Ligatures in 4.28.18220?

[ZodWallop]

I updated from 4.26.16704 to 4.28.18220.

I see 'KePub stylesheet additions' has been replaced with 'KePub stylesheet additions - text justify' and 'KePub stylesheet additions - optimizeSpeed'

But I don't see a replacement for the old legibility patch.

[jackie_w]

For more detail see this post I made for the previous Elipsa-only fw 4.28.17925. The situation is still the same for fw 4.28.18220.

After you've read the final paragraph in the linked post, if you want to try my beta I can post it tomorrow. It seems to work OK on my own Kobos, but I haven't had time to do much reading in the last few weeks to notice if there are any weird side effects.

[ZodWallop]

Sure, I'd like to be a beta tester. I replied to this thread since the linked thread is about older firmware.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Sure, I'd like to be a beta tester. I replied to this thread since the linked thread is about older firmware.

Just to let you know I haven't forgotten. Just waiting for @geek1011 to advise where he'd prefer me to post the beta patch in case anyone else needs it.

[jackie_w]

@ZodWallop,

I've now posted the new beta patch on @geek1011's GitHib website

You can copy/paste it from there into libnickel.so.1.0.0.yaml (or whichever .yaml file you use for other personal/custom patches to libnickel.so.1.0.0)

It should not need to be updated for subsequent firmware versions ... unless, of course, Kobo decide to make another significant change.

[ZodWallop]

Got it, updated my Kobo. In my thorough ten seconds of review, ligatures are back and I didn't see anything hinkey.

Incidentally, in my ePubs/kepubs, I always justify the body text in the book file with Calibre. On the actual Kobo, I set justification to 'Off'.

If you need further info/details, let me know. I'll report back if anything weird happens.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Incidentally, in my ePubs/kepubs, I always justify the body text in the book file with Calibre. On the actual Kobo, I set justification to 'Off'.

I do the same.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

If you need further info/details, let me know. I'll report back if anything weird happens.

Just report back if you see anything "visually unusual" when using Search, Annotations or Highlighting in kepubs. Although I'm at a loss to guess what that might be.

I think the patch is as safe as it ever was for readers of English and other European languages. It's only patching CSS styling so I don't see how any irreversible damage could be done.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I think the patch is as safe as it ever was for readers of English and other European languages. It's only patching CSS styling so I don't see how any irreversible damage could be done.

I wish Kobo would just enable ligatures by default. I believe the other big guys do (I know Nook does and I'm pretty sure Amazon does as well).

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I wish Kobo would just enable ligatures by default. I believe the other big guys do (I know Nook does and I'm pretty sure Amazon does as well).

Well, Kobo does enable them by default in epubs which is because that's the default behaviour of the Adobe reading app, also used by Nook, I believe.

I may be wrong, but aren't niceties like hyphenation, ligatures and kerning only the default on Kindles if you use the abominable KFX format?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Well, Kobo does enable them by default in epubs which is because that's the default behaviour of the Adobe reading app, also used by Nook, I believe.

I may be wrong, but aren't niceties like hyphenation, ligatures and kerning only the default on Kindles if you use the abominable KFX format?

With Kindle, you are correct that you get hyphenation, ligatures, and kerning with KFX. If you use the Hyphenate This! plugin or the Hyphenation (Polish) feature of Calibre, you can add soft hyphens to KF8 and have working hyphenation. But you won't get ligatures and kerning.

KFX sucks (IMHO). Given that Adobe can do all three things with ePub (via RMSDK) without needing to change the format, Amazon could have done the same thing with KF8. KFX exists to add unbreakable DRM even if the publisher requests no DRM.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Well, Kobo does enable them by default in epubs which is because that's the default behaviour of the Adobe reading app, also used by Nook, I believe.

Right, but I wish it were enabled on Kobo's home-grown format: kepub. This is their preferred format. Why not make it look its best?

I may be wrong, but aren't niceties like hyphenation, ligatures and kerning only the default on Kindles if you use the abominable KFX format?

I believe so? I haven't used a Kindle much. Mostly spent a few minutes here and there with relatives Kindles.

Edit: Oh, and since I am posting again, still no issues noticed with your beta patch. I hope it is added to future firmware patches.