UPDATED for 2.3 ~ K2 Font Hack Instructions As Easy As I can Get Them.....

[MrTsMom]

Install the hack again. The option will not be greyed out if the hack is installed properly. It needs to be in the top directory of the Kindle (that is, not in any of the folders).

That's where the trouble is! The directions seem to say to put it in the documents folder. Rereading them, with what you say, it's perfectly clear! New font installed successfully! Thanks!

[maebeMeri]

Hey everyone!

I just got my K2 (Calliope) last week and installed the font hack (Mac). All went well and Helvetica2 is now installed. Love it! But there is one thing I noticed: the font did not change on one book, a sample. Is this supposed to happen? Right now I don't have many books on this Kindle (created a new 'GC only' account to curb a spending spree, lol) so it was easy to check on all 10 books...and 9 of the 10 were in Helvetica2. The book/sample "FlashForward" by Robert Sawyer did not change. I just thought it was strange and wondered if I had done something wrong. Any ideas on this? Could it be the book itself doesn't allow font modifications? (I may have missed if this was said in previous threads about the hack)

Also, another quick question: Should the hack always be removed when there's an update? Is there a danger if it's not? I try to keep wireless off unless I'm buying something, and if I miss news of an update, I don't want to turn it on prompting an update before I can get the hack off.
TIA,
-Meri

[pidgeon92]

All went well and Helvetica2 is now installed. Love it! But there is one thing I noticed: the font did not change on one book, a sample. Is this supposed to happen?

Also, another quick question: Should the hack always be removed when there's an update? Is there a danger if it's not? I try to keep wireless off unless I'm buying something, and if I miss news of an update, I don't want to turn it on prompting an update before I can get the hack off.

Topaz formatted books are like photocopies, the font will not change on them. No doubt the book you have a sample of is formatted in Topaz.

So far, the font hack had to be removed to get the most recent update. That does not necessarily mean it will have to be removed for all subsequent updates, there is no way to tell until it actually happens. It will not harm your Kindle if the update does not happen.

[maebeMeri]

Thanks for all the info! Wow...just did a quick search on Topaz format and am now kind of leery of it. I will probably still get this book as I had wanted to read it before the series started (probably a mistake, I know, lol). But it just jumped out at me that it was different and not in a good way. I just hope I don't come across it too much.

[corkyb]

Install the hack again. The option will not be greyed out if the hack is installed properly. It needs to be in the top directory of the Kindle (that is, not in any of the folders).

Paula: You have it installed on 4 places on your MAC (not Kindle)? Just delete them. If you meant Kindle, as I noted above, it should only be in the top directory.

I deleted them and tried again.  I guess I just don't get Mac language.  I went to the url.  I clicked on the update helvetica 2 file, the one that says "the most popular" after it.  It went to my downloads folder in my tray.  Everything goes there and I never know what to do with it.  I opened it in finder.  copied it.  plugged in the kindle and highlighted the kindle on the left in a box that resembles itunes.  On the right are four folders.  One does not appear to be over any other in the windows sense of subfolders.  They say music, documents, audible and system i think.  I have tried pasting everywhere, in each folder and by itself.  then when I do the menu, home, menu, thing, update my kindle is grayed out.  What am I doing wrong?  Not sure I have quoted my steps exactly. but close enough. 
thanks for any help.  between this and ebooks in my NY library I am going nuts and feeling like a real idiot.  Thing is, I sit here and play all day so one would think I would learn a thing or two, but I don't.
Paula ny

[MrTsMom]

Paula-
It looks like you're almost there. When you see those 4 folders, click in the empty area under them (right click) and then paste your file there. Eject your Kindle, and then see if it doesn't work.
Brenda

[Dave]

...

When you are ready to remove ALL the fonts (Because you have settled on your favorite one, perhaps?  Or you are OCD like me and don't want unnecessary files cluttering things up?) you need to FIRST uninstall ALL the fonts by following these steps with the update_uninstall.bin  Once you do that, and restart your Kindle, your Kindle will be back to your original Kindle fonts.  You can then delete all those .bin files in the root folder to clean it up all pretty like.  ...

What files should be left (if any) in the root directory after the uninstall?.. I'd like it "all pretty like", but I don't want to delete any necessary files. There are no .bin files remaining, but there are several other font-related files remaining after the uninstall.

[pidgeon92]

What files should be left (if any) in the root directory after the uninstall?.. I'd like it "all pretty like", but I don't want to delete any necessary files. There are no .bin files remaining, but there are several other font-related files remaining after the uninstall.

Those files are leftovers. You can keep them or delete them, whatever you prefer.

[Dave]

Thank you. They are all gone now.

[corkyb]

I did it!  I did it!  Wow! It's wonderful.  I don't know what I was doing wrong, but I just successfully installed Helvetica 2 font and it's beautiful.  I may even have to go down in font size due to it's depth and color.  Wow!  I am so thrilled.  thanks to everyone who helped me get this done.
Paula ny

[thephantomsgirl]

I just did the font hack and I love it!  I've got the Helavicta 2 installed and it's MUCH better.  Darker and crisper than the original font.

