Question about setting up Kobo Aura H2O

medc11 · 03-08-2016, 02:39 PM

I am new to this forum, and although I have looked and found a lot of interesting things about the e-reader I want to buy, there is one thing I just cannot find.
If this question has been asked before, I appologize on forehand......

I am thinking about buying my first e-reader and I like the Kobo Aura H2O I saw in some stores. The problem is that I hear different things about setting up the Kobo Aura H2O, and in particular the need to create some account and supply personal data: an e-mail adddress or even more.

I understand that if you want to use an e-reader to buy an e-book on-line, you need to supply all kind of data to make that transaction. But I do not want to buy e-books on-line. I have several e-books and magazines (not illegal stuff), and I just want to be able to read those and future ones.

But depending on which store/shop you ask, or even which person in a certain store you ask, you get a different answer.
-I have been told that no personal data like e-mail is necessary to start using the Kobo Aura H2O.
-I have been told that entering an e-mail address is required to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, otherwise it cannot be used.
-I have been told that an e-mail address may be entered, but is not required to get a working Kobo Aura H2O.
-I have been told that some Kobo app must be installed op your own PC and that an account at Kobo(.com?) is required to be able to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, and use in after that.
-I have been told that not only an e-mail address is required, but also credit card data must be entered just to start using the Kobo Aura H2O.

Hearing all these contradicting facts, I just wanted to start looking at another manufacturer when I realised that I will probably get the same problem there: contradicting answers by people that do not know (exactly) the details.

I have read a lot of detailed answers to questions I often hardly understand (I am new to using an e-reader). Therefore I hope someone on this forum can give a clear and correct answer to the probably very basic user questions that I have.

1. When I buy a Kobo Aura H2), is it necessary to supply personal data like an e-mail address to get it to work (either on the e-reader or on my PC)?
2. If this is required and I do not enter this personal data (like an e-mail address), will the Kobo Aura H2O not work at all, or will it just not be possible to do specific things (for example: buy an e-book on-line)?
3. If I do not enter an e-mail address, can I still get and apply firmware updates for my Kobo Aura H2O?

Perhaps there are other things relevant for the questions I ask, that I just do not know about. If so, please enlighten me. I know very little about using an e-reader, but hope to learn fast.

Thanks for reading about my problem and thanks in advance for any help!

Ripplinger · 03-08-2016, 03:02 PM

There is a method to bypass the registration, but it's somewhat of a hassle as you'll need to repeat the steps for each firmware upgrade.

Instead I suggested you simply create a new email address at Gmail or Yahoo that you only use for times like this if you don't want to use one you already have. I have one of my numerous emails associated with my Kobo account and no other personal info at all, I never buy any books through my reader. I prefer to buy all my books from my PC only, then I sideload everything to my readers from Calibre (thanks to Apprentice Alf).

I always worried about losing the reader and whoever finds it able to purchase as many books as they'd like through my account. Without any billing or personal info tied to the account, that's not a problem. Most every ereader and reading app requires at least an email input, it's really not much of an imposition or anything out of the ordinary.

Edit: Here's one thread about bypassing Kobo's registration in case you decide you want to do that instead. But as I said, you need to repeat it every firmware upgrade, and there's really nothing out of the ordinary in supplying an email to a site. You don't need to supply any real info for the email account you set up just for this purpose.

DNSB · 03-08-2016, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medc11

1. When I buy a Kobo Aura H2), is it necessary to supply personal data like an e-mail address to get it to work (either on the e-reader or on my PC)?

You will require an email address to create a Kobo account. This does not need to be a working address. As far as I can tell, as long as it looks like a valid email address, there is no other checking done. So ima.pseudonym@somewheres.org would work. My personal preference has been to create a gmail/outlook.com/whatever email address used only for that purpose.

There are also instructions for pushing user information into the ereader's database to remove even the requirement for a throwaway email address but the procedure changes with firmware revisions so I prefer the throwaway address route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by medc11

2. If this is required and I do not enter this personal data (like an e-mail address), will the Kobo Aura H2O not work at all, or will it just not be possible to do specific things (for example: buy an e-book on-line)?

