, start up holding vol up and the power switch for 5 seconds, release and watch it load. http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-firmware-development/3760-alternate-pandigital-novel-firmware-7-24-8-6-8-20-versions-market-volume-hack-built.html Also check out this Wiki page: http://www.slatedroid.com/wiki/index.php/PDN_Beginners_Guide

There is and remains a very healthy alternative firmware hacking development scene for this device, so I’d suggest you all consider the dead links interesting, but not fatal, and skip directly to this post.

How to install new apps on your Pandigital Novel - “the Moderate Guides”

Found updating the official firmware too easy? Well, now your fun can really begin! The Moderate Guides from the Slatedroid forums explains how to install new Android apps on your Pandigital Novel.

MODERATE GUIDES Easiest is this, but i ended up using Google experience and used pandahome as launcher (homescreen) Installing Volume Key hack, Alternate Launcher (Homescreen) credit goes to nate, meth, Links: http://www.the-digital-reader.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Hack-the-Novel1.zip - ADB, VolKey Mods & apk files http://www.the-digital-reader.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/How-to-Hack-the-Novel2.rtf - Complete guide Android Files - Folder Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage - Box with apks you can install I suggest using a WinXP box. Thats my "Dev" box. It's stable and much less complicated than later OS's (to include OSX) Without any PD Novel drivers on you Windows Box, unzip all the files (with directory intact) to a folder in your local drive (I used C:\Novel) Without an SD card installed, plug your Novel to your Windows Box (via usb cable, any other means i.e sticking your Novel in the floppy drive might destroy you stuff) It should ask you to install drivers, there is an option to browse a folder in you local drive. Point it to the folder you unzipped the files to. If all goes well and it installed correctly, proceed on. If not, you need to uninstall the previous drivers to allow ADB (Android Dev Drivers, Shell, Etc) to run. Who's still having problems with ADB (connecting to the device)?) This is to troubleshoot getting the ADB to work. Now that you have the Novel connected, navigate to the folder you created earlier (for the sake of noobness, we will refer to it as ADB folder) Lets do the VolKey Mod so you have a physical Back Button and Menu Button. Double click the file called Install Volume Buttons Hack. Warnings are gonna show, just let it run. If you didnt see success, then go back to start. Do the same for Install Panda Home. You may restart your Novel by clicking Reboot the Novel file OR install some apk (or android applications). The best way I've done this is to right click the file named Install Panda Home, and select copy. Paste it in the same directory where everything is located at. You should have a file name "Copy of Install Panda Home". Select it, press F2 to rename it to Install Apps and right click and select edit. It will ask you if you want to run it blah blah blah. Just click run so you can edit it. It should say something like: adb install pandahome_v1.90.apk pause Now you can edit it to install other apps the format is simple. ADB install [filename that ends with .apk] Here's one i did to install Kindle & Aldiko Code: [Select] adb install com.amazon.kindle.apk adb install aldiko.apk pause just keep replacing/adding new lines to install more. or you can do the market hack (advance section) I got apps from both: Android Files - Folder Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage - Shared Box of apks Pandigital Ultimate Apps - Downloads - SlateDroid - SlateDroid's "Ultimate" zip of apps Installing Google Experience credit to clockworx Original thread: Google Experience Alpha (nearly everything but Market ) Link to files: goog_exp_alpha_1.zip (Copied verbatim) Unzip the zip file into the directory with your adb.exe. (You must have adb working to apply this). This means there should be a "install_google_experience_v1.bat" file in the same directory as adb.exe, as well as a "gev1" subdirectory below it. With your tablet on, connect your tablet via USB. Once it is connected, run the bat file. The software will install followed by a reboot. After the reboot, I suggest unplugging the USB (to avoid an annoying message later), and waiting for it to "calm down" before you try to use it, as the tablet will have to rebuild a whole bunch of cache files. Just leave it alone for 10 minutes after the reboot before trying to use it. When you come back, the lock screen will be up (I think the lock screen is due to installing the google stuff, though I'm not 100% sure). Press Menu/Vol Up to unlock. (If you didn't unplugg the USB after the reboot, press "Back"/Vol Down to get past the USB message. Be warned I've seen the "notification audio" for USB connected cause acore to crash when it happens so early in the boot process, causing a very annoying error loop where you basically just have to power down and reboot. So just remove the USB cable when booting.) 1) Choose "Home" as your Home Screen (and you probably want to click the checkbox to set it as default, unless you plan on trying a bunch of other ones. There's text there telling you where you can change it later if you change your mind) 2) From the home screen, press "Menu"/Vol Up to bring up the menu, and go to Settings. 3) Go to "Wireless & Networks", click the checkbox to turn on Wifi, give it a second or two (or ten), and then click "Wifi Settings". After a few seconds, a list of networks should show automatically. Set up your network. 4) If you want to have "Location Awareness" via Wifi, keep going here. Otherwise, skip to step 7. 5) Once your Wifi is set up, click Back/Vol Down until you are back to the main Setting screen. Go into "Location and Security", and check "Use Wireless networks". (You can uncheck GPS, I have no idea if it makes a difference....probably not) 6) Go back to Settings, and go to "Privacy". Ensure that "Use My Location" is checked. Go back to Settings. 7) From the Settings Screen, go to "Accounts and Sync". Click "Add Account" and choose Google (unless you're a rockstar and testing Corporate for me). Continue to through the wizard to set up your account by entering your info. Once you sign in, it will take you back to the main "Account" screen. You can tweak the Sync settings there if you want to, or just leave them as "Automatic". 9) Go play! Your contacts and calendar should be populated from Google, and your Gmail should be working. If you open Maps, it should find your location if you enabled it. I would also suggest the "News and Weather" App and Widget, as they both look great on this device format. How to install .apk on a mac creds goes to sharpfork2 and mrchet Protip: You don't need drivers for mac 1. instal the sdk for mac 2. launch terminal 3. if you are not sure how to launch adb from the terminal, drag the app on the terminal window and it will show the path 4. use that path + any adb commands you want 5. if you want the path to your apk on the mac to instal it, drag it on the window That's essentially it. It's easier to install on the mac since there are no driver woes. Just download the sdk, uncompress and connect the PDN via USB. You can then cd to the sdk tools directory and run this from the command prompt in terminal: ./adb install (nameofapk).apk example: ./adb install YouTube.apk This assumes you put the apk in the same tools directory. If you are storing your apks somewhere else then use: ./adb install pathWhereApkFilesare/(nameofapk).apk example: ./adb instasll home/joeblow/android/apks/YouTube.apk You can also add the tools directory to your path. Then you could run adb from anywhere and not have to prepend ./ android mac SDK here: Android SDK | Android Developers

