What is the point of the Facebook connection in Kobo?

jlemonde · 09-20-2018, 02:06 AM

Is it only possible to share a quote to one's own public wall? That's a joke, isn't it?

davidfor · 09-20-2018, 03:06 AM

Personally, I think the question should be, "What is the point of the Facebook?", but I know a lot of people love it.

As to the Kobo integration, yes, I think that is what it does. It possibly also includes the percent read of the book and might allow you to post at the end. Kobo's FAQ entry has:

Quote:

You can post quotes, comments, or even just share that you’ve started or finished a book to your Facebook timeline from your eReader.

And I'm curious to why you think that is a joke. To me, it seems like a thing that people would want to do. That plus a "I'm reading xxxxx by yyyyy" is what I would expect to be posted. What more should it be?

jlemonde · 09-20-2018, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Personally, I think the question should be, "What is the point of the Facebook?", but I know a lot of people love it.

I completely agree with you on this sarcasm

I dislike Facebook. I only thought it could be a way to share a read article or a read quote in a book to a specific person, which would be great since I often think to specific people which would be interested by the things I read -- and I'm by far not the only one. Specific also implies that I do not necessarily want to share with every one.

So I thought I could choose whom I send the quote to. But apparently, this is not implemented...

An e-reader is a basically book, though. Electronic and connected, but it has the purpose of a book. The only little amazing enhancement there should be is a way to properly share what you read, and start a discussion about it (even if the chat is going to continue on another platform, afterwards).

Amon_Re · 09-20-2018, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlemonde

Is it only possible to share a quote to one's own public wall? That's a joke, isn't it?

What facebook connection? Where? How? Why? When? I've never seen anything regarding facebook on my Kobo A1

rcentros · 09-20-2018, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amon_Re

What facebook connection? Where? How? Why? When? I've never seen anything regarding facebook on my Kobo A1

I don't know what it does, but if I go to my Accounts under Settings, I have the option to login to Facebook. I don't do anything on Facebook, nor do I understand the point of "social reading" in general. (One thing I don't like about the new Kindles is you can't delete GoodReads, though you don't have to use it.)

Lusephur · 09-20-2018, 05:25 PM

Wonder if it's possible to patch out the facebook bit altogether.

davidfor · 09-20-2018, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lusephur

Wonder if it's possible to patch out the facebook bit altogether.

Is there really a point in doing that? It is so unobtrusive that @Amon_Re never noticed it was there. Just don't sign into Facebook on the device and it doesn't do anything.

Amon_Re · 09-21-2018, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Is there really a point in doing that? It is so unobtrusive that @Amon_Re never noticed it was there. Just don't sign into Facebook on the device and it doesn't do anything.

I am kind of curious when it got added though

davidfor · 09-21-2018, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amon_Re

I am kind of curious when it got added though

I think is has always been there. I did a search here and found a reference to it in a thread about firmware 1.9.14. I'm not sure if that is exactly the same function, but I don't remember a time when the Facebook option hasn't been on the selection popup menu.

Ripplinger · 09-21-2018, 11:56 AM

I only noticed the Facebook connection when I got my first Kobo reader, the Glo, and was playing with the awards. One of the awards involves Facebook (and I agree, what's the point of Facebook, let alone Facebook on Kobo readers), so I made a dummy account and signed in just for the award. And then after a short time I realized how you lose all awards, when you need to do a factory reset, switch to another reader, etc. I came to my senses realizing that their awards are nothing more than an endless game trying to earn them, and could get extremely frustrating and annoying real quick when they all poofed. So I disabled them and never looked back.

Lusephur · 09-22-2018, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Is there really a point in doing that? It is so unobtrusive that @Amon_Re never noticed it was there. Just don't sign into Facebook on the device and it doesn't do anything.

Yes there is, get rid of facebook and any entry point for it's data sucking tentacles. All aboard the Pequod, let's harpoon that m****rf****r!!!!

Quoth · 09-22-2018, 05:17 AM

It's simple, don't use toxic Facebook or setup the account.
It's totally sad how Nook, Kobo, Kindle support stupid connections, but not even one outgoing email account, or a user defined URL. Some other ebooks with NOTHING, no export.
BBC also I think is in breach of Charter using Twitter and Facebook. They have no shortage of their own sites, though closed their HHGTTG wiki like site.

