Kobo Touch in cold weather

Judsuw · 06-01-2012, 08:43 AM

Does anyone have a problem with the Kobo Touch in the cooler weather. It is 'freezing' but when turned off and on again seems to work properly. Could it be a problem with the cold or is there another problem altogether. It is winter in Australia now.
Thank you.

Suzanna · 06-01-2012, 04:18 PM

It's my impression that the fading out of text we get on the Kobo Touch when the weather is cold is something that happens to all devices with e-ink screens.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

RainingLemur · 06-01-2012, 06:23 PM

Yeah, it seems to be "normal" for eInk stuff to get a little wonky in cold temperatures.

pidgeon92 · 06-01-2012, 06:43 PM

Kobo's specs should list a minimum use temp and a minimum storage temp. Eink can freeze, but my guess is that the cold temp is affecting your battery while the unit is cold. It should work fine once the unit is indoors and warms up.

carpetmojo · 06-01-2012, 07:10 PM

And be very very careful.... at very low temperatures, your skin may stick to the screen.

And whatever you do, don't breath on the screen to warm it up to free your fingers....... the screen may crack.

I think those mobile windscreen repair specialists can repair this sort of occurrence............

plib · 06-01-2012, 07:54 PM

Interesting question, particularly considering where the Kobo originates. There doesn't appear to be anything in Kobo's specs, literature or website about temperatures but somehow I don't think Canucks would consider an Aussie winter that cold!

Judsuw · 06-01-2012, 09:38 PM

Thanks for the confirmation everyone, will just need to warm it up a bit. It was -5c this morning, with a good frost everywhere, so can get a bit cool in this part of Aust.
Have a good weekend.

plib · 06-02-2012, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judsuw

It was -5c this morning, with a good frost everywhere

A balmy spring day in TO.

carpetmojo · 06-02-2012, 04:08 AM

A college mate from Canada - can't immediately remember what province/corner he resided in - told me of people leaving small heaters burning under car sumps to prevent the engine oil from freezing.

When I said I thought that seemed a mildly dodgy practice, he said Canucks were always up for a trek in harsh temperatures, following a nice warm-up around a burning vehicle .......

All part of the rich warp & woof of Canadian heritage/folklore I suppose......

( Another guy, ummm......well.... living there courtesy of the wise Canadian military policy of the time, due to a dislike for jungle trekking & the contents of AK47's , shall we say......... opined that after his part of Texas, the temperatures were just fine, thanks ...........

)

plib · 06-02-2012, 04:24 AM

Plug in block heaters are common on the Prairies and, I think, in Ontario and Quebec. It's usually possible to tell cars from those provinces by the electric plug hanging out of the radiator grill and the nice orange, rust colour of the wheel wells and door panels from the road salt. Still it beats a cracked block or trying to turn over -40C engine oil in the morning I guess.

applesauce · 06-02-2012, 06:42 AM

and here in australia we can cook an egg on the bonnet of a car

Shopaholic · 06-02-2012, 08:12 AM

Manitoba. I see more plugs hanging out of the hoods of cars with Manitoba plates than I do Ontario plates. I hardly see any in Ontario. I'm sure there are some in the north end of the province but not the southern end. I don't even remember seeing any when I drove to Thunder Bay, ON a few years ago.

Winnipeg, Manitoba is also jokingly referred to as Winterpeg so....

Sunspark · 06-02-2012, 02:46 PM

If my device is representative of all e-ink devices, then e-ink doesn't like cold temperatures. The text becomes increasingly faded out and the background becomes darker with increasing ghosting visible from the previous page.

It's a tradeoff.. use LCDs for the cold and the dark, and e-ink for warm and bright.

Shopaholic · 06-02-2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunspark

If my device is representative of all e-ink devices, then e-ink doesn't like cold temperatures. The text becomes increasingly faded out and the background becomes darker with increasing ghosting visible from the previous page.

It's a tradeoff.. use LCDs for the cold and the dark, and e-ink for warm and bright.

