Thread: Firmware 4.31.19086
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Old 03-02-2022, 11:20 AM   #482
tschucha
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Posts: 147
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Device: Kobo Sage
Was SideloadedMode a non-documented feature in earlier releases?
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidfor View Post
In firmware 4.31.19086, Kobo has added "Sideloaded Mode". This is intended for users who cannot connect to a network during the setup. The device will finish initialising and you can signin later. Some function will be missing until you sign in. Once you are in sideloaded mode, it does not force you to sign in and can continue using the device, but, the option is there.

While Kobo has added Sideloaded Mode, it is not intended for continued use. It is intended as a stopgap to get the device working when a network is not available so that sideloaded books can be read. I think that support from Kobo for Sideloaded Mode will be limited. If you have issues, Kobo will most likely ask you to sign in.

Having said that, when in Sideloaded Mode:
  • Almost all syncing behaviour is gone. If you tap the sync icon, it shows a "Sign in" button.
  • WiFi will work and does not force you to sign in when connected.
  • No home screen. The device opens to the book list.
  • The bottom of the screen has "My Books", "Activity" and "More"
  • The "More" tab has:
    • My Articles
    • Beta Features. This has all beta features including the browser.
    • Settings
    • Help
  • Within the Settings, most of the settings are available. The ones missing are one only useful when signed in.
  • Dictionaries can be changed and will be downloaded if WiFi is available.
  • The browser works.
  • Firmware updates can be looked for by using "Check for updates" on the Device information page of the settings.
  • You can authorise the book for Adobe DRM and sign into Pocket.

Overall, the device works without having to sign in and there is no evidence of the shop. The reading experience is unchanged. My testing was on an Aura ONE. I assume that Stylus and handwriting will be fully supported in the devices that support them. I do not know what will happen with audiobook support.

To get into Sideloaded Mode, I signed out of the Kobo account on my Aura ONE. Then I broke my network so that the device could not reach the Kobo server during setup.

When in Sideloaded Mode, the config file had the following entry in the "ApplicationPreferences" section:

Code:
SideloadedMode=true
I do not know what will happen if this is added to a device that is already signed into a Kobo account. And I do no know what will happen if it is removed from a device that is in Sideloaded Mode.
Anyone experiment to see if SideloadedMode works in earlier releases? Maybe it was there but not documented.

I'm lazy and don't want to roll back just to find out.
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