2.1.4 for Kobo Touch - Can we please have an official announcement from Kobo! - Page 3

TongueTied · 10-16-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjmac

Does anyone have any update on this?

My desktop has updated but not my Touch. Is 2.1.4 available or not in the UK??

No. It was available in some places and then they identified a bug and halted the rollout. I understand from a post in another thread by Kobo, that the bug has been fixed and they are currently testing. They expect the release to happen soon. What soon actually means in Kobo-land, is anyone's guess.

jusmee · 10-16-2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

(from an IT Project Manager)

You may find it hard to believe, but with some companies with competent managers and sound methodologies, this DOES happen.

rjmac · 10-17-2012, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TongueTied

No. It was available in some places and then they identified a bug and halted the rollout. I understand from a post in another thread by Kobo, that the bug has been fixed and they are currently testing. They expect the release to happen soon. What soon actually means in Kobo-land, is anyone's guess.

Thank you.

Does the community think that Kobo have lost the plot and forgotten the value of good customer service and communication?

Mrs_Often · 10-17-2012, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjmac

Thank you.

Does the community think that Kobo have lost the plot and forgotten the value of good customer service and communication?

No, I think they're very busy...

jusmee · 10-17-2012, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

No, I think they're very busy...

No excuse for yet another VERY mishandled update.

ottdmk · 10-17-2012, 10:16 AM

You have to remember that it's only mishandled for *US*. The few, the heavily involved, the forumites. For the vast majority of the Kobo-using public, this update has been handled just fine. A large number of those who got 2.1.4 would never run into the problem, because they simply don't use the SD slot. Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists.

I'm impressed with the level of communication Kobo has with this community, largely because it can become a no-win spiral. Don't talk enough and people complain about lack of communication. Update without firm deadlines and people complain about being vague. Update with firm deadlines and people rake you over the coals if the deadlines slip.

I think they've struck the right balance.

Suzanna · 10-17-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists.

This.

My sister, who also has a Kobo, only finds out about firmware updates when one shows up on her device or when I tell her one's coming. Like many regular owners, she doesn't follow any of the threads here. (She only pops on to check out the Kobo coupons thread, which she bookmarked after I told her about it.)

lioslaith · 10-17-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists.

Totally agree. My Mum has NO idea about firmware, updates or anything similar. Even when updates are pushed to her readers she hands it to me to check out. Everything except reading the books she seems to see as my domain.

ltr · 10-17-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lioslaith

Totally agree. My Mum has NO idea about firmware, updates or anything similar.

I suggest that's the norm for the majority of Kobo owners. The internet, and specifically forums, tend to exacerbate something that psychologists call “group polarization.”. When people discuss something they have in common, their beliefs tend to coalesce. Unfortunately, the end result is a viewpoint that is more extreme than the norm.

I get a lot of good info from this forum, but it's often over the top. You'd think that the masses were in the streets shaking their fists over the mishandling of a firmware release. In reality, it goes completely unnoticed by most owners.

ltr

Mrs_Often · 10-17-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

You have to remember that it's only mishandled for *US*. The few, the heavily involved, the forumites. For the vast majority of the Kobo-using public, this update has been handled just fine. A large number of those who got 2.1.4 would never run into the problem, because they simply don't use the SD slot. Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists.

I'm impressed with the level of communication Kobo has with this community, largely because it can become a no-win spiral. Don't talk enough and people complain about lack of communication. Update without firm deadlines and people complain about being vague. Update with firm deadlines and people rake you over the coals if the deadlines slip.

I think they've struck the right balance.

Exactly.

fbrII · 10-17-2012, 04:25 PM

I agree that some customers will complain no matter what path you take. I don't agree that Kobo struck the right balance. I don't beleive making vague statements regarding update dates as in "we expect to be rolling out an update soon." and then hiding behind a wall of silence when encountering problems is the right solution, or leaves an impression of being professional.

