Kobo mandatory update

[DNSB]

Got an interesting email from Kobo this morning about a update for a good chunk of their older ereaders.

See You will need to perform a mandatory software update for your Kobo eReader by May 25, 2023. for the full text.

[rashkae]

If I'm understanding what they are not saying, this update is actually changing the image of the recovery partition, (so factory reset to original state will no longer be possible.).

I'm not saying this is a bad thing. SSL has moved on, and not re-setting to a broken state is a good thing.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by rashkae

If I'm understanding what they are not saying, this update is actually changing the image of the recovery partition, (so factory reset to original state will no longer be possible.).

I'm not saying this is a bad thing. SSL has moved on, and not re-setting to a broken state is a good thing.

That is what I thought as well with the comment about needing to use the Kobo Desktop app after that date to do the update. I suspect it is much like the last official update to the Mini's firmware that modified the recovery partition to allow TLS 1.2 and, possibly, TLS 1.3.

[Quoth]

Obviously updating security on the Update servers. No doubt there will also soon be a downloadable version for USB transfer, which can be preferable to WiFi.

No doubt it will be here:
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

[issybird]

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't heard from Kobo yet and I've got four devices on that list. I'll probably let the Glo which functions as my book repository stay as is; it's been years since it's updated. (Hint: it's still got tiles, the greatest of all home pages.)

[Calenorn]

Meh. It launches a Kobo plus ad.

Mystery solved.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

Meh. It launches a Kobo plus ad.

Mystery solved.

What does?
And if it's this update, and you got it already, why is it only selected models (mostly old) rather than all models?
No Kobo Plus ads on my Libra, Libra 2, Sage or Elipsa.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

Meh. It launches a Kobo plus ad.

Mystery solved.

It looks like that's it. I synced my Kobo Mini (on Kobo's "no longer supported" list) and I got the Kobo Plus ad (as you mentioned) and now have a Kobo Plus entry under Discover. It did not change my firmware version, still at 4.28.xx.

As for the email... it looks like it may be an extended date for an earlier notice posted on Kobo's website. Here...

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019690433

It looks like they were saying the same thing, except the cut-off date was March 21st, 2023...

I got a message from Kobo about updates to my device. What should I do?

If you have one of the Kobo eReaders below, you'll have to update your eReader using Wi Fi or Kobo Desktop by March 21, 2023 to continue reading on your eReader.

Note: If you update your eReader after March 21, 2023, you'll have to use Kobo Desktop to update your eReader.

Kobo Aura ONE (Model N709)
Kobo Aura Edition 2 (Model N236)
Kobo Touch 2.0 (Model N587)
Kobo Glo HD (Model N437)
Kobo Aura H2O (Model N250)
Kobo Aura (Model N514)
Kobo Aura HD (Model N204B)
Kobo Glo (Model N613)
Kobo Touch (Model N905, N905B, N905C)

Should mention they've now added more readers to the list. Now I wonder if any of these (above) will still sync — since I missed the (unknown) update requirement? Never received an email for the March 21st date.

[DNSB]

For what it's worth, none of my Kobo devices has updated OTA or using the Desktop app so I'm not certain if the updated firmware is available yet.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For what it's worth, none of my Kobo devices has updated OTA or using the Desktop app so I'm not certain if the updated firmware is available yet.

I only saw this thread now and promptly powerd up my H2O2 - it synched and, bupkiss

EDIT: Probably because it is, in fact, a Libra H2O

[rcentros]

I've upgraded an Aura HD, an Aura 2nd Edition, a Glo HD and a Touch 2.0. I can confirm that you get the Kobo Plus in the Discover Menu simply by syncing (without the update) so I don't know if the Mini (or any of them) downloaded what it needed or not for the May 25th deadline.

I can also confirm that the Kobos all feel a little clunkier with 4.35.xx. I'll probably downgrade them all to 4.28.xx (which I like).

One weird thing that happened is that my Aura 2nd Edition, which I bought at Walmart — it now goes to a Bol startup screen? I'm guessing I can still change it, but I think it's done that before. Curious as to why. When I first bought it, it went to a Kobo startup screen instead of a Walmart one, which also surprised me. I think somewhere in the middle it was going to a Walmart startup screen. Doesn't seem to want to settle on any one in particular.

[Aleron Ives]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I can also confirm that the Kobos all feel a little clunkier with 4.35.xx. I'll probably downgrade them all to 4.28.xx (which I like).

What's changed to make you want to downgrade?

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Quoth

What does?
And if it's this update, and you got it already, why is it only selected models (mostly old) rather than all models?
No Kobo Plus ads on my Libra, Libra 2, Sage or Elipsa.

I got Kobo Plus ads on my Elipsa, Clara HD, and Mini. I wonder why the discrepancy?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I got Kobo Plus ads on my Elipsa, Clara HD, and Mini. I wonder why the discrepancy?

Where are they? If home page I'd not see them as My Books is closest to the old Tiled screen with everything removed except books opened / being read.

Also most of my Kobo have sideLoadedMode=true. Only the Libra2 is synced (occasionally).
WiFi is off by default on all ereaders: Kindle, Boyue, Kobo etc.

The only emails I've ever had from Kobo are receipts of ebook purchases.

[JSWolf]

Does this mean I need to update my Kobo Aura H2O to 4.35.20400?