Touch Kobo Touch Firmware 1.9.16

[JazzJackRabbit]

Originally Posted by FJames

Let's not get crazy here. There's nothing wrong with offering recommendations or suggestions for other books you might want to read.

Correction: There is nothing wrong with offering recommendations or suggestions in the "shop" section of the Kobo, but NOT on the home screen. Home screen should be used only for navigation and managing the Kobo, NOT for advertising.

I just recently got BN Nook Simple Touch. I didn't want a Kindle so it was a choice between NST and KT. I spent probably close to 4-5 hours researching NST and KT, reading reviews, forums, watching youtube reviews. And in the end I chose Nook. Technically I think the Kobo is superior to Nook in every way, it has a lot more options to customize text, it allows to change full screen refresh rate between 1 and 6 pages, it supports more formats, and I like the physical shape better.

However, I'm primarily a "leftie" and I didn't want to do a swipe motion on Kobo every time I wanted to turn the page while holding device in my left hand. The physical buttons on the Nook won me over.

I have had my Nook for about two weeks and while I love it there we small things that bothered me somewhat. For example occasional text artifacts due to 6 page screen refresh, downloading sample books into my library without me asking for it, inability to download free public domain books from BN website without inputting my CC information first (what for? the books are free!), and cluttered home screen.

Yes, all of those things are pretty minor, but combined with other strengths of the Kobo ereader I started seriously considering giving Kobo a try and see if I like it better than the Nook. And then I came across the news of new firmware.

Let me say, I think the new firmware is a huge problem...

- I'm very anti-ad everything, I do not want any ads on my devices. I got my nook for $80, and aside from recommendation on the home screen it is more or less ad free (unlike Kindle which has the most intrusive ads of all 3). Now, why would I pay $130, or $50 more than what I paid for my NST to have the same kind of advertising? No way.
- Even if there is a way to disable or change the second list to "shortlist", the home screen functionality is still impacted, whereas previously to go to settings all one had to do was push physical home button, and then tap settings icon, now one has to do an extra step, he has to push physical home button, tap Home, and then tap Settings. Same with Library. I like my devices fast and responsive, I don't want wasting time getting to the settings or library, and ereaders are already slow, adding one extra step in order to go to the library is stupid.

That's not to mention other problems with the new firmware such as:

- double tap problem
- text rendering problems
- reports of slowdown compared to last version

And worst of all, it appears the Kobo is set to automatically update if you ever connect to WiFi. WTF? So the only way to avoid an upgrade is to permamently disable WiFi? WTF? This is beyond stupid.

End point to this rant being: I was willing try give Kobo a try until they pushed out this firmware, now I'm not buying it until they sort it out, including reverting back to normal home screen without extra advertising.

[voom]

However, I'm primarily a "leftie" and I didn't want to do a swipe motion on Kobo every time I wanted to turn the page while holding device in my left hand. The physical buttons on the Nook won me over.

There is a Kobo-setting for that to revert direction, so you can tap on the left side to proceed to the next page and tap right for previous page...

[JSWolf]

Has the very serious embedded font bug been fixed yet?

[Panatec]

Is this newest update legal?

When I bought the Kobo touch, I paid the price for one without Ads. Now I was forced to use one with Ads and have no way to go back. It seems that Kobo modified the contract afterwards without my agreement. Is it possible for me to return the product and get a full refund as Kobo broke the contract? Think about Kindle, Amazon gave a discount on Kindle with Ads and give you the option to buy the one without Ads. That to me is very reasonable, you pay what you get. It is not right that I pay one thing and later get another thing I do not want. The firmware is an integral part of the product, any improvement on functioning should be OK and encouraged, but not the main features, especially the Ads feature.

I do not know much about the law, can someone tell me if I am under protection of the law to return my Kobo touch?

[PeterT]

I view these not as ADS but simply as RECOMMENDATIONS of books I might like. It's not as if I am being shown prices or diddly squad like that.

All I am being shown is a picture of 5 books, and, if I like I can decide to view MY selected short-list of material.

I am STILL seeing the same number of books on the home mosaic that I have read recently.

I don't know but I am for one am getting fed up with all these complaints. Frankly; if people want to complain to Kobo, do it in a manner where they will actually see it; ie GetSatisfaction or on their Facebook site.

[thp1017]

Originally Posted by Panatec

Is this newest update legal?

I would be amazed if there aren't at least a few lines in the EULA that cover this, however much most people seem to dislike the new firmware version. Plus you are able to get rid of the ads by displaying your shortlist instead of the suggestions.

Originally Posted by PeterT

I don't know but I am for one am getting fed up with all these complaints.

I don't totally disagree - I'm not crazy about it, but it isn't the end of the world, and I'd much rather they fix the bugs that have popped up with this release, then worry about this lovely feature Though admittedly, I'd be a lot less irritated if they hadn't removed all of the previous firmware versions from their website, so that people could (more) easily roll back the update if they wanted.

