Kobo mandatory update

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by rcentros

How do you find the SQLite version? I've got one Mini that I've linked (and got the Plus ad and menu) and one that I haven't synced and I'm curious if the SQLite versions are different.

I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're asking. The SQLite version is likely to be 3.something, I think, but I don't think it's relevant to this thread.

If you're asking about the Kobo database version, I already gave a clue in the bit of my post you quoted, namely the DbVersion table contained in the .kobo/KoboReader.sqlite file. The DbVersion table is a single cell, i.e. 1rowx1col, containing an integer showing the Kobo database version. I think this needs to change every time Kobo change their database schema, e.g. add/delete tables, add/delete columns in a table (... and probably many more things).

Or maybe you're asking how to see what's in your KoboReader.sqlite file? In which case you need any SQLite browser app of your choice, e.g. DB Browser for SQLite or SQLiteSpy are both free.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Does this mean we need updated drivers because of these database changes?

Not necessarily. It depends which tables and columns the calibre KOBOTOUCH driver actually accesses. I don't know the details but I imagine it's a small percentage of the total tables/columns. I'd be surprised if the driver used either of the tables I mentioned above in post #63, especially the GoogleDrive-related one which doesn't yet exist on most Kobos in the wild.

Caveat: I don't have a full list of the differences between v171 and v174 because I don't know how to easily do that. I just mentioned a couple of differences which were immediately obvious.

Originally Posted by Crescendo63

Any opinion about the updated and side-loaded content?

There isn't any new firmware to update to right now. The latest available version for the Kobo Glo is still 4.35.20400 which was released Dec 2022. That may change this week, who knows? I think @DNSB is part of the Kobo beta program so he may know more but maybe he's not allowed to tell us.

If you're just talking about connecting your Kobo to Kobo Desktop then I can say that I've done it many times and it has never removed any of my sideloaded content.

[Rid]

Originally Posted by Crescendo63

I live in Italy, and I got a Kobo Aura.
I'm subscribed to the Rakuten Kobo shop, and I received the update mail on 20/04/2023 (in Italian, of course).

I didn't try the update yet, since I'm afraid it could erase any side-loaded content, and most of my books are side-loaded (I do monthly backups of the Kobo).

The mail, of course, talks only about the Kobo Library books (the ones bought or downloaded from their store). They never cared about side-loaded content (of course, because there's no money in it for them).

Any opinion about the updated and side-loaded content?

If you worry about bookmarks and annotation etc then try Calibre and update all of your reading stats. It may not be perfect, as it is not a backup tool for the Kobo. The only problem with using Calibre as a backup is that you have to manually update it periodically.

If you lost your Aura device how would that affect you, as apposed to having all of your books erased after completing the update?

[Crescendo63]

Originally Posted by Rid

If you worry about bookmarks and annotation etc then try Calibre and update all of your reading stats. It may not be perfect, as it is not a backup tool for the Kobo.

As I already stated, I already do a monthly backup of my Kobo. Thus, if the update would delete my content, I would restore the backup.
(ask me how I know: years ago an update erased everything )

But I'd prefer avoiding that (or, at least, be informed in advance), that's why I'm asking about the update effects.
From the discussion here, looks like the update is mostly about updated protocols, so IMHO shouldn't be disruptive for contents.

Regarding Calibre, I already use that for conversions and fetching news - and nothing else. I find it a bit intrusive.

[Rid]

Originally Posted by Crescendo63

As I already stated, I already do a monthly backup of my Kobo. Thus, if the update would delete my content, I would restore the backup.
(ask me how I know: years ago an update erased everything )

But I'd prefer avoiding that (or, at least, be informed in advance), that's why I'm asking about the update effects.
From the discussion here, looks like the update is mostly about updated protocols, so IMHO shouldn't be disruptive for contents.

Regarding Calibre, I already use that for conversions and fetching news - and nothing else. I find it a bit intrusive.

Dude just don't do the update... Sounds like you do not need it anyway.

If you have FOMO issues no one here can help you. Its not like Kobo are going to just drop all of those devices from being able to access the store. Most likely it will be a forced update that you need to complete before they will allow you to connect to the online store.

P.S. Get off the smack.

