Do you patch your Kobo? How many patches do you use?

[Quoth]

No patch addresses either bugs or bad GUI design features I don't like. They don't seem worth it. I only use epub not keypub as I also use the ereader to proof, so seeing similar to what other epub readers show is more important.

I read a lot, paper and ebook, sometimes two books a day.

[meeera]

I haven't repatched since the last update but one, but the only patch I feel myself really missing is the one allowing adjustment of font weight on sideloaded fonts. I'd love for Kobo to incorporate this into the stock firmware. (Come to think of it, I'd probably rather like one to restore ADE-equivalent page numbering to kepubs instead of the new one that changes with every font size tweak.)

[issybird]

I've never patched. It's a combination of I don't want to spend the time on it (especially as there'd be a learning curve) and I'm not that fussy. I don't even bother with backing up to Calibre any more and I let my devices wait to get updates OTA. The only thing I ever did to alter my Kobo experience was to install the fullscreen hack, which was trivial. No longer necessary, of course.

However:

Originally Posted by meeera

(Come to think of it, I'd probably rather like one to restore ADE-equivalent page numbering to kepubs instead of the new one that changes with every font size tweak.)

This could get me patching, as the loss of objective numeration is affecting my reading experience negatively in many respects.

[tourneur]

I haven't patched yet. The most important part of the interface, the reading part, is fine and also customizable enough for me.

One thing that would make me try it is if the progress bar could be made to display chapter progress.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by meeera

I haven't repatched since the last update but one, but the only patch I feel myself really missing is the one allowing adjustment of font weight on sideloaded fonts. I'd love for Kobo to incorporate this into the stock firmware. (Come to think of it, I'd probably rather like one to restore ADE-equivalent page numbering to kepubs instead of the new one that changes with every font size tweak.)

Use %. Page numbers are meaningless on ebooks. I know some people are attached. Even on paper books I glance at edge of book to see how far I've got, not page number. I only use the page number as a random access index mechanism for paper as tapping an index or reference doesn't work

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by anacreon

I am VERY UNHAPPY if I have to read without the patches, whether reading PDFs or kepubs (I don't like epubs).

I went and counted how many patches I have: all three libadobe options, 14 libnickel and 6 nickel ones.

The most important for me are those within the books: margins, font size, line spacing, advanced font control, space available for dictionary pop-ups and book details.

Next are getting rid of that pesky 3rd row (paired with bonus increased cover size), and showing confirmation dialog before upgrading.


I'm not sure whether I'll swap the chapter/title in the header/footer even though I asked for it at the beginning of the remodeled UI: I've been getting used to it since I bought the Libra (17 September), and it sorts of makes sense to have it correspond to the line just under it, which is the whole book at present

I'm in the same boat myself and use almost the same patches as you do, except I prefer epubs and don't do PDF at all, so no PDF patches. I also turned off both header and footer, the progress bar is enough.

In addition to patches I've installed custom screensavers and an additional English dictionary. I'm pretty happy with my Libra now.

[Barbara1955]

Cant "patch" HB or PB Books so Why Patch eBooks...

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Cant "patch" HB or PB Books so Why Patch eBooks...

You also can't change the font, margins, or line spacing on HB or PB books, and yet you can with ebooks.

[John F]

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

Use %. Page numbers are meaningless on ebooks. I know some people are attached. Even on paper books I glance at edge of book to see how far I've got, not page number. I only use the page number as a random access index mechanism for paper as tapping an index or reference doesn't work

Percent alone is rather meaningless, to me. Being 10% into a book or chapter doesn't tell me much without more information. Using "pages" gives me a much better feel for where I am.

[MGlitch]

I patch a bunch, I got a Kobo because of the customization options, patches are just more customization.

[tourneur]

Originally Posted by John F

Percent alone is rather meaningless, to me. Being 10% into a book or chapter doesn't tell me much without more information. Using "pages" gives me a much better feel for where I am.

I agree. If you keep your font and page settings the same for a book virtual page numbers are as useful to me as physical page numbers.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by DomesticExtremis

None, because I don't know what the patches are for or can find an easy explanation of how to do it.
Maybe a pinned thread with the above info might increase uptake...

DomesticExtremis, the detailed instructions on how to patch can be found here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...72&postcount=1. It probably looks more difficult than it really is. As to the fifth point, enable patches, that just means you open the .yaml files in the .src folder with Notepad or a similar text editor and change Enabled: no to Enabled: yes for the patches you want. There are detailed descriptions there what the individual patches do.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Cant "patch" HB or PB Books so Why Patch eBooks...

Um, this is about patching the device (ereader) that lets you read the ebooks (content), not about patching the ebook content.

Paper analogy (but poor): Adding a protective cover, using a physical bookmark or ribbon, separate notebook to make notes, changing room lighting or your glasses.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by issybird

...the loss of objective numeration is affecting my reading experience negatively in many respects.

Why don't you just read ePub?

I don't mean this in a confrontational way. I ask because the reason I switched from ePub to kepub is for the one screen=one page rule. Otherwise, it seems ePub would be preferable. The layout is better, the font rendering is better. I believe ligatures are enabled by default.

After all this time, I forgot what the advantages of kepub are except for the one thing you seem not to like.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by John F

Percent alone is rather meaningless, to me. Being 10% into a book or chapter doesn't tell me much without more information. Using "pages" gives me a much better feel for where I am.

agreed.

best wishes koboy