Eye strains when reading on my Kobo

[bastringue777]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I have the Glo HD, not your specific model. I do always have wifi turned off though, that's a huge battery drain, so maybe that's the difference? And possibly the Glo HD being older doesn't have the fancier color adjustments, maybe that's less battery drain than yours? Just guessing there. I don't play any of the games on it or use the browser, I sideload all my books, and even sideload new firmware when I want to upgrade it. It's in a sleep cover, so it always goes to sleep only. The only time it's actually powered off and back is if there's some problem that I can't clear any other way.

I've had my Glo HD since May 2015 and haven't had any problems with it, and the original battery still seems great in it.

LED lights really take minimal power, I doubt it would save you anything noticeable between 10% and 50%, but you'd have to experiment with that.

I suggest you just set the lights up to whatever is most comfortable for your eyes and don't worry about the battery drain. See how your eyes and the battery performs after a month or so.

Thanks, will do.

Even if not the same device, it's great to know that 5 years later your Kobo is still going strong. Maybe a weekly charge isn't that bad for a battery after all...

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by bastringue777

Even if not the same device, it's great to know that 5 years later your Kobo is still going strong. Maybe a weekly charge isn't that bad for a battery after all...

Are you under the impression that charging a Li-Ion battery is in some way a bad thing? If so, please find whoever told you that and tell them they are an idiot and to stop spreading rubbish.

My simple advice for any Li-Ion battery is: Just use it.

Use it when you need to. Charge it when you can. They die after a while. Any of the steps recommended for extending the overall battery life basically come down to, "don't use it". And what's the point of that?

[bastringue777]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Are you under the impression that charging a Li-Ion battery is in some way a bad thing? If so, please find whoever told you that and tell them they are an idiot and to stop spreading rubbish.

My simple advice for any Li-Ion battery is: Just use it.

Use it when you need to. Charge it when you can. They die after a while. Any of the steps recommended for extending the overall battery life basically come down to, "don't use it". And what's the point of that?

Just my experience with my last cell phone. After a couple of years, I had to charge it everyday and sometimes I couldn't last even the full day, and I am not that much of a big cell phone user... But I sure like to read... a lot!

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by bastringue777

Just my experience with my last cell phone. After a couple of years, I had to charge it everyday and sometimes I couldn't last even the full day, and I am not that much of a big cell phone user... But I sure like to read... a lot!

And that's why I say "Just use it". Li-Ion batteries age. A Li-Ion battery just sitting there doing nothing loses capacity over time. The more they are used, the faster that happens. But, what's the point of having a battery last ten years if you never actually use it? Turning off WiFi if you don't use it to extend battery life makes sense. Not setting the light to a comfortable level for reading just to save battery doesn't.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by bastringue777

It's a bit better using more light, but my eyes still get tired really fast. I try to look outside for 20 seconds each 20 minutes, but still not enough. It helps, but that wasn't a problem with a paper book. I'm still trying to understand what is the difference, because I like my Kobo so much otherwise!

I have to say I've never heard of this problem before, and my personal experience is just the opposite. Even using old unlit ereaders back in 2011, I found eink better for my eyes than paper books with their generally too small and/or faded fonts. Possibly it's something to do with the way you read and it may be that eink doesn't suit you personally. But it's probably too early to tell yet. Do try some more fonts besides the default ones. Personally I don't like any of the Kobo default fonts, not even Georgia.

[bastringue777]

Originally Posted by davidfor

And that's why I say "Just use it". Li-Ion batteries age. A Li-Ion battery just sitting there doing nothing loses capacity over time. The more they are used, the faster that happens. But, what's the point of having a battery last ten years if you never actually use it? Turning off WiFi if you don't use it to extend battery life makes sense. Not setting the light to a comfortable level for reading just to save battery doesn't.

Thanks for the advice. I'll try some things and see how it works. Of course I want to use it as much as possible. I'd simply like to keep it for a couple of years before buying a new one.

[bastringue777]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I have to say I've never heard of this problem before, and my personal experience is just the opposite. Even using old unlit ereaders back in 2011, I found eink better for my eyes than paper books with their generally too small and/or faded fonts. Possibly it's something to do with the way you read and it may be that eink doesn't suit you personally. But it's probably too early to tell yet. Do try some more fonts besides the default ones. Personally I don't like any of the Kobo default fonts, not even Georgia.

What I like about paper books is that usually the font is dark and the background is white. The only way I can get this on the ereader is with good background lighting. Still not the same however.

I'll continue to look for new fonts and maybe I'll go see an eye-doctor anyway.

I just find it strange that reading many paper books with many fonts type or size is OK while reading on an ereader isn't. That said, I think light might be the solution; I only read paper books when there is very good lighting.

Still looking.

Thanks for the help!

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by bastringue777

Thanks for the advice. I'll try some things and see how it works. Of course I want to use it as much as possible. I'd simply like to keep it for a couple of years before buying a new one.

