no 'search' function in newest software update

[hermes]

The magnifying glass (icon for search) has disappeared in the current software update. How does one search now?

[Joe563]

Originally Posted by hermes

The magnifying glass (icon for search) has disappeared in the current software update. How does one search now?

The search function hasn't changed with the most recent firmware update. You can only search for items within your Library. If you select a category (bookshelf) in your Library you will see the search icon in the lower right part of the screen.

Regards,
Joe

[sonyreaderfan]

For the Kobo app for iOS and Mac OS X, there is no search feature for the text of the book you are reading. So when you open a book, the search function is gone. I'm dumbstruck by lack of such a fundamental feature.

Is this the same case for Kobo Touch? Can you search inside a book for Kobo Touch? How about for sideloaded contents?

[Joe563]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

For the Kobo app for iOS and Mac OS X, there is no search feature for the text of the book you are reading. So when you open a book, the search function is gone. I'm dumbstruck by lack of such a fundamental feature.

Is this the same case for Kobo Touch? Can you search inside a book for Kobo Touch? How about for sideloaded contents?

You cannot search within any kind of document with the Kobo Touch. The lack of an internal search function is also true for their Desktop application and their app for Android. In all cases, you can only search for items within the library or the store.

[sonyreaderfan]

Originally Posted by Joe563

You cannot search within any kind of document with the Kobo Touch. The lack of an internal search function is also true for their Desktop application and their app for Android. In all cases, you can only search for items within the library or the store.

Wow, I'm flabbergasted. The search feature is so fundamental.

I bought a Kobo book for my Sony Reader. The book is a nonfiction about the Economic Crisis of 2008, and does not have a workable index (no hyperlinks, no page number next to subjects). So if I want to find mentions of a subject, say, "credit default swap," I can search for that word and go to pages containing that word.

Without the search feature, you have to scan pages and pages for that subject. It's barely doable on a physical book, but next to impossible on a ereader. That's why nonfiction books have index, so you don't have to scan the book, but Kobo is forcing you to do that? That's insane.

I hope the search feature is high on the list of firmware request. I can see a lot of people not buying Kobo because of lack of search. Kobo would be a candidate to replace the Sony Reader if it dies, but now Kobo's a non-starter for me. I hope they would have the search feature soon.

[HarryT]

I do agree that lack of a search facility is a serious omission. The ability to search a book is one of the key benefits of using an electronic reader over a paper book, after all. I constantly use search when reading books to remind myself when a particular character first appeared in the story - especially useful in complex detective stories, for example.

Let's hope that Kobo add it soon.

[ltr]

Yeah, when I want to search for something I find myself putting down the Kobo and going to my computer and using Adobe Digital Editions. A bit cumbersome for sure.

[hermes]

I stand corrected, and illuminated. There never was a search function, except in library. i agree, a serious omission. Now that Sony reader pocket edition has come down I think I will get that as a second ereader. there seems to be no perfect ereader - better to have 2-3 of them!

Originally Posted by hermes

...better to have 2-3 of them!

That's why we keep getting these non-finished, not-so-refined products... instead of buying none, people buy 2 or 3 I know that I'm buying early-generation technology, and that's why I ordered the cheapest reader available on the market, and only now (not 3 years ago) and will keep away from investing in new generation technology as long as possible.

Originally Posted by Benjamin Buford

That's why we keep getting these non-finished, not-so-refined products... instead of buying none, people buy 2 or 3 I know that I'm buying early-generation technology, and that's why I ordered the cheapest reader available on the market, and only now (not 3 years ago) and will keep away from investing in new generation technology as long as possible.

Actually, the Kobo Touch is the first eReader I've bought in the past few years that does not have a search feature usable within books. But I will say that their company does seem truly interested in our thoughts and requests, so I hope they will include this vital feature in a future firmware update.