Aura HD Brightness control too bright

cefarix · 05-03-2014, 09:57 PM

I just got an Aura HD (they shipped me the wrong color btw...) and the light level on the lowest setting (1%) is still too bright for me. Is there a way to set it to a lower level? My previous ereader was the Kindle Paperwhite 2 and its second-lowest light level was just right for my bedtime reading. I tried out the nightmode mod but I prefer the normal black-on-white text.

TechniSol · 05-04-2014, 01:40 AM

In the developers corner there was a thread discussing a mod to get lower brightness from the Glo, but it was a solder solution. It involved soldering in another resistor. I'm tempted, but rarely ever read in bed so left it alone.

I've wondered a few times that it seems they skewed the brightness levels with an eye toward maximum brightness, but with a reflective technology like e-ink one must wonder why(you don't really need those levels of brightness in a bright outdoor setting as the display can use the ambient light reflectively) unless it was to maximize the "whiteness" of the background... Maybe it had to do with the display appearing to flash or the LEDs not starting up, or the like at lower brightness levels... but the resistor hack to lower the brightness was reported to exhibit none of that behavior.

Joques · 05-04-2014, 03:31 AM

Don't forget there is a nightmode software hack that is super easy to install. It inverts the screen so it's white-on-black instead of black-on-white. Much easier on the eyes during nighttime reading:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212162

I also wonder why Kobo would skew the reading light so towards the bright end.

John F · 05-04-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cefarix

I just got an Aura HD (they shipped me the wrong color btw...) and the light level on the lowest setting (1%) is still too bright for me. Is there a way to set it to a lower level? My previous ereader was the Kindle Paperwhite 2 and its second-lowest light level was just right for my bedtime reading. I tried out the nightmode mod but I prefer the normal black-on-white text.

Are you on an older firmware? I think there was a firmware change that may affect/help this?

cefarix · 05-04-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joques

Don't forget there is a nightmode software hack that is super easy to install. It inverts the screen so it's white-on-black instead of black-on-white. Much easier on the eyes during nighttime reading:

Yes, I've already tried that, but the contrast is greatly reduced because the black background actually becomes a dark gray with the lighting on.

Also, I realized I *do* have the right color.. Espresso. It's just so dark it looks the same as black except under the best of lighting conditions. In all the online images it looks so much brighter!

Mort1997 · 05-04-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cefarix

Yes, I've already tried that, but the contrast is greatly reduced because the black background actually becomes a dark gray with the lighting on.

Also, I realized I *do* have the right color.. Espresso. It's just so dark it looks the same as black except under the best of lighting conditions. In all the online images it looks so much brighter!

A similar thing happened to me - it wasn't until I bought a black case and fitted it that I realised the black Aura HD I had bought was expresso!

Joques · 05-04-2014, 12:27 PM

I mean - does it matter that the backgound is dark gray rather than black? The end result is still a hell of a lot less photons hitting your eyes.

cybmole · 05-04-2014, 02:28 PM

maybe it's faulty?
if I set mine to 1% I'd struggle to tell if it was even on !
I do read with a low powered bedroom light on also - an 8 watt tube) but I have the Aura HD in the 20-30% range.

does it get noticably brighter/ weaker if you adjust in say 10% steps?

05-03-2014, 09:57 PM	#1
cefarix Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2014 Device: Kobo Aura HD	Brightness control too bright I just got an Aura HD (they shipped me the wrong color btw...) and the light level on the lowest setting (1%) is still too bright for me. Is there a way to set it to a lower level? My previous ereader was the Kindle Paperwhite 2 and its second-lowest light level was just right for my bedtime reading. I tried out the nightmode mod but I prefer the normal black-on-white text.

05-04-2014, 01:40 AM	#2
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	In the developers corner there was a thread discussing a mod to get lower brightness from the Glo, but it was a solder solution. It involved soldering in another resistor. I'm tempted, but rarely ever read in bed so left it alone. I've wondered a few times that it seems they skewed the brightness levels with an eye toward maximum brightness, but with a reflective technology like e-ink one must wonder why(you don't really need those levels of brightness in a bright outdoor setting as the display can use the ambient light reflectively) unless it was to maximize the "whiteness" of the background... Maybe it had to do with the display appearing to flash or the LEDs not starting up, or the like at lower brightness levels... but the resistor hack to lower the brightness was reported to exhibit none of that behavior. Last edited by TechniSol; 05-04-2014 at 01:49 AM.

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05-04-2014, 03:31 AM	#3
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Don't forget there is a nightmode software hack that is super easy to install. It inverts the screen so it's white-on-black instead of black-on-white. Much easier on the eyes during nighttime reading: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212162 I also wonder why Kobo would skew the reading light so towards the bright end.

05-04-2014, 12:27 PM	#7
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	I mean - does it matter that the backgound is dark gray rather than black? The end result is still a hell of a lot less photons hitting your eyes.

05-04-2014, 02:28 PM	#8
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	maybe it's faulty? if I set mine to 1% I'd struggle to tell if it was even on ! I do read with a low powered bedroom light on also - an 8 watt tube) but I have the Aura HD in the 20-30% range. does it get noticably brighter/ weaker if you adjust in say 10% steps?

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