Touch Kobo Touch Firmware 2.0

[DNSB]

A rather odd experience. Have read that the 2.0 update had been put on hold, I felt it was safe to sync my Kobo Touch. Connecting to the desktop, no problems though I'm not that happy with the Kobo Desktop -- I look at the books on my device and the vast majority are science fiction, fantasy and related fields, mostly sideloaded. So what do I get for recommendations? Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors, The Search, Thirteenth Child (which I purchased for my daughter a year back from another site), No Rest for the Witches. Sheesh!

Then connected through wireless. Ooops ... downloading upgrade and upgrading. Not too bad but then after a restart, touch any book on the home screen and the device reset. Connected to the desktop out of curiosity and the desktop now wanted to do an upgrade, for some reason, to version 1.9.9 which, I think, was the one on the Kobo Touch when I got my replacement unit. Hmmm... disconnected the KT and it restarted with the upgrade hourglass. Finished and then two seconds later, restarted again with the upgrade hourglass. Back to version 2.0.0 (July 12, 2012 version) Finally, got back to the home screen, touched a book and it reset. Again!

Time for the BFMI treatment. Powered off, pulled the SD card with my sideloaded books on it, powered on and did a factory reset. Only two purchased books now showing on the home screen but when I opened one, it opened and I could actually read words on a page. Powered off, plugged the SD card back in and 45 minutes of watching the spinning thingy and the % done indication, I finally had my library back though all books are now unread.

Opened the book I'm currently reading, put it too sleep and instead of the cover for War Maid's Choice, I get a text box with War Maid's Choice, an line and EPUB. Beats getting the wrong cover, I guess.

Page turns in epubs seem about the same speed as in kepubs, not sure as yet if I like the hyphenation but it seems easier to read than lines looking like

now____is____the____time_____for_____all
antidisestablishmentarists whom believe that

Had to put underscores in since that editor showed multiple spaces but the message viewer doesn't.

Kudos to the Kobo devs for several improvements I've already noticed. Among them, the improved speed at which my books were processed -- 1.9.17 took over an hour to process after a factory reset, you no longer need to tap a blank spot on the screen to bring up the table of contents after selecting it, you can get from reading a book to the settings screen and back to the book without having to go through the home screen.

[lar3ry]

Originally Posted by rashkae

My 2c.

It's really hard to immagine a home screen that will a) please everyone, and b) be acceptable to the fact that Kobo's primary missoin is to sell content. However, I think the best thing kobo can do to the interface is leave it the *expletive* alone. Not because I don't have my own ideas for improvement, but the last thing the non-technical users (who are probably Kobo's primary target audience) want or need is an interface that is contantly changing with forced updated. Ugh!

I can easily imagine a home screen that will do those two things. It's simple, really. That's what options are for. Let the user decide what shows up on her home screen. As for selling content, the way to sell content is to present advertising when and if the user wants to see it. When presented with pushy ads, I just plain don't buy. Period.

I don't for a moment think that I am the only one who reacts this way.

[GvilleBridge]

This seems to be new at Kobo, though I don't see a date or time (URL at the bottom):

You asked: "Why can't I complete the Kobo Touch firmware upgrade or Desktop upgrade".
We matched that to:
Why can't I complete the Kobo Touch firmware upgrade or Desktop upgrade?

Upgrade for Kobo Touch and Kobo Desktop

You may have recently tried to download an upgrade for Kobo Touch (version 2.0) or Kobo Desktop (version 3.0). If you’ve experienced a problem with this upgrade, we apologize. We’ve put the upgrade on hold for now – you’ll see a new upgrade prompt as soon as we’ve ironed out the bugs.

If you did experience a problem, you’ll find some steps below that should resolve the problem.

Kobo Touch upgrade

If you've had a problem creating custom shelves, you should sign out and sign in again. If your Kobo Touch froze after you tried to upgrade, try restarting, and if that doesn’t work try a reset.

To restart:

Slide the power switch on the top of your eReader to the right for at least 30 seconds, then release. If your eReader powers off, when you turn your eReader back on you’ll find it working normally.

To perform a reset:

Note: You’ll need an unfolded paperclip to do this.

First, try a basic reset:

Turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
Press gently until you feel a click. You should see a flashing light next to the power button.
Let go of the Home button and remove the paperclip.

Still not working? You can now perform a factory reset. Note, a factory reset will return your eReader to it's original settings. You'll have to sync with Kobo Desktop again after the reset to get your books.

