Touch Kobo Touch Firmware Internals

murg · 07-14-2012, 07:41 AM

All of the fun and games over the release of v2.0.0 of the firmware has caused me to have a look at the internals of the firmware package.

I have two questions:

1) What is the upgrade directory in the kobo3-update-2.0.0.zip file and its contents used for? It looks like boot or bios code, but I can't tell.

2) Looking at the KoboRoot.tgz contents, it looks like they have replaced the 4.6.2 Qt library with the 4.8.0 library (in the 4.6.2 tree), and then put in a 4.8.0 tree which is only has links to the 4.6.2 tree. Do I have this right?

murg · 07-14-2012, 08:12 AM

One other thing, in the QtEmbedded 4.8.0 lib directory, the libQtWebKit is tagged as version 4.9.0, rather than the 4.8.0 all the other modules are tagged as.

Since 4.8.1 is the latest official Qt release, and open source projects tend to use odd versions for dev and even versions for release, does this mean that Kobo is using dev or beta code in the 2.0.0 release?

murg · 07-14-2012, 11:55 AM

Another thought. Considering the way that the 2.0.0 release is structured, it looks like the Kobo side of the internal disk is not cleared before installing the new firmware. Otherwise, why would there need to be a Qt 4.6.2 directory, as it would just get replaced by the 4.8.0 directory.

This would explain why the fonts differ. Times New Roman in not in the 2.0.0 release. So, if it wasn't already on your Kobo, it won't be installed. But, if it was installed on a previous release, then it will not be deleted when the new firmware is installed, and the font will be available.

MisterMax · 07-14-2012, 12:06 PM

I don't have the answer to your question, but I find your analysis very interesting (I'm a software developer...

)

07-14-2012, 07:41 AM	#1
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	Kobo Touch Firmware Internals All of the fun and games over the release of v2.0.0 of the firmware has caused me to have a look at the internals of the firmware package. I have two questions: 1) What is the upgrade directory in the kobo3-update-2.0.0.zip file and its contents used for? It looks like boot or bios code, but I can't tell. 2) Looking at the KoboRoot.tgz contents, it looks like they have replaced the 4.6.2 Qt library with the 4.8.0 library (in the 4.6.2 tree), and then put in a 4.8.0 tree which is only has links to the 4.6.2 tree. Do I have this right?

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07-14-2012, 08:12 AM	#2
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	One other thing, in the QtEmbedded 4.8.0 lib directory, the libQtWebKit is tagged as version 4.9.0, rather than the 4.8.0 all the other modules are tagged as. Since 4.8.1 is the latest official Qt release, and open source projects tend to use odd versions for dev and even versions for release, does this mean that Kobo is using dev or beta code in the 2.0.0 release?

07-14-2012, 11:55 AM	#3
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	Another thought. Considering the way that the 2.0.0 release is structured, it looks like the Kobo side of the internal disk is not cleared before installing the new firmware. Otherwise, why would there need to be a Qt 4.6.2 directory, as it would just get replaced by the 4.8.0 directory. This would explain why the fonts differ. Times New Roman in not in the 2.0.0 release. So, if it wasn't already on your Kobo, it won't be installed. But, if it was installed on a previous release, then it will not be deleted when the new firmware is installed, and the font will be available.

07-14-2012, 12:06 PM	#4
MisterMax Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 7365 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Italy Device: 2 Kobo Touch	I don't have the answer to your question, but I find your analysis very interesting (I'm a software developer... )

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