Kindle Eject and Mount

[The Chief]

I suppose what he really needs is a way to make it charge from the USB connector without ejecting it.   

Perhaps that would be simpler to figure out - but not by me, I don't even understand why it doesn't charge anytime the cable is plugged in... the power is there, on the connector.

[travisN000]

I suppose what he really needs is a way to make it charge from the USB connector without ejecting it.  

Perhaps that would be simpler to figure out - but not by me, I don't even understand why it doesn't charge anytime the cable is plugged in... the power is there, on the connector.

Blackberries have a similiar issue with charging, and a piece of software was written as part of an opensource software solution for blackberry on linux to address this.  I believe it has something to do with standard USB protocol not supplying enough power...  The project is called Barry (the specific part is bcharge)..  For someone with time and programming experience it might be possible to modify the software for the kindle (..add the device ID's tothe software to trick it into thinking the kindle is a blackberry and increase the current on that USB port)


EDIT:  here is a better explanation:

'bcharge' is a utility that's part of the Barry project - which aims to be a complete desktop toolset for interfacing your BlackBerry with linux. The purpose of the bcharge tool is to detect when a BB has been plugged in and then alter the current to the USB port - it will increase the default 100mA flow up to 500mA, which is what the BlackBerry is expecting. This is exactly what the Windows driver does.

[travisN000]

Another (easier) possibility to hack might be the iPad charging software from Rainbow software...  It does essentially the same as bcharge, but is available as a discreet piece of software (..easier to modify and compile).  It is available here:

http://www.rainbow-software.org/linux/

EDIT:

I just downloaded the source for this app...  it looks pretty easy to modify...  you just need the vendor and product ID's for your device (get them via the "lsusb" command when the kindle is plugged in), and then modify the ipad_charge.c and 95-ipad_charge.rules files to use the vendor ID and product ID of your device.  After that it should be a simple make  / make install procedure.

[The Chief]

Another (easier) possibility to hack might be the iPad charging software from Rainbow software...  It does essentially the same as bcharge, but is available as a discreet piece of software (..easier to modify and compile).  It is available here:

http://www.rainbow-software.org/linux/

EDIT:

I just downloaded the source for this app...  it looks pretty easy to modify...  you just need the vendor and product ID's for your device (get them via the "lsusb" command when the kindle is plugged in), and then modify the ipad_charge.c and 95-ipad_charge.rules files to use the vendor ID and product ID of your device.  After that it should be a simple make  / make install procedure.

I just grabbed the source, too.  I'll take a look to see how hard I think it might be to set it up for multiple devices, and allow the user to add/delete devices (even if they have to edit a config file).  Or maybe just move the device IDs to a config file.

[travisN000]

I just grabbed the source, too.  I'll take a look to see how hard I think it might be to set it up for multiple devices, and allow the user to add/delete devices (even if they have to edit a config file).  Or maybe just move the device IDs to a config file.

I had hoped someone with C/C++ programming expierience would jump in!

If you can get the main app set up to read from a config file, I can write a short bash/gtkdialog GUI to help users with setup

(help them to locate device/vendor ID's, write them to a config file, and then write the matching udev rules to the rules file).

[travisN000]

Mark-

I decided to try my hand at altering the ipad_charge app, and I think I found a pretty easy way to make it work for you (and other devices)...  If you are willing to test, post the vendor and device ID for your kindle..  or just the entire output of the command  lsusb  ..with it connected

[travisN000]

Here is my version:   http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2425248/usb_charge-1.1.tar.gz

I went ahead and set it up with the existing vendor/product ID's for ipad/ipad2, as well as a vendor/product ID for a Kindle that I found posted on the internet (VENDOR_ID="0x1949", PRODUCT_ID="0x0004"); I also compiled it, so all you should have to do is download, unzip, cd into folder, and run (as root) "make install" (or just manually copy the usb_charge binary to /usr/bin and 95-usb_charge.rules to /etc/udev/rules.d.)
 

[Crow]

travisN000 I just noted that I can unmount and eject the Kindle in LXDE + task-enlightenment using the "places" widget and it charges without problems.

Did you received feedback about usb_charge?

[Georgetoon]

travisN000 I just noted that I can unmount and eject the Kindle in LXDE + task-enlightenment using the "places" widget and it charges without problems.

Did you received feedback about usb_charge?

Yes, I simply issue the eject command and it goes right into charging mode. 

Thing is though, since getting the tablet, not using the Kindle as much.

[Crow]

I finally got a second Kindle and I'm using it daily    I have all kind of texts from novels to work documents

[travisN000]

travisN000 I just noted that I can unmount and eject the Kindle in LXDE + task-enlightenment using the "places" widget and it charges without problems.

Did you received feedback about usb_charge?

.. as far as I know, nobody has tested it....  I cannot, as I don't own one (I bought a nook color and nook tab)

[Crow]

I will do it as soon as I have time, lots of work lately