And what makes you think the batteries on an LCD won't freeze & shut down? There are temperature guidelines for all devices. The battery on my manual Nikon doesn't work in cold either.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find any device that works at either end of the extreme temperature scale. Cold shuts it down & too hot overheats. I'd rather my devices be too cold and shut down than overheat and have to deal with that. Sort of the same as a car that won't start when it's too cold compared to an overheated car. One is far easier to fix than the other.

taming · 06-02-2012, 06:27 PM

If you order a piece of tech kit and it is delivered to you, remember to let it acclimatize before playing with it. My last device had been in an unheated truck for 14 hours before it was delivered. It was -20 on that day. Same for heat.

06-01-2012, 08:43 AM	#1
Judsuw Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: kobo touch	Kobo Touch in cold weather Does anyone have a problem with the Kobo Touch in the cooler weather. It is 'freezing' but when turned off and on again seems to work properly. Could it be a problem with the cold or is there another problem altogether. It is winter in Australia now. Thank you.

06-02-2012, 04:08 AM	#9
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Cold ? Huh.......... A college mate from Canada - can't immediately remember what province/corner he resided in - told me of people leaving small heaters burning under car sumps to prevent the engine oil from freezing. When I said I thought that seemed a mildly dodgy practice, he said Canucks were always up for a trek in harsh temperatures, following a nice warm-up around a burning vehicle ....... All part of the rich warp & woof of Canadian heritage/folklore I suppose...... ( Another guy, ummm......well.... living there courtesy of the wise Canadian military policy of the time, due to a dislike for jungle trekking & the contents of AK47's , shall we say......... opined that after his part of Texas, the temperatures were just fine, thanks ........... )

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06-01-2012, 04:18 PM	#2
Suzanna Living in the past Posts: 432 Karma: 6011289 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc	It's my impression that the fading out of text we get on the Kobo Touch when the weather is cold is something that happens to all devices with e-ink screens. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

06-01-2012, 06:23 PM	#3
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Yeah, it seems to be "normal" for eInk stuff to get a little wonky in cold temperatures.

06-01-2012, 06:43 PM	#4
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Kobo's specs should list a minimum use temp and a minimum storage temp. Eink can freeze, but my guess is that the cold temp is affecting your battery while the unit is cold. It should work fine once the unit is indoors and warms up.

06-01-2012, 07:10 PM	#5
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	And be very very careful.... at very low temperatures, your skin may stick to the screen. And whatever you do, don't breath on the screen to warm it up to free your fingers....... the screen may crack. I think those mobile windscreen repair specialists can repair this sort of occurrence............

06-01-2012, 07:54 PM	#6
plib Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 6356004 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Interesting question, particularly considering where the Kobo originates. There doesn't appear to be anything in Kobo's specs, literature or website about temperatures but somehow I don't think Canucks would consider an Aussie winter that cold!

06-01-2012, 09:38 PM	#7
Judsuw Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: kobo touch	Thanks for the confirmation everyone, will just need to warm it up a bit. It was -5c this morning, with a good frost everywhere, so can get a bit cool in this part of Aust. Have a good weekend.

06-02-2012, 04:24 AM	#10
plib Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 6356004 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Plug in block heaters are common on the Prairies and, I think, in Ontario and Quebec. It's usually possible to tell cars from those provinces by the electric plug hanging out of the radiator grill and the nice orange, rust colour of the wheel wells and door panels from the road salt. Still it beats a cracked block or trying to turn over -40C engine oil in the morning I guess.

06-02-2012, 06:42 AM	#11
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	and here in australia we can cook an egg on the bonnet of a car

06-02-2012, 08:12 AM	#12
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Manitoba. I see more plugs hanging out of the hoods of cars with Manitoba plates than I do Ontario plates. I hardly see any in Ontario. I'm sure there are some in the north end of the province but not the southern end. I don't even remember seeing any when I drove to Thunder Bay, ON a few years ago. Winnipeg, Manitoba is also jokingly referred to as Winterpeg so....

06-02-2012, 02:46 PM	#13
Sunspark Zealot Posts: 122 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: EZ Reader Pocket PRO	If my device is representative of all e-ink devices, then e-ink doesn't like cold temperatures. The text becomes increasingly faded out and the background becomes darker with increasing ghosting visible from the previous page. It's a tradeoff.. use LCDs for the cold and the dark, and e-ink for warm and bright.

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06-02-2012, 06:27 PM	#15
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	If you order a piece of tech kit and it is delivered to you, remember to let it acclimatize before playing with it. My last device had been in an unheated truck for 14 hours before it was delivered. It was -20 on that day. Same for heat.