Do most people mod/root their Kobos? - Page 2

DNSB · 10-06-2022, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Thanks. I guess I should also ask for the sake of security... who is Patrick Gaskin, and how do we know the firmware files he provides are authentic and unmodified?

For the love of the great Ghu! The firmware files are not downloaded from Patrick Gaskin aka geek1011's site. What he supplies is easy access to the same links that your Kobo would use to download them OTA. BTW, Patrick is the same person who is responsible for most of the current Kobo patches, kepubify, NickelMenu, NickelSeries, etc.

Aleron Ives · 10-06-2022, 03:03 AM

Ah, my apologies. I thought the firmware files were on pgaskin.net, but upon closer inspection I see that they are actually hosted on akamaihd.net. Thank you for the correction. You can manually downgrade or upgrade to any firmware supported by your particular Kobo model, regardless of which firmware you're currently running, right?

Deobulakenyo · 10-06-2022, 05:03 AM

Patches, NickelMenu, Nickel Clock for me

Ashjuk · 10-06-2022, 05:03 AM

The only patch I have on mine is Autoshelf, other than that it is the same as it came out of the box.

I only ever read epubs, which I sideload directly from my PC, so I have never felt the need to patch it further. In fact I think I have only ever updated the firmware once since I bought it.

Quoth · 10-06-2022, 05:47 AM

Irony is that the Kobo is open. It doesn't need jailbroken or rooted, yet unlike the Kindle I don't feel the need to apply any patches.
I did install the menu thing & KOReader for PDF crop with page turning, but now that the Kobo 4.36 seems stable and has turn page & keep crop setting I don't have the KOReader.
Calibre lets me manage Collections, Series, covers, synopsis (comment field in Calibre Metadata), Publisher info etc.
The Kobo GUI works well to find ebooks or PDFs.

Mars95 · 10-06-2022, 05:57 AM

#KDawg NickelMenu survives firmware updates, so after the initial setup (Which is dragging a single file to the device and adding the dropbox entry to a config file) you won't really have to fiddle with it any more.

4691mls · 10-06-2022, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps67

I agree: we aren't the average user of a Kobo (or Kindle etc.). Most people simply buy books and read them or, at most, use a Kobo for library books with Adobe Digital Edition.

That's what I do. I adjust the font size as needed. Occasionally I'll come across a book where I also need to adjust the margins or line spacing.

compurandom · 10-06-2022, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Is there a full list somewhere of all the available patches and what they do?

Patches are not the only way to modify device behavior. For a full list, see

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kobo_eReader_hacks

ZodWallop · 10-06-2022, 09:36 AM

I apply patches. Mostly to remove the third row from the home screen, enlarge cover thumbnails pretty much everywhere and some kepub layout stuff. The firmware is good enough that I really could do without the patches. But at this point I'm familiar enough with the process and enjoy the tinkering, so I do it.

Calenorn · 10-06-2022, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compurandom

Patches are not the only way to modify device behavior. For a full list, see

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kobo_eReader_hacks

This. Without patching I have sideloaded some fonts, which I enjoy very much.

Also, 'devmodeon' activates some games in the Beta Features, like solitaire and sudoku.

JSWolf · 10-06-2022, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compurandom

Patches are not the only way to modify device behavior. For a full list, see

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kobo_eReader_hacks

That Wiki page is a bit confusing and it's incomplete. It's left out the better hyphenation dictionaries for one.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=252405

JSWolf · 10-06-2022, 11:36 AM

I do apply patches and I run NickelMenu. I also have KOReader installed. I've not used KOPReader for a while.

rtiangha · 10-06-2022, 11:59 AM

I patch and mod, but honestly, ever since the latest nightlies of koreader allowed you to explicitly define generic CSS fonts for stuff like sans-serif, cursive, fantasy, etc, I'm really tempted to switch to it for my novel and programming book reading. If they were to implement vertical text for Asian languages, I'd probably buy another Kobo device and set it to boot directly into koreader because that'd be the last use case I'd need nickel for. But nickel does have a sexier UI and the new Recently Added quick view feature is really handy.

Uncle Robin · 10-06-2022, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtiangha

If they were to implement vertical text for Asian languages

languageS? Just out of interest, other than Japanese which Asian languages are frequently written vertically?

rtiangha · 10-06-2022, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

languageS? Just out of interest, other than Japanese which Asian languages are frequently written vertically?

Chinese for sure. I'm not sure about Korean. You could do English too, lol.

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10-06-2022, 03:03 AM	#17
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,777 Karma: 16319690 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Ah, my apologies. I thought the firmware files were on pgaskin.net, but upon closer inspection I see that they are actually hosted on akamaihd.net. Thank you for the correction. You can manually downgrade or upgrade to any firmware supported by your particular Kobo model, regardless of which firmware you're currently running, right?

10-06-2022, 05:03 AM	#18
Deobulakenyo Guru Posts: 706 Karma: 2153490 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Stupid Philippines Device: Kobo Libra 2, Boyue Likebook P78	Patches, NickelMenu, Nickel Clock for me

10-06-2022, 05:03 AM	#19
Ashjuk Fanatic Posts: 500 Karma: 3498633 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Surrey, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, Sony PRS 600/650	The only patch I have on mine is Autoshelf, other than that it is the same as it came out of the box. I only ever read epubs, which I sideload directly from my PC, so I have never felt the need to patch it further. In fact I think I have only ever updated the firmware once since I bought it.

10-06-2022, 05:47 AM	#20
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,004 Karma: 111111255 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Irony is that the Kobo is open. It doesn't need jailbroken or rooted, yet unlike the Kindle I don't feel the need to apply any patches. I did install the menu thing & KOReader for PDF crop with page turning, but now that the Kobo 4.36 seems stable and has turn page & keep crop setting I don't have the KOReader. Calibre lets me manage Collections, Series, covers, synopsis (comment field in Calibre Metadata), Publisher info etc. The Kobo GUI works well to find ebooks or PDFs.

10-06-2022, 05:57 AM	#21
Mars95 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 1002 Join Date: Apr 2022 Device: AuraE2, Poke 3, PW5, Libra 2	#KDawg NickelMenu survives firmware updates, so after the initial setup (Which is dragging a single file to the device and adding the dropbox entry to a config file) you won't really have to fiddle with it any more.

10-06-2022, 09:36 AM	#24
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,502 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	I apply patches. Mostly to remove the third row from the home screen, enlarge cover thumbnails pretty much everywhere and some kepub layout stuff. The firmware is good enough that I really could do without the patches. But at this point I'm familiar enough with the process and enjoy the tinkering, so I do it.

10-06-2022, 11:36 AM	#27
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,784 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I do apply patches and I run NickelMenu. I also have KOReader installed. I've not used KOPReader for a while.

10-06-2022, 11:59 AM	#28
rtiangha Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 356531 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 'burta, Canada Device: Kobo Glo HD	I patch and mod, but honestly, ever since the latest nightlies of koreader allowed you to explicitly define generic CSS fonts for stuff like sans-serif, cursive, fantasy, etc, I'm really tempted to switch to it for my novel and programming book reading. If they were to implement vertical text for Asian languages, I'd probably buy another Kobo device and set it to boot directly into koreader because that'd be the last use case I'd need nickel for. But nickel does have a sexier UI and the new Recently Added quick view feature is really handy.