Glo Glo HD and new firmware

percla71 · 08-21-2017, 07:45 AM

Hi all, my E Reader is at firmware 3.17.3

I'm not sure if it worth updating it or not .... when it upgraded to 3.18 I remember there were problems with page refresh, so I didn't update it again.

Now .... I don't know if there could be problems or not: does anybody have this new release installed? Does it work properly? Am I supposed to install some patches too?

Thanks to anyone can help me

Cla

davidfor · 08-21-2017, 08:46 AM

I'm not sure how to answer this. There have been a lot of releases since 3.18. They all changed something, fixed something else and possibly broke something. Most worked with some issues. The refresh problem I think you are referring to was fixed in the next release.

How well the current firmware, version 4.5.9587, works for you depends on what is important to you. If you just read books either sideloaded or downloaded from Kobo, then it is good. For my usual use, there were no problems that hadn't been around for a while. If the downloading via the browser is important, then it isn't a good version. That's almost completely broken. For browser downloads, 4.4.9344 or 4.4.9349 (same but different build numbers for different devices) is probably the better version.

You might not like the new home screen. It was introduced in 4.2.x to some people and everyone in 4.3.8842. But, the menus a much better for navigating around the device. And Kobo added series sorting in the library. And somewhere in there they add the authors list (looks like the collections, but lists all the authors on the device - tap to see their books).

At this point, my thoughts would be:

Stay where you are because it works.
Upgrade to 3.19.5613. If you aren't going to the 4.x firmware, this is probably the best choice.
Upgrade to 4.5.9587. It's the "latest and greatest" (and yes people, there was an element of sarcasm in that). As I said, for my use, there were no problems with this that hadn't been in the firmware for a long time. And what was fixed was good.
Wait another month (probably) for the next release. Other than saying that I expect the browser download and a some other recently reported bugs to be fix, I can't say anything about what is in it.

If you want to see what has changed with each, have a look at https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kobo_Firmware_Releases. That has links to the firmware downloads and links to the discussion threads. Early in each thread there is a list of the changes if they are known.

As to patches, that's up to you. I don't do it myself as few interest me and I just can't be bothered. If you want to, there is a thread for each version with the patches for that version. The Wiki page above includes the links.

percla71 · 08-22-2017, 01:49 AM

Many thanks for the answer.
For me it is important to have something to read ebooks. I usually download from PC and upload manually to kobo, so I don't mind the navigation.
I use to read 2 books together, and sometimes my wife use it too, so with old firmware is a little difficult to keep 4 books opened (well is difficult to find them in the list).
Probably I'll try the new one

davidfor · 08-22-2017, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by percla71

I use to read 2 books together, and sometimes my wife use it too, so with old firmware is a little difficult to keep 4 books opened (well is difficult to find them in the list).

Aren't they on the home screen as tiles? You can dismiss the tiles you aren't interested in, or use calibre and my Kobo Utilities plugin to get rid of them more permanently. With the tiled home screen, I could get 8 books on the home screen. The current one has four at the most.

Ripplinger · 08-22-2017, 12:02 PM

I use the Kobo Glo HD as my only reader now, and I upgraded to 4.3.8966 and I'm happy with it. One of my readers got the new home screen pushed with the upgrade, there's a chance yours might, but you can go back to the old home screen with GeoffR's patch. If you upgrade past this version, you will get the new home screen and there's no way to get rid of it.

Take a look at this thread about the newest home screen (but I don't believe anyone posted any screenshots, so it's not very helpful if you want to see it first), and at this thread, but note that there were some changes to it after this latter thread. You can see a few screenshots here, but I'm not sure if that's the older version or newest version of the new home screen.

But 4.3.8966 works very well for me, nothing is broken, page turn speed is ok, I have no complaints at all and probably won't update further because of the new home screen (just my preference, you may like the new home screen). I think the biggest negative for you with the new home screen is not being able to have as many "open" books that you're reading at one time and having to hunt for them in the library.

JSWolf · 08-22-2017, 05:18 PM

Once the two big bugs are fixed in the 4.5 firmware are fixed and there's no gotcha, then that would be the firmware to use. But, if you don't download eBooks with the browser other than from Calibre or use kepub on a memory card, then 4.5 is good to go now.

davidfor · 08-22-2017, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I use the Kobo Glo HD as my only reader now, and I upgraded to 4.3.8966 and I'm happy with it. One of my readers got the new home screen pushed with the upgrade, there's a chance yours might, but you can go back to the old home screen with GeoffR's patch. If you upgrade past this version, you will get the new home screen and there's no way to get rid of it.

Take a look at this thread about the newest home screen (but I don't believe anyone posted any screenshots, so it's not very helpful if you want to see it first), and at this thread, but note that there were some changes to it after this latter thread. You can see a few screenshots here, but I'm not sure if that's the older version or newest version of the new home screen.

