Kobo Forma Firmware 4.25x Patched

[tayseidel]

Hi,

I'm running firmware 4.25x that is patched.

I sideload all my books via Calibre, and I've always kept wifi turned off.

Is there any benefit to going up to firmware 4.38x and doing the patches yes/no dance all over again? Just curious if the new firmware offers speed increases, hardware performance increases, etc.

If not, I'll stay where I am. If the new patched firmware offers an always displayed clock, I'd be interested. But otherwise, no.



Thoughts?

[tayseidel]

I've installed Koreader which I used to run on my H20 Aura.

That gives me the clock I like on the screen. Nice I can change it to the 12 hour format. Before I had to edit a file to enable the 12 hour clock.

I think I'll just leave it at firmware 4.25x since I'm not seeing a compelling reason to upgrade the firmware and do the patches all over again, especially since I'll use Koreader now.

[John F]

Two things I like about more recent firmware is dark mode and SideloadedMode. Although I did prefer invert mode when it was quicker to activate.

[rashkae]

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rashkae

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is!

An older firmware could work no problem. But a newer firmware could have new feature(s) you want. So that advice means maybe to never upgrade. No thanks.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

An older firmware could work no problem. But a newer firmware could have new feature(s) you want. So that advice means maybe to never upgrade. No thanks.

The solution is to keep track of new features that are introduced with each update and decide for yourself whether you want them or not. That's what I do with both Calibre and Kobo. I don't install every update and often don't update for quite a while. Only when there's an important fix for something or it's a feature I'd like to try. I do read the release notes for every update, though.

[Colonel Cathcart]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Only when there's an important fix for something or it's a feature I'd like to try. I do read the release notes for every update, though.

The problem is that the information provided in the release notes regarding fixes are very sparse, to the point where they just mention bug fixes and that's that.
I am waiting, patiently, for some bug fixes that impacts a fraction of Kobo users (rendering of Hebrew punctuation marks affecting side-loaded fonts) so, unfortunately, I have to try them all.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tayseidel

Hi,

I'm running firmware 4.25x that is patched.

I sideload all my books via Calibre, and I've always kept wifi turned off.

Is there any benefit to going up to firmware 4.38x and doing the patches yes/no dance all over again? Just curious if the new firmware offers speed increases, hardware performance increases, etc.

If not, I'll stay where I am. If the new patched firmware offers an always displayed clock, I'd be interested. But otherwise, no.



Thoughts?

Yes, upgrade to the latest firmware and apply the new patches. Unless there is a reason not to upgrade, I upgrade. That reason would be something wrong with the firmware. No reason not to upgrade.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Yes, upgrade to the latest firmware and apply the new patches. Unless there is a reason not to upgrade, I upgrade. That reason would be something wrong with the firmware. No reason not to upgrade.

You're forgetting there are database corruption issues with recent firmwares. They haven't happened to you, but they have happened to lots of other people.

[petercreasey]

Might it not be a problem to stick with an older version so long that it won't update properly when a needed new version comes along?

[tayseidel]

Yeah I saw the issues with the 4.38x database corruption. I had that problem with I think one of my Auras.

Forma has been working great for 3+ years with wifi turned off. Just put Koreader on it too, and customized that to show the clock and other stuff. Fantastic.

Now just need to get a new ereader with better contrast.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

Might it not be a problem to stick with an older version so long that it won't update properly when a needed new version comes along?

Not sure, but you can update gradually in that case - install an intermediate update (or a couple), then the one you want.

[rashkae]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

Might it not be a problem to stick with an older version so long that it won't update properly when a needed new version comes along?

Depends what you consider a problem. It has happened once, (and will no doubt happen again, eventually), that Kobo needed an update before it could update itself over wifi. If that update was missed before deadline, the next update has to be done over PC.

But Keep in mind that Kobo does not update the original factory image that the device resets to. One way or the other, Kobo's are designed to be updated from their factory state.