Kindle DX Screensaver Hack
Folks at mobileread.com have updated their screen saver hack to work with Kindle DX. It allows you to replace default screen saver images (mostly of famous writers) that appear when Kindle goes into sleep mode with any set of images of your own choosing.
You can download binaries and source code here. Installation is very similar to other Kindle “feature enhancing” hacks:
Instructions for use:
1) Plug your Kindle DX into your computer.
2) Copy “update_DX_screensaverhack-install.bin” to the root of your Kindle DX.
3) Optional Steps:
3a) Change directories to the “system” folder.
3b) Create a new folder called “screen_saver”
3c) Place any 824×1200 PNG image files into the system\screen_saver folder that you just created.
6) Unplug your Kindle DX.
7) Press the “Menu” button on your Kindle DX and select “Settings.”
8) At the Settings page press “Menu” again and select “Update Your Kindle.”
9) When the “update” is done your Kindle DX will reboot and you are done.
If you choose not to do step 3, the system will create the system\screen_saver folder for you and place the default screen savers in it. You can then remove or replace these, or mix them with your own — it’s up to you.
To go back to the default Kindle DX screen savers:
1) Plug your Kindle DX into your computer.
2) Copy “update_DX_screensaverhack-uninstall.bin” to the root of your Kindle DX.
3) Unplug your Kindle DX.
4) Press the “Menu” button on your Kindle DX and select “Settings.”
5) At the Settings page press “Menu” again and select “Update Your Kindle.”
6) When the “update” is done your Kindle DX will reboot and you are done.
More Information:
You can change images at any time, but you must reset your kindle for them to appear (press and hold the slider for 15 seconds). If there are no images then a blank screen will be shown when you go into sleep mode.
As with the K2, JPG/PNG/GIF files all work . You can use JPG, PNG, GIF, any size, although obviously 824×1200 works best. Smaller images are anchored in the upper left corner.
If you would like to restore the original screen savers without removing the hack, simply delete the screen_saver folder and reset your kindle, and the folder will be recreated with the original images in it.
Any official kindle DX updates that patch the file will fail (gracefully) if this is installed (ie. 2.1 to 2.1.1). Use the remove procedure, to restore the default screen savers, then apply the official update, and all will be well.
This hack is compatible with Unicode Font Hack and you can install and uninstall both independently of each other.
I have tried this several times with my DX. I copy the .bin file to my Kindle, I eject it from the USB, I run the settings and update. It updates. There is no screen_saver folder created. The .bin file is gone.
I tried the optional steps in #3 and manually created the screen_saver folder and put my 824 x 1200 png files in it, then copied the .bin file to the root, went through the update. The .bin file is gone, the screen_saver file is still there, but the DX is just showing the old images and ignoring my files, it seems.
Is there something I am missing? I am using the “install” vs. the “uninstall” bin file. Are there supposed to be any of the other files from the zip archive copied to the DX other than update_DX-screensaverhack-install.bin ?
Thanks for the info on Screensaver Hacks. I’m embarrassed to say that while I now see the System file but am unsure as to how I get to the “Root Directory” in order to copy, update_DX_screensaverhack-install.bin. The root seems to have all the folders (with now the system folder visable) but I can’t copy the .bin file to it.
I appreciate help here!
[...] Tech Tip – From Bufo Calvin’s Frequently Asked Questions, a hidden Kindle DX game of Gomoku. Also, via Andrei Pushkin’s blog kindle and clarknova of the MobileRead forum, I install the hack for relief from the monotony of my Kindle 2’s default screensavers. You can find similar hacks via Andrei’s blog for customizing the screensavers on the Kindle 1 and DX. [...]