To do a factory reset:

While pressing and holding the Home button, turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
Press gently until you feel a click. You should see a flashing light next to the power button.
Let go of the Home button and remove the paperclip.
Connect your eReader to your computer using your USB cable.
Open Kobo Desktop, and sync your eReader.

If you are still experiencing a problem, please contact Customer Care.

Kobo Desktop upgrade

If Kobo Desktop has frozen, please uninstall and reinstall it. You can download a new version of Kobo Desktop by visiting http://www.kobobooks.com/desktop.

--
URL for this Kobo msg: http://kobo.intelliresponse.com/inde...esktop+upgrade

--
Late: Now I see this Kobo message was a thread starter at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=184642

[MacEachaidh]

I just had this mad image of Kobo repairing the installation routine, reposting it ... and all the machines that previously upgraded successfully bricking this time around instead.

I seriously hope not. I hope they test it on 2.0.0 machines as well before releasing it ...

[kumaryu]

Originally Posted by taming

And selling on device is part of what has made that possible. The alternative is likely for there to be no Kobo eINk devices.

I think this quote sums up my views on the topic rather nicely.

Since I use Linux, I've never had the option to run the Desktop application natively. Instead, I edited some values in the KT database to activate the device. The advantage of doing things this way is that I get no ads or recommendations cluttering up my home screen or anywhere else for that matter.

What I appreciate the most about KT is that officially or unofficially, they have kept this option available. Furthermore, by making their firmware available for manual downloads, it has allowed me to upgrade or downgrade the device to any firmware version I have kept an image for.

I for one would like to see Kobo/Rakuten succeed in their global content business. Unless they do, the alternative is that we will end up with a single monopoly tied into a single online retailer. A monopoly such as this would stifle innovation and eliminate choice.

In order to succeed, they will need to experiment with various ways of selling to their mainstream customers through their platform as well as all the other channels. Without succeeding there, there will be no Kobo hardware.

[plib]

Originally Posted by kumaryu

I think this quote sums up my views on the topic rather nicely.

Since I use Linux, I've never had the option to run the Desktop application natively. Instead, I edited some values in the KT database to activate the device. The advantage of doing things this way is that I get no ads or recommendations cluttering up my home screen or anywhere else for that matter.

So, you don't have any ads or recommendations on your device, but you would like other people to have it on theirs so that your choice of hardware survives?

OK.

One way to look at it: the ads aren't there, but the facilities for advertising are still there. So kumaryu is still affected.

Another way to look at it: it is possible to avoid the advertising if you want to avoid the advertising. Just don't connect it to the Internet or Kobo's software. (You can still borrow or buy books. You just have to use ADE instead.)

[murg]

Originally Posted by GvilleBridge

Late: Now I see this Kobo message was a thread starter at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=184642

This is an updated message.

[six58]

Originally Posted by murg

Well, if Victorians are Mexicans...

and Kobo is Canadian.

ahh so that makes you american?

lol

no i honestly have had no issues at all with my upgrade - i guess i was a lucky one.

[mXb]

Instead of forcing feeding us the updates why don't Kobo "offer" the updates.

In that way the adventurous ones can download them and try them out straight away, raising any probs they find.

The cowards like er... me can then wait to decide whether or not to dive in..

Kobo should also provide an easy way of downloading the previous update(s).

Would a system like this work ?

[murg]

It's clear that Kobo customer service people don't have a clue about their customers, nor the device they are selling. The Kobo Touch is consumer electronics device. Most of the people who have purchased one are not technical. Yet, all of their instructions presume that their customers have a level of deep understanding of how the Kobo works. Of special note is a complete lack of description of how you can tell if your Touch has successfully reset, or is just frozen again.

Let's look at the updated message from Kobo (link a few posts above)...

Kobo Touch upgrade

If you've had a problem creating custom shelves, you should sign out and sign in again. If your Kobo Touch froze after you tried to upgrade, try restarting, and if that doesn’t work try a reset.

To restart:
• Slide the power switch on the top of your eReader to the right for at least 30 seconds, then release. If your eReader powers off, when you turn your eReader back on you’ll find it working normally.

Freezing: Is this dancing squares, or no changes on the screen? How long can the dancing squares go for before it is considered freezing (15 minutes is the answer)?
eReader powers off : due to the nature of the screen, the only indication that the reader has powered off is that the screen freezes. As in no changes on the screen.

