Kobo H2O Hackability

ManDay · 09-27-2014, 06:11 AM

I'd like to find out how "open" or accessible the H2O is. From the specs, I'm very inclined to buy one soon, but I'd need full access to the system (which, hopefully, will be Linux) to re-write the complete user interface to my needs.

If and when someone is able to provide information on how, please put it here. Thank you!

PeterT · 09-27-2014, 06:19 AM

The H20 runs the same f/w (albeit possibly a different build) as the other recent Kobo eReaders; Touch / Glo / Mini / Aura HD / Aura.

These are eminently hackable.

ManDay · 09-27-2014, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

The H20 runs the same f/w (albeit possibly a different build) as the other recent Kobo eReaders; Touch / Glo / Mini / Aura HD / Aura.

These are eminently hackable.

If that's confirmedly so, then thanks! Sounds like the Kobo H2O will be the perfect device and the best we've ever seen

PeterT · 09-27-2014, 06:56 AM

Just remember though; while people have opened other devices to restore the SD card in case of corruption, I'm not sure what effect on water-tightness opening the H2O would have.

tshering · 09-27-2014, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Just remember though; while people have opened other devices to restore the SD card in case of corruption, I'm not sure what effect on water-tightness opening the H2O would have.

Chances are that the H2O (like the Aura) doesn't even have a internal SD card.

PeterT · 09-27-2014, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tshering

Chances are that the H2O (like the Aura) doesn't even have a internal SD card.

Which makes the restorability the same challenge as on the Aura

ManDay · 09-27-2014, 07:13 AM

Indeed, an important issue I overlooked! Thanks for the warning!

jlynton · 09-28-2014, 02:02 PM

I imagine that Kobo Start Menu and coolreader and koreader will work on the H2O, can anyone confirm this?

PeterT · 09-28-2014, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlynton

I imagine that Kobo Start Menu and coolreader and koreader will work on the H2O, can anyone confirm this?

With a different screen size I would expect some changes to any screen specific values. Also if any of them use the internal model names (phoenix for example) I would expect they would need to be updated.

Remember that 99% of the f/w is the same across all Kobo eInk readers.

RobertJSawyer · 09-28-2014, 10:53 PM

However, it's worth noting that the Kobo Aura H2O has only ONE hardware button: it has a power switch but NO light on/off switch. And so hacks that currently depend on the light on/off switch -- such as nightmode, which I find indispensable -- are, at present, incompatible with the H2O, and may in fact never be workable with that device.

PeterT · 09-28-2014, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

However, it's worth noting that the Kobo Aura H2O has only ONE hardware button: it has a power switch but NO light on/off switch. And so hacks that currently depend on the light on/off switch -- such as nightmode, which I find indispensable -- are, at present, incompatible with the H2O, and may in fact never be workable with that device.

Good point; I had forgotten that fact

baochan · 09-29-2014, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

However, it's worth noting that the Kobo Aura H2O has only ONE hardware button: it has a power switch but NO light on/off switch. And so hacks that currently depend on the light on/off switch -- such as nightmode, which I find indispensable -- are, at present, incompatible with the H2O, and may in fact never be workable with that device.

The night mode mod mentions it works with the custom launcher, for instance on the Mini which also has no light button. I'll miss having quick access though and it'll be more complicated to set up initially.

Mivo · 09-29-2014, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

However, it's worth noting that the Kobo Aura H2O has only ONE hardware button: it has a power switch but NO light on/off switch.

Slightly unrelated to the hackability, but can the light be completely turned off through a software toggle?

ManDay · 09-29-2014, 01:28 PM

It occurred to me, that although the device may not be opened to write to the storage directly, it most likely has some sort of BIOS/firmware to flash the storage with replacement data from a specifically crafted SD-card. Has this been considered in the past and possibly been refuted?

PeterT · 09-29-2014, 01:55 PM

The original Kobo had the ability to upgrade it's f/w via the external SD card; however, no other device has had that ability.

Examination of any / all scripts present on the device don't show sign of it either.

09-27-2014, 06:11 AM	#1
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	[Solved] Kobo H2O Hackability I'd like to find out how "open" or accessible the H2O is. From the specs, I'm very inclined to buy one soon, but I'd need full access to the system (which, hopefully, will be Linux) to re-write the complete user interface to my needs. If and when someone is able to provide information on how, please put it here. Thank you! Last edited by ManDay; 09-27-2014 at 06:48 AM.

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09-27-2014, 06:19 AM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	The H20 runs the same f/w (albeit possibly a different build) as the other recent Kobo eReaders; Touch / Glo / Mini / Aura HD / Aura. These are eminently hackable.

09-27-2014, 06:56 AM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Just remember though; while people have opened other devices to restore the SD card in case of corruption, I'm not sure what effect on water-tightness opening the H2O would have.

09-27-2014, 07:13 AM	#7
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	Indeed, an important issue I overlooked! Thanks for the warning!

09-28-2014, 02:02 PM	#8
jlynton Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 216544 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Moaan Inkpalm 5.	I imagine that Kobo Start Menu and coolreader and koreader will work on the H2O, can anyone confirm this?

09-28-2014, 10:53 PM	#10
RobertJSawyer Guru Posts: 730 Karma: 3871570 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara 2E, and Clara HD; Kindle PaperWhite	However, it's worth noting that the Kobo Aura H2O has only ONE hardware button: it has a power switch but NO light on/off switch. And so hacks that currently depend on the light on/off switch -- such as nightmode, which I find indispensable -- are, at present, incompatible with the H2O, and may in fact never be workable with that device.

09-29-2014, 01:28 PM	#14
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	It occurred to me, that although the device may not be opened to write to the storage directly, it most likely has some sort of BIOS/firmware to flash the storage with replacement data from a specifically crafted SD-card. Has this been considered in the past and possibly been refuted?

09-29-2014, 01:55 PM	#15
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	The original Kobo had the ability to upgrade it's f/w via the external SD card; however, no other device has had that ability. Examination of any / all scripts present on the device don't show sign of it either.