Quote:
Originally Posted by SensualPoet
I think you'll find grumbles in all of the vendor forums but you're unlikely to find representatives of the developers in the forums listening and altering code to ensure an improved customer experience.
I expect if that was a recent tech call for iOS app support, you will find improvements in the relatively near future. If that was a call placed some months ago, you might revisit the app -- assuming you are buying Kobobooks -- to see if it meets your needs.
BTW, how is the Sony eReader iOS 4 app working for you on your iPhone these days?
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I'm a software developer and I worked for startups and established companies. Kobo is nimble as a startup and do things like respond in forums and quick turnarounds (we did that in the startup too) , but their quality process isn't in place. It's also clear they rushed out their software and firmware (just in time for Father's Day) because they're so buggy. Either it's because their staff is overextended or inexperienced, I don't know, but I know in a start up there is great pressure to ship, even underbaked software, which is what the Kobo firmware is. I'm surprised that even Kobo employees in the forum agree that it's a work-in-progress.
Established companies like Amazon and Sony have process in place to ensure quality. I used a K3 and Sony Reader; I don't have to worry about the firmware being buggy. The devices just work. I don't have to worry about firmware updates also -- frankly most consumers don't care about firmware updates, especially ones so frequent. They just want their product to work out of the box. Sony, Amazon, and BN have an active developers community that gives firmware features (Doukan, PRS+, Android rooting) so you don't have to rely on the companies to add features. But the foundation is a nonbuggy firmware.
I gave up on the Kobo app. It's ridiculous that unlike the Kindle app, you have to log in to access your books, and the log-in part is buggy (it hangs -- so basically the app is rendered useless). Any ereader app that reads Adobe DRM (like Bluefire Reader) is a good substitute. That works for Sony ebooks also, so I don't have to rely on Sony ereader app, which is nonexistent. In fact, Sony's strength is their hardware. Their ereader software is terrible so it's good there are alternatives.