Kobo Glo HD Ghosting

Griu · 07-07-2016, 08:19 AM

Hi,

I have a new kobo glo HD, I come from a Kindle PW3.

My understanding is that they use the same screen technology, but I never noticed any ghosting at all on the kindle.

On the kobo I can see the ghosting of the squares in the home screen when I open a book. Also I can notice when I turn the page some parts of some letters are slightly grayed out where there were letters in the previous page. I can start noticing it even after just 1 page turn since the last page refresh.

Is that a normal behavior? Is this software related or did I get a faulty screen?

Blossom · 07-07-2016, 08:33 AM

I believe there is a setting that allow you to have it refresh every page. This gets rid of almost all ghosting.

I hope I'm not mixing it up with Kindle settings.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Griu · 07-07-2016, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

I believe there is a setting that allow you to have it refresh every page. This gets rid of almost all ghosting.

I hope I'm not mixing it up with Kindle settings.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Yes, there is. But my point is, this shouldn't happen, right? It's supposed to be able to go through 6 pages without refreshing and without ghosting.

As I said before, the kindle uses the same screen technology and no issues there. Is this a common problem with kobo? Seems like a software issue.

Blossom · 07-07-2016, 08:43 AM

My Kindle ghosts badly unless it on every page refresh. Some units ghost more than others. My Glo HD also had to be on every page refresh so no ghosting happens.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Griu · 07-07-2016, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

My Kindle ghosts badly unless it on every page refresh. Some units ghost more than others. My Glo HD also had to be on every page refresh so no ghosting happens.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Gotcha. I guess I have to get use to it. Is that a PW3 that you mentioned?

Blossom · 07-07-2016, 08:50 AM

No it's a Paperwhite one.

Ghosting can also be caused by temperature. Like if it's really cold it will ghost more. I had a basic Kindle really bad at that.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Griu · 07-07-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

No it's a Paperwhite one.

Ghosting can also be caused by temperature. Like if it's really cold it will ghost more. I had a basic Kindle really bad at that.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

That's the thing. PW3 and Kobo Glo HD use a different screen technology from the PW1 (e-ink carta), it's supposed to be better for ghosting.

I'm just trying to figure out if it's a software issue with kobo, that may be resolved on a future update, or if I got a faulty unit.

Thanks for replying.

Blossom · 07-07-2016, 08:57 AM

I had ghosting till I change that setting. Others I'm sure will chime in about theirs.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

NiLuJe · 07-07-2016, 02:12 PM

For some mystical reason, Kobo is just plain bad at driving Carta screens (or, at the very least, worse than lab126). If you've never had a PW2+ on hand, you mostly get by just fine, but if you've just switched, it can be very jarring, especially if you're sensitive to those kind of things.

I had hopes that the Glo HD was getting better at this (I only have an H2O), but (technical, detailed) information is scarce and hard to come by.

That said, if you can, try to get your hands on another identical device, to double-check that it's not simply a unit-specific quirk (something which can and does happen, regardless of the manufacturer).

EDIT: Also, make sure the room temperature is roughly the same when you compare screens, that plays a huuuuge role in eInk perf (which is, obviously, tweaked for ~21C).

davidfor · 07-07-2016, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griu

Yes, there is. But my point is, this shouldn't happen, right? It's supposed to be able to go through 6 pages without refreshing and without ghosting.

The six pages is how many to go between refreshes. It has no direct relationship to how much ghosting, just how much the user can bear. Some people can't take any and put up with the constant full refreshes. Personally, I have my Glo HD set to about 20. That's probably a bit too much, but I don't know how often I reach it as there are other ways that trigger a full refresh.

Griu · 07-08-2016, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

The six pages is how many to go between refreshes. It has no direct relationship to how much ghosting, just how much the user can bear. Some people can't take any and put up with the constant full refreshes. Personally, I have my Glo HD set to about 20. That's probably a bit too much, but I don't know how often I reach it as there are other ways that trigger a full refresh.

I'm taking @NiLuJe word in this. I don't think Kobo handles really well this whole ghosting thing. I guess I'll just have to get use to it. It's not a matter if the user notice it, the ghosting problem is there, I guess people just get use to ignore it.

Blossom · 07-08-2016, 06:55 AM

I don't have any ghosting but as I said I have it set to refresh every page. My eyes are sensitive they can pick up the slightest unevenness in fonts or other ghosting problems causing issues for me like migraines or dancing text.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Griu · 07-08-2016, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't have any ghosting but as I said I have it set to refresh every page. My eyes are sensitive they can pick up the slightest unevenness in fonts or other ghosting problems causing issues for me like migraines or dancing text.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Yeah, I'm like that as well. The thing is the PW3 refreshes every 6 pages an I don't notice ghosting at all. Since the screen is the same and after all I've read, my conclusion is just that kobo is not as good as the kindle when it comes to ghosting, as @Niluje said. But I like the way I can customize the kobo. I guess it's all about compromising.