Novice Firmware Update Guide: How to update the Pandigital Novel Firmware with updated firmware

Updating the firmware with new firmware is simple:

Installing Official Firmware from Pandigital (source: Novel Manual) Best way to do it is by using the Novel's SD to keep your computer with ADB drivers. Download the firmware (zip files) to the root of your SD card Power off the Novel. Hold slider for 3 seconds, Should blur background and ask to power off or cancel. Choose Power Off. Once completely off, hold up volume button and slider for 5 secs. Should show the android install screen. This is completely automated. Once it restarts, remove the SD card until it fully boots into the PD Home Screen.

I’ve read the wiki … now what? The Pandigital Novel FAQ.

Turns out the wiki doesn’t quite live to it’s name, so here are some CnP’s from the most valuable Slatedroid.com FAQ forum stickie:

Where can I find the latest official firmware? http://pandigital.net/?pageid=124 How can I tell what version of the firmware I have, or if I have the  latest? What version of Android is the Pandigital Novel running? Android 2.0.0 What are the hardware specs? Processor: Samsung s3c6410xh-53 1009 ARM  (533MHz) Compatible Media Sources: Secure Digital™ (SD), MMC Internal Memory: 2GB (Samsung KMAKG0000M-B998) Wolfson’s WM8350G DAC chip Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion 2800mAh, 3.7V How do I upgrade the firmware? Check out the Novice Guide, the Moderate Guide  or the Advance Guide! Where can I find updated Official Pandigital Novel Firmware? Latest - Pandigital » Downloads -- Pandigital Novel eReaders S10-08-24 - http://www.pandigital.net/userfiles/file/Downloads/S10_08_20_K3_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip S10-08-06 - http://pandigital.s3.amazonaws.com/userfiles/file/downloads/S10_08_06_K_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip S10-07-24 - http://pandigital.s3.amazonaws.com/userfiles/file/downloads/S10_07_24_K_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip This was recalled by PD and replaced with S10-07-18 as of 31 July 2010 S10-07-18 - http://pandigital.s3.amazonaws.com/userfiles/file/downloads/S10_07_18K_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip S10-07-04 - http://pandigital.s3.amazonaws.com/userfiles/file/downloads/S10_07_04K_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip I just upgraded the firmware and now I can't transfer or read any books I borrowed from the library using Overdrive, what do I do? Firmware upgrades can alter certain information about the Novel that causes Adobe Digital Editions to believe that your device is now a new unauthorized device.  You need to force Digital Editions to re-authorize the Novel by removing the authorization file (stored on the Novel): http://www.slatedroid.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?2965-Adobe-DRM-Overdrive-epub-books&p=22878&viewfull=1#post22878

All you need to know about the Pandigital Novel is here …

… so you can stop reading this blog now.

The darn thing has a wiki!

Find it here: http://www.slatedroid.com/wiki/index.php?title=Introduction_to_the_Pandigital_Novel

In the wiki:

• 1 Tablet Specification
  • 1.1 Overview
  • 1.2 Summary of Features
  • 1.3 Hardware
  • 1.4 Retail Locations & Price
  • 1.5 Accessories
    • 1.5.1 Cases
    • 1.5.2 Power Supply
  • 1.6 Support
    • 1.6.1 Contact Information
    • 1.6.2 User Manuals
• 2 Modifying the Novel (White)
  • 2.1 New User Guides
  • 2.2 Software Modification
  • 2.3 Hardware Modification
  • 2.4 The Black One
  • 2.5 Troubleshooting

Welcome to Pandigital Novel Scene

This blog attempts to consolidate all known snippets of information on the Pandigital Novel e-Reader/tablet wannabe into one (slightly) more coherent place than the Google search page.  You may not get the best and latest news or hacks here,  but you’ll always find material the most current stuff that I can cut and paste to help your enjoyment of this potentially great device! And don’t you love our beautiful pastel colours?

Will the Pandy live or die? Only you can decide. Onwards!