Advice for a new aussie kobo reader owner

digital_steve · 07-06-2010, 07:26 PM

Hey all,
Just grabbed this device yesterday and went straight to kobobooks.com and bought some books.
Silly me didn't realise until i got home that the software supplied is actually from Angus and Robertson... and the software is rather, err, horrible (a common complaint i see from this forum).
I got myself ADE and got the books onto my device fine and all is well, except one of them has that annoying small, un-resizable font issue.

I guess i'm wondering, from an aussie point of view, how should i manage the files and library on my device and PC; How do i update the firmware (mine is telling me it's 1.0 currently and i couldn't find an option, or any options really, in the Angus and Robertson software); and is Calibre the only solution for me?

Thanks in advance

roguefan99 · 07-06-2010, 08:33 PM

Well the new firmware update for the A&R software (the Borders one too, which I agree is terrible, it hangs a lot too) should be out soon (according to http://blog.kobobooks.com/ ) but I'm currently not rushing for it because I like the idea of the cover being on my Kobo.

As for the font problem you might be able to run it though the font fixer at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83209 I've used this and its fixed most of the font resize problems that I have had when using books.

Calibre is good for non-DRMed books but when you are using DRMed books it doesn't work as well, but IMHO its 100x better than the Border's software for constructing your library (and doesn't fill up the "I'm reading" list)

digital_steve · 07-06-2010, 08:49 PM

Hey hey! Thanks mate... that tool looks like it will do the job nicely!
I only have the one title so far that has that issue, so i'll try it out tonight! Thanks!

J. Strnad · 07-06-2010, 08:50 PM

The firmware upgrade will fix the font issue, which is a big one.

The upgrade also changes the way the Kobo goes to sleep/powers down, and that feature has a number of people in an uproar. I think it is far outweighed by the benefit of fixing the font issue.

The upgrade also lets you hide the 100 free ebooks, which is good.

I'd grab the upgrade as soon as it's available, as the benefits to me are much greater than the negatives.

takamatsu · 07-06-2010, 09:09 PM

I purchased my Kobo from Angus and Robertson and had it posted to Japan.

I updated the firmware using the links to download the application that you will see in other threads (e.g. as if you bought direct from Kobo store). This gives you a new Kobo application that is the same as the Angus and Robertson one, just with different branding and connected to Kobo shop.

I tried the Angus and Robertson App hoping it would behave well with the new firmware, but unfortunately it detected the version mismatch and didn't work. I also have the Borders Australia App (same thing, just rebranded) and that had the same problem.

I'm managing my library using Calibre. At the moment I'm just reading free books. If I want to purchase one I guess I'll be buying from the Kobo store. Whether this is good or bad depends a lot on currency fluctuations.

JBlyth · 07-06-2010, 09:10 PM

The new firmware link is at this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...87&postcount=2

Cheers
John in Sunny Carnarvon - Western Australia

digital_steve · 07-06-2010, 11:59 PM

Thanks all... will be updating to new firmware as soon as i get home.

07-06-2010, 07:26 PM	#1
digital_steve Muppet Posts: 240 Karma: 442 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tasmania Device: Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-650	Advice for a new aussie kobo reader owner Hey all, Just grabbed this device yesterday and went straight to kobobooks.com and bought some books. Silly me didn't realise until i got home that the software supplied is actually from Angus and Robertson... and the software is rather, err, horrible (a common complaint i see from this forum). I got myself ADE and got the books onto my device fine and all is well, except one of them has that annoying small, un-resizable font issue. I guess i'm wondering, from an aussie point of view, how should i manage the files and library on my device and PC; How do i update the firmware (mine is telling me it's 1.0 currently and i couldn't find an option, or any options really, in the Angus and Robertson software); and is Calibre the only solution for me? Thanks in advance

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07-06-2010, 08:33 PM	#2
roguefan99 Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 16 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Smart Q7, and Kobo	Well the new firmware update for the A&R software (the Borders one too, which I agree is terrible, it hangs a lot too) should be out soon (according to http://blog.kobobooks.com/ ) but I'm currently not rushing for it because I like the idea of the cover being on my Kobo. As for the font problem you might be able to run it though the font fixer at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83209 I've used this and its fixed most of the font resize problems that I have had when using books. Calibre is good for non-DRMed books but when you are using DRMed books it doesn't work as well, but IMHO its 100x better than the Border's software for constructing your library (and doesn't fill up the "I'm reading" list)

07-06-2010, 08:49 PM	#3
digital_steve Muppet Posts: 240 Karma: 442 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tasmania Device: Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-650	Hey hey! Thanks mate... that tool looks like it will do the job nicely! I only have the one title so far that has that issue, so i'll try it out tonight! Thanks!

07-06-2010, 08:50 PM	#4
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	The firmware upgrade will fix the font issue, which is a big one. The upgrade also changes the way the Kobo goes to sleep/powers down, and that feature has a number of people in an uproar. I think it is far outweighed by the benefit of fixing the font issue. The upgrade also lets you hide the 100 free ebooks, which is good. I'd grab the upgrade as soon as it's available, as the benefits to me are much greater than the negatives.

07-06-2010, 09:09 PM	#5
takamatsu Person Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	I purchased my Kobo from Angus and Robertson and had it posted to Japan. I updated the firmware using the links to download the application that you will see in other threads (e.g. as if you bought direct from Kobo store). This gives you a new Kobo application that is the same as the Angus and Robertson one, just with different branding and connected to Kobo shop. I tried the Angus and Robertson App hoping it would behave well with the new firmware, but unfortunately it detected the version mismatch and didn't work. I also have the Borders Australia App (same thing, just rebranded) and that had the same problem. I'm managing my library using Calibre. At the moment I'm just reading free books. If I want to purchase one I guess I'll be buying from the Kobo store. Whether this is good or bad depends a lot on currency fluctuations.

07-06-2010, 09:10 PM	#6
JBlyth Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 126 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Carnarvon - Western Australia Device: Kobo, Kobo Touch, Ipaq 214, HTC WildFire Android	The new firmware link is at this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...87&postcount=2 Cheers John in Sunny Carnarvon - Western Australia

07-06-2010, 11:59 PM	#7
digital_steve Muppet Posts: 240 Karma: 442 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tasmania Device: Kobo Aura HD, Sony PRS-650	Thanks all... will be updating to new firmware as soon as i get home.

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