New hardware version: kobo7

[geek1011]

The v2 devices are kobo7. My update check bot just found out.

Here are the API URLs for proof:
http://api.kobobooks.com/1.0/Upgrade...79/kobo/0.0/N0
http://api.kobobooks.com/1.0/Upgrade...78/kobo/0.0/N0

There is one unfortunate (but possibly temporary) change though: The full version number does not seem to be in the upgrade url anymore (this will make the checks for my firmware page harder). If anyone has any ideas about extracting the version (preferably without downloading the whole zip), I'd really appreciate hearing it. The only way I've found is the second string after "Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.0; en-us;) AppleWebKit/%1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/%1 (Kobo Touch %2/%3)" in libnickel.

[geek1011]

I'm going to poke around with the update zip and see if anything major has changed about the layout of the update zips for kobo7 devices (compared to kobo6). I'll post my findings below.

• The DTBs seem to be included in the upgrade folder now along with the kernel zImage (instead of a uImage). For those who are wondering about the difference, a uImage includes the u-boot bootloader built in while the zImage is just the kernel. Can someone PM me a SD card image of one of the v2 models so I can have a look and see if anything is different about the partition layout?
• The dhd.ko wifi driver has been removed
• The lowmem.ko misc driver has been removed
• A whole bunch of USB drivers have been added (more than any previous hardware version), most notably usb_serial.ko (serial over usb?), usb_f_mass_storage.ko (I wonder what the kobo appears as to the computer now compared to previous models, and no, this is not usb OTG support), and usb_f_rndis.ko (usb ethernet)
• Other than the drivers folder, the rest of KoboRoot is the same as the kobo6 update file.

[Strether]

After downloading the new firmware to my H2O, Edition 2, v2, and connecting to Calibre, I get this pop-up:

calibre, version 3.20.0
WARNING: Failed: Kobo database version unsupported - See details

Your Kobo is running an updated firmware/database version. As calibre does not know about this updated firmware, database editing is disabled, to prevent corruption. You can still send books to your Kobo with calibre, but deleting books and managing collections is disabled. If you are willing to experiment and know how to reset your Kobo to Factory defaults, you can override this check by right clicking the device icon in calibre and selecting "Configure this device" and then the "Attempt to support newer firmware" option. Doing so may require you to perform a factory reset of your Kobo.
Device database version: 146.
Device firmware version: (4, 8, 10956)

Jim

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by Strether

After downloading the new firmware to my H2O, Edition 2, v2, and connecting to Calibre, I get this pop-up:

calibre, version 3.20.0
WARNING: Failed: Kobo database version unsupported - See details

Your Kobo is running an updated firmware/database version. As calibre does not know about this updated firmware, database editing is disabled, to prevent corruption. You can still send books to your Kobo with calibre, but deleting books and managing collections is disabled. If you are willing to experiment and know how to reset your Kobo to Factory defaults, you can override this check by right clicking the device icon in calibre and selecting "Configure this device" and then the "Attempt to support newer firmware" option. Doing so may require you to perform a factory reset of your Kobo.
Device database version: 146.
Device firmware version: (4, 8, 10956)

Jim

The database should be the same as for the mark 6 devices, as the nickel binary has not changed. It is probably that Calibre does not yet support the latest version (but I don't use Calibre much so I am not completely sure). The "Attempt to support newer firmware" option should work fine though, as the database hasn't changed much.

Also, could you tell me what the hash and version number is in the settings so I can see if it's the same as the mark 6 version?

[Strether]

Originally Posted by geek1011

The database should be the same as for the mark 6 devices, as the nickel binary has not changed. It is probably that Calibre does not yet support the latest version (but I don't use Calibre much so I am not completely sure). The "Attempt to support newer firmware" option should work fine though, as the database hasn't changed much.

Also, could you tell me what the hash and version number is in the settings so I can see if it's the same as the mark 6 version?

I don't know what the hash number is, unless it's the information after the version number. The whole line reads:

4.8.10956(daee2c4220 4/17/18)

If there's someplace else I should be looking for the hash number, just let me know and I'll report back.

As for the Calibre info, presumably someone will ask me for some information if they need it.

Jim

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by Strether

I don't know what the hash number is, unless it's the information after the version number. The whole line reads:

4.8.10956(daee2c4220 4/17/18)

If there's someplace else I should be looking for the hash number, just let me know and I'll report back.

As for the Calibre info, presumably someone will ask me for some information if they need it.

Jim

Thanks. That's all I need to know for now. It seems to be the same as the other devices which is good. I'm going to work in adding the new devices to my firmware downloader.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Strether

After downloading the new firmware to my H2O, Edition 2, v2, and connecting to Calibre, I get this pop-up:

calibre, version 3.20.0
WARNING: Failed: Kobo database version unsupported - See details

According to davidfor, the database has not changed in a manner that would cause issues with using the "Attempt to support newer firmware" option in the KoboTouch or KoboTouchExtended driver. See the attached image for the setting.

The database information should be updated in the next calibre release.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by Strether

I don't know what the hash number is, unless it's the information after the version number. The whole line reads:

4.8.10956(daee2c4220 4/17/18)

If there's someplace else I should be looking for the hash number, just let me know and I'll report back.

As for the Calibre info, presumably someone will ask me for some information if they need it.

Jim

May I also see the part of the your .kobo/version file which looks like 00000000-0000-0000-0000-00000000037#? I need that number so I can make sure I updated my firmware download page correctly. Thanks in advance.

[Strether]

Sorry for the delay: I just noticed your request. Here's some numbers:
4.1.15,4.8.10956,4.1.15,4.1.15,00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000378:

If this isn't what you want, I can just copy the whole thing for you.

Jim

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by Strether

Sorry for the delay: I just noticed your request. Here's some numbers:
N########,4.1.15,4.8.10956,4.1.15,4.1.15,00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000378:

If this isn't what you want, I can just copy the whole thing for you.

Jim

OK, that's what I needed. You might want to edit out the N##### because it is your serial number.

[evirtue]

i own kobo glo hd which is 6" kobo6 device.

Would it be wise to get another one just for being kobo7?

What would be the new possible improvements on kobo7?

Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 v2 might be the device based on kobo7

[compurandom]

Any possible answers would be speculation. Will just have to wait for them to release it.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by evirtue

i own kobo glo hd which is 6" kobo6 device.

Would it be wise to get another one just for being kobo7?

What would be the new possible improvements on kobo7?

Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 v2 might be the device based on kobo7

The only real difference seems to be in the processor.