I would have preferred that Kobo would have done a better job communicating when they ran into snags. They don't need to specify a date but they could simply state the nature of the problem without going into minute details and give a revised estimate. Yes, some people will pillor them, make sarcastic comments etc., but my guess is, far fewer than they brought on themselves by going silent.

jusmee · 10-17-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottdmk

You have to remember that it's only mishandled for *US*. The few, the heavily involved, the forumites. For the vast majority of the Kobo-using public, this update has been handled just fine. A large number of those who got 2.1.4 would never run into the problem, because they simply don't use the SD slot. Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists.

I'm impressed with the level of communication Kobo has with this community, largely because it can become a no-win spiral. Don't talk enough and people complain about lack of communication. Update without firm deadlines and people complain about being vague. Update with firm deadlines and people rake you over the coals if the deadlines slip.

I think they've struck the right balance.

Just because people are unaware of the mishandling does not mean it did not occur. They still released a version that was so buggy it had to recalled, or the roll-out halted. This was during a rollout where special means (2 stage upgrades) had to be taken for some customers to prevent the version failing to upgrade properly because the upgrade didn't cope with some versions of their own factory firmware(/hardware?). Bad QC all round.

TechniSol · 10-18-2012, 12:45 PM

I'm old school, some would just say OLD (well middle-aged), and have mostly worked on real time control work with PCs and microcontrollers operating Big, HEAVY, expen$ive equipment so I tend to be a bit critical concerning code and the like. My goofs could have potentially been very expensive or gotten people killed...

Bottom line, is yes, they goofed -but in rather minor, acceptable ways. No one here is perfect, I feel quite confident stating. Is a problem with ebooks stored on SDHC or an inability for a group of users to update annoying? Sure, but it hardly was more than a temporary inconvenience and minor enough that one was still able to continue using the device -albeit perhaps not the SDHC card. Most importantly, they figured out the problems and got them fixed pretty quickly. I'd rather have a team you can count on in the clinch than one composed of people that never made a mistake. Their first mistake would likely tear them apart -at least temporarily.

I think ultimately we all owe them a THANK YOU any way you look at it. We're still getting upgrades from a company that sold us a product how long ago? Almost unheard of these days of Make it-Sell it-Junk it-Replace it. I'll be quite honest, when deciding what cell phone, android tablets, PCs, darn near any development tool, one of the first things I look at beyond basic design is how well is the item supported or updated. I think the Kobo guys ultimately get a lot of credit for coming through with continued updates.

My only suggestion beyond making sure anything they do is well tested before even thinking about a release is that if they gave the customer the option of whether or not to upgrade the firmware yet they might just keep from shooting themselves in the foot when/if they do have a minor problem. I'd stop having it just pop up and force you to upgrade and just make notice on the settings menu or the firmware notes page that a new version is out and let people find it for themselves. Or announce it on the web page, in the forums, etc. Why bother anyone not caring to look for an update? OTOH, the types who read these forums probably help them pretty quickly discover any problems they failed to detect, so that can even be considered an upside.

RickyB · 10-18-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechniSol

... if they gave the customer the option of whether or not to upgrade the firmware yet they might just keep from shooting themselves in the foot when/if they do have a minor problem. I'd stop having it just pop up and force you to upgrade and just make notice on the settings menu or the firmware notes page that a new version is out and let people find it for themselves...

I've concluded this is my major beef with the update process. Is there a reason Kobo would maintain their current update model I wonder?

We have four Kobos in our household, and three have been left at 1.9.17. Mine is 2.0.4. As far as I can tell the reading experience on those three is just the same as on my latest firmware. And I've gone through more pain to get to 2.0.4!

TechniSol · 10-18-2012, 10:50 PM

The most obvious reason to maintain the current update model is that it allows the company ultimate control of how your device acts and allows them to attempt to push their products. Aside from the selling side of it, it does, when everything is working correctly, allow them to ensure the best, most up to date, user experience for all users and those they are likely to show their reader. Mostly, it allows marketing types to feel they've made a contribution by trying to push content.

Personally, I think that all the reader companies have missed the mark. Sure push the books, but try to be a little less obvious -they all have options to go to their bookstores if you're in a buying mood. Why not wise up and offer content I won't find in a paper book? Interviews with authors, discussions about particular books -better yet with the authors as contributors, online book clubs which need not be time constrained like a forum where people can "discuss" their views while reading -they already have browsers built in which could facilitate community activities like online book clubs.

