[MustardOrMayo]

Originally Posted by geek1011

• There's a new `org.bluealsa` DBus wrapper in libnickel, implying the next Kobo will have Bluetooth audio?!?

I have been predicting Kobo adding audiobook support to their e-readers as part of a new 8th generation hardware platform, that could premiere with a successor to the Kobo Forma, which I imagine will be called the "Kobo Forma Edition 2". Hopefully that includes an improved frontlight that doesn't use PWM, which I've seen some users complain about. I also picture that Kobo could add a memory card slot and/or USB-C with OTG support, with USB audio support like what is available on most of the current generation Kindle e-readers.

Originally Posted by djazz

Here are some screenshots of the new firmware on my Kobo Glo HD. I think it looks good, only thing I'm missing is page numbers when content is paginated (My Books, Authors, Series, Collections...)

Also the browser is in a popup, which makes it smaller :/

I don't notice anything different in the reading view, where most time is spent anyways

I'm working on capturing screenshots of firmware 4.23 on my Clara HD, but I need to capture screenshots of firmware 4.22 first for my own research, and to provide screenshots for comparison. (All my Kobo e-readers are on stock software!)

Instead of taking photos, I'll use that configuration file edit mentioned in another thread that remaps the power button to take screenshots, that as far as I know, is how Kobo staff take screenshots for their support website.

I too don't like the change with the Web browser, which reminds me of when accessing a Wikipedia definition or Web search while reading.

Originally Posted by Calenorn

Those tabs at the bottom are VERY NOOK-like.

While I haven't been able to try Nook yet (as I haven't been able to figure out how a small number of people in Singapore are able to use Nook e-readers), it's nice to see that. I feel that Kobo is just trying their best when it comes to UX design, and their theory may be that less taps would be required to get to certain menus. Additionally, it gives me a clue to a possible/eventual firmware 5.0 update.

I believe that the reason why Kobo is using bottom navigation now, is in order to try and have their UX be consistent between their tablet apps and e-readers. Hopefully they allow the bottom navigation to be customised (probably with fixed "Home" and "More" tabs, and up to a total of 6 icons), and move the clock in the reading UI from the right to the left.

Personally, it reminds me of e-readers from mainland Chinese e-book platforms as reviewed by Good e-Reader, mainly Duokan (on Mi Reader), Dangdang (which they hadn't reviewed, but my replacement Likebook Muses display appeared to have been tested on a Dangdang Reader R7), and iReader.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Aside from the icons at the at the bottom of the home screen, I see they also borrowed the 'stack by series' from Nook. I wish they would also borrow the 'stack by author' so that you wouldn't only have list view when looking at authors.
…

I hope Kobo copies that!

Originally Posted by Quoth

… Yes, sliders ANYWHERE on any eInk, are stupid. Removing page numbers of catalogue views is stupid.

Yeah, I miss that too, even though I haven't updated my Clara HD yet as I need to capture screenshots of firmware 4.22 for my own research, before capturing screenshots of 4.23 to post here.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

… Lots of those old books have been released as ebooks through a company called Piccadilly Publishing.

Weirdly enough, that name sounded familiar to me, but I must've thinking of "Piccadilly Press", one of many publishing imprints that publishes books for children.

Originally Posted by the.Mtn.Man

I have to agree. Seems the interface design has become a case of form over function. It looks great in adverts, but it's not so nice to use sometimes. Once you're in a book, it's fine, but actually getting to your books is less user friendly than it used to be. The new tabs are a step in the right direction.

Yeah. that's what I thought about the 2.x and 3.x firmware releases. They were so convoluted to use that I was a Kindle user back then, before eventually switching to Likebook, and since late 2019 when Kobo revamped their e-reader reading UI, their e-readers became easier for me to use.

In fact, while waiting for my white Likebook Mimas to be repaired (this was before it turned out that they weren't able to repair it and sent me a new black one) in December, I bought a used Kobo Aura in February so I could continue reading a specific book while I waited for it to return in what turned out to be April, however, I decided to keep my Aura so I can eventually do a video about if frontlit e-readers from 2013 are still worth it, and then that would later be joined by another Aura and a Glo HD, as 2 of 3 e-readers (the third being a Likebook Muses) primarily to do iFixit repair guides on (as the former had a cracked display and the latter had a very faded display), and videos as well.