Clara HD Firmware 4.20.14627 [HOAX -ed.]

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by makara

I found it.

Found what?

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by skldmf

Here: https://www116.zippyshare.com/v/6mq2vEsX/file.html

Hmm. I'm on my phone, so I can't do a full analysis at the moment, but here's what kobo-versionextract says:

patrick@android:/sdcard/Download$ gzip -k kobo.tar -c > KoboRoot.tgz
patrick@android:/sdcard/Download$ kobo-versionextract KoboRoot.tgz 
Revision: a73cfcc5e1253fea12c53ffdaa69de3ce32ed01b
 Version: 4.20.14627
    Date: December 2019

I'm still not convinced though, as this is pretty easy to manipulate. But, if this is a hoax, it is a somewhat elaborate one.

Edit: I've also attached the nickel CSS in the file.

Edit 1: I'll take a much closer look at the firmware files either tonight or tomorrow, depending on how busy I am. Afterwards, I'll probably be able to make a definitive statement on if this is fake or real (although I'm still leaning towards the fake side).

[skldmf]

Originally Posted by rtiangha

Post a photo of the Settings->Device Information screen that shows the firmware version; that'll help.

I finally figured how to upload a image for a post. Here it is.

[rtiangha]

Originally Posted by skldmf

I finally figured how to upload a image for a post. Here it is.

Thanks! Someone asked for the affiliate information. Sometimes Kobo pushes out firmware to certain devices first in a phased roll out for testing purposes. On the Clara, there's a file called affiliate.conf in the .kobo directory. If you open that file up in Notepad, it'll tell you what the affiliate is (basically, it's the business partner that sells the Kobo reader). If you could list what it says, it could be helpful since it might be a new affiliate that geek1011's firmware update scripts doesn't check yet for new firmware. Thanks again!

[skldmf]

Originally Posted by rtiangha

Thanks! Someone asked for the affiliate information. Sometimes Kobo pushes out firmware to certain devices first in a phased roll out for testing purposes. On the Clara, there's a file called affiliate.conf in the .kobo directory. If you open that file up in Notepad, it'll tell you what the affiliate is (basically, it's the business partner that sells the Kobo reader). If you could list what it says, it could be helpful since it might be a new affiliate that geek1011's firmware update scripts doesn't check yet for new firmware. Thanks again!

Is this it?

[General]
affiliate=null

[rtiangha]

Originally Posted by skldmf

Is this it?

[General]
affiliate=null

Yep; thanks! Now maybe someone else with the same device can change affiliates and see if they get the same firmware too.

But my guess is that this firmware version was accidentally pushed out in-between that 15 minute window that geek1011's firmware checker checks things. Or this is a beta firmware that's sent to testers and your device is a lucky one. But either way, now that definitive proof of this firmware is out in the wild, hopefully those that are under NDA can now talk about it. So thanks again!

Anyway, welcome to the forums and thanks for the help! We Canadians have to stick together after all. ;-)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by skldmf

I cant find the patches for this firmware.

That's because there aren't any patches as this firmware doesn't exist to the public. If it was available, there would be a proper thread about it.

[skldmf]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's because there aren't any patches as this firmware doesn't exist to the public. If it was available, there would be a proper thread about it.

I don't work at Kobo, you know... and, if you had a brain, you would realize this is a "proper" thread, whatever is that. so stop being a header and use your eyes to the thread in font of your face. If you have something useful to say than say it politely and courteousely.

My wife also got this firmware update on she kobo. The affliate file says affiliate=kobo. I'm not the only one. And, if i understand, Makara has it too.

[skldmf]

I think i was a bit rude and hypocritical to JSWolf in my last post and apologize. But, I did put time into posting what people on this thread wanted, and wish you would not say my work is "improper".

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by rtiangha

But either way, now that definitive proof of this firmware is out in the wild, hopefully those that are under NDA can now talk about it. So thanks again!

I'm a bit confused here. Why on earth would the fact that a certain firmware level has been seen allow people who have signed an NDA to talk about it?

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

[rtiangha]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm a bit confused here. Why on earth would the fact that a certain firmware level has been seen allow people who have signed an NDA to talk about it?

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

Because if this was a Beta firmware that was accidentally pushed out, then those in the Beta program on these forums might not be able to acknowledge/talk about it unless there was undeniable proof of it existing (hence, the desire for a screen shot).

Anyways, you'll notice at the beginning of the thread, there were many people skeptical about this firmware version, even though it was already "seen". Someone even captured the URL but it's now a dead link. So is this an official public firmware release or not? Usually by now, there'd be a lot of people talking about new features and bug fixes and whatnot but there aren't this time. However, I'll chalk it up to things being slower due to the holidays. I'm sure it'll sort itself out soon enough. But for now, I'm enjoying the mystery. It's the most firmware-speculation-related fun I've had in a while, lol.

[rtiangha]

Originally Posted by skldmf

I think i was a bit rude and hypocritical to JSWolf in my last post and apologize. But, I did put time into posting what people on this thread wanted, and wish you would not say my work is "improper".

Don't worry; you did nothing wrong. You got a new firmware version, you made a post about it asking about it. You broke no rules and I agree; Jon was a bit rude there.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rtiangha

Don't worry; you did nothing wrong. You got a new firmware version, you made a post about it asking about it. You broke no rules and I agree; Jon was a bit rude there.

It seems like it may be a mistaken firmware release. The URL is dead and it doesn't show anywhere.

There won't be any patches for this firmware unless it becomes officially released.

[rtiangha]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There won't be any patches for this firmware unless it becomes officially released.

I think that's up to geek1011 to decide and whether or not he wants to take up the burden of supporting this version of the firmware if it does turns out to be a Beta release. He might if it's not all that different from firmware 4.19. Or he might not unless it was rolled out to a lot more devices. But that's something only he can answer and not anyone else so it isn't right to speak on behalf of him.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by skldmf

My wife also got this firmware update on she kobo. The affliate file says affiliate=kobo. I'm not the only one. And, if i understand, Makara has it too.

This release appears to have been a mistake. Kobo have said they didn't release anything. I think that a beta build was put up mistakenly with the wrong rules for who could get it. The rules appear to have been fixed quickly and it was a complete fluke that you managed to download it in the brief period it was available. The update file doesn't appear to be there now, so maybe it was never meant to have been uploaded.

As can be seen in later posts, @skldmf is playing games and just wasting our time.