Kobo's latest software update is causing troubles for older Kobo e-readers.
In a recent development, Rakuten Kobo has released a massive firmware update for almost every Kobo e-reader, including the Kobo Touch. The update was intended to address the discontinuation of Mozilla Pocket, which was no longer functioning effectively.
However, the update seems to have caused problems for many older e-readers, with several users reporting their devices getting stuck in a boot loop. A boot loop is a situation where the e-reader restarts from running an update and gets stuck, rebooting endlessly.
Kobo has acknowledged the issue and has pulled the update until they can fix it. If an e-reader is stuck in a boot loop after the update, a manual reset will be necessary. This process will result in the loss of all settings, downloaded books, sideloaded books, and will put the device back to the day it was bought.
It's worth noting that Michael Kozlowski, a well-known figure in the e-reader community, has not written about the recent Kobo firmware update issue. Michael, who resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has been writing about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years.
In a move to replace Mozilla Pocket, Kobo has established a partnership with Instapaper, a read-it-later service similar to Pocket. Instapaper can send web articles to your Kobo, serving as a potential alternative for users affected by the firmware update issue.
Interestingly, while the modern e-readers such as the Kobo Clara Colour, Kobo BW, and Libra Colour received one update, the version number changed for all of their older devices.
Kobo has a help file with instructions on how to manually reset each device, should the need arise. It's advisable for users experiencing issues to refer to this guide for assistance.
In conclusion, while the recent Kobo firmware update seems to have caused problems for some older devices, users can refer to Kobo's help file for manual reset instructions and wait for a fix from Kobo. In the meantime, Instapaper could serve as a useful alternative for users seeking a read-it-later service.
