[RB]

I'm surprised more people haven't picked up on this yet because so many are waiting for it, but someone has posted a link in the Kindleboards Photo Gallery with instructions on how to do custom screen savers on the K2

It still seems too technical for me, but I'm sure someone will figure out how to make it easier shortly!

 

[unrequited]

I posted a thread about it already here:
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,4953.0.html

It's easy. You put one file on your Kindle and restart. Place the images you want in PNG format in \system\screen_saver\ . Easy as pie. To reverse it, you put the other file (the "uninstall" let's call it) and restart. Just as easy.

 

[KindleKay (aka #1652)]

Congrats K2 owners! I KNEW that this would get figured out pretty quickly!!!

 

[wilsondm2]

.jpg files work too!

But i'm having a small issue where it shows every other one as a blank screen. I've sent the programmer a note to ask if i did something wrong. But i've also used the uninstall successfully and started over.

It shouldn't hurt your kindle or cause any problems as it does a very small bit hack.  Works great!!

 

[VictoriaP]

I think the reason it's not been better publicized is that the directions aren't terribly straightforward for the relatively non technical.

I'm actually pretty geeky and relatively brave about tinkering once I have decent instructions; saw this yesterday when it was first posted and I have to say it doesn't "feel" as easy as Unrequited very straight forwardly explained.  Possibly just the way the original is written?  Or perhaps because the developer (as he should) has posted plenty of warnings to go along with it.  LOL

As a few more true gurus get it going, the rest of us will definitely follow.  I'm elated to see we've gotten this far already.

 

[chocochibi]

I wonder if someone who's done this successfully could post directions with screenshots?
That would be awesome!

 

[wilsondm2]

whoo hoooo!!

Mac puts hidden ._ files in directories as part of it's file structure. This was causing blank files. Now my screen savers are back and work wonderfully!!! And I just use regular old .jpg's now - much easier to edit them now!

This is a great little hack - and easily reversible!!

 

[kim]

Now that we can add screensavers, I think it's time to ask DecalGirl to include them with their skins!

 

[L.Canton]

This is very cool, thanks for posting this. Now I can set a nice Dark Tower background. 

 

[Leslie]

Now that we can add screensavers, I think it's time to ask DecalGirl to include them with their skins!

If someone had a Decal Girl skin for the K1 and was willing to share the code for the screensaver, then we'd have it for the K2. For example, I have the codes for Quest, Burlwood, Symphony, and Starry Night if anyone wants them. I need the code for Orient, if anyone has it.

L

 

[luvmy4brats]

If someone had a Decal Girl skin for the K1 and was willing to share the code for the screensaver, then we'd have it for the K2. For example, I have the codes for Quest, Burlwood, Symphony, and Starry Night if anyone wants them. I need the code for Orient, if anyone has it.

L

Just remember though, they did change the layout of some of the skins, so the screensavers may not line up right.

Has anybody else tried it? I'm usually pretty game about testing things out, but I'm a bit hesitant..

 

[Leslie]

Just remember though, they did change the layout of some of the skins, so the screensavers may not line up right.

Has anybody else tried it? I'm usually pretty game about testing things out, but I'm a bit hesitant..

Good point.

Trying to change the screensaver on Hugh is on my list of "to do" projects for the weekend.

L

 

[RB]

Good point.

Trying to change the screensaver on Hugh is on my list of "to do" projects for the weekend.

L

I'm going to wait till one of you tries it out...the instructions are not as clear as the ones posted for the K1!!

 

[dcom]

I did it and it worked great!

The .zip file that was posted on the other forum contains all the files you need, except the image file you want to use. The is a TXT file that goes through the steps of installing and even uninstalling the update. They're pretty easy. Here are the instructions for installing the update:

Instructions for use:
---------------------
1 ) Plug your Kindle2 into your computer.
2 ) Copy "Update_kindle2_user_screen_savers.bin" to the root of your Kindle2.
3 ) Change directories to the "system" folder.
4 ) Create a new folder called "screen_saver"
5 ) Place any 600x800 PNG image files into the system\screen_saver folder that  you just created.
6 ) Unplug your Kindle2
7 ) Press the "Menu" button on your Kindle2 and select "Settings."
8 ) At the Settings page press "Menu" again and select "Update Your Kindle."
9 ) When the "update" is done your Kindle2 will reboot and you are done.

