11-20-2012, 09:41 PM | #1 |
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Multi-Boot (Kobo, Kindle, nook, ...) on Android?
From what I've seen so far, Kindle Fire HD, nook HD, Kobo Arc and similar tablet-based readers basically are "crippled" Android tablets: Modified/limited UI, some specialized reader-specific tasks.
Shouldn't it be possible, to implement multi-boot for example on Nexus 7? Booting either in "normal" Android mode, or in Kindle Fire HD, nook HD and/or Kobo Arc mode? I'd love to see that. Of course, the Kindle, nook or Kobo app do a fine job on Android (or iOS as well). But still, the respective tablets have some special appeal. So, legal aspects aside: Would this technically be possible? Am I missing something? I don't think, there are any "special chips" or buttons on any of those readers/tablets. Their hardware is either identical or even slightly less powerful than the one on "normal" tablets. Screen Resolution might be an issue. nook HD for example has a slightly higher resolution than Google/Asus Nexus 7. But Kindle Fire HD and Google/Asus Nexus 7 for example are identical. And in the "worst" case, a more powerful Android tablet would be needed than Nexus 7. Nexus 10 or Samsung or any of the other bigger ones. So, will we see this soon? Any interest at all? Technical problems? Last edited by mgmueller; 11-20-2012 at 10:06 PM. |
11-20-2012, 11:44 PM | #2 |
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The Kobo Arc is an open Android tablet with full access to the Google Play store.
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11-21-2012, 12:52 AM | #3 |
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Technical problems...
For starters, Android is kind of like Windows--it'll run on just about any hardware, but you have to have drivers to make stuff work. Each company gets a copy of Android and then modifies it to work with their hardware. You would have to do the same thing for your device (the wonderful people at XDA Developers does it for you). I'm not sure how boot loaders work, but I know I can make an SD card for my Nook Tablet with 3 different versions of Android and boot to whichever one I choose. I'm sure the same can be done with just about any device with the right amount of know-how and many hours of trial and error. |
11-21-2012, 04:45 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
And you easily can open Kindle Fire HD for example as well. But still you would have to use the Kobo and nook apps. I'd like to see a different approach: The full Kobo Arc and nook HD experience, not just the reading apps. |
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11-21-2012, 07:31 AM | #5 | |
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That is not doable.
The full Kobo, Kindle, and Nook (and for that matter, Nexus) experiences are all *proprietary*. The Android core is open but the Google apps and the various overlays are not. Which is why only vanilla android devices that follow Google guidelines get the Google apps. And with the new SDK guidelines and their vague "no forking" rules it is going to be even harder. Future FIREs and NOOKs may not have access to the latest android flavor unless they ditch their proprietary "enhancements". http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-575...fragmentation/ Quote:
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11-21-2012, 12:49 PM | #6 |
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Actually, no. Kobo doesn't have an app store. Right out of the box, you access the Google Play store to download apps. They have an organizational system called "Tapestries" to group together the content on the Arc, but the device is not locked into using just the Kobo store. Even their older and limited tablet, the Vox, is the same way. Without rooting the device, I downloaded the Kindle app and several other reading apps and am using them on the device. I can't access Nook, though, because B&N doesn't make that available to Canadians. Similarly, Kindle and B&N locks Canadians out of their app stores, but I can use Google Play.
Last edited by Suzanna; 11-21-2012 at 12:55 PM. Reason: Edited for clarity. |
11-21-2012, 01:57 PM | #7 | |
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You don't even have to root Kindle Fire HD for that, you just can sideload the apps. I have to try on my nook HD, don't have a Kobo Arc yet. In the worst case you have to root, but somehow you can bring all the apps to any tablet/reader, But anyway, that's not what I'd like to do. I'd like to have the "original" Kobo, nook, Kindle look and feel on the respective others. Not just the apps, but the entire UI. I'm not interested in other apps, such as games or movie players. Just the reading experience. But not only the reading apps, I'd like to see the whole package. Now I have Nexus 7 with all apps, plus Kindle Fire HD plus nook HD, soon (not available yet in Germany) Kobo Arc. Wouldn't it be much more convenient, to have all 3 (Kobo, nook, Kindle) UIs on the very same tablet? For example a multi-boot Nexus 7? In addition, one still could use the pure Android experience and install plenty of apps there. Last edited by mgmueller; 11-21-2012 at 02:26 PM. |
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11-21-2012, 02:03 PM | #8 | |
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Last edited by mgmueller; 11-21-2012 at 02:27 PM. |
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11-21-2012, 03:11 PM | #9 |
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While that idea sounds cool... I have no real idea why someone would want to go through the trouble.
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11-21-2012, 03:22 PM | #10 | |
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You don't have to play Sudoku or Chess on an eInk device. But it's such a strange idea, the more compelling it is. I lack the skills for coding, flashing, extracting firmware and such. But with the right talent, I'd consider it a challenge: Making a better Kindle Fire HD or nook HD or Kobo Arc or... than the original. Somewhat similar to the PS2 emulator for Windows, which eventually became more powerful than the original PS2. |
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11-21-2012, 04:05 PM | #11 |
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since almost all of them are crippled android, i dont see any points to get any crippled experience? the other way around makes more sense...
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11-21-2012, 05:00 PM | #12 |
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