[Kindleing]

Originally Posted by Ashjuk

From what I have read in this thread this is less about 'global internet security standards', and more about pushing unwanted adverts for Kobo+

The other day I updated a Kobo Aura H2O Edition 1 from Version 4.15.12920 to 4.35.20400. One time after rebooting following the update I got a pop-up ad for Kobo Plus. It went away and I haven't seen it since. Now sometimes there is a small notice at the bottom of the Home screen which says "Read as much as you want with a Kobo Plus subscription". This notice is next to "Find your next book in Kobo Plus or our store" and the other little blurbs that rotate through the Home screen.

It does not show at all on the My Books screen where I usually leave my Kobo. Except for the one-time pop-up I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't read about it here.

[mortimer7]

hi, I have a kobo Aura 6" with firmware 4.33.19608 (patched). What is the correct way to update? Do I manually download last firmware (4.35.20400) or do I update from the kobo menu?

What happens if I don't update by May 25th?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by mortimer7

hi, I have a kobo Aura 6" with firmware 4.33.19608 (patched). What is the correct way to update? Do I manually download last firmware (4.35.20400) or do I update from the kobo menu?

What happens if I don't update by May 25th?

You can do it either way. Just remember that you will need to redo your patches.

If you don't update by May 25th and you do a complete factory reset your Aura, it will not be able to connect to Kobo's servers to complete the setup. You can still complete it using the Kobo desktop app on Windows or Mac.

Note that I am differentiating between the factory reset in the settings menu which does not revert to the factory firmware and the factory reset from the developer options menu or the manual factory reset using the reset button 5 times which will revert to the factory firmware, lose all your sideloaded books, etc.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Kindleing

The other day I updated a Kobo Aura H2O Edition 1 from Version 4.15.12920 to 4.35.20400. One time after rebooting following the update I got a pop-up ad for Kobo Plus. It went away and I haven't seen it since. Now sometimes there is a small notice at the bottom of the Home screen which says "Read as much as you want with a Kobo Plus subscription". This notice is next to "Find your next book in Kobo Plus or our store" and the other little blurbs that rotate through the Home screen.

It does not show at all on the My Books screen where I usually leave my Kobo. Except for the one-time pop-up I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't read about it here.

You will notice a Kobo Plus item in the filter drop down menu.

[mortimer7]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You can do it either way. Just remember that you will need to redo your patches.

If you don't update by May 25th and you so a complete factory reset your Aura, it will not be able to connect to Kobo's servers to complete the setup. You can still complete it using the Kobo desktop app on Windows or Mac.

Note that I am differentiating between the factory reset in the settings menu which does not revert to the factory firmware and the factory reset from the developer options menu or the manual factory reset using the reset button 5 times which will revert to the factory firmware, lose all your sideloaded books, etc.

done. Thank You!

[rcentros]

I'm still wondering if the 4.35.x update is what we need before May 25th, or if they're talking about something newer.

[toady42]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm still wondering if the 4.35.x update is what we need before May 25th, or if they're talking about something newer.

Find attached a screenshot from the following page https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us

eReader Update

If you received an email asking to update your eReader by May 25, 2023, please follow the steps in this article. Your eReader should have version number 4.35 or higher.

[Grahamk]

So what’s the concensus. I have the Aura One. Is the update ok? Will it erase my side loaded books? Thanks

[DNSB]

The update is ok. It should not erase your sideloaded books. If you are worried, you can power cycle your Aura One and then connect your Aura One to your computer and run a check on the KoboReader.sqlite file as I have seen issues when the database has corruption issues that were exposed during the restart after the firmware update.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by toady42

Find attached a screenshot from the following page https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us

eReader Update

If you received an email asking to update your eReader by May 25, 2023, please follow the steps in this article. Your eReader should have version number 4.35 or higher.

Well, I guess that answers the question. Thanks. So, if I update my Kobo Mini to 4.35.x, I wonder if it will work (with my online Kobo library) after May 25th?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Well, I guess that answers the question. Thanks. So, if I update my Kobo Mini to 4.35.x, I wonder if it will work after May 25th?

I suspect that as long as you don't factory reset it, you should be okay. In the case of a factory reset, you might still be able to use the Kobo Desktop app though that might be iffier since the Mini is going officially out of support.