new device announcement?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

This is where you lose the argument and I don’t even disagree about the unimportance of waterproofing.

What happens if you spill a drink on a book? Or if you drop it into the tub? The book won’t be as nice anymore, but it’ll still be readable. And in the worst case scenario where you’ve got mush, your exposure is the cost of the single book only. In the case of an ereader your exposure in the case of a spill or a dunk can be literally hundreds of dollars. In other words, skip the hyperbole.

I would never drop my Reader in a tub for two reasons. one I would never have electronics with me in the tub and two, I don't have a tub. Just two proper showers.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

The current Kobo gen has replaceable batteries.

https://ifixit.com/Device/Kobo

That's not withing the upcoming EU law. A user replacable battery is a battery door you open to remove and replace the battery and no wires are used with the battery.

I hope Kobo comes out with new Reader(s) in 2027 so we can see what the design will be when it's got easily user replaceable batteries. I also look forward to seeing what the iPhone will be like in 2027.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Something I think you are overlooking is the capacity of the Nokia batteries. Searching on BL-5C and BL-6C shows capacity around 1000 to 1500 mAh. The Libra Colour on the other hand has a 2050 mAh battery .

We'll see what the replaceable battery will be like for the next Kobo released after Feb 2027.

[Quoth]

There are (from easy to harder)

1. Snap in batteries, even some recent phones.
2. Snap in with a couple of screws.
3. Batteries with a cable and plug. The main board connector on some breaks easily.
4. Batteries with a captive cable that's soldered.

Very many gadgets and phones use standard cells, but there are a huge variety. In my experience of very many repairs the biggest issues are:
1. Access. Some models are easy (DXG, K3, Libra H2O, Libra 2, Sage). One Oasis seems to not open at all. The original Aura HD H20 was stupid double-sided tape on bezel, as it was hard to take apart and nearly impossible to reassemble. It should have had 6 rear screws into bezel outside a neoprene gasket ring.
2. Flimsy socket (intended for single use), or soldered wires (not as bad if you can solder).

I conclude it's partly deliberate in some cases and partly lazy design. Double sided tape or glue is poor design. Not impressed by Apple's new electrically debonding glue.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Kobo_Libra_Colour

I find it hilarious that even with an official OEM partnership w/ Kobo and iFixIt, iFixIt still only gives the device a 6/10 repairability score.

If you check on that, the main reason for that rating is that the Kobo ereaders are only fixable in large chunks and for most of them, those chunks are not available. For the newest devices, motherboard, display or battery are available. You want to change out the memory (RAM and/or eMMC)? Happen to have a surface mount rework station handy? Oh, and the programmer for reading the old eMMC and writing the new one.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's not withing the upcoming EU law. A user replacable battery is a battery door you open to remove and replace the battery and no wires are used with the battery.

Jon, where the <expletive deleted> did you get that crap about needing a battery door?

To quote from section 38 of REGULATION (EU) 2023/1542:

A portable battery should be considered to be removable by the end-user when it can be removed with the use of commercially available tools and without requiring the use of specialised tools, unless they are provided free of charge, or proprietary tools, thermal energy or solvents to disassemble it. Commercially available tools are considered to be tools available on the market to all end-users without the need for them to provide evidence of any proprietary rights and that can be used with no restriction, except health and safety-related restrictions.

Please note there is no mention of a battery door anywhere in the document. Current Kobo ereaders where you pop the back cover off with spudger/guitar pick/whatever to access the battery meets that requirement. The iFixit Kobo battery kit contains all the tools needed so the commercially available part is met. Oddly, I already have the tools required but electronics is one of my hobbies.

[Quoth]

There will not be battery doors.

[Apollyon202]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Jon, where the <expletive deleted> did you get that crap about needing a battery door?

To quote from section 38 of REGULATION (EU) 2023/1542:



Please note there is no mention of a battery door anywhere in the document. Current Kobo ereaders where you pop the back cover off with spudger/guitar pick/whatever to access the battery meets that requirement. The iFixit Kobo battery kit contains all the tools needed so the commercially available part is met. Oddly, I already have the tools required but electronics is one of my hobbies.

Thanks for this. I didn’t bother to look up the actual law before, I was relying on mainstream media articles about it. I was hoping that battery doors would come back, or at least something similar, like in the good old days. (Wishful thinking.) I admit that was a mistake.

Well, if companies settle on this method (by providing tools), but it still takes over an hour and brings a big risk of damaging other parts of the device when all we want is to swap out a freakin’ battery, then this law’s not gonna help too much, if at all...

[kyôdai]

What about the "waterproofing" layer?

The insides of the Kobos are coated in a thin plastic-like film that is supposed to protect the reader from water and gives it its IP rating.

According to the Ifixit repair guide this coating has to be removed in order to replace the battery (or any other component for that matter). And they warn the user that afterwards their device is no longer waterproof.

So you could argue, that the battery inside the newest Kobos is technically still not replaceble by the end user, because in order to do so you still have to damage your device / remove some of its functionality.

The currently available toolkit (and repair guide) does not include anything to restore the protective layer.

[rantanplan]

The devices were never waterproof in the first place, only water resistant.

[Apollyon202]

Originally Posted by kyôdai

What about the "waterproofing" layer?

The insides of the Kobos are coated in a thin plastic-like film that is supposed to protect the reader from water and gives it its IP rating.

According to the Ifixit repair guide this coating has to be removed in order to replace the battery (or any other component for that matter). And they warn the user that afterwards their device is no longer waterproof.

So you could argue, that the battery inside the newest Kobos is technically still not replaceble by the end user, because in order to do so you still have to damage your device / remove some of its functionality.

The currently available toolkit (and repair guide) does not include anything to restore the protective layer.

If it was removed, it is not a huge deal to reapply the waterproof coating, you can buy it in the right store.
More of an issue, when you remove the coating there is a risk you damage other parts, chips, solderings, connectors on the motherboard etc. Imho waterproofing or water resistance is more of an obstacle regarding repairability.

[Quoth]

It doesn't need removed entirely, only at the battery connections.
It's not real waterproofing like a sealed gadget has as it only absolutely unaffected by pure water. Many chemicals and solvents will degrade it and there are pro-coat lacquers used in waterproofing for maybe over 90 years that are better. The HZ0 is simply cheap to use in production.