Research and development: custom fonts.

[Soaa]

One of my biggest wishes for BlueWave updates was custom font support. Now Samsung obviously isn't adding this in for us, so we'll have to work this on our own.

I've confirmed that the P2 uses fonts in TTF format, and that these fonts are not encrypted in the firmware update images. Have a look at these screenshots.

Here's Bitstream Vera Sans, in normal style:



And here's an offset within YPP2.RSC:



See the similarity?

We can probably just overwrite the P2's default fonts with custom fonts and reflash. As long as we don't change the file size and move things around, it should be a fairly safe mod.

I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

Update 1:

I tried replacing the first font with Deja Vu Sans, but when I tried flashing it, it threw an error 'Invalid Resource'. I'm thinking there might be a CRC check somewhere.

Update 2:

It seems like the hash they're using to check YPP2.RSC isn't standard: I tried CRC32, md5 and SHA-1, as well as others, and the digests haven't been found in YPP2.ROM. However, looking through YPP2.ROM, I found the string 'Invalid resource' along with some binary code around it. If I can dissassemble it and bypass the check, we might get a YPP2.ROM that allows flashing of custom resources.

[Soaa]

Bump for interest. o3o



I got a font out of the P2, but now I have to get a font in. I'll try dissassembling the ROM and see if I can find anything interesting there.

[johnboy]

cool:-)... u are working pretty hard:-).. thats awesome... wow samsung did a good job of locking the p2.... this forum is like dead now... before the bluewaves came.. everyone used to be here.. now its just me and u..lol

[Soaa]

Actually, Samsung did barely anything to lock the P2. Both update images are completely unencrypted, so all I need to do is remove a check or two.

I nop'd out too many things from the ROM and bricked my P2, lol. Good thing the recovery program is serving well so far.

[Hypnorino]

cool! that is pretty impressive what you've done!

I'm willing to help if I just knew how to extract things using a hexeditor.

[xinzhitan14]

interesting work you've done here. hmm, how abouts did you extract the fonts from the p2? is it all stored on the RSC file? if so we could find a way to import into it.

[Soaa]

I got a font out no problem, but when I tried to get a font in, it didn't accept it. Like I said, it's probably a check somewhere in the ROM.

Indeed the fonts are all in the RSC file.

[Soaa]

Reprint from The P2 Zone.

Thanks to joco's help with the CRC (man, it really was just a CRC), I've been able to create a somewhat valid RSC file with a custom font.



However, like I said, it's only still somewhat valid, because it seems to check each resource too, but only after flashing it. Which means I can flash one font at a time.

I'll keep you guys updated.

[moop]

Looking really good, hope you'll be able to progress even further.

[Soaa]

rscedit - the P2 font modding utility. Released today. Grab it here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?anmctm2yyj0

Be sure to read the README.txt file.

Enjoy!

[Teemu]

TTF file is supposed to be dropped at rscedit.exe in windows explorer? I tested it bu it doesnt give me any YPP2.RSC file there is just the same YPP2.blank.RSC. Or is that blank file supposed to be used?

Edit: I tried it now with going to "Open with" on the font file and selected rscedit.exe. That made YPP2.RSC in the folder and im going to test in a sec does it work with my player.

Edit2: It worked!! Great job Soaa! I tried to take a picture of my p2 with cool font but camera was too bad =D. Thank you really much! By the way people who try this, if it doesnt show the font you installed go to options and font selection (there are 3 fonts what came with p2) and try each font. Font you installed will replace one of those. I tought first that it didnt work but then I just went to options and changed right font on!

Cool

[Soaa]

Yeah, I forgot to mention, it changes the middle font.

[Soaa]

Update: new utility allows flashing all three fonts. BE SURE TO READ THE NEW README. It contains important information on how to use the three utilities.

http://www.mediafire.com/?4mzjoxuilzv

Enjoy!

[Olley]

This is great progress, Soaa. Well done!

[Music!]

How out of the ordinary for hacks and mods to be made after the hype is long gone. Regardless of whether the p2 has a hype surrounding it or not anymore, it is an amusing feat to get the p2 to its full potential.
Congrats on continuing the p2 mod.
Small handful of people can boast about modding the p2. Did you, do you plan to, put your head together with the poster member who found the firmware mod? Should you continue to mod p2 features, maybe a quick look at the thread titled who can use this for firmware updating? could help you continue modding the p2.

[Soaa]

Shoot! I forgot to mention in the readme, that you need to rename the original RSC to "YPP2.orig.RSC".

This applies to the second release.

[arekieh]

can you explain more thoroughly how to do this?

[Hypnorino]

Finally a breakthrough!!! Well done, Sooa!!!!
Candara looks exquisite on the P2!
Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think it will work on the T10?

[lebellium]

Worked fine for me!

I made a tuto in french for gmp3! Thanks Soaa

With the font Bauhaus 93

[Soaa]

De rien, lebellium. Just my way of giving back to the community. Glad you're enjoying it. (:

I probably won't update this any more, unless I find more interesting things to hack in RSC, but it seems that joco's UCI editor will eliminate the need for that.

Now if only it'll work correctly!