On a Windows system, the Kindle's system folder may not be visible but you can change that by going to The Tools menu from Windows Explorer (Win XP), select Folder Options->View tab and click "Show hidden files and folders", then uncheck "Hide protected operating system files". You may need to refresh your Explorer display but "system" should show up.

 

[nelamvr6]

If someone had a Decal Girl skin for the K1 and was willing to share the code for the screensaver, then we'd have it for the K2. For example, I have the codes for Quest, Burlwood, Symphony, and Starry Night if anyone wants them. I need the code for Orient, if anyone has it.

L

I need the code for Blue Giant...

 

[wilsondm2]

I did it and it worked great!

The .zip file that was posted on the other forum contains all the files you need, except the image file you want to use. The is a TXT file that goes through the steps of installing and even uninstalling the update. They're pretty easy. Here are the instructions for installing the update:

Instructions for use:
---------------------
1 ) Plug your Kindle2 into your computer.
2 ) Copy "Update_kindle2_user_screen_savers.bin" to the root of your Kindle2.
3 ) Change directories to the "system" folder.
4 ) Create a new folder called "screen_saver"
5 ) Place any 600x800 PNG image files into the system\screen_saver folder that you just created.
6 ) Unplug your Kindle2
7 ) Press the "Menu" button on your Kindle2 and select "Settings."
8 ) At the Settings page press "Menu" again and select "Update Your Kindle."
9 ) When the "update" is done your Kindle2 will reboot and you are done.

On a Windows system, the Kindle's system folder may not be visible but you can change that by going to The Tools menu from Windows Explorer (Win XP), select Folder Options->View tab and click "Show hidden files and folders", then uncheck "Hide protected operating system files". You may need to refresh your Explorer display but "system" should show up.

.jpg files also work just fine.

If you are on a mac system, you will need to delete the '._" files that it generates as the 2k will read those as blank image files.

 

[Cuechick]

How do you find the hidden files, that is the problem I am having?

oh and thanks, I think you helped me with my others questions!

 

[wilsondm2]

How do you find the hidden files, that is the problem I am having?

oh and thanks, I think you helped me with my others questions!

LOL - I just posted a reply to you at MR. Here it is copied and pasted:

You're on a Mac!!

Yeh - I used VMWare and went in to delete them. However, there is another way to do this on a Mac.

Terminal is the program you use to access the Unix command level of the Mac. (Think of DOS command line) In there you would use typed out commands to move to the correct directory and delete files. It should be used with great caution however as this is a great place to mess up your system!

If you have someone with a win computer, it might be easier to just plug your 2k in and delete the '._' files in the system/screen_saver directory.

If someone else has a different way - please share - these are the only ways I know of.

 

[dcom]

LOL - I just posted a reply to you at MR. Here it is copied and pasted:

If someone else has a different way - please share - these are the only ways I know of.

Open the Terminal app type the following command and hit Enter:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

If you want to hide hidden files again, do the same thing but change "YES" to "NO"

 

[BruceS]

I haven't tried it on my MAC yet, but from my experience with other versions on Unix on which OS X is based, this should allow you to find the hidden files:

1. Open a command prompt via selecting Applications and then selecting Terminal.app
2. Enter cd \system\screen_folders to change to the \system\screen\folders directory
3. Enter ls -altr * which should show all the files in the directory
4. Enter rm .\_ to delete the .\_ file
5. You might need to enter chmod 777 .\_ before step 4 to change the rights to the .\ file to read, write, and execute for the owner, any group that the user belongs and all other users, but this probably will not be necessary

I don't guarantee this will work, but cd is the unix command to change to a given directory, ls -altr * is the unix command to show all files in that directory, and rm is the unix command to delete files.