The Facebook setting annoyed me, but I just ignore it. At least with Calibre the Kobo offers the best support of all eReaders to export per book comments/annotations, highlights etc with full highlight, title, chapter and % in chapter. Some ereaders and apps have no export support AT ALL! The Kindle DXG is pathetic with single myclippings.txt

I tried setting up the Nook "sharing" by registering a 2nd Nook account and "friending it". Doesn't enable eMail, unless I'm doing it wrong. I think it only works with a 2nd Nook. That's stupid.

There are also DRM/Copyright concerns as to why some apps & ereaders are so pathetic at "sharing" stuff. These should not apply if text is DRM free. Libraries, colleges and schools etc police their own copiers.
No-one polices industrial scanners and home copiers. The DRM and anti-piracy stuff is a total fail anyway. Industrial pirates usually get an ARC (paper or electronic). If paper, they crop off binding and load an industrial scanner for document archive. Google helps by encouraging PDF for their Google Books/Playstore books, which are full of pirated texts. Google also "pirates" themselves anything THEY deem as orphaned, as well has their dubious mainline book archive scheme (not fit people to be allowed as they are an Advertising company exploiting the contents to improve their search).

rcentros · 09-22-2018, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Is there really a point in doing that? It is so unobtrusive that @Amon_Re never noticed it was there. Just don't sign into Facebook on the device and it doesn't do anything.

I agree. The only time I notice Facebook is when I'm looking at my account page and it's extremely easy not to log into it.

09-20-2018, 02:06 AM	#1
jlemonde Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 19864 Join Date: Sep 2018 Device: Kobo Clara HD	What is the point of the Facebook connection in Kobo? Is it only possible to share a quote to one's own public wall? That's a joke, isn't it?

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09-20-2018, 05:25 PM	#6
Lusephur Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 14208 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Forma	Wonder if it's possible to patch out the facebook bit altogether.

09-21-2018, 11:56 AM	#10
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 only noticed the Facebook connection when I got my first Kobo reader, the Glo, and was playing with the awards. One of the awards involves Facebook (and I agree, what's the point of Facebook, let alone Facebook on Kobo readers), so I made a dummy account and signed in just for the award. And then after a short time I realized how you lose all awards, when you need to do a factory reset, switch to another reader, etc. I came to my senses realizing that their awards are nothing more than an endless game trying to earn them, and could get extremely frustrating and annoying real quick when they all poofed. So I disabled them and never looked back.

09-22-2018, 05:17 AM	#12
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,169 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	It's simple, don't use toxic Facebook or setup the account. It's totally sad how Nook, Kobo, Kindle support stupid connections, but not even one outgoing email account, or a user defined URL. Some other ebooks with NOTHING, no export. BBC also I think is in breach of Charter using Twitter and Facebook. They have no shortage of their own sites, though closed their HHGTTG wiki like site. The Facebook setting annoyed me, but I just ignore it. At least with Calibre the Kobo offers the best support of all eReaders to export per book comments/annotations, highlights etc with full highlight, title, chapter and % in chapter. Some ereaders and apps have no export support AT ALL! The Kindle DXG is pathetic with single myclippings.txt I tried setting up the Nook "sharing" by registering a 2nd Nook account and "friending it". Doesn't enable eMail, unless I'm doing it wrong. I think it only works with a 2nd Nook. That's stupid. There are also DRM/Copyright concerns as to why some apps & ereaders are so pathetic at "sharing" stuff. These should not apply if text is DRM free. Libraries, colleges and schools etc police their own copiers. No-one polices industrial scanners and home copiers. The DRM and anti-piracy stuff is a total fail anyway. Industrial pirates usually get an ARC (paper or electronic). If paper, they crop off binding and load an industrial scanner for document archive. Google helps by encouraging PDF for their Google Books/Playstore books, which are full of pirated texts. Google also "pirates" themselves anything THEY deem as orphaned, as well has their dubious mainline book archive scheme (not fit people to be allowed as they are an Advertising company exploiting the contents to improve their search).