Glo Darn! Glo is too bright in a dark room

speedtouch · 12-27-2013, 05:31 PM

Just before Christmas I purchased an Aura directly from Kobo and a Glo from Family Christian. I wanted to spend some time with both before settling on one and selling the other. Before I got the Glo I was concerned about its brightness at the lowest setting. Lots of folks mentioned how bright it was. Several folks on this forum indicated this "too bright" issue was fixed by a firmware update, and later, by an actual hardware revision.

Sadly, my Glo is far too bright in a dark room even with the light set to 1%. It is running firmware version 3.1.1. The hardware revision is the original "A" version as detailed here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...99&postcount=4 So it uses the white light, not yellow. It's really unfortunate because I prefer reading with the Glo as it's so comfortable to hold when I lie in bed. The Aura is not so comfy to hold when lying down.

But, the Aura is way easier on the eyes in a dark room. Oh well, I really did give both devices a thorough test and the most important feature is the reading light. Aura wins hand down. I'll be putting the Glo up on Ebay next week. Along with my newly retired PocketBook 301+.

Ripplinger · 12-27-2013, 06:47 PM

I do know that different firmware versions drastically change the light output on the Glo. I can happily read at 28% even in a totally dark room. But when my Glo accidentally upgraded itself to 2.10.0, I had to set the light at 71% to get the same light output I was used to.

But it's up to you whether you want to go back to older firmware and then keep wi-fi off to stay there. I had no issues with the light being too bright on 2.4.0 or 2.5.1. It's also possible that eventually a firmware version on the Aura will change the light output as well.

GeoffR · 12-27-2013, 07:00 PM

I thought all new Glos would have the warmer/less bright LEDs. Perhaps some places still have old stock, or maybe it was a refurbished unit?

speedtouch · 12-27-2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I do know that different firmware versions drastically change the light output on the Glo. I can happily read at 28% even in a totally dark room. But when my Glo accidentally upgraded itself to 2.10.0, I had to set the light at 71% to get the same light output I was used to.

But it's up to you whether you want to go back to older firmware and then keep wi-fi off to stay there. I had no issues with the light being too bright on 2.4.0 or 2.5.1. It's also possible that eventually a firmware version on the Aura will change the light output as well.

Oh, I didn't realize different firmware versions change the light output on the Glo. And I hadn't even thought that the light on the Aura could change with firmware versions as well. *sigh* Thanks for the information.

speedtouch · 12-27-2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

I thought all new Glos would have the warmer/less bright LEDs. Perhaps some places still have old stock, or maybe it was a refurbished unit?

Mine must have been old stock as I have the "A" hardware version of the Glo. The "B" versions have the warmer light that is also less bright at the lowest setting.

RobertJSawyer · 12-27-2013, 08:39 PM

Before you take it back, try installing the night-mode hack; it inverts the screen (white letters on a black background) and works flawlessly with the Glo for reading at night (I have an older Glo with the brighter light; the nigh-mode hack makes it excelletn for nighttime reading):

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212162

(Also works on the Kobo Aura HD.)

Once installed, you simply hold down the light switch (the physical switch on the top of the unit) for most of a second, and it'll switch to inverse video; do that again, and it switches back to normal video.

Rob

Tizzalicious · 12-28-2013, 04:14 AM

Same problem here! I am a little afraid to try hacks and stuff (I will most likely screw up and break the whole thing), but I might have to give it a try after all.

RobertJSawyer · 12-29-2013, 02:55 PM

It's a very simple patch -- no more difficult than side-loading a book. You just have to copy one file (called KoboRoot.tgz) to the \.kobo directory on your ebook reader. That's all. It doesn't require messing around with programming or knowing code, or anything like that. And it provides a wonderful nighttime reading experience.

Tizzalicious · 12-29-2013, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

It's a very simple patch -- no more difficult than side-loading a book. You just have to copy one file (called KoboRoot.tgz) to the \.kobo directory on your ebook reader. That's all. It doesn't require messing around with programming or knowing code, or anything like that. And it provides a wonderful nighttime reading experience.

Oooh, I should be able to do that without messing anything up. Thank you! I will give it a try.

12-27-2013, 05:31 PM	#1
speedtouch eBook Newbie Posts: 373 Karma: 1724 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD	Darn! Glo is too bright in a dark room Just before Christmas I purchased an Aura directly from Kobo and a Glo from Family Christian. I wanted to spend some time with both before settling on one and selling the other. Before I got the Glo I was concerned about its brightness at the lowest setting. Lots of folks mentioned how bright it was. Several folks on this forum indicated this "too bright" issue was fixed by a firmware update, and later, by an actual hardware revision. Sadly, my Glo is far too bright in a dark room even with the light set to 1%. It is running firmware version 3.1.1. The hardware revision is the original "A" version as detailed here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...99&postcount=4 So it uses the white light, not yellow. It's really unfortunate because I prefer reading with the Glo as it's so comfortable to hold when I lie in bed. The Aura is not so comfy to hold when lying down. But, the Aura is way easier on the eyes in a dark room. Oh well, I really did give both devices a thorough test and the most important feature is the reading light. Aura wins hand down. I'll be putting the Glo up on Ebay next week. Along with my newly retired PocketBook 301+.

12-27-2013, 08:39 PM	#6
RobertJSawyer Guru Posts: 737 Karma: 4306712 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara 2E, and Clara HD; Kindle PaperWhite	Before you take it back, try installing the night-mode hack; it inverts the screen (white letters on a black background) and works flawlessly with the Glo for reading at night (I have an older Glo with the brighter light; the nigh-mode hack makes it excelletn for nighttime reading): https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212162 (Also works on the Kobo Aura HD.) Once installed, you simply hold down the light switch (the physical switch on the top of the unit) for most of a second, and it'll switch to inverse video; do that again, and it switches back to normal video. Rob Last edited by RobertJSawyer; 12-27-2013 at 08:45 PM.

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12-27-2013, 06:47 PM	#2
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I do know that different firmware versions drastically change the light output on the Glo. I can happily read at 28% even in a totally dark room. But when my Glo accidentally upgraded itself to 2.10.0, I had to set the light at 71% to get the same light output I was used to. But it's up to you whether you want to go back to older firmware and then keep wi-fi off to stay there. I had no issues with the light being too bright on 2.4.0 or 2.5.1. It's also possible that eventually a firmware version on the Aura will change the light output as well.

12-27-2013, 07:00 PM	#3
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	I thought all new Glos would have the warmer/less bright LEDs. Perhaps some places still have old stock, or maybe it was a refurbished unit?

12-28-2013, 04:14 AM	#7
Tizzalicious Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 956996 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Netherlands Device: Kobo Aura, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Glo, iPad 2, iPhone 5	Same problem here! I am a little afraid to try hacks and stuff (I will most likely screw up and break the whole thing), but I might have to give it a try after all.

12-29-2013, 02:55 PM	#8
RobertJSawyer Guru Posts: 737 Karma: 4306712 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara 2E, and Clara HD; Kindle PaperWhite	It's a very simple patch -- no more difficult than side-loading a book. You just have to copy one file (called KoboRoot.tgz) to the \.kobo directory on your ebook reader. That's all. It doesn't require messing around with programming or knowing code, or anything like that. And it provides a wonderful nighttime reading experience.

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