They're pushing stuff in a crass manner when with a modicum of effort they could really be making sales.

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10-17-2012, 10:16 AM	#36
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	You have to remember that it's only mishandled for US. The few, the heavily involved, the forumites. For the vast majority of the Kobo-using public, this update has been handled just fine. A large number of those who got 2.1.4 would never run into the problem, because they simply don't use the SD slot. Those who didn't get it don't even know it exists. I'm impressed with the level of communication Kobo has with this community, largely because it can become a no-win spiral. Don't talk enough and people complain about lack of communication. Update without firm deadlines and people complain about being vague. Update with firm deadlines and people rake you over the coals if the deadlines slip. I think they've struck the right balance.

10-17-2012, 04:25 PM	#41
fbrII F. BluDevil Posts: 428 Karma: 1152548 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Louis Missouri Device: Pocketbook Inkpad3 pro, Kobo Libra, Kindle Paperwhite	I agree that some customers will complain no matter what path you take. I don't agree that Kobo struck the right balance. I don't beleive making vague statements regarding update dates as in "we expect to be rolling out an update soon." and then hiding behind a wall of silence when encountering problems is the right solution, or leaves an impression of being professional. I would have preferred that Kobo would have done a better job communicating when they ran into snags. They don't need to specify a date but they could simply state the nature of the problem without going into minute details and give a revised estimate. Yes, some people will pillor them, make sarcastic comments etc., but my guess is, far fewer than they brought on themselves by going silent.

10-18-2012, 12:45 PM	#43
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	I'm old school, some would just say OLD (well middle-aged), and have mostly worked on real time control work with PCs and microcontrollers operating Big, HEAVY, expen$ive equipment so I tend to be a bit critical concerning code and the like. My goofs could have potentially been very expensive or gotten people killed... Bottom line, is yes, they goofed -but in rather minor, acceptable ways. No one here is perfect, I feel quite confident stating. Is a problem with ebooks stored on SDHC or an inability for a group of users to update annoying? Sure, but it hardly was more than a temporary inconvenience and minor enough that one was still able to continue using the device -albeit perhaps not the SDHC card. Most importantly, they figured out the problems and got them fixed pretty quickly. I'd rather have a team you can count on in the clinch than one composed of people that never made a mistake. Their first mistake would likely tear them apart -at least temporarily. I think ultimately we all owe them a THANK YOU any way you look at it. We're still getting upgrades from a company that sold us a product how long ago? Almost unheard of these days of Make it-Sell it-Junk it-Replace it. I'll be quite honest, when deciding what cell phone, android tablets, PCs, darn near any development tool, one of the first things I look at beyond basic design is how well is the item supported or updated. I think the Kobo guys ultimately get a lot of credit for coming through with continued updates. My only suggestion beyond making sure anything they do is well tested before even thinking about a release is that if they gave the customer the option of whether or not to upgrade the firmware yet they might just keep from shooting themselves in the foot when/if they do have a minor problem. I'd stop having it just pop up and force you to upgrade and just make notice on the settings menu or the firmware notes page that a new version is out and let people find it for themselves. Or announce it on the web page, in the forums, etc. Why bother anyone not caring to look for an update? OTOH, the types who read these forums probably help them pretty quickly discover any problems they failed to detect, so that can even be considered an upside.

10-18-2012, 10:50 PM	#45
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	The most obvious reason to maintain the current update model is that it allows the company ultimate control of how your device acts and allows them to attempt to push their products. Aside from the selling side of it, it does, when everything is working correctly, allow them to ensure the best, most up to date, user experience for all users and those they are likely to show their reader. Mostly, it allows marketing types to feel they've made a contribution by trying to push content. Personally, I think that all the reader companies have missed the mark. Sure push the books, but try to be a little less obvious -they all have options to go to their bookstores if you're in a buying mood. Why not wise up and offer content I won't find in a paper book? Interviews with authors, discussions about particular books -better yet with the authors as contributors, online book clubs which need not be time constrained like a forum where people can "discuss" their views while reading -they already have browsers built in which could facilitate community activities like online book clubs. They're pushing stuff in a crass manner when with a modicum of effort they could really be making sales.