Kobo H2O and Firmware 4.2.8432

ElWorm · 02-19-2017, 06:32 AM

I synced my H2O last night and it downloaded and installed this new firmware. The installation seemed to go smoothly. After the firmware had been installed the reader then started syncing, which took a very long time. Usually it only takes a few seconds.

It was taking so long I wondered if it might be hung up and was considering pressing the little reset button by the USB port. I decided to wait it out. During the wait, the home screen reloaded numerous times, and the items on the home page would be rearranged and or different after each reload.

Finally, the little sync tab switched from "syncing" to "downloading covers" and it finished. Everything seems to be working okay.

I did notice, after the firmware upgraded, that one of the changes or new features said something about sideloaded books or books not bought from the Kobo store or something, and I do have several thousand sideloaded books on the device, I am not sure if this could have caused it or not.

davidfor · 02-19-2017, 08:09 AM

Kobo made changes in the library on the servers. The 4.x firmware includes changes to match this. The first sync after upgrading to 4.x from 3.19 or earlier is probably doing something extra to get things in line and taking more time. After that, it should be quicker.

eenk · 02-19-2017, 10:04 AM

I got the endless sync myself after my H2O updating to 4.x over the air. Even after waiting a long time, then retrying several times, sync never succeeded correctly. That leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I tried several time with quite some time in between in order to work around any Kobo server issues.

As I wasn't sure my patched 4.x kernel might be involved, I bit the bullet, logged out of my Kobo account, and in again. Now I need to reinstall my custom dictionaries and enable fullscreen mode again, but maybe this spring cleaning might not be wrong anyway. However, this thread here confirms my assumption that the patches are innocent, and that Kobo seems to have some issues with the database upgrade.

compurandom · 02-19-2017, 10:16 AM

I have a Kobo H2O which just upgraded to version 4.

I notice that they removed the wikipedia feature from the menu. I can still open zim files, but there's no search in book (there never was) but now there's no way to jump to a new entry, and clicking on links in the zim file still jumps to a blank page. So with version 4, zim files are completely useless.

Also, they removed the ability to hide entries that are not downloaded. They probably changed the UI to make this moot for books, but it still affects pocket.

What kills it for me is that this version seems a lot more crashy. It either hangs or instantly reboots every time I try to read certain blogs downloaded by calibre.

Between the crashes and the removed functionality, I'm downgrading back to version 3. It's not like they even added good Overdrive functionality on the h2o anyway.

JSWolf · 02-19-2017, 10:53 AM

Before you load any of these blogs, run a check to make sure that there are no technical errors. It's these sorts of errors that cause problems. I've never had such problems because I make sue all of the eBooks I send to the H2O pass epubcheck.

compurandom · 02-19-2017, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Before you load any of these blogs, run a check to make sure that there are no technical errors. It's these sorts of errors that cause problems. I've never had such problems because I make sue all of the eBooks I send to the H2O pass epubcheck.

First, the epub was created from the feed by calibre.
I suppose it is possible that calibre has bugs in the way it filters the articles when it builds the epub.

However, this is not the point. The point is that I've been reading these blogs for more than a year on firmware 3 with zero issues, and firmware 4 crashes instantly.

JSWolf · 02-19-2017, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compurandom

First, the epub was created from the feed by calibre.
I suppose it is possible that calibre has bugs in the way it filters the articles when it builds the epub.

However, this is not the point. The point is that I've been reading these blogs for more than a year on firmware 3 with zero issues, and firmware 4 crashes instantly.

Could be 4.2.8432 is more picky on code that's not technically correct. I suggest checking the code and seeing if it has any errors. That would say if it could be the ePub. I would do this before saying it could be the firmware. As was said someplace else on MR. Garbage in, garbage out. Without seeing the code, there is no idea if the code is correct or not.

compurandom · 02-19-2017, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Could be 4.2.8432 is more picky on code that's not technically correct.

Sorry. More picky is when I open the book it errors out and says "this is a malformed epub".

Buggy is when I open the epub and it crashes. Even if the epub is malformed, the firmware should not crash. Version 4 is more buggy than 3.

I've run the epubs through the checker and they pass.

JSWolf · 02-19-2017, 04:48 PM

I wonder what's causing the crashing. My H2O has not acted odd with the new firmware. I still have 3.19.5761 available to reinstall if need be.

DNSB · 02-19-2017, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compurandom

Sorry. More picky is when I open the book it errors out and says "this is a malformed epub".

Buggy is when I open the epub and it crashes. Even if the epub is malformed, the firmware should not crash. Version 4 is more buggy than 3.

I've run the epubs through the checker and they pass.

After the crash, do you see a stack_xx.log (xx is a two digit number starting at 00 and incrementing for each subsequent file) file on your ereader? Opening the file with a text editor, the first line will be "OH THE HUMANITY!".

Amiieey · 02-19-2017, 06:46 PM

I just downloaded the new update. It took some time to sync but at most it was approx. 5 min. It was downloading book covers for some reason but it didn't end up syncing forever.

The new features said that if you have an Kobo Aura ONE and borrow books from Overdrive, you can also read them on your H2O. The update also gives you the option to sort books in your library with the "show" feature- you can choose to show books based on whether they were imported, bought from the store, etc.

