Requests for future software/firmware

[pokee]

Originally Posted by oldyellr

I see that 5.x is the latest. I also see the status bar in "most" cases, but not when I have a book open in the Kobo reader or Overdrive. Presumably that's when one would want to know if the battery is close to dying. However, I have seen a warning pop up when the battery is supposedly down to 10%, but can't remember if it was with a book open or not. This was when I tried to charge a 50% full battery using a cheap 500ms USB charger, so I think the indication was spurious anyway. So, until Kobo fixes the battery indicator to be more reliable, would Battery Indicator Pro really be reading the battery condition independently, or what the Vox tells it? Do you see different levels in the Vox battery icon and the BIP indicator, or does the latter replace the former?

I've had the low battery indicator pop up in the middle of Overdrive and a book on my Kobo App. It's frustrating that you cannot see the battery level (and an accurate one, at that) when reading.

I am going to wait until they've fixed the battery indicator before I go looking for an app to show it to me! Kind of pointless, at the moment. As long as I charge my Vox on a daily basis, I am usually fine, anyway...

[Kboland]

Originally Posted by hieronymos

I would love to be able to turn the button backlight off.
In low-light situations, there are many possibilities to further decrease the display brightness, like JuiceDefender or ScreenFilter, but the button backlight always stays on, radiating like a lighthouse (very useful to see where you're going when you walk around the house with the lights off).

For an eReader, it would make sense that the button backlight has an airplane mode like button.

The perfect option would be to have a setting that timeouts the button backlight. After 10 seconds it can turn off, and as soon as I tap again on any button, the lights go on again and I can use the buttons normally.
This would really make sense if it is associated directly some kind of trigger. For example, when any application hides the status bar (i.e. all reader and video apps). Or maybe when the brightness drops below a certain value, i.e. 10%.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! THIS!!!!!!!

A lot of my wish list has been addressed by others, so here's some more:

Support for more formats. I have Kobo's reader, Overdrive's reader (handle's Adobe's DRM), Adobe Reader, Amazon's reader, and a DjVu reader installed on my Vox. There are a few other common formats out there too, and they require separae apps. Kobo could integrate all of that (except for encrypted MOBI) into their reader and make everyone a lot happier. After all, it would make it easier to find stuff in library (everything is in one place) and reading life would be more meaningful (I like the basic stats).

Ensure that the reading experience is on par with the Touch. There are a lot of small things to deal with here. The dictionary, highlights, and notes are poorly integrated. Kobo uses it's own menu for some things, and Android's menu for other things. I have to tell it to update the library manually. We need a true factory reset (this is arguably more important on the Vox since more people are hacking it).

As for the hardware stuff, I definitely agree that the next version needs a sliding or recessed power switch, a longer cable on the charger, and a better speaker. And please work on the weight! I have no idea why, but it feels like it weights 10 times more than the Touch even though it's only twice the weight. So trimming a few grams will probably make it much more pleasurable to read on.

[Laridae]

Since this is an Android device I'd like to see better integration and synching with Google apps such as the Contacts in GMail. You don't need to re-invent the wheel with your own contacts and people, especially since they won't even import contacts from GMail!

I'd also like to see Less reliance and connectivity with Twitter and especially Facebook. Some people may Choose to use Facebook, fine, they take their chances with privacy concerns, etc. But all roads from Kobo should not lead to Facebook by default. This is not a Facebook device, is it? Or are they paying you a lot for this? In that case your independence has been compromised!

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by Laridae

Since this is an Android device I'd like to see better integration and synching with Google apps such as the Contacts in GMail. You don't need to re-invent the wheel with your own contacts and people, especially since they won't even import contacts from GMail!

I'd also like to see Less reliance and connectivity with Twitter and especially Facebook. Some people may Choose to use Facebook, fine, they take their chances with privacy concerns, etc. But all roads from Kobo should not lead to Facebook by default. This is not a Facebook device, is it? Or are they paying you a lot for this? In that case your independence has been compromised!

I have my Gmail syncing with my Vox email client. In doing so, it brought over my contacts and calendar entries. My complaint with that now is that whenever I type, the auto suggest brings up people in my address book. Don't type their names much. What I would like is to import a dictionary. Anyone know how to do that?

As for Facebook... you don't have to integrate with it. My Mother-in-law got a Vox for Christmas. She doesn't have a FB account, so I just skipped over it for her. No problems.

[mr_nobody]

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

What I would like is to import a dictionary. Anyone know how to do that?

You might want to look at an alternate keyboard like swype (my choice!) or swiftkey x.

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

I have my Gmail syncing with my Vox email client. In doing so, it brought over my contacts and calendar entries.

Mail was simple to setup. But the only way I managed to get the Calendar and Contacts to work was by adding the Google Apps. Did you do the same, or am I missing something?

[mr_nobody]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Mail was simple to setup. But the only way I managed to get the Calendar and Contacts to work was by adding the Google Apps. Did you do the same, or am I missing something?

If you search around this forum, there are instructions for setting up sync to google without installing the apps.

[edit]: Here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ht=sync+google

[oldyellr]

Originally Posted by hieronymos

I would love to be able to turn the button backlight off.
In low-light situations, there are many possibilities to further decrease the display brightness, like JuiceDefender or ScreenFilter, but the button backlight always stays on, radiating like a lighthouse (very useful to see where you're going when you walk around the house with the lights off).

I doubt the button lights can be easily dimmed. What I find works is a simple strip of white paper, about 1/2" x 4". I stick it in the bottom of the book cover frame when reading in the dark in night mode. The button lights are subdued to where they are not much brighter than the text with the screen filter and the buttons still work. If you don't use a book cover, try a piece of masking tape.

[BlueSky22]

I would like to see a file manager installed so people like me without wifi could download apps and sideload them via USB connection. There are several apps already installed, but there seems to be some important ones like this missing!

[hieronymos]

Originally Posted by oldyellr

I doubt the button lights can be easily dimmed.

The button light goes off when you touch them, so they can turn off and can turn on again. Good chances it's a software question.
On my telephone I have a script to turn off the button backlight, which can be controlled through /sys. I just didn't find the relevant file in /sys on the Vox - either they named the file something completely different or they don't have the kernel module in it. They should put it in.

I have a cover where the Vox is fixed with 4 little straps. Got some velcro and electrical tape and can velcro the tape on the two lower straps. During the day, I velcro the strap on the back of the cover.
Still, it could be so much easier.