Glo Kobo Software Update 2.5

[robko]

Originally Posted by TechniSol

Is it just me, or does anyone else think they can get blacker looking text than before by cranking the font weight up? In the past it seemed like the best I could do was a dark grayish shade, now it seems like it's really dark with the weight cranked up. It's really quite nice in terms of contrast.

Definitely has changeed. I had Amasis at full weigh before, but at that level it now looks like bold. Sideloads seem a little weightier (could still use a little darkening).

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Rand Brittain

Hm, I tried to load some custom fonts onto the Mini after updating to 2.5, but while they showed up in the font menu, selecting them just resulting in the device rendering the books in... I think it was Georgia?... while claiming resolutely that it was my chosen font.

But it wasn't!

Was this happening before?

Were the fonts named correctly? Did you power cycle the Mini after copying the fonts into the fonts folder?

Those are the two problems I've seen most often when installing new fonts.

Regards,
David

[MrDoug]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The problem being is that Kobo generally does not make the update available to all users at the same time. Other updates have only been made available in certain markets. For those of us who want the latest and greatest(?) and want it NOW!, the direct download links are much desired. If you don't like living on the bleeding edge, the firmware update -- if it is for your area -- will arrive sooner or later.

My key for the availability of a new firmware upgrade is that Kobo has in past, generally updated the Kobo desktop app just prior to the release. So when the desktop updated to 3.21 from 3.20, I started expecting a new firmware release. I refuse to discuss the role of chicken entrails in this process.

Regards,
David

David.. Ok thx for info.. I was unaware of that. I will try the desktop method..
Doug

[Aurora borealis]

I noticed that since the update, when putting the Glo in sleep mode, covers from books that are on the SD card appear ridiculously blurry and low quality, even if the cover image is actually really high quality. When putting the same book on the internal memory, the cover displays with its actual (good) quality.

What's the deal with this? Is there a workaround? (Except putting all books on the internal memory, which is not feasible with the huge manga collection I have...)

[mjost]

Originally Posted by Uschiekid

A very minor bug, but annoying all the same:

When you go into full dictionary, there is an arrow in the top left corner, and x in the top right corner. In 2.4.0, the arrow would take you into the part of the dictionary where you could edit the input (ie take off the -ed on a verb when the verb wouldn't show in in the dictionary otherwise) and the x would take you back to the book.

The bug? In 2.5.0, BOTH the arrow and the x take you back to the book. Useful, two separate buttons performing the same function.

I see the same behaviour.
And this is not just a "two button do the same thing" issue. Now Kobo lost the functionality to edit the word to look up in the dictionary.
Given the fact, that the dictionary tends to define words in terms of a similar word, this is real bad.
Something like ".. the act of ..." and you had to manually edit the entry to look up the second word. This is now no longer possible - annoying...

Martin

... Even better would be, if I could look up a word inside a dictionary entry, the same way I look up a word in the normal text: by a long tap.

[joris_]

For some reason, external links don't work anymore on 2.5.0 for me. Whenever I tap a link inside a .kepub.epub, I'll be asked if I want to open the webbrowser to access the URL. If I confirm that, the browser opens but doesn't ever navigate to the URL. Instead, it's stuck on the home page (Google). Not sure if this functionality worked in 2.4.0, though.

Does anyone know if external links worked on 2.4.0? If it did, I think I might downgrade back to 2.4.0...

[Uschiekid]

Originally Posted by mjost

I see the same behaviour.
And this is not just a "two button do the same thing" issue. Now Kobo lost the functionality to edit the word to look up in the dictionary.
Given the fact, that the dictionary tends to define words in terms of a similar word, this is real bad.
Something like ".. the act of ..." and you had to manually edit the entry to look up the second word. This is now no longer possible - annoying...

Martin

... Even better would be, if I could look up a word inside a dictionary entry, the same way I look up a word in the normal text: by a long tap.

agreed. to everything you posted. glad i'm not the only one it bugs...more likely to get fixed if it bugs others as well

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Aurora borealis

I noticed that since the update, when putting the Glo in sleep mode, covers from books that are on the SD card appear ridiculously blurry and low quality, even if the cover image is actually really high quality. When putting the same book on the internal memory, the cover displays with its actual (good) quality.

What's the deal with this? Is there a workaround? (Except putting all books on the internal memory, which is not feasible with the huge manga collection I have...)

