Glo Rant about the sleep screen

ploum · 09-15-2013, 08:50 AM

Hello,

I'm using a Kobo Glo bought at Fnac and I'm quite happy with it except for one thing :*the sleep screen.

1) By default, the sleep screen displays a FNAC logo instead of the cover of the book. To disable that, one had to dig into the files of the kobo itself by messing with the affiliates.conf file. But with each firmware update, each reset and, sometimes randomly, the FNAC logo reappears.

This is a perfect example of anti-feature and I've decided to not buy anything at the FNAC anymore just because it gets on my nerve. Seriously KOBO, don't allow that.

2) Now that the FNAC logo is gone, I can display the cover of my current book fullscreen. Nice. I*love it. Except that you add a huge white rectangle that hide nearly 15% of the cover for… wait… no reason at all. It just says "Sleeping" and, in small, "30% reading".

Seriously? This could be very elegantly put above or beneath the cover, very subtly, in small. Here, most of the rectangle is completely empty. On some covers, it just hides completely the title or some very important part of the picture.

Ok, that a rant, that's clearly something I*would like to improve but…

3) On Kobo website, every single picture of a Kobo reader shows the Kobo displaying a full screen book cover. That's clearly a lie because it is something impossible to get with a Kobo (at least not with the Glo).

Being an engineer, I know that engineering is hard. I accept a lot of bugs or problems from today's technology because I understand the difficulty. But, as silly as it may sounds, this particular problem gets on my nerve because it was specifically designed to annoy the customers.

And when a company start to annoy its customers, it raises a lot of questions…

Kaitou Ace · 09-15-2013, 11:01 AM

It actually used to display the cover of the book in full screen, the more recent firmware changed that, so I'd guess the photos on the site are from before this update.

I also much preferred having the cover taking up the entire screen while the device is sleeping. The extra information isn't needed.

murg · 09-15-2013, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploum

And when a company start to annoy its customers, it raises a lot of questions…

And several tons of questions have been raised about Kobo and its eReaders...

Ripplinger · 09-15-2013, 05:02 PM

I dislike the way that white block of information is displayed so much that I won't upgrade to the firmware that has it. IF that was the only issue I had with the newer firmware, I might suffer with, but it would annoy me every time I had to see it. I don't read to be annoyed. It's just one of those really ugly things they did that could be so nice looking if only they put a little thought into the design of the firmware.

Older firmware (2.5.1 and lower) has a thin band across the top which I don't really like either. Never did I imagine that they could come up with something much worse than that though with the large oddly positioned block over the cover.

They should let you display the full cover of the book when in sleep mode without anything else pasted over the cover. KISS is always the best policy.

treadlightly · 09-15-2013, 05:56 PM

I liked the thin band across the top with percent read. It would be nice if they gave you the choice whether to display it or not. The white square is just ugly.

TechniSol · 09-15-2013, 10:33 PM

What I hear is people simply asking for choices here... Is that such a bad idea Kobo?

Matter of fact 99% of what people ask for in this forum simply comes down to asking for choices. That's telling and it ought to be getting through to Kobo. It's not a lot to ask for on what is to most a very personal device. The simple ability to personalize it and use it "our" way.

Wake up and smell the beans, Juan Valdez, I mean Kobo.

Onemack · 09-16-2013, 02:00 AM

I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments so far.

As an aside, what and where is FNAC?

Sharkus · 09-17-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onemack

I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments so far.

As an aside, what and where is FNAC?

http://www.fnac.com

http://futurebook.net/content/kobo-p...-retailer-fnac

snowstone · 09-17-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploum

Hello,

I'm using a Kobo Glo bought at Fnac and I'm quite happy with it except for one thing :*the sleep screen.

1) By default, the sleep screen displays a FNAC logo instead of the cover of the book. To disable that, one had to dig into the files of the kobo itself by messing with the affiliates.conf file. But with each firmware update, each reset and, sometimes randomly, the FNAC logo reappears.