First, try a basic reset:
1. Turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
2. Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
3. Press gently until you feel a click. You should see a flashing light next to the power button.
4. Let go of the Home button and remove the paperclip.

3. Nothing will happen until you remove the paperclip.
3. What color is the flashing light? How fast is it flashing? The touch can flash blue, green, red and white, all at different rates. Which colors and patterns means that the reset was successful?
4. Ummm... when did I press the Home button?
4. How do I know the reset was successful? At this point we should be told about the Resetting screen, the Read On screen, and the need to power on at this point.

To do a factory reset:
1. While pressing and holding the Home button, turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
2. Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
3. Press gently until you feel a click. You should see a flashing light next to the power button.
4. Let go of the Home button and remove the paperclip.
5. Connect your eReader to your computer using your USB cable.
6. Open Kobo Desktop, and sync your eReader.

3. Nothing will happen until you remove the paperclip.
3. What color is the flashing light? How fast is it flashing? The touch can flash blue, green, red and white, all at different rates. Which colors and patterns means that the reset was successful?
4. At least this time I was already pressing the Home button.
5. How do I know the reset was successful? At this point we should be told about the Resetting screen, the Read On screen, and the need to power on at this point.
6. Ummm... you forgot to warn that my Touch will go through another firmware update, to 1.9.17. Hopefully, it won't be as traumatic. That's sort of a big thing to skip.

Kobo Desktop upgrade

If Kobo Desktop has frozen, please uninstall and reinstall it. You can download a new version of Kobo Desktop by visiting http://www.kobobooks.com/desktop.

How do I uninstall the Kobo desktop? Despite being coloured exactly the same as all of the other links on the page, this is not a link, but it looks like one, even underlining when you hover the cursor over it. But it doesn't go anywhere. Ahh, they forgot the href="" in the <a>.

[murg]

Originally Posted by mXb

Instead of forcing feeding us the updates why don't Kobo "offer" the updates.
...
Would a system like this work ?

This is how most electronic firmware updates are handled. In fact, you usually have to go through some effort to find and install firmware updates. One thing I will say in Kobo's favor is that they have made this process simpler, but they took it too far by not giving you control of the device that you own.

Kobo is in the vast minority by forcing the updates on you.

And then not getting it right.

[murg]

Originally Posted by six58

ahh so that makes you american?
.

I'm not sure if I should be offended or not.

no i honestly have had no issues at all with my upgrade - i guess i was a lucky one.

Now I am offended.

[danskmacabre]

Whilst the 2.0.0 firmware installed fine on mt KT, I couldn't take the slowness of the page turning (As I sideload books).
That and the front page layout covered with buttons and menus I don't need (advertising books I didn't ask for) and no immediate access to the shortlist (like the 1.9.17 firmware provides) I have gone back to 1.9.17.
If the fixed 2.0.0 has the same layout I think I'll just stop at 1.9.17 even if they DO speed up the page turning and so on..

I don;t mean to sound negative, but all in all apart from the shelves, which I REALLY wanted and liked all the rest (the problems and unwanted features I can't disable) has turned me right off the latest KT firmware.

PLEASE reconsider putting back immediate access to shortlists and take away (or have an option to remove) all the advertising, recommendations etc etc .. I didn't have it when I first got the KT and don't want it now.
I can live without the shelves if it means not having to put up with the latest firmware.
I realise I'll never be able to use the kobo desktop software anymore, but I can live with that and get around it.

[kumaryu]

Originally Posted by plib

So, you don't have any ads or recommendations on your device, but you would like other people to have it on theirs so that your choice of hardware survives?

Most emphatically yes.

As a business, Kobo/Rakuten must pursue a policy which will benefit their business. This is especially the case when they consider that a far larger entity with infinitely deeper pockets is their primary competition.

In order to survive, their platform must be a tool to sell content. Since Kobo's business model is not based on hardware sales. They have however left options available, to those willing to take the risk, of opting out and customising the devices to suit their own needs.

In this respect, ebook readers are like cars. You can customise a car if you are a competent mechanic to be exactly the machine of your dreams. If you do so however, you will invalidate any warranty or support that you might have gotten from the manufacturers.

The fact that the current Kobo readers are amenable to to such customisations does not mean that their business can survive if all their customers did this. As with cars however, most customers are not willing or comfortable in taking the risks as outlined above.

As in the case of custom cars, this ought not be an issue.