You can use your Kobo to read sideloaded ebooks without needing to supply any valid information to Kobo. If you wish to purchase ebooks from Kobo, you will need a method of payment the same as any other online purchase. Using a Kobo gift card works without requiring you to supply personal information. As long as your Kobo account is used both online and for the ereader are the same, you can synchronize your Kobo purchased ebooks using wifi or a computer running the Kobo desktop application.

Quote:

Originally Posted by medc11

3. If I do not enter an e-mail address, can I still get and apply firmware updates for my Kobo Aura H2O?

If you check the Direct Links to Kobo Firmware thread, you will find information on downloading the latest firmware (and older ones) with instructions for installing them on your Kobo.

Before your ebooks collection becomes to cumbersome, you might also want to investigate Calibre for managing your sideloaded ebooks.

AnemicOak · 03-08-2016, 03:13 PM

[QUOTE=medc11;3276860]
-I have been told that no personal data like e-mail is necessary to start using the Kobo Aura H2O.
-I have been told that entering an e-mail address is required to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, otherwise it cannot be used.
-I have been told that an e-mail address may be entered, but is not required to get a working Kobo Aura H2O.[/quote\
The general setup would include setting up a Kobo account which would require an email. There is a way to bypass this which can be found in a few posts around here.

Quote:

-I have been told that some Kobo app must be installed op your own PC and that an account at Kobo(.com?) is required to be able to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, and use in after that.

The PC software is in no way required and most people I know don't use it.

Quote:

-I have been told that not only an e-mail address is required, but also credit card data must be entered just to start using the Kobo Aura H2O.

No CC is required. It's not even required to make purchases as they also take PayPal.

Hearing all these contradicting facts, I just wanted to start looking at another manufacturer when I realised that I will probably get the same problem there: contradicting answers by people that do not know (exactly) the details.

Quote:

I have read a lot of detailed answers to questions I often hardly understand (I am new to using an e-reader). Therefore I hope someone on this forum can give a clear and correct answer to the probably very basic user questions that I have.

1. When I buy a Kobo Aura H2), is it necessary to supply personal data like an e-mail address to get it to work (either on the e-reader or on my PC)?
2. If this is required and I do not enter this personal data (like an e-mail address), will the Kobo Aura H2O not work at all, or will it just not be possible to do specific things (for example: buy an e-book on-line)?
3. If I do not enter an e-mail address, can I still get and apply firmware updates for my Kobo Aura H2O?

Unless you manually bypass the registration you will need to use an email address (can be one setup just for this type of thing) to setup the reader and use it. If you bypass the registration (fool the Kobo into thinking it's registered) you'll still be able to upgrade the firmware either via WiFi or manual download, but will have to redo the fake registration after the upgrage IIRC.

medc11 · 03-09-2016, 05:00 AM

Thank you very much, Ripplinger, DNSB and AnemicOak!

These answers say exactly what I wanted to know and how is the best way to proceed. Now I can setup and use the e-reader I want (the Kobo Aura H2) and use it as I wish.

I also realise i will need to come back and read more often.

Gabriel.Voyager · 03-11-2016, 08:42 AM

all this problem for insert an email?
you are strange...
email is not personal data, is like an adress, is public, i don't understand the problem for insert a personal email.

Ken Maltby · 03-11-2016, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabriel.Voyager

all this problem for insert an email?
you are strange...
email is not personal data, is like an adress, is public, i don't understand the problem for insert a personal email.

Is that you Hillary?? ( I couldn't resist )

Luck;
Ken

davidfor · 03-11-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabriel.Voyager

all this problem for insert an email?
you are strange...
email is not personal data, is like an adress, is public, i don't understand the problem for insert a personal email.

Yes, I think an email address is personal data. It is a detail about me that I don't want absolutely everyone to know. Just as my home address is. I don't exactly hide my email addresses, but, it's not something for everyone.