Blossom · 07-08-2016, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griu

Yeah, I'm like that as well. The thing is the PW3 refreshes every 6 pages an I don't notice ghosting at all. Since the screen is the same and after all I've read, my conclusion is just that kobo is not as good as the kindle when it comes to ghosting, as @Niluje said. But I like the way I can customize the kobo. I guess it's all about compromising.

For me the advance font controls are worth it. The lack of font controls on the Kindles and bad contrast is what made me switch.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Cex · 07-08-2016, 07:41 AM

It is normal, Glo HD has more ghosting than the PW2 I own. As fas as I know is because Kindle uses Regal waveform to drive the carta display, while Kobo doesn't.
On my Kobo HD is quite annoying when opening a book (book cover ghosting), with menus, and when using dictionaries.
I also found that ghosting was less heavy on firmware 3.18.0, but ghosting went back on next release.

07-07-2016, 08:19 AM	#1
Griu Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 1010 Join Date: Jun 2016 Device: Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Aura One	Kobo Glo HD Ghosting Hi, I have a new kobo glo HD, I come from a Kindle PW3. My understanding is that they use the same screen technology, but I never noticed any ghosting at all on the kindle. On the kobo I can see the ghosting of the squares in the home screen when I open a book. Also I can notice when I turn the page some parts of some letters are slightly grayed out where there were letters in the previous page. I can start noticing it even after just 1 page turn since the last page refresh. Is that a normal behavior? Is this software related or did I get a faulty screen?

07-07-2016, 02:12 PM	#9
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	For some mystical reason, Kobo is just plain bad at driving Carta screens (or, at the very least, worse than lab126). If you've never had a PW2+ on hand, you mostly get by just fine, but if you've just switched, it can be very jarring, especially if you're sensitive to those kind of things. I had hopes that the Glo HD was getting better at this (I only have an H2O), but (technical, detailed) information is scarce and hard to come by. That said, if you can, try to get your hands on another identical device, to double-check that it's not simply a unit-specific quirk (something which can and does happen, regardless of the manufacturer). EDIT: Also, make sure the room temperature is roughly the same when you compare screens, that plays a huuuuge role in eInk perf (which is, obviously, tweaked for ~21C). Last edited by NiLuJe; 07-07-2016 at 02:17 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo Glo -> Kobo Glo HD: noticeable difference?	pickyaxe	Kobo Reader	6	11-30-2015 07:01 AM
Changing fonts issue on Kobo Aura HD/Kobo Glo [PROBLEM SOLVED]	Dr. Drib	Kobo Reader	19	05-13-2014 04:35 PM
Buy Broken Kobo Glo - Kobo glo cassé	jeandomar	Flea Market	0	01-13-2014 04:16 PM
Regal technology (less "ghosting") on Mini/Touch/Glo	MarekGibek	Kobo Developer's Corner	6	11-16-2013 06:35 AM
Glo Can kobo glo run android app such as nook glo?	suspect	Kobo Developer's Corner	1	12-28-2012 11:25 PM

07-07-2016, 08:33 AM	#2
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I believe there is a setting that allow you to have it refresh every page. This gets rid of almost all ghosting. I hope I'm not mixing it up with Kindle settings. Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-07-2016, 08:43 AM	#4
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	My Kindle ghosts badly unless it on every page refresh. Some units ghost more than others. My Glo HD also had to be on every page refresh so no ghosting happens. Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-07-2016, 08:50 AM	#6
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	No it's a Paperwhite one. Ghosting can also be caused by temperature. Like if it's really cold it will ghost more. I had a basic Kindle really bad at that. Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-07-2016, 08:57 AM	#8
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I had ghosting till I change that setting. Others I'm sure will chime in about theirs. Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

07-08-2016, 06:55 AM	#12
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I don't have any ghosting but as I said I have it set to refresh every page. My eyes are sensitive they can pick up the slightest unevenness in fonts or other ghosting problems causing issues for me like migraines or dancing text. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

07-08-2016, 07:41 AM	#15
Cex Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 13132 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Spain Device: Glo; Glo HD; PW2; Voyage	It is normal, Glo HD has more ghosting than the PW2 I own. As fas as I know is because Kindle uses Regal waveform to drive the carta display, while Kobo doesn't. On my Kobo HD is quite annoying when opening a book (book cover ghosting), with menus, and when using dictionaries. I also found that ghosting was less heavy on firmware 3.18.0, but ghosting went back on next release.

Advert

Advert