[csalet]

Is there a difference between the K and B firmware version? Should I always use the B version since I purchased my PDN at BBB?I compared the firmware ver tonight between Option 1 and Option 2 on the Pandigital download page.Option1, PC method "S10_08_20_B3_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip" vs Option 2, SD Card "S10_08_20_K3_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip" The only difference I found was in the name, B and K. A while ago there was a debate about the K was for Kohl's and B for BBB.. Now I wonder. btw. The PC loader is also different "Pandigital Novel.Upgrade-008.exe" vs "Pandigital Novel Upgrader.exe" ? Hmmm ** I'm a newbie not just to PDN/Android but to forums, so be gentle.. And Thanks to all the contributor that have made my life a little simpler/OK a lot simpler. Chris

 

[lawman]

Their downloads site doesn't make a distinction between the B and K versions, and we haven't seen any hardware differences between the kohls and bby versions. I don't see why you can't use either, and when the bby firmware first showed up I ran it in my pdn from kohl's. You might ask Pandigital customer support to be sure, but I think B and K have more to do with who at Pandigital signed the version.

 

[nchntrman]

For the 9/23 firmware release there are a few changes in the /system when comparing B and K releases. Up until 9/23 I have been building from the K firmwares, after noticing the differences I am now building with the B firmware as that is what the updater (the exe from pandigital) picks after scanning my device (serial number). I would be interested in seeing the results when someone with a known kohls (v1 or v2) board runs the updater from pandigital and which firmware link it suggests. I have been unable to locate the K firmwares on the updater's website, nor locate the B firmwares on Pandigital's direct download firmware site.

 

[roebeet]

Interesting. Did you do a direct compare on the differences? I wonder if there's something in there that really is need for one device, or the other.I always figured that they were the same, or else they'd need to add both as direct downloads.

 

[nchntrman]

no i haven't dc'd the systems, just noticed there is a small size difference in system.img

 

[Mark Adams]

[quote name='nchntrman;70663]no i haven't dc'd the systems' date=' just noticed there is a small size difference in system.img[/QUOTE'] Geebus, this could add a whole new level complicraptations.Sent from my slatedroid-pdn using Tapatalk

 

[mrsburnout]

[quote name='nchntrman;70453]For the 9/23 firmware release there are a few changes in the /system when comparing B and K releases. Up until 9/23 I have been building from the K firmwares' date=' after noticing the differences I am now building with the B firmware as that is what the updater (the exe from pandigital) picks after scanning my device (serial number). I would be interested in seeing the results when someone with a known kohls (v1 or v2) board runs the updater from pandigital and which firmware link it suggests. I have been unable to locate the K firmwares on the updater's website, nor locate the B firmwares on Pandigital's direct download firmware site.[/QUOTE']I have Kohl's v2 board came with 8-06K FW preinstalled. I updated to 9-23 with Pandigital's computer updater program and it automatically d/l K firmware to my PDN. I would also like to add that the PDN updater (via usb connection) program is different now than prior to the 9-23 FW release.edit: I would also like to add that the previous PDN "upgrade" program (versus the current "upgrader") had always given me B FW.

 

[jdelgado]

Strange why will a mfg have diff firmware for their suppliers for the same device if kohls and bbb don't provide any custom option.

 

[nchntrman]

My guess is the B were the production run for the BBB sale (v1?) and the K were the production run for Kohls (v2?). They were made after they were ordered, as far as firmware naming B or K vs v1 or v2. Easier for Customer Service to ask if it was bought from BBB or Kohls versus which version. IDK my $0.02There seems to only be one flag different between the B and K (for 9_23) version is changed version 1 for B and version 2 for K (in filecheck.sh) in the pre-installed firmware. after installation there are several differences. Also to note there are less differences when installing on the same hardware.. i.e. B firmware on B hardware vs K firmware on K hardware = many changes. B firmware on K hardware vs K firmware on K hardware = less changes. So despite the version change the installer is adjusting for hardware differences when the B firmware is installed on K hardware. I go into this a little deeper in my premod preconfig 7_24 firmware thread.

 

[nchntrman]

I have been busy flashing flashing my devices six ways to sunday. Using 9_23_B and 9_23_K firmwares I flashed each on my K and B models. Taking dmesg logs and snapshots of the install each time. I decompressed the images and compared /system and /data (with dalvic-cache cleared)I have learned that the system image is firmware specific and has one file different. This means flashing a B device with K firmware OR a K device with B firmware will have an incorrect file in the system. /system/bin/filecheck.sh is firmware specific.Comparing /data will require some more time as there are significant. Comparing B vs K firmware on the B device shows 15 files that are different (2 are expected to be different, firmware version and sourceid) Doing the same on the K device shows the same 15 files are different. This indicates that having the wrong firmware on your device yields 15 files 13 of which are possibly incorrect.The same firmware B on different devices K vs B yields 18 files different (2-3 are expected) still leaving 15+ files incorrect. There were also additional files on one of the systems. This same pattern is seen when Changing to K firmware compared on K and B devices. Most of the changes are in the PD apps as well as other system related files.Update: I thought I might leave some model info here to assist people in identifying their models.B model: Model# PRD07T10WWH756, Serial# 7010560710717### Date code on battery cover: 6/10 Bought at BBB mid july. 7_05_B Firmware. max does not existK model: Model# PRD07T10WWH7 , Serial# 7010000710772### Date code on battery cover: 7.5/10 Refurb. from Pandigital mid sept. 8_06_K firmware. max exists

 

[tadroid]

So, all of nchtrman's findings seem to point me to one conclusion - USE THE OPEN PLATFORM (I've been gone a week and haven't had time to read all the details but please tell me there's only one version of it, right?). Seriously, are there major reasons, other than the Adobe Digital Editions stuff in the Pandigital non-open firmware, and their apps, to stay with the non-open firmware? The video app seems to be the only one with some superiority to other available apps w.r.t. performance on the PDN, right?

 

[nchntrman]

For anyone who wants to shorten their good vision span, I have zipped up all the file compare info I have for the 9_23 OEM firmware. I installed the B version on a B model and a K model and pulled md5's and in some cases dmesg of startup initial and regular (secondary+) boots. Maybe even a recovery.log of a few. http://www.timthegeek.net/nchntr/files/PDNfirmwarefilecomparison.zip