Touch Kobo Touch Firmware 2.0

[Corpsegoddess]

Hi guys! Back again with a few more observations and suggestions--again, most about shelves (because I am an obsessive organiser with a touch of OCD).

Observations:

1. Lately, when I've tried doing a search while creating a shelf, it crashes my Kobo back to startup. Not sure why this is happening, but it's pretty much been happening every time.

2. I previously mentioned my "Delayed Write Failed" issue, where the Kobo Desktop software would kick my KT offline. My husband recently bought a KT, so I decided to try and connect my device on his computer and see what happened. I have an older PC (running XP) and his is newer (running Windows 7). When I connected to his, I got a Windows message telling me there was a damaged file on my device, and I should repair it. I thought, "Oh sure, why not? This is new" and gave it a go. After that, the Kobo software on both our PC's doesn't kick me off, but now it can't complete the setup properly. I did a factory reset on my device, uninstalled and reinstalled the Desktop software, and it just hangs on "checking for books". The weird thing is, if I exit the setup, I'm still signed in on the Desktop, it has all my books; it's just that when I go to the e-reader tab, it tries to walk me through the incomplete set-up every time.

I just thought I'd add that bit for the Kobo people, in case they were interested. =P

Which leads me to...

Suggestions: (I know I mentioned some of these before, but I'll reiterate for completeness' sake)

1. OH MY GOD PLEASE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PRESERVE MY SHELVES SOMEWHERE. Seriously, I have set them up 3 times already, and now I have to do a fourth. Please, Kobo people, PLEASE. Upload them to a cloud. Add them to the Desktop shelves. Put them in my account. Make them a folder in my Kobo. But do something, so I can recover them if they get wiped. I'm about to enact the "Emergency Kobo-against-the-wall System" if I have to set them up again.

2. Give us a different way to view books when creating shelves. I want to be able to sort them by author as well as title. I want to view them in a larger format, like in the library--not just the one view.

3. Give us the slider button option for pagination when creating shelves, not just the arrows. I don't want to have to button-push to page through my whole list.

4. Give us the ability to add books to the shortlist directly from the library-view details menu.

5. Please add the title of the shelf to which I'm adding books, while I'm in it. I've got quite a few shelves created, and when I'm in the "add books" view, it doesn't tell me which shelf I'm in while I'm in it. Sometimes I get a brain fart and forget.

6. In the "details list" for each book in the Library view, please list to which shelves each book is assigned. This would be tremendously helpful for those of us who like to know we've assigned all books to their proper places. =P

I know I'll probably come up with more, but hopefully these will make their way to the devs. All in all, I'm still quite pleased with this update. Thanks, and keep it up!

IMPORTANT EDIT: Okay, so now I seem to have a big problem. I mentioned I just did the factory reset, and my Kobo Desktop setup wasn't completing. Well, it's still not completing. I can sign in to the Desktop, but the setup won't complete. It hangs on the "Step 3" part--"Configuring & Synching--Looking for Books". So, what this means is that I cannot now access my Kobo at all, as it is not able to be set up. Lord. Any suggestions? I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Desktop software, rebooted my PC--all the usual stuff. Gah.

[taming]

When I was stuck on step 3, I unplugged the USB, let the Touch do its thing, and then did a WiFi sync which took it the rest of the way.

I believe step 3 happens after the firmware is downloaded to your Touch. Safely disconnecting led to the processing of the update, but I had no books. I got the books by connecting over WiFi.

[Corpsegoddess]

Originally Posted by taming

When I was stuck on step 3, I unplugged the USB, let the Touch do its thing, and then did a WiFi sync which took it the rest of the way.

I believe step 3 happens after the firmware is downloaded to your Touch. Safely disconnecting led to the processing of the update, but I had no books. I got the books by connecting over WiFi.

The problem is that the Touch isn't doing anything now. I get the right-out-of-the-package "connect to the computer to setup" screen, and that's it. Even when I disconnect, it goes right back to that screen. So I can't access *anything* at all at this point.

Edit: I also used all my limited IT knowledge--I checked the Touch on "My Computer". It's working properly, the drivers are all updated, I uninstalled and reinstalled the Desktop software, and I checked this out on both my PC and my husband's--it does the same thing. Which means it's something with the Kobo not communicating with the Desktop software, and not the software itself.

[taming]

At this point, I would install 2.0 or 2.0.2 from the zip files listed in the developer's forum. That should take care of it.

You seem to know what you are doing, so I'm sure you're using version 3 of the desktop, too. Earlier versions will not install the new firmware. That's the only other thing I could think of.

[Corpsegoddess]

Originally Posted by taming

At this point, I would install 2.0 or 2.0.2 from the zip files listed in the developer's forum. That should take care of it.

You seem to know what you are doing, so I'm sure you're using version 3 of the desktop, too. Earlier versions will not install the new firmware. That's the only other thing I could think of.

I manage to successfully fumble my way through things. I'm self-taught on most computer issues, and what I don't know, I usually know how to look up.

Thanks so much for the help, by the way--I seemed to have solved one frustrating problem, only to be faced with a larger one.

