Touch Remove Ads from the special offers edition?

LarpSarpLo · 12-09-2011, 04:20 PM

Hi all,

I read some threads that people are able to hack in Kobo Touch. Just wondering if the Ads can be removed from the Special Offers edition? If yes, can someone kindly show how to do so step by step?

I didn't feel the ads that annoying initially, but I do now.

Thanks!!

Larp

The Terminator · 12-09-2011, 06:15 PM

No there is not.

taming · 12-09-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarpSarpLo

I didn't feel the ads that annoying initially, but I do now.

There is a wallet hack that works. Take back the special offers Touch and buy a regular Touch at the regular price

.

The Terminator · 12-09-2011, 06:52 PM

Is it like the Kindle with special offers? Like if you wanted to pay the $30 bucks to get the adds removed?

taming · 12-09-2011, 07:00 PM

They don't have that offer on the Kobo with special offers (at least not yet--who knows what the future will bring). You get the discount; you get the ads.

m_bisson · 12-09-2011, 07:16 PM

Flash the firmware with the real version muahahaahahaha

taming · 12-09-2011, 07:21 PM

I'm pretty sure that a firmware flash will not do it. There are folders/files on the Kobo that are outside of the firmware that cannot be updated in this way. Someone with a good handle on linux and the desire to do this sort of thing could, no doubt, figure it out.

From my very narrow minded perspective, that is less than ethical. The person bought a device with ads, and got a reduced price in exchange. If it was a bad decision, the remedy is to exchange the device and pay for the ad free experience.

Xennex1170 · 12-09-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

I'm pretty sure that a firmware flash will not do it. There are folders/files on the Kobo that are outside of the firmware that cannot be updated in this way. Someone with a good handle on linux and the desire to do this sort of thing could, no doubt, figure it out.

From my very narrow minded perspective, that is less than ethical. The person bought a device with ads, and got a reduced price in exchange. If it was a bad decision, the remedy is to exchange the device and pay for the ad free experience.

I'd have to agree.. You paid less for a device that will show ads and not exactly 'in your face' either.. They only appear when the KT is sleeping or off..

I wonder how the advertisers know that their ad is being viewed? Maybe it updates a view-time counter at a server when it connects via Desktop or Wifi.

The Terminator · 12-09-2011, 08:56 PM

Just take it back and see if you can exchange it for a gift card and then use the gift card + $30 for one that doesn't have SO.

Canuck_in_Japan · 12-10-2011, 02:00 AM

I don't see any problem here. A company sold you a product with ads for a discount. When you received the product it came with ads. Fair transaction. Now the product belongs to you and you should be able to do whatever you like with it. I don't have the first clue about removing ads but I wish you luck!

GoingDown · 12-10-2011, 05:36 AM

I don't think it is easily possible. If Kobo has done it properly (meaning it is hardcoded inside nickel, their frontend application) you need to hack that application.

One way could be that (on rooted device) one would replace all advertisement pictures/pages by reference to /dev/null...

nogle · 12-10-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingDown

I don't think it is easily possible. If Kobo has done it properly (meaning it is hardcoded inside nickel, their frontend application) you need to hack that application.

One way could be that (on rooted device) one would replace all advertisement pictures/pages by reference to /dev/null...

I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the SO version serial numbers are registered. so, any time you connect to the Kobo servers, I suspect that ads are updated and there is a check to ensure the ads are running. I also suspect that the serial number is very difficult to hack.

r.bares · 12-11-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Now the product belongs to you and you should be able to do whatever you like with it.

You have every right to do whatever you like with it, within the agreement you accepted. You are licensed to use the device, and (specifically in this case) the software on the device, as regulated by the agreement. If you breach that license, then you have no right to use the software. That is the problem.

From an ethical perspective its really quite obvious why this should be frowned upon, Kobo have provided a discount in exchange for showing advertising on an ongoing basis, not merely to sell the product with advertising in the first instance. If you accept this discount and then remove yourself from their advertising-base, you are harming their bottom line, and in my opinion it is broadly equivalent to theft, the taking of something which is not yours and you have no right to take.

That is not to say that I think people who want to do this are "bad people", but this is certainly not something which should be condoned.

luqmaninbmore · 12-12-2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r.bares

You have every right to do whatever you like with it, within the agreement you accepted. You are licensed to use the device, and (specifically in this case) the software on the device, as regulated by the agreement. If you breach that license, then you have no right to use the software. That is the problem.

In that case, all hacking on the KTouch is problematic.

46jimbo · 12-12-2011, 09:34 AM

Would simply turning off the wifi stop the adds?

12-09-2011, 04:20 PM	#1
LarpSarpLo Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kobo Touch and Kindle Touch	Remove Ads from the special offers edition? Hi all, I read some threads that people are able to hack in Kobo Touch. Just wondering if the Ads can be removed from the Special Offers edition? If yes, can someone kindly show how to do so step by step? I didn't feel the ads that annoying initially, but I do now. Thanks!! Larp

12-09-2011, 06:15 PM	#2
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	No there is not. Last edited by The Terminator; 12-09-2011 at 08:55 PM.

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12-09-2011, 06:52 PM	#4
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Is it like the Kindle with special offers? Like if you wanted to pay the $30 bucks to get the adds removed?

12-09-2011, 07:00 PM	#5
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	They don't have that offer on the Kobo with special offers (at least not yet--who knows what the future will bring). You get the discount; you get the ads.

12-09-2011, 07:16 PM	#6
m_bisson Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 25803 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kobo touch :)	Flash the firmware with the real version muahahaahahaha

12-09-2011, 07:21 PM	#7
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	I'm pretty sure that a firmware flash will not do it. There are folders/files on the Kobo that are outside of the firmware that cannot be updated in this way. Someone with a good handle on linux and the desire to do this sort of thing could, no doubt, figure it out. From my very narrow minded perspective, that is less than ethical. The person bought a device with ads, and got a reduced price in exchange. If it was a bad decision, the remedy is to exchange the device and pay for the ad free experience.

12-09-2011, 08:56 PM	#9
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Just take it back and see if you can exchange it for a gift card and then use the gift card + $30 for one that doesn't have SO.

12-10-2011, 02:00 AM	#10
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,475 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	I don't see any problem here. A company sold you a product with ads for a discount. When you received the product it came with ads. Fair transaction. Now the product belongs to you and you should be able to do whatever you like with it. I don't have the first clue about removing ads but I wish you luck!

12-10-2011, 05:36 AM	#11
GoingDown Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 1274 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Finland Device: Kobo Touch	I don't think it is easily possible. If Kobo has done it properly (meaning it is hardcoded inside nickel, their frontend application) you need to hack that application. One way could be that (on rooted device) one would replace all advertisement pictures/pages by reference to /dev/null...

12-12-2011, 09:34 AM	#15
46jimbo Zealot Posts: 130 Karma: 143194 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, CANADA Device: Kobo Touch + Kobo Aura	Would simply turning off the wifi stop the adds?

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