Libra Please help...is this a bug?...should I return this Libra?

[hairyHarry]

I really like the Kobo Libra, but I wonder if this one is faulty... and so, if you recommend it, I'll return or exchange this one, BUT I have only 2 days left in a 30 day return window to do so...

...the problem is the Libra's screen has started refreshing (that is, flashing a reverse image of the current page) each time it goes to sleep and also when it wakes up--this is regardless of the refresh page setting. The refresh setting works fine otherwise.

I've tried changing refresh page rates with the hope that the change might somehow return the Libra to its prior state, but that's made no difference.

Is this a problem?
Is this the beginning of more problems?
Is there a cure?

Also, are Kindles less buggy??? --though I really prefer Kobo's greater versatility and its much easier access (including "hackability") into its operating system ...not to mention Kobo's non-monopolistic approach to its users as compared to the Kindle approach?

Thanks much
Harry

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by hairyHarry

...the problem is the Libra's screen has started refreshing (that is, flashing a reverse image of the current page) each time it goes to sleep and also when it wakes up--this is regardless of the refresh page setting. The refresh setting works fine otherwise.

My Forma and Clara HD do that on each sleep/wake cycle. I think it is to clear any ghosting from the text before displaying the sleep image and to remove any ghosting from the sleep image before going back to the text display.

Some firmware versions have not done that and people complained about the ghosting.

For the most part, my Forma goes to sleep when I close the sleep cover so I never see this. I don't use the Clara HD as often but again the sleep cover keeps me from seeing the refresh.

One question is if you are on 4.24.15676 which is the current public release.

[NiLuJe]

Like @DNSB said, I fail to see what you're actually thinking is an issue here? What's the context (as in, have you ever used an eInk device before)?

[hairyHarry]

Thanks much DNSB and NiLuJe! ...

...I'm glad to hear that what's occurring with this new Libra is normal, though as I mentioned initially, until yesterday--day 28 with this new Libra, it has NOT been refreshing the screen when I put it to sleep or when I wake it from sleep (although refresh has otherwise been working just fine).

DNSB: yes this new Libra came with the current firmware (4.24.15676 --dated 9/20/20)

NiLuJe: sorry, I was vague... I mean, when I stated "...the problem is the Libra's screen has started refreshing...each time it goes to sleep" I should have emphasized that during the first 28 days with this Libra it has NOT been refreshing when it goes to sleep nor when it wakes up...

...and, in case you wonder if maybe I simply haven't been paying attention (which we all sometimes don't do), since day two I've been installing custom book covers for each book I've loaded into the Libra and so I've been enjoying watching each cover fade-up and fade-down during sleep ever since...

...so, I'm thinking if this reverts back to NOT refreshing at sleep or awakening, maybe I should then just do a factory reset (which I believe would simply reload the firmware and set the Libra to a virgin book-less state) or maybe even loading a prior version of the firmware would be better...

...or maybe exchange this Libra for another one (by tomorrow's return deadline)?

Thanks again (glad I found mobileread.com)!
Harry

[NiLuJe]

IIRC, a Libra should never have been running a FW version that doesn't flash on suspend/resume, so, I don't really know what to tell you.

Unless there's a communication breakdown about what exactly you mean by "refresh"?

(video, maybe?)

[hairyHarry]

NiLuJe,
the Libra is still continuously refreshing when I put it to sleep and also when it wakes-up from sleeping, and thanks to you and DSNB I now know that's how it should be operating.
Regarding uploading a video, I've retested the Libra here many times in the last 2 days and the refresh is operating as it should be so I think I'll keep this Libra, but if the refresh error returns I'll make a video of it and upload it--though hopefully that won't be necessary.

Thanks again,
Harry

[NiLuJe]

What do you mean by "continuously"?

[hairyHarry]

NiLuJi:

Regarding "continuously", I should have said that this Libra continues to refresh once when I put it to sleep and also once when I wake it up.

Thanks again to you and DNSB for your helpful information about when the Libra should be refreshing its screen.

Harry

[NiLuJe]

That's still very vague and easily misconstrued. It should flash *once* on suspend to display the sleep screen, and *once* on wakeup to display actual content.

[hairyHarry]

Sorry NiLuJe...

Sorry...initially I asked for help with what I thought was a problem: my Kobo after 28 days of ownership suddenly started refreshing when I put it to sleep and also when I woke it up.

I was then informed by DNSB and you that this was NOT a problem, that a Kobo is supposed to behave this way (refresh once when it goes to sleep and refresh once when it awakens).

I only meant to say that my Kobo continues to behave correctly ever since day 28 right up to now!

By the way, I don't know why my Kobo wasn't refreshing correctly during my first 28 days of ownership, but I'm satisfied that it seems to have corrected itself.

Thanks,
Harry

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by hairyHarry

By the way, I don't know why my Kobo wasn't refreshing correctly during my first 28 days of ownership, but I'm satisfied that it seems to have corrected itself.

Kobo has changed that behaviour several times. I suspect there were some complaints about the flash but that had to be balanced against the complaints about ghosting.

[hairyHarry]

Thanks DNSB...

It's interesting to know that Kobo has been making changes to its screen refresh ...as a first-time Kobo owner it gives me some perspective on what its future firmware variances might be like.

BTW, during the recent 29th & 30th days of this my first Kobo eReader ownership (Libra H2O), with these last two days during which I could still easily return it to Walmart, I purchased a Kindle Oasis to compare it with and was a little surprised to find that the Oasis, in my opinion, is clearly inferior...

The hard glass (or, more likely, polycarbonate) screen on the Oasis distances a book's text through its glass and, to me at least, that makes a book's text appear less sharp compared to the Libra's screen, although this could have as much or more to do with the Libra's clearly better screen contrast which can be indirectly tweaked via its brightness setting and its advanced setting for font weight adjustment--in comparison, I found the contrast on the Oasis a bit glaring even after making adjustments via the Oasis' lighting settings (I could find no font weight adjustment in the Oasis).

In addition to the all-important screen comparison, the Oasis' smooth metal case is slippery--which might make it a distraction to hold while becoming absorbed in reading, its surface temperature is somewhat repulsively cold while holding it (until your hands eventually warm it up I guess), and it has a clearly misplaced power button--not to mention, it costs an extra $20 to NOT have constant advertising on it, its users are virtually railroaded into purchasing books from one seller: Amazon, and these books are effectively licensed to you--so you don't own them and aren't truly guaranteed to have future access to them if you purchase a new Kindle to hold them in the future (though I believe that Amazon will hold your books on it server-cloud for future access via a new Kindle) ...and for $280 you should get a charger and a fast charging USB-C cable connection on the Oasis.

The Oasis only achieves what appears to be a shallow advantage, looking more elegant than its competition, yet its functionally inadequate design immediately belies that advantage within seconds of first using it!

I found the display model at Best Buy to be identical to the one I purchased so I don't think I purchased a lemon, and so I returned it within a few hours.

Excuse my rant on the Oasis (which I really wanted to be even better than the Libra--which, in the end I am very happy with as the best available 7" eReader) and thanks again for your help.

Harry