Edit: Okay, I got that installed, the Kobo installed and updated it, restarted...and immediately returned to the "connect to your computer to get started" screen. Which I did, just to test it--and I'm still hanging on Step 3 of 4. So I still cannot get into my Kobo at all. *sigh*

[taming]

Unzip the file into the .kobo file on your device. Or unzip it into a file on your computer, and then copy the contents into .kobo. Safely remove the USB cable, and let the device process the update.

Most of us are self-taught, btw.

[Corpsegoddess]

Originally Posted by taming

Unzip the file into the .kobo file on your device. Or unzip it into a file on your computer, and then copy the contents into .kobo. Safely remove the USB cable, and let the device process the update.

Most of us are self-taught, btw.

That's good to know--I don't feel as much of a dolt, then.

Check my edit to my last message for the latest...

[taming]

I'm clueless, at this point. Open a support ticket with Kobo. There are two other possibilities.

One is that it is a problem with the Kobo servers tonight. This does happen and the weekend is when they mess with this sort of thing. You could go to bed and see if it is better tomorrow. The other is to uninstall the desktop, reboot, and then install again from the link on the kobo site: http://www.kobobooks.com/desktop.

You can contact Kobo Executive Care at this email address: KOBOExecutiveCare@kobo.com

PS: I never had to connect with the desktop after copying in the unzipped files. Then again, I never did it on a device that had never successively been set up. And for all intents and purposes, yours has not.

[Corpsegoddess]

Originally Posted by taming

I'm clueless, at this point. Open a support ticket with Kobo. There are two other possibilities.

One is that it is a problem with the Kobo servers tonight. This does happen and the weekend is when they mess with this sort of thing. You could go to bed and see if it is better tomorrow. The other is to uninstall the desktop, reboot, and then install again from the link on the kobo site: http://www.kobobooks.com/desktop.

You can contact Kobo Executive Care at this email address: KOBOExecutiveCare@kobo.com

PS: I never had to connect with the desktop after copying in the unzipped files. Then again, I never did it on a device that had never successively been set up. And for all intents and purposes, yours has not.

I sent an email already, but not to that address. I'll see what kind of response I get.

I'd be willing to try the uninstall again, although I've done it once (with the install from their site).

But as you said, I'll give it the night and see what happens. And thanks again for all the help and suggestions--very much appreciated.

[taming]

Originally Posted by Corpsegoddess

I'd be willing to try the uninstall again, although I've done it once (with the install from their site).

If you have already tried that, it is probably not worth doing again.

[taming]

If you can't access your reader, try this. You may want to wait until later tomorrow to see if it is a server issue tonight (It is actually early Sunday morning as i write this)

From this Kobo help page: http://kobo.intelliresponse.com/inde...esktop+upgrade

• While pressing and holding the Home button, turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
  
• Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
  
• Press gently until you feel a click. Don't release the Home button yet.
  
• You'll see a flashing light next to the power button.
  
• Remove the paperclip.
  
• When your eReader says "Restoring..." let go of the Home button.
  
• When your eReader finishes restoring, connect your it to your computer using your USB cable.
  
• Open Kobo Desktop, and sync your eReader.

PS: If you have been playing with this for several hours, you may want to let the reader charge for a bit before you go any further with resets.

[Corpsegoddess]

Originally Posted by taming

If you can't access your reader, try this. You may want to wait until later tomorrow to see if it is a server issue tonight (It is actually early Sunday morning as i write this)

From this Kobo help page: http://kobo.intelliresponse.com/inde...esktop+upgrade

• While pressing and holding the Home button, turn your eReader over and locate the small hole on the back.
  
• Slide one end of the paperclip into the hole.
  
• Press gently until you feel a click. Don't release the Home button yet.
  
• You'll see a flashing light next to the power button.
  
• Remove the paperclip.
  
• When your eReader says "Restoring..." let go of the Home button.
  
• When your eReader finishes restoring, connect your it to your computer using your USB cable.
  
• Open Kobo Desktop, and sync your eReader.

PS: If you have been playing with this for several hours, you may want to let the reader charge for a bit before you go any further with resets.

Okay, trying that now.

Edit: OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU. I know you're in Alberta and all, but maybe I can still mail you cookies. It's working! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I have been staring both forlornly and in an aggravated manner at my Kobo for the last 10 hours or so; you have saved me from much keyboard-headpounding.

From one Canadian night-owl to another--you rock my socks!

[John F]

Originally Posted by murg

Just discovered a new feature in 2.0.0 firmware.

Swipeing down the page brings up the mode where you can select text for highlighting or annotation.

Much simpler that selecting a word, getting the definition, closing the definition box, and then selecting the text.

I don't think i'm seeing this. When i swipe down, i get the menu with facebook in it at the bottom, and when i tap on a word I get the popup dictionary.

I tried on a side loaded epub. Maybe a kepub/epub difference?

[John F]

Here's a funny one... I bookmark a page. I then go to annotations. The bookmark says 1347% (some large number) into chapter. I tried this on two different epubs.

[taming]

Originally Posted by John F

Here's a funny one... I bookmark a page. I then go to annotations. The bookmark says 1347% (some large number) into chapter. I tried this on two different epubs.

It's on the Kobo list to fix . Not sure how high on the list, but they know about this one.