I didn't see that. The firmware is now storing cover images on the SD card for books on the SD card. But, for some reason they are being generated with a lot worse quality.

Right now, the only thing you can do is complain to Kobo and ask to get it fixed. The calibre driver will be updated in the next release to allow sending of cover images to the SD card as well as the book. These are generated at about the same level as the firmware generates the images on the main memory.

[TechniSol]

My thanks to all those answering my post concerning the ability to crank the font weight up enough to get really dark text that rivals what you'd expect for bold text. I thought I'd lost it and had set the text for less than optimal contrast. Glad it wasn't just me, and may I add how happy I am to see text with so much contrast on a front lit device. My Glo continues to improve and make me glad I upgraded from the Touch. Well done, Kobo!

If we can get the software developers at Kobo to start making sure they haven't broken anything else when fixing problems or introducing new code perhaps we'll end up with a truly superlative device one day. They certainly have the most evenly lit front lit devices with the best resolution -and with introduction of the Aura have upped the bar again.

If they manage to clean house on all the niggling little details they will really have it down.

[RZetlin]

Originally Posted by Aurora borealis

I noticed that since the update, when putting the Glo in sleep mode, covers from books that are on the SD card appear ridiculously blurry and low quality, even if the cover image is actually really high quality. When putting the same book on the internal memory, the cover displays with its actual (good) quality.

What's the deal with this? Is there a workaround? (Except putting all books on the internal memory, which is not feasible with the huge manga collection I have...)

I did have similar issue with the book covers on the SD Card.

You may want to give this try:

1. Plug your Kobo to a PC
2. Go to your SD Card
3. Go to koboExtStorage->images
4. Cut out all the files in the images direct and paste on your PC
5. Unplug the Kobo
6. Turn off/on the Kobo
7. This would force the Kobo to regenerate all the book covers again
8. If everything turns out okay, you can delete the files from your PC

[bleugh]

anyone else having the reader turn completley off, even using the sleep cover?
getting annoying having to power on the reader, wait for the coloured LED's, then re-selecting the book each time I read,

with the older firmware version, close the cover, open, all good and the battery lasted months

[BobC]

Regarding the "light bug", I suspect this is related to the manufacturing tolerances of the LEDs used and the associated driver hardware - when you crank down the "light level" setting below a certain point the LED will no longer produce light. Previously the lowest setting may not have hit the "switch-off" point of any LEDs, now with a lower lowest setting some LEDs will cut off. Also it probably takes a bit more "ooomph" to switch on the LED than to keep it on and dim it beyond what would be it's "on" point. This would be why it stays on at the lowest level but when you sleep and wake up it doesn't illuminate at that same level (or at all).

Manufacturing tolerances would explain why some folk see a problem, others don't.

Not really a bug that could be fixed in software other than taking away the ability on some devices to lower the level beyond what was previously possible.

BobC

[jackastor]

So today I tried to do a wifi sync. I can connect to my network it says its checking for updates but 30 mins later it still trying to sync. Any one else with a wifi sync issue?

Kobo Glo here.


regards

Jack

[Anak]

The Dutch dictionary doesn't work at all with firmware 2.5.0 installed.
When you highlight a word the dictionary pops up and only displays a message that there is no dictionary entry for the word "……" (fill in any simple, common dutch word).
This dictionary is totally not functioning. It's the original dictionary supplied by Kobo on the Touch.

Did a factory reset and updated through the Kobo Desktop to the new firmware 2.5.0. The problem still exists.

[fraughton]

Not sure if I should be starting a new thread for this or not.
I attempted to sync my wife's kobo touch yesterday over wifi. I checked on it 15 minutes later and it still said downloading at the top. I left it for almost an hour and still the same. That's when I noticed that it was completely locked up. No response from touchscreen or any buttons. I couldnt even turn it off. I did get it powered down by using a paper clip.
Now when I power it on the screen flashes black once, then goes blank and the light on top is flashing green. I attempted a factory reset. No change. Ive called Kobo several times, but all I get is the call volume is too high message and then they hang up.
The kobo is a year and a few months old, so chances are I'm out of luck on getting it fixed. Anyway, I'm just hoping someone here may have a suggestion that I havent tried yet. Kobo's own troubleshooting page only suggests basic or factory resets before telling you to buy another reader.
Thanks in advance for any help you may have to offer.