If I have crashing I will post here. But so far seems ok

ScalyFreak · 02-20-2017, 12:28 AM

Am I the only one who lost all my collections thanks to this FW update? I have over 100 of them, and it's one of the most important ways I keep my books organize. I had collections by author, series, topic, etc... years of work setting them up, all of them completely gone.

To say I am unhappy is an understatement.

Terisa de morgan · 02-20-2017, 12:47 AM

No, you're not the only one. I've read the same in other forum and the answer has been: "Sorry, you have to redo them".

ScalyFreak · 02-20-2017, 01:18 AM

Thank all library gods for Calibre.

JSWolf · 02-20-2017, 05:49 AM

Automatic Management will help fix your collections.

02-19-2017, 06:32 AM	#1
ElWorm Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 45000 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: Kobo H2O, Paperwhite 3, Oasis 2, Pocketbook HD, Glowlight Plus	Kobo H2O and Firmware 4.2.8432 I synced my H2O last night and it downloaded and installed this new firmware. The installation seemed to go smoothly. After the firmware had been installed the reader then started syncing, which took a very long time. Usually it only takes a few seconds. It was taking so long I wondered if it might be hung up and was considering pressing the little reset button by the USB port. I decided to wait it out. During the wait, the home screen reloaded numerous times, and the items on the home page would be rearranged and or different after each reload. Finally, the little sync tab switched from "syncing" to "downloading covers" and it finished. Everything seems to be working okay. I did notice, after the firmware upgraded, that one of the changes or new features said something about sideloaded books or books not bought from the Kobo store or something, and I do have several thousand sideloaded books on the device, I am not sure if this could have caused it or not.

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02-19-2017, 08:09 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Kobo made changes in the library on the servers. The 4.x firmware includes changes to match this. The first sync after upgrading to 4.x from 3.19 or earlier is probably doing something extra to get things in line and taking more time. After that, it should be quicker.

02-19-2017, 10:04 AM	#3
eenk carrier lost Posts: 62 Karma: 14000 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: 2001:db8:e:b00c::f00d Device: Kobo Forma, H2O v1, Aura HD	I got the endless sync myself after my H2O updating to 4.x over the air. Even after waiting a long time, then retrying several times, sync never succeeded correctly. That leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I tried several time with quite some time in between in order to work around any Kobo server issues. As I wasn't sure my patched 4.x kernel might be involved, I bit the bullet, logged out of my Kobo account, and in again. Now I need to reinstall my custom dictionaries and enable fullscreen mode again, but maybe this spring cleaning might not be wrong anyway. However, this thread here confirms my assumption that the patches are innocent, and that Kobo seems to have some issues with the database upgrade.

02-19-2017, 10:16 AM	#4
compurandom Wizard Posts: 1,012 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: Rocketbook, kobo aura h2o, kobo forma, kobo libra color	I have a Kobo H2O which just upgraded to version 4. I notice that they removed the wikipedia feature from the menu. I can still open zim files, but there's no search in book (there never was) but now there's no way to jump to a new entry, and clicking on links in the zim file still jumps to a blank page. So with version 4, zim files are completely useless. Also, they removed the ability to hide entries that are not downloaded. They probably changed the UI to make this moot for books, but it still affects pocket. What kills it for me is that this version seems a lot more crashy. It either hangs or instantly reboots every time I try to read certain blogs downloaded by calibre. Between the crashes and the removed functionality, I'm downgrading back to version 3. It's not like they even added good Overdrive functionality on the h2o anyway.

02-19-2017, 10:53 AM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Before you load any of these blogs, run a check to make sure that there are no technical errors. It's these sorts of errors that cause problems. I've never had such problems because I make sue all of the eBooks I send to the H2O pass epubcheck.

02-19-2017, 04:48 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I wonder what's causing the crashing. My H2O has not acted odd with the new firmware. I still have 3.19.5761 available to reinstall if need be.

02-19-2017, 06:46 PM	#11
Amiieey Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 2032204 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Likebook Mars, Kindle Fire HD 8	I just downloaded the new update. It took some time to sync but at most it was approx. 5 min. It was downloading book covers for some reason but it didn't end up syncing forever. The new features said that if you have an Kobo Aura ONE and borrow books from Overdrive, you can also read them on your H2O. The update also gives you the option to sort books in your library with the "show" feature- you can choose to show books based on whether they were imported, bought from the store, etc. If I have crashing I will post here. But so far seems ok

02-20-2017, 12:28 AM	#12
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	Am I the only one who lost all my collections thanks to this FW update? I have over 100 of them, and it's one of the most important ways I keep my books organize. I had collections by author, series, topic, etc... years of work setting them up, all of them completely gone. To say I am unhappy is an understatement.

02-20-2017, 12:47 AM	#13
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,629 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	No, you're not the only one. I've read the same in other forum and the answer has been: "Sorry, you have to redo them".

02-20-2017, 01:18 AM	#14
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	Thank all library gods for Calibre.

02-20-2017, 05:49 AM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Automatic Management will help fix your collections.