The bigger issue is what can be done once you have someone registering. The Kobo device tracks what you are doing. It has to if it to remember what books you have, what is opened, where you are in the book. And it can easily track more information. And it could give that to Kobo. And once Kobo has the information, they could easily give it to someone else. And if that information a personal identifier, my email address, it can be used to accumulate info about me from lots of places.

I'm torn on this. I am happy for Kobo to track my usage to help improve the product. In fact, I WANT them to do this. And as I buy books from them, I am happy for them to use that info plus info about when I read the books to try and recommend books for me (I looked through the current recommendations today, only one was one I said a definite no to). And compiling stats about me and other users to help them and other groups such as publishers, is OK. But, letting the publisher know that I bought a particular book without my permission is a no-no.

Ripplinger · 03-11-2016, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Yes, I think an email address is personal data. It is a detail about me that I don't want absolutely everyone to know. Just as my home address is. I don't exactly hide my email addresses, but, it's not something for everyone.

I'm the same way, but most sites require an email address, there's no getting away from it in today's world. That's why I use multiple emails for various purposes, the majority of which have no real personal info attached to them at all, even the name on them is fake. You're not limited to creating only one gmail address, create as many as you need. So I don't care that Kobo has one of those fake (but working) emails, it tracks nothing back to me personally. Maybe my IP if they trace it all the way back, but just clicking on their site even without logging in gives them your IP, there's no way to stop any site from getting your IP.

DNSB · 03-11-2016, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I'm the same way, but most sites require an email address, there's no getting away from it in today's world. That's why I use multiple emails for various purposes, the majority of which have no real personal info attached to them at all, even the name on them is fake. You're not limited to creating only one gmail address, create as many as you need. So I don't care that Kobo has one of those fake (but working) emails, it tracks nothing back to me personally. Maybe my IP if they trace it all the way back, but just clicking on their site even without logging in gives them your IP, there's no way to stop any site from getting your IP.

Hmmm... browse to gmail using Tor? Anonymous proxy? Either makes it much harder to trace you back. And the kind of agencies who can trace you back (generally noted for 3 character names

) are unlikely to be interested in us

Ripplinger · 03-11-2016, 09:07 PM

I download all my various Gmail and Yahoo emails into my email client on my PC, I rarely ever visit the email sites directly unless I need to change the password. I'm sure they could still trace back where they get downloaded to though.

But again, any site you click on has your IP, so I don't really see the difference or any concern that Kobo has your email that might possibly trace back to your IP as well.

344a · 03-12-2016, 03:43 AM

People are being traced by all kind of activities. Privacy is only a legend.

filmo · 03-12-2016, 09:20 AM

First telephone I remember was on a party line shared with at least 4 other subscribers. Father and later I worked for telephone company. I always knew telephones and later internet privacy is only an illusion. Be polite don't act crazy or do anything knowingly illegal. Only real secret is known by only one person with no evidence to trace it back to anyone. No real secret?

