What is going on? The firmware that was just posted the other day is gone and now there is an updater program that requires a PC, internet access and the Novel connected to your PC by USB cable. I guess I will give it a whirl and see what happens?
WTF - New firmware gone and now a PC updater is listed on Pandigital's website
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UPDATE: The updater program did not work. I get a system error when it tries to detect new firmware available and the program is shut down. I tried it in compatibility mode as Win XP SP 2. I am running Windows 7. If anyone gets it to work let me know. I will download from the mirror someone set up. I downloaded it at work but forgot to copy it to my usb key. See photo below of error. What was wrong with just letting us download the firmware. They don't need some fancy PC connected program that doesn't work.
I don't find an "updater" unusual at all! Most basic users would prefer it to a manual process. It is a common practice with flashable products. They will likely implement a "check for updates" feature as well & some PC based manager. As long as they don't try to keep us from hacking the unit, no foul. I can see that some developers wanting to have the firmware file in-hand without having to update their device. Cheers,kev
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So where is the firmware? Appears they're not offering it anymore. If it's "use the updater OR ELSE" we can't flash upgrade anymore. Also, the upgrader appears to not work, which is decidedly not an improvement. If the upgrader, say, sends data about the state of the device before updating, they can find out what the hacks entail and code around them, and/or change the firmware to block the most common apps being added.I always tell people to keep the last two fws you use. I'll be holding onto my copies of the 7-4 and 7-18, JIC...
[quote name='lawman;20942]So where is the firmware? Appears they're not offering it anymore. If it's "use the updater OR ELSE" we can't flash upgrade anymore. Also' date=' the upgrader appears to not work, which is decidedly not an improvement. If the upgrader, say, sends data about the state of the device before updating, they can find out what the hacks entail and code around them, and/or change the firmware to block the most common apps being added.I always tell people to keep the last two fws you use. I'll be holding onto my copies of the 7-4 and 7-18, JIC...[/QUOTE']How likely is it that PD would snoop? Would it be a big effort?Is it possible for us to install all hacks on the SD card & leave no footprints in RAM? kev
[quote name='lawman;20942]So where is the firmware? Appears they're not offering it anymore. If it's "use the updater OR ELSE" we can't flash upgrade anymore. Also' date=' the upgrader appears to not work, which is decidedly not an improvement. If the upgrader, say, sends data about the state of the device before updating, they can find out what the hacks entail and code around them, and/or change the firmware to block the most common apps being added.I always tell people to keep the last two fws you use. I'll be holding onto my copies of the 7-4 and 7-18, JIC...[/QUOTE'] Chances are good that it just downloads from their website and does the install itself. Their should be an opportunity somewhere in the process to interrupt it before it flashes but after it downloads, and grab the file from whatever temp dir it stores it in.I'm finally getting the 7/18 version and will see if I can do the "in place" upgrade without disturbing settings.
Probably not, as this stuff requires installing to the system partition. We're not doing anything illegal by doing this, so in turn I don't see any reason why they'd want to snoop. On the flip side, there could be an uproar if it turns out PD's updater is snooping on private data with no good reason (and there isn't really any good reason).bugeyed;20956 said:
I wonder why I kept getting a system error when it tried to check my SKU for an update. What OS are you running the updater in? I was able to figure out the download link for the latest firmware so I was able to grab it anyway. It is still up there, just no download link for it.[quote name='derelicte;20965]no big deal guys. the downloader worked for me. it downloaded the update image to the internal sd card' date=' which I promptly saved off to my pc. 
it is updating now...[/QUOTE']
it is updating now...[/QUOTE'][quote name='derelicte;20965]no big deal guys. the downloader worked for me. it downloaded the update image to the internal sd card' date=' which I promptly saved off to my pc. it is updating now...[/QUOTE'] Still downloading the 7/18 version for the moment?
it is updating now...[/QUOTE'] Still downloading the 7/18 version for the moment?OK, changes from 7/4:app:BrowserContactsDownloadProviderEmailGlobalSearchPD Initial SetupPD LauncherPD MusicPD PhotoPD Reader--new program PD Reboot, probably for their updater program?PD SearchPD SettingsPD SyncPD Videolib:libminfo.solibpdfhost.so--removed onenand stuff (cool for us, one less weird thing to deal with when trying to go to stock firmware)Surprisingly, no update to the wifi drivers...
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[quote name='clockworx;20983]Actually' date=' the updater is weird...as far as I can tell, PD hasn't set up an ADB driver for it, so how can it tell what model/serial you have? Without ADB, it would only have access to the SD card for this info.[/QUOTE'] I haven't looked at or tried it - got the 7-18 fw within minutes of it being posted and haven't needed to go back. That said, as I understand it you're installing an updater on your desktop aren't you? Why would it then need the adb to find out install info. I'll take a look at some point, but I keep reflashing and then having to put everything back on, which sucks, and I'm running great, so I have no desire to rock the boat.I'm looking forward to user experience on and after this updater. Let us know.
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[quote name='clockworx;20992]Surprisingly' date=' no update to the wifi drivers...[/QUOTE'] that is interesting because I could swear wifi is better now. could be placebo effect, though... are you diffing just the apps? it could be a change in an init script.
are you diffing just the apps? it could be a change in an init script.
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[quote name='clockworx;20992]Surprisingly' date=' no update to the wifi drivers...[/QUOTE'] that is interesting because I could swear wifi is better now. could be placebo effect, though... are you diffing just the apps? it could be a change in an init script.
are you diffing just the apps? it could be a change in an init script.1 - 20 of 38 Posts
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