Kobo touch won't set up with Linux debian, is this thing junk?

[Killray]

Bought a kobo hoping to sideload it, it wants me to set up an account with kobo desktop. Desktop will not work with linux debian which I run and besides of which I find the whole thing a privacy violation since invariably the device will be phoning home.

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Killray

Bought a kobo hoping to sideload it, it wants me to set up an account with kobo desktop. Desktop will not work with linux debian which I run and besides of which I find the whole thing a privacy violation since invariably the device will be phoning home.

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

You may have some fun doing this since the Touch firmware can have issues connecting to Kobo over WiFi due to severely outdated security protocols. If you connect it to your computer and copy the updated firmware, this may help with being able to do a WiFi connect. If you update the firmware and still have issues, you may want to see for how to edit the SQLite database to fake a user.

[Ghostcat]

Originally Posted by Killray

Bought a kobo hoping to sideload it, it wants me to set up an account with kobo desktop. Desktop will not work with linux debian which I run and besides of which I find the whole thing a privacy violation since invariably the device will be phoning home.

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

Don't know if this works on the touch but it certainly works on other Kobos. You may need to update your firmware.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=47

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Killray

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

I think you can update the FW if it is recognised by the Linux file manager when restarted and connected to USB.

I'm sure I used a Touch (version c) on Linux Mint, but don't remember how I started off. I've set up maybe 7 different Kobo models and I've never used the Kobo Desktop.

Firmware: https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html
(Links go to Kobo servers)

[John F]

To answer the title: Yes, Linux debian is junk.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Killray

Bought a kobo hoping to sideload it, it wants me to set up an account with kobo desktop. Desktop will not work with linux debian which I run and besides of which I find the whole thing a privacy violation since invariably the device will be phoning home.

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

I use Linux Mint, based on Ubuntu/Debian. My workaround for this issue on an old Kobo Mini was to download the newer Kobo firmware to my computer, then run the Kobo setup program. When it gave me the option to use the Desktop software, I said "yes." That gave the computer access to the Mini, then I just copied the update file to the Mini and rebooted.

I tried using the Kobo Desktop Application (in Windows) for updating but that didn't work. It was never able to finish registering — so Windows wouldn't be any help here either.

That said, I was trying to register the Kobo Mini, not trying to avoid registering it — so this may not be the result you want.

[Aleron Ives]

Once you update the firmware, you can connect to the computer again to enable sideload mode.

[Quoth]

However fakeuser@fakedomain.<any TLD> used to work to register.

SideloadedMode=true in the config, after updating, also removes shop and makes My Books the home page. So it's nice unless you want to sync to another Kobo. The shop content will still work via separate device web browser. I've used a file manager on Android with OTG to copy ebooks to and from a Kobo on Android 4.1, though I had to add a hub and USB memory stick for Android 13 to recognise it.
In theory even Android with OTG, file manager and jota plain text editor can let you add new FW and edit the config, if your Android file manager shows files and directories (folders) starting with a ".".

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Killray

Bought a kobo hoping to sideload it, it wants me to set up an account with kobo desktop. Desktop will not work with linux debian which I run and besides of which I find the whole thing a privacy violation since invariably the device will be phoning home.

Can I run a Kobo touch without running their desktop app first?

If it was Windows, you'd be all set.

[DNSB]

Moderator Notice
Jon, please stop posting about switching to Windows. Accept that people are using the operating system of their choice and your comments add nothing useful to this discussion.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it was Windows, you'd be all set.

I never used the Kobo desktop on Windows. I used windows for years with a Kobo.
I didn't use Kindle desktop either, till I was given a fixed layout Kindle that wouldn't install on eink Kindle.
I tried Sony's for the PRS350, and apart from nearly unusable annotation import it was a pile of junk compared to Calibre.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it was Windows, you'd be all set.

Except you wouldn't. I tried using the Kobo Desktop in Windows when updating my Kobo Mini's firmware. The Desktop would let me try to register the Mini, but it would go into an endless loop and never succeed. I suppose I could have done the same thing in Windows that I did in Linux, tell the mini to update with the Kobo Desktop to give the computer access to the Mini and then copy over the update file. But why? — when it can easily be done in Linux.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Except you wouldn't. I tried using the Kobo Desktop in Windows when updating my Kobo Mini's firmware. The Desktop would let me try to register the Mini, but it would go into an endless loop and never succeed. I suppose I could have done the same thing in Windows that I did in Linux, tell the mini to update with the Kobo Desktop to give the computer access to the Mini and then copy over the update file. But why? — when it can easily be done in Linux.

The Mini is easy to deal with. Download the updated firmware for the same hardware type as the mini and manually side load it. That should not matter which OS is being used on the computer except maybe ChromeOS.

[arjaybe]

And another thread successfully diverted.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Mini is easy to deal with. Download the updated firmware for the same hardware type as the mini and manually side load it. That should not matter which OS is being used on the computer except maybe ChromeOS.

The problem is the setup instructions make it look like you can only register via WiFi or with the Kobo Desktop. If you try to use the Kobo Desktop for upgrading, it won't work. Just takes forever to not register.

So all you have to do is tell setup "use the Kobo Desktop" then it will let you connect to you computer and you can sideload the update file. It's just a matter of knowing not to waste your time trying to update with WiFi or the Kobo Desktop.

Once you do update the Mini, you still have access to Kobo store (at least you search the store, I assume you can buy books as well).