On destructive upgrade resets

GvilleBridge · 07-15-2012, 04:06 AM

In the major firmware 2.0 threads, we are kind of treading water, discussing this and that, sometimes getting on each other's nerves and nursing tech frustration, while waiting for 2.01. One topic hasn't received an airing: destructive upgrade resets.

Why doesn't the Kobo update in a way that retains as many of one's existing settings, shortlist, bookmarks, reading stats, and so forth? Firefox and Thunderbird, for example, are into continuous update these days (FF has gone from like v.5 to v13 in not much more than a year) without losing bookmarks, addons (except for some addon developers who lag on updating), history, email folders, etc.

Could Kobo do this similarly--that is, nondestructively and friction-free?

For those who update via WiFi, Kobo would have to put a mirror image of most (or all?) of what's on your gadget while it installs new firmware and restores library, settings, etc. Couldn't the installer see if there's space in main memory and card for temporary files? If not, tell the user, sorry there's not enough working space, so please connect your Kobo into a computer for an hour or so while we do our thing and leave everything as we found it.

For those--the majority, I think--who already rely on having a computer handy, to run Calibre and ADE and public library/Overdrive eborrowing, Kobo would simply use the computer's resources to copy everything over, clear the device back to empty if necessary, and reinstall eveything cleanly.

Is this simpleminded? I wouldn't expect Kobo to update anywhere near as frequently as Firefox but surely it can stop annoying so many users in losing things during destructive resets, especially if that ends up bricking the gadget.

?

TongueTied · 07-15-2012, 08:21 AM

I think that is the idea but something went wrong with v2.0.0. For some it worked flawlessly and they saw improvements without losing anything. For other, setting, font etc were lost and for others it all went completely pear shaped. However, I believe the intent was for a seamless upgrade where you wouldn't see any data loss.

robko · 07-15-2012, 09:44 AM

Would be great to do that, but backing up off device has all kinds of privacy legislation issues. As Tongue Tied said, IIRC some of what you are talking about is in theory done, but it's been hit and miss for me.

murg · 07-15-2012, 11:56 AM

The Kobo software could backup the eReader's database onto your hard drive. And keep that backup synchronised with the eReader.

Also, the Desktop should be able to keep multiple accounts syncronised.

Privacy considerations only come into it when that information is sent to the Kobo servers.

plib · 07-15-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

Would be great to do that, but backing up off device has all kinds of privacy legislation issues. As Tongue Tied said, IIRC some of what you are talking about is in theory done, but it's been hit and miss for me.

If they were worried about privacy they wouldn't be using Google Analytics and passing that information to third parties.

JSWolf · 07-15-2012, 01:27 PM

I've seen upgrades on Sony Readers and Kindles where there was no need to do a reset (except to remove custom hacks).

07-15-2012, 04:06 AM	#1
GvilleBridge Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 121348 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Nook Tablet	On destructive upgrade resets In the major firmware 2.0 threads, we are kind of treading water, discussing this and that, sometimes getting on each other's nerves and nursing tech frustration, while waiting for 2.01. One topic hasn't received an airing: destructive upgrade resets. Why doesn't the Kobo update in a way that retains as many of one's existing settings, shortlist, bookmarks, reading stats, and so forth? Firefox and Thunderbird, for example, are into continuous update these days (FF has gone from like v.5 to v13 in not much more than a year) without losing bookmarks, addons (except for some addon developers who lag on updating), history, email folders, etc. Could Kobo do this similarly--that is, nondestructively and friction-free? For those who update via WiFi, Kobo would have to put a mirror image of most (or all?) of what's on your gadget while it installs new firmware and restores library, settings, etc. Couldn't the installer see if there's space in main memory and card for temporary files? If not, tell the user, sorry there's not enough working space, so please connect your Kobo into a computer for an hour or so while we do our thing and leave everything as we found it. For those--the majority, I think--who already rely on having a computer handy, to run Calibre and ADE and public library/Overdrive eborrowing, Kobo would simply use the computer's resources to copy everything over, clear the device back to empty if necessary, and reinstall eveything cleanly. Is this simpleminded? I wouldn't expect Kobo to update anywhere near as frequently as Firefox but surely it can stop annoying so many users in losing things during destructive resets, especially if that ends up bricking the gadget. ?

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07-15-2012, 08:21 AM	#2
TongueTied Zealot Posts: 128 Karma: 18512 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Buderim, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	I think that is the idea but something went wrong with v2.0.0. For some it worked flawlessly and they saw improvements without losing anything. For other, setting, font etc were lost and for others it all went completely pear shaped. However, I believe the intent was for a seamless upgrade where you wouldn't see any data loss.

07-15-2012, 09:44 AM	#3
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Would be great to do that, but backing up off device has all kinds of privacy legislation issues. As Tongue Tied said, IIRC some of what you are talking about is in theory done, but it's been hit and miss for me.

07-15-2012, 11:56 AM	#4
murg No Comment Posts: 3,238 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	The Kobo software could backup the eReader's database onto your hard drive. And keep that backup synchronised with the eReader. Also, the Desktop should be able to keep multiple accounts syncronised. Privacy considerations only come into it when that information is sent to the Kobo servers.

07-15-2012, 01:27 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've seen upgrades on Sony Readers and Kindles where there was no need to do a reset (except to remove custom hacks).

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