Thanks so much!   BTW, I looked and I have the 2.04 software - Arwen came with it - so guess I don't have to worry about updates for awhile.
 

[911jason]

HOLY COW!!!

I had no idea installing a different font would make such a big difference!!!

I installed the Georgia font, and it's like night and day! I almost like this hack better than the screensavers hack!

Have I used enough exclamation points (!) yet?!?!?!

[Ann in Arlington]

From the Forum Decorum:

- No excessive punctuation (e.g. strings of exclamation marks or question marks)

But we understand your exuberance. . . . .so we'll let it go this time! 

For the record. . .I definitely like the Font hack better than the Screensaver hack. . .would love to see more options for DX (hint, hint!).  I mean, when I'm reading I'm looking at the font.  When the screensaver is on, I'm not looking at the Kindle at all, usually. . .it's closed. . . . .

[911jason]

Thanks for your understanding Ann...

I guess the reason I love the Screensaver hack so much, is that I have my Kindle out on my work surface all night when I'm at work, whether I'm reading or not. The screensaver images constantly draw attention and lead to discussions about the Kindle. I'm a newborn Kindleyte and already an Enabler!

Off topic, but in my opinion, this is the reason Amazon should really work to include a full screen image of the cover for each book purchased on the Kindle store. Then, the screensaver could default to the image of whatever was last read. It would lead to a LOT of interest from people who see us Kindleytes (new term?) in the wild so to speak. It would also immediately make people aware that they were seeing a book reader device, even if they have no idea what an e-reader is.

[Garand]

Thank you for the clear and concise directions for installing the hack. My first attempt resulted in installing the Helvetica H2 font--not what I was expecting!.

Second time was the charm and I am delighted with the result.

Thanks again, and thanks to the developer. There's a handy "donate" button there and I'm happy to buy the developer a cuppa coffee, etc.

Dave

[911jason]

Thank you for the clear and concise directions for installing the hack. My first attempt resulted in installing the Helvetica H2 font--not what I was expecting!.

Second time was the charm and I am delighted with the result.

Thanks again, and thanks to the developer. There's a handy "donate" button there and I'm happy to buy the developer a cuppa coffee, etc.

Dave

Hahahahaha! Which one did you settle on?

[Ann in Arlington]

Thank you for the clear and concise directions for installing the hack. My first attempt resulted in installing the Helvetica H2 font--not what I was expecting!.

Second time was the charm and I am delighted with the result.

Thanks again, and thanks to the developer. There's a handy "donate" button there and I'm happy to buy the developer a cuppa coffee, etc.

Dave

LOL!  Same thing happened to me (on the DX). . .then I realized the first font I tried was the bold and large one for the 'hard of seeing'   I settled on the Georgia. . . .but would love to see more serif style options. . . .

[Garand]

I've used the H2 (Helvetica) for last night's and this morning's reading, and will probably change it when I get to work and can get on a non-Vista machine. Heck-vetica (Bible-belt naming convention) produces a marvelous display, but I'm not a huge Helvetica fan. I'll give Arial a trial later today...and may reluctantly investigate a bold version of a serifed font after that.

I design courseware for a major express-package airline (not the brown guys), and there are have been discussions about font readability for the 20+ years I've been doing this. Those who come to this profession from the academic environment insist serifed fonts are more readable. I personally dislike the way serifed fonts display and am sticking with san-serif until someone can show me a study to the contrary (I'm one of the pragmatics who comes to this profession from the operations side of things...its the aircraft folks vs. the ivory-tower folks in my little corner of the world).

Dave

[911jason]

If you get desperate enough to try a serifed font, try Georgia. It was the first one I tried, and I love it!

[Garand]

If you get desperate enough to try a serifed font, try Georgia. It was the first one I tried, and I love it!

Thanks...I tried several today and am currently trying DROID. I did try Georgia and the emboldened "stock" font earlier in the day and am now playing with this one. In any case, the replacement fonts make the display much more vivid (more vivider )

Dave

[Garand]

If you get desperate enough to try a serifed font, try Georgia. It was the first one I tried, and I love it!

Georgia it is...I've had it on the K2 for the last three days and it's a keeper. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dave

[911jason]

Glad you liked it too... although I noticed today that my current book seems to be displaying in the old original Kindle font, but the Home menu and a few other books I tried are displaying fine in Georgia. Anyone know if this is normal? Is it a particular format that doesn't use the updated font?

[Garand]

I had trouble with a book which couldn't remember its place. When I opened the book, the K would display two or three screens before the place I left.  I suspect its an aberration in the book's formatting.

Dave

[auntmarge]

I recently uninstalled the font hack because the unit seemed to be trying to install an update, and I was shocked at how difficult the original font was to read.  Even enlarged several sizes, it wasn't as clear.  After a day or two I reinstalled the Georgia 2 font and wow, what an improvement!

[EKBrowne]

Does anyone have pics to share of Kindles using this hack?  I don't find the original font hard to read, but I'm curious about what different ones look like!