Kobo future firmware feature request thread

[John F]

I would still like to see a simple reading mode: being able to enable tap only/swipe only/or both, with no other UI actions other then a long press anywhere brings up some menu.

I can appreciate that some people want to highlight, get the last three reads, are bringing up the menu often, want to fast forward, wiki, dictionary, ...

Too often I get some unexpected/unwanted behavior.

[Paul Reader]

Originally Posted by meeera

Ah, it thinks you're vertical-swiping! Turning off swiping to turn page wouldn't stop it from detecting vertical swipes. Do you have a hand tremor? Which device is it? I've never had that happen, and never heard complaints about it, so it's not really a typical or widespread issue.

I agree with the poster who suggests to try deliberately side-swiping. Another alternative, if your hands are that unsteady, would be a remote page turner or a Kobo with page turn buttons.

It's Kobo Clara BW. No hand tremor. As I said, I assumed I had pretty steady hands. I can't imagine how someone with physical challenges could use this device.

As for just always using swipe to turn a page, I think that's a hack instead of a real solution. Bear in mind that ppl with one hand are often not holding the device when they read. Now imagine it's the right hand that's missing. The Smart Cover thingie doesn't add a ton of friction to the surface of a table and the Kobo is extremely light. You could try stabbing at the Kobo with your index finger and watch it rotate or slide backwards a little bit (or a lot) each time. Or you perform weird left-hand motions like trying to get your left-hand fingers behind to stabilize, yet get a tap on the right-hand side of the screen with your thumb. And now that tap has to be a left swipe instead. Fine, perhaps, if you large hands and no mobility problems. Not great if you have smaller hands or limited flexibility.

I recently spent two years with a serious injury and was unable to get my right hand anywhere near a Kobo during this time, so this comes from experience. I would not have been happy with swipe for page turns.

From my perspective vertical swiping a new feature: it never existed until a hardware or firmware update gave it to me, I don't know which as I was running years old firmware on my Clara SE. Unfortunately vertical swiping is the opposite of helpful (for me), and there is already a widely known way--dare I say primary way--to pop up the top/bottom menus. In fact, it seems several ppl here didn't even know about this feature!

[toady42]

Originally Posted by Paul Reader

Can we have a way to disable swiping while reading? Currently it is so sensitive that when I tap to turn a page the Kobo thinks I am swiping and pops up the header and footer menus/control-bars/whatever. I'd like to think I have steady hands, but I guess not.

This is super frustrating, happening 25% of the time. I'm pretty much giving up on reading with the Kobo. This might even go back to the store. My previous Kobo did not have this problem, then again, it was running firmware from years ago, never updated. Too bad it died.

Here's a post from reddit which may be related to what you are experiencing: https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/commen..._difficulties/

There was some speculation on the Kobo subreddit that the P365 model of the Clara BW has an issue where it brings up the menu when tapping or swiping to change the page.

One person even commented that they exchanged their P365 model for a N365B and the issue was not present on the N365B.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/commen...mment/nmlbppy/

[Paul Reader]

Originally Posted by toady42

Here's a post from reddit which may be related to what you are experiencing: https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/commen..._difficulties/

There was some speculation on the Kobo subreddit that the P365 model of the Clara BW has an issue where it brings up the menu when tapping or swiping to change the page.

One person even commented that they exchanged their P365 model for a N365B and the issue was not present on the N365B.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/commen...mment/nmlbppy/

OMG, yes! This is exactly it. I also get the double-page turn the OP of that Reddit threads mentions. So this is bad news I suppose. It's been a known firmware problem for the better part of a year and no one cares to fix it. Judging by my serial number I also have a P365 version. Since P comes after N I can only assume the P models are the new ones, so my chance of finding an N model is zero to none. Time for Kindle

Thanks everyone who confirmed I was not crazy ... and confirmed I don't have shaky hands after all ... !

[Tibor]

Originally Posted by Paul Reader

OMG, yes! This is exactly it. I also get the double-page turn the OP of that Reddit threads mentions. So this is bad news I suppose. It's been a known firmware problem for the better part of a year and no one cares to fix it. Judging by my serial number I also have a P365 version. Since P comes after N I can only assume the P models are the new ones, so my chance of finding an N model is zero to none. Time for Kindle

Thanks everyone who confirmed I was not crazy ... and confirmed I don't have shaky hands after all ... !

For your information I have exactly the same problem. I will write support to pressing.
Meanwhile I changed yesterday the swyping area in options from default to next page at the bottom and last page in the upper side and I was able to stay without problems for about 4 hours of reading. Of course you have to pay attention to not though the middle area which is now the one with open the menu. Can you try and comment us?

I think it is also important to notify support to press for a fix, so f you could do it if would be nice.