[HarleyB]

I'm a bit puzzled by some of these recent posts - is the option to change the recommendations to show your shortlist still not working for some people?

While I am not a fan of the 1.9.16 firmware - I don't like the cluttered screen, the double tap issue, and the incredibly slow menu changes when I don't get the double tap - my home page has always shown my shortlist ever since I selected that setting.

[Xennex1170]

Originally Posted by Panatec

Is this newest update legal?

When I bought the Kobo touch, I paid the price for one without Ads. Now I was forced to use one with Ads and have no way to go back. It seems that Kobo modified the contract afterwards without my agreement. Is it possible for me to return the product and get a full refund as Kobo broke the contract? Think about Kindle, Amazon gave a discount on Kindle with Ads and give you the option to buy the one without Ads. That to me is very reasonable, you pay what you get. It is not right that I pay one thing and later get another thing I do not want. The firmware is an integral part of the product, any improvement on functioning should be OK and encouraged, but not the main features, especially the Ads feature.

I do not know much about the law, can someone tell me if I am under protection of the law to return my Kobo touch?

I'm not sure about the Kindle but as for the Kobo Touch I believe the only difference between the standard and ad-free versions was that the sleep and power-off mode displayed ads instead of a bookcover. So in view of that Kobo would not have not violated any agreements. It is somewhat annoying to have the recommondations and featured book lists on the homescreen however. I believe that it should belong under the "shop" page myself.

[Janet56]

Originally Posted by mconh

Sorry it was the N3_FULL not LIBRARY_FULL.

Thanks! I am starting now!

[ltr]

Originally Posted by PeterT

All I am being shown is a picture of 5 books, and, if I like I can decide to view MY selected short-list of material.

No, that's not true. This is only the case for those who didn't update when the new version first came out.

For those who updated right away, have a version where the Recommended list always returns when you turn the unit on, regardless of whether you selected the shortlist or not.

There are two versions of 1.9.16

ltr

[Panatec]

Even shortlist seems to be a workaround for the Ads, it is still not right that each time it sychronizes over wifi, some data got pushed into it - the data that has nothing to do with me but will occupy the memory. Is it so difficult to have an option to shut it off totally? Is it demanding to go back to former firmware and have the option to bypass the version I do not want? Why pulled the link off? Strange.

[Sound]

Originally Posted by JazzJackRabbit

Correction: There is nothing wrong with offering recommendations or suggestions in the "shop" section of the Kobo, but NOT on the home screen. Home screen should be used only for navigation and managing the Kobo, NOT for advertising.

According to whom and what? show me where it says that's what the home page should be used for.

Originally Posted by ltr

No, that's not true. This is only the case for those who didn't update when the new version first came out.

For those who updated right away, have a version where the Recommended list always returns when you turn the unit on, regardless of whether you selected the shortlist or not.

There are two versions of 1.9.16

ltr

1) The update switched in a few hours. The number of users having the old version is very small. It's been weeks since the update went live, do the math on how many people have the broken version and even if that's the case it was mentioned a few pages back that affected users can get the new version. Contact customer care or factory reset if you don't want to. You have a choice to do something instead of just whining.

3) Again posted many times before, if you don't like it switch to the Shortlist.

Originally Posted by PeterT

I don't know but I am for one am getting fed up with all these complaints. Frankly; if people want to complain to Kobo, do it in a manner where they will actually see it; ie GetSatisfaction or on their Facebook site.

+1

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by psycholily

This one posted earlier worked for me: https://rapidshare.com/files/3688687324/1914.rar

The password is mobileread

Hi all,

The link no longer works. Would someone be willing to upload a copy of 1.9.14 for those that would like to revert.

Thanks

[JazzJackRabbit]

Originally Posted by voom

There is a Kobo-setting for that to revert direction, so you can tap on the left side to proceed to the next page and tap right for previous page...

Thanks for letting me know. Quick google showed this feature was added after the initial Kobo release which is why none of the reviews I've read mentioned it. It does make life a little easier, but still not ideal, I'm primarily a leftie, I hold my book in my left hand about 75% of the time, but there are times when I occasionally switch hands during reading sessions. If I set my Kobo to go forward by tapping on left side I could use swipe motion on the 25% of the time when I hold my reader in my right hand. Not ideal, but better than it is right now. I'll wait for more feedback on the most recent firmware or maybe until next one if they decide to make second bar optional and then decide if I want to try Kobo.

[ltr]

Originally Posted by Sound

1) The update switched in a few hours. The number of users having the old version is very small.

I don't see how this makes them any less important. If there was a version that repaired this, then why not make it available to the unfortunates who were affected.

if that's the case it was mentioned a few pages back that affected users can get the new version. Contact customer care or factory reset if you don't want to.

Why should anyone have to so a factory reset. You lose your stats. Why can't they issue a proper update to correct it?

You have a choice to do something instead of just whining.

Nice.

ltr