BOOX Latest Firmware V3.5

[denisuu]

This update also seems to break auto-rotate in KoReader.

[rem736]

i just got the poke5 and on first connecting to the internet, i was updated to version 3.5.
i got it registered with google and can download from the google play store.

i downloaded google play books and was able to download a book. but on opening the book with the google play books app, the app crashed. don't know if this is the general experience or if it's just me.

the other thing i was looking to be able to do is set the lighting to my liking and be able to turn lights on and off (with the on state remembering my settings). is there a way to do this? i can only turn off lighting by adjusting the sliders to 0 for both the cold and warm lights.

[Waldy]

Originally Posted by denisuu

This update also seems to break auto-rotate in KoReader.

I only managed it like this:
Uninstall KOReader (if already installed), go back to 2023-05-05_17-28_3.3.2_6745dfaa5, reinstall KOReader
and check rotations. I have installed version KOReader 2023.04 "Solar Panel".
Update to 2023-11-16_18-56_3.5_801526b7d (no matter with 281 MB or 1.5 GB).
After the update, auto-rotation still works.

But if you uninstall KOReader and reinstall it again, the automatic rotation will no longer work.

[rem736]

Originally Posted by rem736

i just got the poke5 and on first connecting to the internet, i was updated to version 3.5.
i got it registered with google and can download from the google play store.

i downloaded google play books and was able to download a book. but on opening the book with the google play books app, the app crashed. don't know if this is the general experience or if it's just me.

the other thing i was looking to be able to do is set the lighting to my liking and be able to turn lights on and off (with the on state remembering my settings). is there a way to do this? i can only turn off lighting by adjusting the sliders to 0 for both the cold and warm lights.

found the answers -
1. the issue with google play books is that i downloaded an audio book instead of an epub. i guess it doesn't work well with audio books.
2. found that the light bulb icon on the left of the slider turns the ligh off and on...and when on, it does remember the level it was set at.

[denisuu]

Originally Posted by Waldy

I only managed it like this:
Uninstall KOReader (if already installed), go back to 2023-05-05_17-28_3.3.2_6745dfaa5, reinstall KOReader
and check rotations. I have installed version KOReader 2023.04 "Solar Panel".
Update to 2023-11-16_18-56_3.5_801526b7d (no matter with 281 MB or 1.5 GB).
After the update, auto-rotation still works.

But if you uninstall KOReader and reinstall it again, the automatic rotation will no longer work.

Wow that's a lot of work! I think I'd rather rotate manually haha, if I count all the hours I would spend downgrading, updating, debloating etc... ticking the manual rotate button seems more time efficient.

Have you made a bug report at KoReaders Github or do you know if it has been reported?

[Renate]

The Poke3 just got 3.5!
Yeah, I know some people had it already, but I could never find it.
Besides, this is from just a few days ago.

Model:  Poke3
Finger: ONYX/Poke3/Poke3:10/2023-12-12_23-45_3.5_4687b1901/12699:user/dev-keys
Link:   http://firmware-us-volc.boox.com/729099b8ab981a2b2f4a3d29af22b0db/update.upx
Size:   1,669,183,019
MD5:    729099b8ab981a2b2f4a3d29af22b0db

Note: This has a new recovery in it (in case you had a custom one).

Oh, great. I'm running on empty.

[rsbrux]

Originally Posted by Renate

The Poke3 just got 3.5!
Yeah, I know some people had it already, but I could never find it.
Besides, this is from just a few days ago.

Model:  Poke3
Finger: ONYX/Poke3/Poke3:10/2023-12-12_23-45_3.5_4687b1901/12699:user/dev-keys
Link:   http://firmware-us-volc.boox.com/729099b8ab981a2b2f4a3d29af22b0db/update.upx
Size:   1,669,183,019
MD5:    729099b8ab981a2b2f4a3d29af22b0db

Note: This has a new recovery in it (in case you had a custom one).

Oh, great. I'm running on empty.

