Kobo future firmware feature request thread

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Alexia

One way or another - optional clock while reading (like in kindle) will satisfy those who want a clock and those who don't want it.

Too simplistic, I suspect. I predict that if/when Kobo introduce such an option it will be closely followed by loud forum whining ...

... it's at the top, I want it at the bottom.
... it's on the left, I want it on the right.
... it's too big.
... it's too small.
... it's black when I wanted grey.
... it's using the wrong font
... why can't I show Date/Battery level/Brightness as well as Time
... and on and on ...

Luckily NanoClock (and it's predecessor MiniClock) anticipated all of that and more. Anyone who wants their own idea of the perfect perma-clock enough will make the effort to install/configure it. The rest will continue to vent in threads like this. May as well howl at the moon, as Kobo don't read this thread, as far as I know.

[Alexia]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Too simplistic, I suspect. I predict that if/when Kobo introduce such an option it will be closely followed by loud forum whining ...

... it's at the top, I want it at the bottom.
... it's on the left, I want it on the right.
... it's too big.
... it's too small.
... it's black when I wanted grey.
... it's using the wrong font
... why can't I show Date/Battery level/Brightness as well as Time
... and on and on ...

Luckily NanoClock (and it's predecessor MiniClock) anticipated all of that and more. Anyone who wants their own idea of the perfect perma-clock enough will make the effort to install/configure it. The rest will continue to vent in threads like this. May as well howl at the moon, as Kobo don't read this thread, as far as I know.

Again, why one sided thinking?... People will whine about location of clock - so let's just avoid it and not make this option at all...

General public don't care or can't install any additional programs. They want to have the option right there in the setting in the reader to tick or not. Those people will either use this clock (no matter location) or not. Just like in KINDLE.

IF Small percentage of people want to whine about location, they can play with mini or nano clock.

But for now, majority of people who can't install mini or nano clock whine about NOT having clock - anywhere.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Alexia

Again, why one sided thinking?... People will whine about location of clock - so let's just avoid it and not make this option at all...

General public don't care or can't install any additional programs. They want to have the option right there in the setting in the reader to tick or not. Those people will either use this clock (no matter location) or not. Just like in KINDLE.

IF Small percentage of people want to whine about location, they can play with mini or nano clock.

And why should the small amount of people who whine about not having a clock be catered for? And it is a small amount. The number who are interested and commented on it is a small number relative to the population of this forum. And it will be an even smaller percentage of all ereader users.

And why are you allowed to whine about not having a clock, but, then no one would be allowed to whine about the position? Are you saying that your opinion of the position is better than anyone elses? Or that you don't care where it goes as long as it is there.

And @jackie_w's comment also demonstrates it is not just "add an option to show the clock". Someone has to:

• Work out if it is a desirable feature. You want it, but, does even 1% of the users want it?
• Work out what the option should be called. And yes, that is important and a lot harder than you think.
• Decide if it is on or off by default. Which also affects the above.
• Device where the clock should be displayed.
• Rearrange the screen to work with the clock.
• Decide where in the options it will go and rebuild them.
• Work out what else adding this will affect.
• Write all the code to handle the options and display of the clock.
• Test all this.
• Fix the bugs.
• Update the documentation.
• Make sure that the support people are ready for the complaints and demands for it to be changed.

I find the demands in this forum for "just add an option" to by quite funny as it never is that simple. And they just don't understand that there is a lot more work than that. Of course, it's also annoying as they keep demanding it.

And before you go on again about how lots of people out there want this, prove it. I can't one way or the other. But, I do know that Kobo will have a much better idea than either of us. They do have stats from their applications. They do user testing. They have all the feedback that comes through the support channels.

Of course, if this is as important to you as you are making it out, I assume you have told Kobo. I mean, coming here is a good way to let off steam about things, but, this is not an official support channel for Kobo devices. It isn't even close to being an unnofficial support channel.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Alexia

But for now, majority of people who can't install mini or nano clock whine about NOT having clock - anywhere.

They *do* have a clock. A single tap makes it appear in the top right corner.

[Alexia]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Of course, if this is as important to you as you are making it out, I assume you have told Kobo. I mean, coming here is a good way to let off steam about things, but, this is not an official support channel for Kobo devices. It isn't even close to being an unnofficial support channel.

The whole thread started as

This also allows the Kobo support staff who are participants on Mobileread to find 'em all!

and is named "Kobo future firmware feature request thread"

So here was my request:

I'd really like a clock to be displayed all the time while reading.

That's all. The rest of the discussion was based on answer to me to install a nano clock.

And by the way, I did notify the official Kobo support about this thing.

Originally Posted by jackie_w

They *do* have a clock. A single tap makes it appear in the top right corner.

"eye roll"

[LDB]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

They *do* have a clock. A single tap makes it appear in the top right corner.