I can't think of any real visual differences between the version of the home screen some people got with 4.2.x/4.3.x and the final release. The difference is in what can be displayed in the right half of the screen. The testing versions only had store-related options. The release version has others. I only see store-related options displayed in the small bottom-right position. If, as people vociferously stated here when the new home screen started appearing, Kobo's intention was to shove the store down our throats, from what I see, they have failed miserably.

percla71 · 08-23-2017, 05:36 AM

I finally update my GLO HD to latest firmware available (automatically): just turned wifi on.
At the moment it seems OK, no strange refresh, quick change page.

Just one more question: is possible to change or update dictionary? I sometimes need it when reading English book (I need English to Italian) but some words aren't listed ....

thanks

08-21-2017, 07:45 AM	#1
percla71 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Italy Device: KOBO GLO HD	Glo HD and new firmware Hi all, my E Reader is at firmware 3.17.3 I'm not sure if it worth updating it or not .... when it upgraded to 3.18 I remember there were problems with page refresh, so I didn't update it again. Now .... I don't know if there could be problems or not: does anybody have this new release installed? Does it work properly? Am I supposed to install some patches too? Thanks to anyone can help me Cla

08-21-2017, 08:46 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	I'm not sure how to answer this. There have been a lot of releases since 3.18. They all changed something, fixed something else and possibly broke something. Most worked with some issues. The refresh problem I think you are referring to was fixed in the next release. How well the current firmware, version 4.5.9587, works for you depends on what is important to you. If you just read books either sideloaded or downloaded from Kobo, then it is good. For my usual use, there were no problems that hadn't been around for a while. If the downloading via the browser is important, then it isn't a good version. That's almost completely broken. For browser downloads, 4.4.9344 or 4.4.9349 (same but different build numbers for different devices) is probably the better version. You might not like the new home screen. It was introduced in 4.2.x to some people and everyone in 4.3.8842. But, the menus a much better for navigating around the device. And Kobo added series sorting in the library. And somewhere in there they add the authors list (looks like the collections, but lists all the authors on the device - tap to see their books). At this point, my thoughts would be: Stay where you are because it works. Upgrade to 3.19.5613. If you aren't going to the 4.x firmware, this is probably the best choice. Upgrade to 4.5.9587. It's the "latest and greatest" (and yes people, there was an element of sarcasm in that). As I said, for my use, there were no problems with this that hadn't been in the firmware for a long time. And what was fixed was good. Wait another month (probably) for the next release. Other than saying that I expect the browser download and a some other recently reported bugs to be fix, I can't say anything about what is in it. If you want to see what has changed with each, have a look at https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kobo_Firmware_Releases. That has links to the firmware downloads and links to the discussion threads. Early in each thread there is a list of the changes if they are known. As to patches, that's up to you. I don't do it myself as few interest me and I just can't be bothered. If you want to, there is a thread for each version with the patches for that version. The Wiki page above includes the links.

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08-22-2017, 01:49 AM	#3
percla71 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Italy Device: KOBO GLO HD	Many thanks for the answer. For me it is important to have something to read ebooks. I usually download from PC and upload manually to kobo, so I don't mind the navigation. I use to read 2 books together, and sometimes my wife use it too, so with old firmware is a little difficult to keep 4 books opened (well is difficult to find them in the list). Probably I'll try the new one

08-22-2017, 12:02 PM	#5
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 use the Kobo Glo HD as my only reader now, and I upgraded to 4.3.8966 and I'm happy with it. One of my readers got the new home screen pushed with the upgrade, there's a chance yours might, but you can go back to the old home screen with GeoffR's patch. If you upgrade past this version, you will get the new home screen and there's no way to get rid of it. Take a look at this thread about the newest home screen (but I don't believe anyone posted any screenshots, so it's not very helpful if you want to see it first), and at this thread, but note that there were some changes to it after this latter thread. You can see a few screenshots here, but I'm not sure if that's the older version or newest version of the new home screen. But 4.3.8966 works very well for me, nothing is broken, page turn speed is ok, I have no complaints at all and probably won't update further because of the new home screen (just my preference, you may like the new home screen). I think the biggest negative for you with the new home screen is not being able to have as many "open" books that you're reading at one time and having to hunt for them in the library.

08-22-2017, 05:18 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Once the two big bugs are fixed in the 4.5 firmware are fixed and there's no gotcha, then that would be the firmware to use. But, if you don't download eBooks with the browser other than from Calibre or use kepub on a memory card, then 4.5 is good to go now.

08-23-2017, 05:36 AM	#8
percla71 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Italy Device: KOBO GLO HD	I finally update my GLO HD to latest firmware available (automatically): just turned wifi on. At the moment it seems OK, no strange refresh, quick change page. Just one more question: is possible to change or update dictionary? I sometimes need it when reading English book (I need English to Italian) but some words aren't listed .... thanks