Touch Display problem

Scott479 · 03-29-2013, 09:52 AM

Hi, I’ve had my Kobo Touch for a little over a year and have had relatively few problems. But recently I flew to Florida for a vacation and took my Kobo with me. While there, I used the Kobo frequently and it worked fine. When I got back, it sat for a couple weeks until yesterday when I tried to turn it on. Technically, it had been in sleep mode, but when I “woke it up,” it said it needed to be plugged in to be recharged. No problem, but I also noticed the display was not right. A portion of the last screen to display (the book cover of the last book I was reading) plus a more-or-less blank space is stuck on the screen (in an L-shape, about an inch in width). I recharged it over night, turned it off an on, performed both a basic reset and a factory reset, but nothing has affected the screen. Everything else works properly as far as I can tell, including the touch screen. The first thing I thought of was the airport security scans, however, it worked fine while I was there and on the plane back.

I sent a message to Kobo support, which they replied over a week later by telling me I should try the two resets (which I already had!), or "replace my device."

Anyone ever had this problem of have any suggestion?

robko · 03-29-2013, 10:18 AM

Do a search for broken substrate on here. Long story short is that you'll need to replace your device.

Scott479 · 03-29-2013, 12:30 PM

Here's a picture I just took. Does it look like a broken substrate to you?

It's weird, as the touch screen works even where the screen is screwy.

Mrs_Often · 03-29-2013, 01:32 PM

Yep, broken, must have cracked on your way home.

The screen itself isn't sensitive to your touch, it's the IR beams just above the screen that register your finger (or anything else that interrupts the beams). So those will keep working even though the substrate (underneath the top layer of the screen) is broken. That's why the touch still works on the broken part of the screen.

Scott479 · 03-29-2013, 01:46 PM

Thanks

paola · 03-29-2013, 06:12 PM

commiserations

Sadly this can happen with any brand until they start fitting readers with flexible e-ink screens...

TechniSol · 03-29-2013, 10:51 PM

They really are still relatively fragile screens in this age of Gorilla Glassed LCD displays... You'd think they might address the problem by finding a less fragile substrate until they work out the kinks in flexible e-ink displays. Consumer items which are designed to be easily carried about in order to be "at hand" really should be tougher.

As has been noted in other threads the giveaway that it's a substrate break is the diagonals apparent in the break area.

03-29-2013, 09:52 AM	#1
Scott479 male homo sapien Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Clara HD	Display problem Hi, I’ve had my Kobo Touch for a little over a year and have had relatively few problems. But recently I flew to Florida for a vacation and took my Kobo with me. While there, I used the Kobo frequently and it worked fine. When I got back, it sat for a couple weeks until yesterday when I tried to turn it on. Technically, it had been in sleep mode, but when I “woke it up,” it said it needed to be plugged in to be recharged. No problem, but I also noticed the display was not right. A portion of the last screen to display (the book cover of the last book I was reading) plus a more-or-less blank space is stuck on the screen (in an L-shape, about an inch in width). I recharged it over night, turned it off an on, performed both a basic reset and a factory reset, but nothing has affected the screen. Everything else works properly as far as I can tell, including the touch screen. The first thing I thought of was the airport security scans, however, it worked fine while I was there and on the plane back. I sent a message to Kobo support, which they replied over a week later by telling me I should try the two resets (which I already had!), or "replace my device." Anyone ever had this problem of have any suggestion?

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03-29-2013, 10:18 AM	#2
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Do a search for broken substrate on here. Long story short is that you'll need to replace your device.

03-29-2013, 12:30 PM	#3
Scott479 male homo sapien Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Clara HD	Here's a picture I just took. Does it look like a broken substrate to you? It's weird, as the touch screen works even where the screen is screwy.

03-29-2013, 01:32 PM	#4
Mrs_Often Wizard Posts: 1,775 Karma: 2694823 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kobo Touch, Glo, Clara HD	Yep, broken, must have cracked on your way home. The screen itself isn't sensitive to your touch, it's the IR beams just above the screen that register your finger (or anything else that interrupts the beams). So those will keep working even though the substrate (underneath the top layer of the screen) is broken. That's why the touch still works on the broken part of the screen.

03-29-2013, 01:46 PM	#5
Scott479 male homo sapien Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Clara HD	Thanks

03-29-2013, 06:12 PM	#6
paola Wizard Posts: 2,840 Karma: 5843878 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura	commiserations Sadly this can happen with any brand until they start fitting readers with flexible e-ink screens...

03-29-2013, 10:51 PM	#7
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	They really are still relatively fragile screens in this age of Gorilla Glassed LCD displays... You'd think they might address the problem by finding a less fragile substrate until they work out the kinks in flexible e-ink displays. Consumer items which are designed to be easily carried about in order to be "at hand" really should be tougher. As has been noted in other threads the giveaway that it's a substrate break is the diagonals apparent in the break area.

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