This is a perfect example of anti-feature and I've decided to not buy anything at the FNAC anymore just because it gets on my nerve. Seriously KOBO, don't allow that.

2) Now that the FNAC logo is gone, I can display the cover of my current book fullscreen. Nice. I*love it. Except that you add a huge white rectangle that hide nearly 15% of the cover for… wait… no reason at all. It just says "Sleeping" and, in small, "30% reading".

Seriously? This could be very elegantly put above or beneath the cover, very subtly, in small. Here, most of the rectangle is completely empty. On some covers, it just hides completely the title or some very important part of the picture.

Ok, that a rant, that's clearly something I*would like to improve but…

3) On Kobo website, every single picture of a Kobo reader shows the Kobo displaying a full screen book cover. That's clearly a lie because it is something impossible to get with a Kobo (at least not with the Glo).

Being an engineer, I know that engineering is hard. I accept a lot of bugs or problems from today's technology because I understand the difficulty. But, as silly as it may sounds, this particular problem gets on my nerve because it was specifically designed to annoy the customers.

And when a company start to annoy its customers, it raises a lot of questions…

You didn't have to change the files, in the options of the kobo you can choose to display the book cover and whether it occupies the middle of the screen or all of the screen.

robko · 09-17-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowstone

You didn't have to change the files, in the options of the kobo you can choose to display the book cover and whether it occupies the middle of the screen or all of the screen.

While that is true for most Kobo's, a Kobo bought from certain of retail partners (FNAC being an example) are slightly different and display their logo on sleep and power off (I think it's on both) rather than the book cover. The option to change this is not configurable in the Kobo user interface settings. Hence, ploum had to change the config file to get the book cover to display rather than the logo.

vice-versa · 09-18-2013, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

While that is true for most Kobo's, a Kobo bought from certain of retail partners (FNAC being an example) are slightly different and display their logo on sleep and power off (I think it's on both) rather than the book cover. The option to change this is not configurable in the Kobo user interface settings. Hence, ploum had to change the config file to get the book cover to display rather than the logo.

For me too as I bought mine from FNAC that is, as far as I know, the sole retailer for Kobo in France. I changed the affiliate file too. I don't know why I should have to see that logo on my reader, as I paid full price for it ! I can't choose the size of the cover, but at least, I can seen it small and centered, but still better than the FNAC logo

jackie_w · 09-18-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vice-versa

I can't choose the size of the cover, but at least, I can seen it small and centered, but still better than the FNAC logo

If you'd really like a full-screen cover screensaver (despite the unsightly white box), in the .kobo\Kobo\Kobo eReader.conf file, in the [PowerOptions] section, there is a line

Code:

FullscreenCoverStretch=true

So even if you don't have the GUI checkbox option on your FNAC Kobo, it's possible setting it manually might work. But I'm in the UK and don't have a FNAC device, so I can't test the theory I'm afraid.

vice-versa · 09-18-2013, 04:01 PM

Thank you for the tip

I don't know if it would work, but I can at least give it a try : save a copy of this file before anything else and then try and modify it in he way you suggested it. If it's rotten, I would replace it by the saved file.

I think I should give an attentive eye to the content of this particular file as I may learn a lot about my Glo behaviour

