Is Kobo Firmware Better Now?

[meeera]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It says "Touch/Glo/etc.." And elements in it are more recent than that. But, it is all still valid. Look at all the problems connecting to recent MACs. And I have posted what is basically that list several times this year.

How recent does the Mac have to be for there to be a problem? I've a relatively recent one and have no connection issues (so long as I don't try to use a dud cable, and I don't blame the Kobo for that).

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by meeera

How recent does the Mac have to be for there to be a problem? I've a relatively recent one and have no connection issues (so long as I don't try to use a dud cable, and I don't blame the Kobo for that).

Honestly, I don't know. There were a rash of reports earlier this year or late last year. If I remember correctly, Apple made some hardware change and it seemed to be related to that. Or it might have been a change in the OS.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Honestly, I don't know. There were a rash of reports earlier this year or late last year. If I remember correctly, Apple made some hardware change and it seemed to be related to that. Or it might have been a change in the OS.

Quite a few of the reports mentioned a M1 chipset Mac (Apple's newest processor family for Macs).

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by meeera

How recent does the Mac have to be for there to be a problem? I've a relatively recent one and have no connection issues (so long as I don't try to use a dud cable, and I don't blame the Kobo for that).

Definitely the M1 Macs, as DNSB has stated. When I finally upgrade my Mac, I'll be scrounging around for an old USB 2.0 hub unless Kobo or Apple updates things. However, I have heard that PC owners have had difficulties, too. It seems that the motherboards that support USB 3.1 and 4 are the culprits, but I have only heard grumblings. Couldn't point you to a specific site that explains it. Still, upgrades leaving legacy devices in the past is all part of the modern computer experience. It's one reason I'd like to see Kobos support USB-C connections, but I don't want to start another flame war.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Cootey

It's one reason I'd like to see Kobos support USB-C connections, but I don't want to start another flame war.

*backs away slowly*

(Yeah my Mac is pre-M1, because I never buy Rev 1 of a new expensive device. But I hang an old USB hub off it anyway, for the myriad of devices that don't have C yet, or for which I don't want to fork out a fortune for cables/adapters. It's not like hubs are expensive tat)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cootey

Definitely the M1 Macs, as DNSB has stated. When I finally upgrade my Mac, I'll be scrounging around for an old USB 2.0 hub unless Kobo or Apple updates things. However, I have heard that PC owners have had difficulties, too. It seems that the motherboards that support USB 3.1 and 4 are the culprits, but I have only heard grumblings. Couldn't point you to a specific site that explains it. Still, upgrades leaving legacy devices in the past is all part of the modern computer experience. It's one reason I'd like to see Kobos support USB-C connections, but I don't want to start another flame war.

I would hope that the forthcoming Kobo regardless of the USB port used works on USB 3.1 and whatever Apple is using on an M1 mac.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would hope that the forthcoming Kobo regardless of the USB port used works on USB 3.1 and whatever Apple is using on an M1 mac.

The M1 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (the ones that use the same style connector as USB C) which support Thunderbolt up to 40Gbps, USB4 up to 40Gbps and USB 3.1.2 supporting up to 10Gbps and 2 USB A ports supporting USB 3 @ 5Gbps with fallback to USB 2.

Our test unit allowed a Kobo Forma to connect to the USB A port but no thorough testing was done since using ereaders is not a mission critical item.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The M1 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (the ones that use the same style connector as USB C) which support Thunderbolt up to 40Gbps, USB4 up to 40Gbps and USB 3.1.2 supporting up to 10Gbps and 2 USB A ports supporting USB 3 @ 5Gbps with fallback to USB 2.

Our test unit allowed a Kobo Forma to connect to the USB A port but no thorough testing was done since using ereaders is not a mission critical item.

Not everybody runs into the problem, which is maddening to troubleshoot. Sometimes people have luck trying new cables, new USB hubs, etc. Whatever is happening, it's a mystery, but likely related to the new USB3.1/USB4 supporting motherboards.

However, to get back on topic a bit, browsing the Kindle forum on ANY day will show numerous posts from people having problems. This week my Kobo suddenly started acting as if possessed. No, it isn't floating around the room yet, though if it does, I'll be sure to post it on TikTok, but I'm going to have to fix whatever has been corrupted by reseting it. This is something I have done for all my Kindles at one time or another, too. I've reset them. I've logged out and logged back in. Kindles aren't perfect. They don't always work. Electronics are that way.

[4691mls]

One other odd thing that has started happening recently - I open a new book (I read primarily Overdrive library books obtained by syncing), open the table of contents, and it doesn't open at the beginning of the TOC but somewhere partway through. I have to scroll up to find the link to Chapter 1.