How do you like the update? My Poke 3 is still on 3.2.4, having missed the 3.3 update. I am leery of updating since I have read complaints online about both 3.3 and 3.5. The improvements in 3.5 seem to be mostly aimed at note-taking devices. What if anything is there worthwhile for a plain e-reader like Poke 3? What worries me most are the complaints I have read about the changes in lighting control. I am very fond of the right-hand slider gesture to regulate warm light intensity (see attachment). Does this still work with 3.5?

[Renate]

Originally Posted by rsbrux

How do you like the update?

Honestly? I've switched over to my Poke5 and hardly touch the Poke3.
Also, I hardly use any Onyx software so I don't have anything to say about the reader app.

3.5.1 is out (for some models).

Model:  Poke5P (English)
Finger: Onyx/Poke5P/Poke5P:11/2024-03-13_10-15_3.5.1_cb7eaef7e/7997:user/dev-keys
Link:   http://firmware-us.boox.com/c07f713991056ef618ce707994b0aa70/update.upx
Size:   1,629,542,746
MD5:    c07f713991056ef618ce707994b0aa70

[rsbrux]

Well, I took the plunge based on the operating instructions posted on help.boox.com, which indicated that the frontlight control still worked the way I like it. However, as it turns out, this is no longer the case since 3.5. The frontlight controls have been removed from "settings" and are now available only in the control panel. Instead of the previously separate controls for the "warm" and "cold" LEDs, the sliders now control intensity (brightness) and color (with cold at the "-" end and warm at the "+" end). By default these are automatically reset to "-" when the Boox goes into standby. The right edge slider, which previously controlled warm LED intensity, can now control various parameters. The default and the closest to the previous functionality is for it to control frontlight intensity. However, since the color temperature resets to cold every time the device is turned off, the right edge slide effectively controls cold light intensity now. The previous ease of use for me is broken, since I have to set the color temperature in the control panel every time I turn on the device instead of just sliding up the right-hand edge.

P.S. In the Boox Feedback section I asked about installing 3.3.x instead.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by rsbrux

The frontlight controls have been..

Yeah, I expected as much.
Onyx/Boox has always been so screwed up with the light controls.
I wrote an app that tried to deal with all devices.
Nowadays, I just set the brightness/color temp and leave it alone.
When it's bright out I don't notice. When it's dark out I see the front light.
Seriously, it doesn't use that much current.

[nellie27]

Originally Posted by rsbrux

Well, I took the plunge based on the operating instructions posted on help.boox.com, which indicated that the frontlight control still worked the way I like it. However, as it turns out, this is no longer the case since 3.5. The frontlight controls have been removed from "settings" and are now available only in the control panel. Instead of the previously separate controls for the "warm" and "cold" LEDs, the sliders now control intensity (brightness) and color (with cold at the "-" end and warm at the "+" end). By default these are automatically reset to "-" when the Boox goes into standby. The right edge slider, which previously controlled warm LED intensity, can now control various parameters. The default and the closest to the previous functionality is for it to control frontlight intensity. However, since the color temperature resets to cold every time the device is turned off, the right edge slide effectively controls cold light intensity now. The previous ease of use for me is broken, since I have to set the color temperature in the control panel every time I turn on the device instead of just sliding up the right-hand edge.

P.S. In the Boox Feedback section I asked about installing 3.3.x instead.

I updated my Nova Air C to 3.5 earlier this year (a newer update is available now?) And honestly? The lighting controls are very much improved, IMO.

Settings>power>auto turn on front light when waking the device> ON= the light settings are set right back to where they were before sleep.

Settings>gestures>bottom> ON = EITHER the ability to swipe up from the bottom edge (3 regions, 3 functions to choose, from many), OR a navigation bar, with 4 different orderings of icons.

Settings>gestures>side> up and down swipe gestures> ON
I have the left side assigned to brightness, the right side assigned to color temperature. I have show indicator ON. It is very convenient.

There are left-right swipe gestures on that page as well. You may find them useful. I don't really use them at this point.

I hope this helps.

[rsbrux]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have indeed set the light to come on automatically, and it remembers the last setting.