Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

https://youtu.be/-smMNyUhJak

Good E readers review

Overall, better than they usually do. But, for some reason they didn't update the firmware. They are probably running the factory installed versions. The review in the first post uses later firmware. The main difference is the menu and icon layout when reading. It isn't the release version, but the layout is what the release version should use.

[mathil]

The top and bottom margins in the Goodereader review look really small compared to the first review. Is this because they didn't update it? If it is possible to change the margin size without patching, that's going to make a lot of people here really happy.
The lightning also looks pretty even (though we're not sure if it would actually show on video...)

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by mathil

The top and bottom margins in the Goodereader review look really small compared to the first review. Is this because they didn't update it? If it is possible to change the margin size without patching, that's going to make a lot of people here really happy.
The lightning also looks pretty even (though we're not sure if it would actually show on video...)

No, they didn't update it. As I said in the post above yours, the first review is using firmware a lot closer to what will be released. And what you see there is pretty much what you will see on release.

[Uncle Robin]

I will be interested hear from H2O2 owners who get one to see how much difference they say the extra 0.2 inches makes. If the new firmware finds its way to H2O2, the only difference that is relevant to me would be the screen size, since buttons aren't big deal for me personally.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by koboy

the background appears to be grey rather than white.

All eink backgrounds are grey, and the white case makes it look worse. As soon as they put the light on, it's much whiter.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by meeera

All eink backgrounds are grey, and the white case makes it look worse. As soon as they put the light on, it's much whiter.

Back in the days of gray-on-gray lesser resolution and no frontlight, I preferred a black surround as it heightened contrast. Now, I'd love a white bezel as seamlessly extending the look of the page.

However, my devices are more than good enough that I can't justify any upgrades absent breakage. Begone, gadget lust!

[geek1011]

So, this looks pretty interesting, especially the new firmware. It seems some of the patches will become irrelevant, but I can think of a few more I'll probably do for this version. Also, note that the patches for this version will probably be delayed by up to a week, as a lot has changed in the structure (I can think of at least 10 patches which will need a rewrite), and I'm also quite busy at the moment (which is why you haven't seen me around much for the last few weeks).

And some patches which will probably be deprecated:
- GeoffR / Always show chapter name in slider menu
- geek1011 / Both page turn buttons go next (https://youtu.be/CgZd3zbC0Aw?t=544, now it supports turning in reverse, which might be good enough for everyone)
- GeoffR / Clock display duration
- GeoffR / Reduce top/bottom page spacer
- geek1011 / Set reading footer height

And some patches which will probably need rewriting:
- GeoffR / Custom footer (page number text)
- GeoffR / Fix three KePub fullScreenReading bugs (this is probably not even needed anymore, so I might just remove it if my test books work)
- GeoffR / Keyboard ... (this actually broke in 4.16.13162)
- geek1011 / Remove PDF page turn arrows
- jackie_w / Custom menubar - reduce height by ...
- oren64 / Increase size of kepub chapter progress chart (this actually broke in 4.16.13162) (this may have been removed completely anyways...)
- geek1011 / Replace adobe page numbers toggle with invert screen
- geek1011 / Both page turn sides go next
- GeoffR / Custom left & right margins
- GeoffR / KePub stylesheet additions

And some new patches:
- Remove the bottom progress bar (although I like it)
- Change the design of the page preview arrows (make them wider/taller/smaller)
- Disable page preview
- Change header/footer margins
- Probably a few more

These lists will be finished later, as I look around at the review videos.

Overall, I like the new design, but it'll be a nightmare to update the patches if they changed as much as I suspect.

And, davidfor, did they get rid of the kepub stats view (I didn't notice it in the reviews so far)? I really liked that chapter chart.

[HLS]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I will be interested hear from H2O2 owners who get one to see how much difference they say the extra 0.2 inches makes. If the new firmware finds its way to H2O2, the only difference that is relevant to me would be the screen size, since buttons aren't big deal for me personally.

To me 0.2 is not enough to buy another KOBO. Now if they only had a trade in program where i can trade in all my past ereaders but right now i have too many. Just now I charged all my readers and tablets and I count 10 lol

[koboy]

Originally Posted by meeera

All eink backgrounds are grey, and the white case makes it look worse. As soon as they put the light on, it's much whiter.

imho it looks more grey than usual/some older models, but hey each to their own of course.

it's too big anyway for my own particular tastes.

best wishes koboy

[jackie_w]

@geek1011,

Thanks for the early warning of what to expect for patches for the next firmware.

Do you have early access to the .fw .zip file? If so I wouldn't mind a look myself to get prepared.

[rashkae]

Originally Posted by geek1011

- geek1011 / Both page turn buttons go next (https://youtu.be/CgZd3zbC0Aw?t=544, now it supports turning in reverse, which might be good enough for everyone)

That option has been there since the very beginning on the Forma.

- GeoffR / Fix three KePub fullScreenReading bugs (this is probably not even needed anymore, so I might just remove it if my test books work)

<scrubs the evidence before moderators notice.> but I still do not see from the reviews how the ability to go full screen is implemented. Regardless, as far as I know, the old full screen we used to enable in the ini doesn't work anymore, and that was the one that needed these workarounds.. (In other words, yes, this is deprecated.)

- Remove the bottom progress bar (although I like it)

Looks like that option comes already baked in:
https://youtu.be/CgZd3zbC0Aw?t=546 (last check box at the bottom)

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by rashkae

That option has been there since the very beginning on the Forma.

Then I'll keep that one, but it'll need a rewrite.

I gather that David was trolling us when he pointed out the remove footer/header options are removed, but I still do not see from the reviews how the ability to go full screen is implemented. Regardless, as far as I know, the old full screen we used to enable in the ini doesn't work anymore, and that was the one that needed these workarounds.. (In other words, yes, this is deprecated.)

Exactly.

Looks like that option comes already baked in:
https://youtu.be/CgZd3zbC0Aw?t=546 (last check box at the bottom)

Oops, looks like I missed that (I'm not fluent in Italian).

[Gone]

Originally Posted by davidfor

They are probably running the factory installed versions. The review in the first post uses later firmware.

One of the first thing he says in the video is that they updated to the latest firmware availabe as of september 5th.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

@geek1011,

Thanks for the early warning of what to expect for patches for the next firmware.

Do you have early access to the .fw .zip file? If so I wouldn't mind a look myself to get prepared.

Nope . I was looking for that myself, but didn't find it this time. I wonder if there are any Libras on display in stores...

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by geek1011

Nope . I was looking for that myself, but didn't find it this time. I wonder if there are any Libras on display in stores...

Ah. Your post was quite detailed so I thought you may have got your sticky little mitts on a copy.

I'm not really interested in installing the firmware for now, just getting a look at the nickel and libnickel.so.1.0.0 files.