03-08-2016, 02:39 PM	#1
medc11 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: none	Question about setting up Kobo Aura H2O I am new to this forum, and although I have looked and found a lot of interesting things about the e-reader I want to buy, there is one thing I just cannot find. If this question has been asked before, I appologize on forehand...... I am thinking about buying my first e-reader and I like the Kobo Aura H2O I saw in some stores. The problem is that I hear different things about setting up the Kobo Aura H2O, and in particular the need to create some account and supply personal data: an e-mail adddress or even more. I understand that if you want to use an e-reader to buy an e-book on-line, you need to supply all kind of data to make that transaction. But I do not want to buy e-books on-line. I have several e-books and magazines (not illegal stuff), and I just want to be able to read those and future ones. But depending on which store/shop you ask, or even which person in a certain store you ask, you get a different answer. -I have been told that no personal data like e-mail is necessary to start using the Kobo Aura H2O. -I have been told that entering an e-mail address is required to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, otherwise it cannot be used. -I have been told that an e-mail address may be entered, but is not required to get a working Kobo Aura H2O. -I have been told that some Kobo app must be installed op your own PC and that an account at Kobo(.com?) is required to be able to set up the Kobo Aura H2O, and use in after that. -I have been told that not only an e-mail address is required, but also credit card data must be entered just to start using the Kobo Aura H2O. Hearing all these contradicting facts, I just wanted to start looking at another manufacturer when I realised that I will probably get the same problem there: contradicting answers by people that do not know (exactly) the details. I have read a lot of detailed answers to questions I often hardly understand (I am new to using an e-reader). Therefore I hope someone on this forum can give a clear and correct answer to the probably very basic user questions that I have. 1. When I buy a Kobo Aura H2), is it necessary to supply personal data like an e-mail address to get it to work (either on the e-reader or on my PC)? 2. If this is required and I do not enter this personal data (like an e-mail address), will the Kobo Aura H2O not work at all, or will it just not be possible to do specific things (for example: buy an e-book on-line)? 3. If I do not enter an e-mail address, can I still get and apply firmware updates for my Kobo Aura H2O? Perhaps there are other things relevant for the questions I ask, that I just do not know about. If so, please enlighten me. I know very little about using an e-reader, but hope to learn fast. Thanks for reading about my problem and thanks in advance for any help!

03-08-2016, 03:02 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	There is a method to bypass the registration, but it's somewhat of a hassle as you'll need to repeat the steps for each firmware upgrade. Instead I suggested you simply create a new email address at Gmail or Yahoo that you only use for times like this if you don't want to use one you already have. I have one of my numerous emails associated with my Kobo account and no other personal info at all, I never buy any books through my reader. I prefer to buy all my books from my PC only, then I sideload everything to my readers from Calibre (thanks to Apprentice Alf). I always worried about losing the reader and whoever finds it able to purchase as many books as they'd like through my account. Without any billing or personal info tied to the account, that's not a problem. Most every ereader and reading app requires at least an email input, it's really not much of an imposition or anything out of the ordinary. Edit: Here's one thread about bypassing Kobo's registration in case you decide you want to do that instead. But as I said, you need to repeat it every firmware upgrade, and there's really nothing out of the ordinary in supplying an email to a site. You don't need to supply any real info for the email account you set up just for this purpose. Last edited by Ripplinger; 03-08-2016 at 03:05 PM.

03-12-2016, 03:43 AM	#12
344a Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 505964 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Hong Kong Device: Hong Kong is done.	People are being traced by all kind of activities. Privacy is only a legend. Last edited by 344a; 03-12-2016 at 04:07 AM.

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03-09-2016, 05:00 AM	#5
medc11 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: none	Thank you very much, Ripplinger, DNSB and AnemicOak! These answers say exactly what I wanted to know and how is the best way to proceed. Now I can setup and use the e-reader I want (the Kobo Aura H2) and use it as I wish. I also realise i will need to come back and read more often.

03-11-2016, 08:42 AM	#6
Gabriel.Voyager Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Turin, Italy Device: Kindle Oasis 2, Kindle Voyage 3G, Kobo Aura H2O, iPad Mini Retina	all this problem for insert an email? you are strange... email is not personal data, is like an adress, is public, i don't understand the problem for insert a personal email.

03-11-2016, 09:07 PM	#11
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 download all my various Gmail and Yahoo emails into my email client on my PC, I rarely ever visit the email sites directly unless I need to change the password. I'm sure they could still trace back where they get downloaded to though. But again, any site you click on has your IP, so I don't really see the difference or any concern that Kobo has your email that might possibly trace back to your IP as well.

03-12-2016, 09:20 AM	#13
filmo Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 1077205 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch, Sony T1, Kobo Mini	First telephone I remember was on a party line shared with at least 4 other subscribers. Father and later I worked for telephone company. I always knew telephones and later internet privacy is only an illusion. Be polite don't act crazy or do anything knowingly illegal. Only real secret is known by only one person with no evidence to trace it back to anyone. No real secret?

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