It will last several years. The battery is certainly not so bad it would give up the ghost after a couple of years, even if you read 10 hours a day.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by bastringue777

What I like about paper books is that usually the font is dark and the background is white. The only way I can get this on the ereader is with good background lighting. Still not the same however.

I guess you don't read paperbacks then, or the paperbacks in your country are exceptionally good quality. Almost no ordinary paperback novel I've ever read has had white background. Usually it's kind of yellowish. The font, too, is often somewhat faded. Hardcovers are a different matter, but I rarely read these even before my ebook days.

[bastringue777]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I guess you don't read paperbacks then, or the paperbacks in your country are exceptionally good quality. Almost no ordinary paperback novel I've ever read has had white background. Usually it's kind of yellowish. The font, too, is often somewhat faded. Hardcovers are a different matter, but I rarely read these even before my ebook days.

Maybe I was lucky, but the public library where I live mostly has more recent books, which are more white/black then yellow (acid) / black. But that's also a problem because I like old books so much and it's more difficult to get them.

In your last comment you said there should be no problem lasting for a couple of years even if reading 10 hours a day. That's great news then!

I'd like to thank everyone who helped me in this thread. So far, it's not perfect, but I read in the day with light at about 60-65% and in the evening maybe at 35-40% and it's much better for my eyes. It think I really have a problem with the background which is too dark for me but with font about size 12 in word it seems to do the trick. Thanks!

[leftright]

Disclaimer, if you don't know how to "nicely hack" don't attempt the following.

I decided to increase the battery capacity of my Glo, opened it, measured the space between back cover and board, looked around for a battery with suitable dimensions, spliced the new battery's wires to existing battery wires, and... voila... theoretically doubled the capacity of my Glo, in reality not so due to batteries aging.

This is the last mod I do to my Glo, its about time to replace it with something bigger for bigger fonts, do away with +1 glasses, and sharper text.

See link below for accurate information about batteries.
https://batteryuniversity.com

[DNSB]

The last time I was browsing through a battery manufacturer's website, their published test results showed their lithium-ion batteries were good for ~650 full charge cycles before the battery capacity dropped to 70% of the original capacity (there are dependencies on environmental conditions such as temperature and very bad ideas such as overcharging). One of the chart showed the life cycle for various depths of discharge which basically showed that shallower discharges allowed more discharge/charge cycles (a 50% charge cycle giving about 2400 cycles). So if you read enough each day to result in 50% battery use and plug your ereader into a charger when you go to bed you should get around 6 years before the battery reaches EOL.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by leftright

, spliced the new battery's wires to existing battery wires, and... voila...

This is a good way to set it on fire.
The charging sw / hw is now not valid.
Sometimes you can parallel identical cells of the same age and condition, it's a seriously dangerous idea to directly parallel two Lithium Ion cells, especially if different ages, manufacture or capacity.

So also only replace cells with the original type. This applies to everything, except cells / batteries only recharged externally in a programmable charger. Note there is also a fire risk using any sort of rechargeable battery/cell in equipment ONLY intended for single use disposable cells due to lack of fuses, protective circuitry etc.

[leftright]

Originally Posted by Quoth

This is a good way to set it on fire.
The charging sw / hw is now not valid.
Sometimes you can parallel identical cells of the same age and condition, it's a seriously dangerous idea to directly parallel two Lithium Ion cells, especially if different ages, manufacture or capacity.

First of all, there are Li-Ion and Li Ion Polymer or Li-Po, most mobile devices use Li-Po.
All these batteries have built power regulating mechanisms, to prevent overcharging and overheating.

I did research the concept before hand, I also consulted with a real electronics engineer, you know a old school guy whose CV is trust worthy and can be verified.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by leftright

First of all, there are Li-Ion and Li Ion Polymer or Li-Po, most mobile devices use Li-Po.
All these batteries have built power regulating mechanisms, to prevent overcharging and overheating.

Actually there is not much difference between "Li-Ion and Li Ion Polymer or Li-Po"
Many gadgets, phones and ereaders use bare cells with no controller. There are three types:
1) Cells with nothing.
2) Cells with a sensor. Usually three wires.
3) Cells with an internal charge controller, but no explicit host communications.
4) Cells with a controller and host communication. Typically 4 or more connections.

You can't assume you can parallel any of these. Cylindrical Metal can vs plastic pouch makes little difference.

Loads of Electronics people know very little about rechargeable lithium. You are giving advice that might burn down someone's house. Even if a particular model has type (3) and the particular host PCB and controller allows safe paralleling of the cell packs, that doesn't mean it applies to other gadgets that use the same cell. Types 1, 2 and 4 can't be paralleled safely. Often type 3 can't pe put in parallel either, the main PCB HW/SW isn't designed for it.

Even if it seems to work for you it may not be safe.