Yes, but for those used to a good clock like in the Kindle that is a definitely second rate option.

[LDB]

Originally Posted by davidfor

And why should the small amount of people who whine about not having a clock be catered for? And it is a small amount. The number who are interested and commented on it is a small number relative to the population of this forum. And it will be an even smaller percentage of all ereader users.

And why are you allowed to whine about not having a clock, but, then no one would be allowed to whine about the position? Are you saying that your opinion of the position is better than anyone elses? Or that you don't care where it goes as long as it is there.

And @jackie_w's comment also demonstrates it is not just "add an option to show the clock". Someone has to:

• Work out if it is a desirable feature. You want it, but, does even 1% of the users want it?
• Work out what the option should be called. And yes, that is important and a lot harder than you think.
• Decide if it is on or off by default. Which also affects the above.
• Device where the clock should be displayed.
• Rearrange the screen to work with the clock.
• Decide where in the options it will go and rebuild them.
• Work out what else adding this will affect.
• Write all the code to handle the options and display of the clock.
• Test all this.
• Fix the bugs.
• Update the documentation.
• Make sure that the support people are ready for the complaints and demands for it to be changed.

I find the demands in this forum for "just add an option" to by quite funny as it never is that simple. And they just don't understand that there is a lot more work than that. Of course, it's also annoying as they keep demanding it.

And before you go on again about how lots of people out there want this, prove it. I can't one way or the other. But, I do know that Kobo will have a much better idea than either of us. They do have stats from their applications. They do user testing. They have all the feedback that comes through the support channels.

Of course, if this is as important to you as you are making it out, I assume you have told Kobo. I mean, coming here is a good way to let off steam about things, but, this is not an official support channel for Kobo devices. It isn't even close to being an unnofficial support channel.

A fairly typical left reply. Anyone asking for something not personally wanted is whining. An equally good question, why get so invested in something you don't personally want? Why not ignore it and if in the future Kobo is intelligent enough and thoughtful enough to offer the excellent feature then continue to ignore it if you don't want to use it?

[meeera]

Originally Posted by LDB

A fairly typical left reply.

"Left"?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by LDB

A fairly typical left reply.

I have to ask the same question as @meeera. I assume you mean "left-wing" or some political thing like that.

Anyone asking for something not personally wanted is whining. An equally good question, why get so invested in something you don't personally want? Why not ignore it and if in the future Kobo is intelligent enough and thoughtful enough to offer the excellent feature then continue to ignore it if you don't want to use it?

Honestly, because @Alexia used the word "whine". He basically was insulting anyone that did not have the same opinion as him. I felt the need to explain a few things.

But, as you so intelligently point out, I could have ignored it. But, so could you.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Honestly, because @Alexia used the word "whine". He basically was insulting anyone that did not have the same opinion as him. I felt the need to explain a few things.

To be fair, I was the first person to use the word "whining", but it wasn't meant to be aimed at any individual.



For the record, I'm completely indifferent to whether Kobo choose to spend their time adding an optional permanent clock. But being heavily involved with the kobopatch system I do have plenty of personal experience of users asking whether things can be tweaked whenever Kobo adds a new feature.

... anyway, as yet another thread descends into unpleasant bickering, time to exit.

[Ron100]

+1 on the clock, preferably 24hr.

Yes I'll probably get the patch but it would be nice if it was in the firmware, less chance of me messing it up

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Alexia

The whole thread started as and is named "Kobo future firmware feature request thread"

Did you notice that post you quoted was from November, 2010?

Very few of the Kobo staff who posted in these forums are still around as Kobo employees and I suspect those few would rather nick themselves a few times and go swimming with sharks before posting on Mobileread again.

[MGlitch]

Just to chime in I tried one of the clock options I forget which, probably mini clock, and have since abandoned using it. I don’t find it to be as useful as I thought. I always have my phone and/or watch on me and given how I hold the Sage one handed it’s not hard to check the time.

So do take the number of people installing the clock mods with a grain of salt. Not only are the forums not representative of the general public but the downloads for those mods aren’t representative of those who still use it.

Finally I’d like to point out that those who make the mods have said they are tricky to implement, partially because they’re trying to get around the system but also just keeping them from being resource hogs and looking nice.

[taddymack]

When I bought Libra several weeks ago I started to grumble (to myself) about a nuisance to push the display every time when I am about to check the clock while reading. Why? Because some books I want to read only for some short time span. So to have this feature in the firmware would be a plus (for me).

[BatteryPowered]

I actually like having (digital) clocks on my devices, a simple small clock during reading would be fine. No massive customization options needed in my opinion.

The Kobo devices already do an NTP sync during the daily sync routine so can have a quite accurate clock.

Maybe the Kobo employees aren't here anymore but I know for a fact Mobileread does quite well with the average Google search.

One can only hope.