09-15-2013, 08:50 AM	#1
ploum Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 22818 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Pocketbook Touch HD 3 + koreader	Rant about the sleep screen Hello, I'm using a Kobo Glo bought at Fnac and I'm quite happy with it except for one thing :the sleep screen. 1) By default, the sleep screen displays a FNAC logo instead of the cover of the book. To disable that, one had to dig into the files of the kobo itself by messing with the affiliates.conf file. But with each firmware update, each reset and, sometimes randomly, the FNAC logo reappears. This is a perfect example of anti-feature and I've decided to not buy anything at the FNAC anymore just because it gets on my nerve. Seriously KOBO, don't allow that. 2) Now that the FNAC logo is gone, I can display the cover of my current book fullscreen. Nice. Ilove it. Except that you add a huge white rectangle that hide nearly 15% of the cover for… wait… no reason at all. It just says "Sleeping" and, in small, "30% reading". Seriously? This could be very elegantly put above or beneath the cover, very subtly, in small. Here, most of the rectangle is completely empty. On some covers, it just hides completely the title or some very important part of the picture. Ok, that a rant, that's clearly something I*would like to improve but… 3) On Kobo website, every single picture of a Kobo reader shows the Kobo displaying a full screen book cover. That's clearly a lie because it is something impossible to get with a Kobo (at least not with the Glo). Being an engineer, I know that engineering is hard. I accept a lot of bugs or problems from today's technology because I understand the difficulty. But, as silly as it may sounds, this particular problem gets on my nerve because it was specifically designed to annoy the customers. And when a company start to annoy its customers, it raises a lot of questions…

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Get to Sleep! #2 (The Sleep Prompt Series: The Island)	Reading4Life	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	1	11-23-2012 05:27 AM
Stylus not working after sleep; unwanted wakeup from sleep?	HerrB	Onyx Boox	6	09-28-2012 08:43 AM
PRS-350 Cover art for sleep screen?	Kumabjorn	Sony Reader	3	05-20-2012 04:59 AM
Sleep Mode, Wakeups, and Screen Displays	kkasmire	Kindle Developer's Corner	0	12-01-2011 07:35 PM
Does Calibre server work when computer is in "Sleep"/can it prevent Sleep	Backdraft	Calibre	1	01-14-2011 07:47 PM

09-15-2013, 11:01 AM	#2
Kaitou Ace Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 1352743 Join Date: Oct 2002	It actually used to display the cover of the book in full screen, the more recent firmware changed that, so I'd guess the photos on the site are from before this update. I also much preferred having the cover taking up the entire screen while the device is sleeping. The extra information isn't needed.

09-15-2013, 05:02 PM	#4
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I dislike the way that white block of information is displayed so much that I won't upgrade to the firmware that has it. IF that was the only issue I had with the newer firmware, I might suffer with, but it would annoy me every time I had to see it. I don't read to be annoyed. It's just one of those really ugly things they did that could be so nice looking if only they put a little thought into the design of the firmware. Older firmware (2.5.1 and lower) has a thin band across the top which I don't really like either. Never did I imagine that they could come up with something much worse than that though with the large oddly positioned block over the cover. They should let you display the full cover of the book when in sleep mode without anything else pasted over the cover. KISS is always the best policy.

09-15-2013, 05:56 PM	#5
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	I liked the thin band across the top with percent read. It would be nice if they gave you the choice whether to display it or not. The white square is just ugly.

09-15-2013, 10:33 PM	#6
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	What I hear is people simply asking for choices here... Is that such a bad idea Kobo? Matter of fact 99% of what people ask for in this forum simply comes down to asking for choices. That's telling and it ought to be getting through to Kobo. It's not a lot to ask for on what is to most a very personal device. The simple ability to personalize it and use it "our" way. Wake up and smell the beans, Juan Valdez, I mean Kobo.

09-16-2013, 02:00 AM	#7
Onemack Groupie Posts: 177 Karma: 1160 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tasmania Device: Kindle P/W, Kobo Aura, Kobo Libre 2, Boyue likebook P10	I agree wholeheartedly with all the comments so far. As an aside, what and where is FNAC?

09-18-2013, 04:01 PM	#13
vice-versa whippet addict Posts: 382 Karma: 689884 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: France, Normandy, Gisors Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura 6", Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Aura One, Kobo Sage	Thank you for the tip I don't know if it would work, but I can at least give it a try : save a copy of this file before anything else and then try and modify it in he way you suggested it. If it's rotten, I would replace it by the saved file. I think I should give an attentive eye to the content of this particular file as I may learn a lot about my Glo behaviour

Advert

Advert