Vanilla ROM for the Vox

mike998 · 01-25-2012, 10:15 PM

I'd like to take a quick poll :

I would like to see a vanilla ROM available for the Vox. I don't use the e-reader facilities of the Vox at all. I have a Kobo Touch for reading books, and use the Vox for watching movies, reading comics and other multi-media applications.

Would you like to see Kobo release a vanilla ROM?

Cdesja5 · 01-25-2012, 10:38 PM

I don't know why Kobo would bother to spend any time doing that. They sell books and are selling the Vox as an eReader tablet, to enhance their book sales.

mr_nobody · 01-25-2012, 11:09 PM

Meh. 5 char

Laridae · 01-25-2012, 11:33 PM

Multi-media??

But the processor in the Vox is so lame.

Reading books is about all it's good for!

BWinmill · 01-26-2012, 12:32 AM

I'd rather see a less Vanilla ROM from Kobo since I believe that one of the merits of an ereader is a distraction free reading environment.

That said, I would probably use a vanilla ROM from a third party since the Vox currently ships with too many apps that are there for purely marketing purposes (globe2go, pressdisplay, zinio, rdio, INQ, etc.).

Laridae: the processor and memory on the Vox is plenty powerful for multimedia. Cripes, I remember the days when a 50 MHz 80486 or 68040 was considered a video production machine. Sure there was plenty of add-on hardware to do that, but even that add-on hardware was nothing compared to the video extensions on modern microprocessors.

hpulley · 01-26-2012, 06:49 AM

My Vox plays Netflix fine, flash is a bit slow. No interest in ROMs.

kcarscadden · 01-26-2012, 10:05 AM

None of what you want requires a different ROM. You can root your VOX, then remove or install any apps you want. It is easier to install other apps if you also install Android Market after rooting.

mike998 · 01-26-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laridae

Multi-media??

But the processor in the Vox is so lame.

Reading books is about all it's good for!

My daughter's watching Gnomeo and Juliet on my Vox as I type this. It's a very good multi-media device.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcarscadden

None of what you want requires a different ROM. You can root your VOX, then remove or install any apps you want. It is easier to install other apps if you also install Android Market after rooting.

Yes, I've rooted it, removed the "cruft" apps, installed Google Market, but I'd prefer to have a vanilla ROM and have a clean slate to start from.

To be brutally frank, I don't like the Kobo software that's on my Vox. As I mentioned, I have a Touch and much prefer to read books using that.

kcarscadden · 01-26-2012, 01:22 PM

Let me say this a different way.

It is not the ROM you are objecting to, it just interfaces the hardware with the lowest software level.

You don't like the Kobo apps and how they are presented. The apps loaded by Kobo are "special" in that they are root apps, rather than normal user apps. The main difference is that they can't be deleted unless you root the VOX. If you want the Kobo apps de-emphasized, get the Go Launcher from Android Market, then you can get rid of all the Kobo apps on the bottom row of the home screen.

BWinmill · 01-26-2012, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcarscadden

It is not the ROM you are objecting to, it just interfaces the hardware with the lowest software level.

I think ROM refers to everything from the hardware interface to the bundled software in this case, rather than the technical definition of ROM (or, more appropriately, firmware).

For the most parts, removing bits and pieces of the system works well. Yet it does have some drawbacks. If you get a little too zealous, breakage is easy. Also, how many people understand what changes Kobo made to the system? The user-facing stuff is the obvious part. While poking around, it seems as though other modifications were made as well. Kobo's fingerprints are definitely on some of the initialization files (as an example).

mike998 · 01-27-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcarscadden

...If you want the Kobo apps de-emphasized, get the Go Launcher from Android Market, then you can get rid of all the Kobo apps on the bottom row of the home screen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I think ROM refers to everything from the hardware interface to the bundled software in this case, rather than the technical definition of ROM (or, more appropriately, firmware).

For the most parts, removing bits and pieces of the system works well. Yet it does have some drawbacks. If you get a little too zealous, breakage is easy. Also, how many people understand what changes Kobo made to the system? The user-facing stuff is the obvious part. While poking around, it seems as though other modifications were made as well. Kobo's fingerprints are definitely on some of the initialization files (as an example).

BWinmill has hit the nail on the head. There's massive amounts of customization with the Vox - A great example is when you use the pull-down shade - The Kobo information is right there. I've already tried installing other launchers but this doesn't help. I'd like a blank, clean slate to start from.

Laridae · 01-27-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike998

Would you like to see Kobo release a vanilla ROM?

I don't understand the question.
Is that the same as "rooting" it?
Would it still have the Android O/S?

mr_nobody · 01-27-2012, 01:31 PM

Not the same as rooting but yes it would still be android. It would be "pure" android without kobo's customizations.

paulsalter · 01-27-2012, 02:05 PM

Cant really answer this question, I personally wouldn't want one, happy with the Vox as it is, but if others want it then no problem with it being done

View Poll Results: Would you like to see a vanilla ROM for the Touch?
Yes	9	81.82%
No	2	18.18%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

01-25-2012, 10:15 PM	#1
mike998 Exasperated Kobo Lover Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Vox	Vanilla ROM for the Vox I'd like to take a quick poll : I would like to see a vanilla ROM available for the Vox. I don't use the e-reader facilities of the Vox at all. I have a Kobo Touch for reading books, and use the Vox for watching movies, reading comics and other multi-media applications. Would you like to see Kobo release a vanilla ROM?

01-25-2012, 10:38 PM	#2
Cdesja5 Wizard Posts: 1,084 Karma: 2089284 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Device: Kobo Touch & Mini,Sony T1, Galaxy Tab 10.1,Samsung S2 phone,iPod Touch	I don't know why Kobo would bother to spend any time doing that. They sell books and are selling the Vox as an eReader tablet, to enhance their book sales. __________________ Chantal Unless otherwise stated, my edits are to correct the auto-correct...

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01-25-2012, 11:09 PM	#3
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 433 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo vox	Meh. 5 char

01-25-2012, 11:33 PM	#4
Laridae Groupie Posts: 157 Karma: 1153400 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Nexus 7, RIM PlayBook, Kobo Vox	Multi-media?? But the processor in the Vox is so lame. Reading books is about all it's good for!

01-26-2012, 12:32 AM	#5
BWinmill Wizard Posts: 1,128 Karma: 8387148 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kobo	I'd rather see a less Vanilla ROM from Kobo since I believe that one of the merits of an ereader is a distraction free reading environment. That said, I would probably use a vanilla ROM from a third party since the Vox currently ships with too many apps that are there for purely marketing purposes (globe2go, pressdisplay, zinio, rdio, INQ, etc.). Laridae: the processor and memory on the Vox is plenty powerful for multimedia. Cripes, I remember the days when a 50 MHz 80486 or 68040 was considered a video production machine. Sure there was plenty of add-on hardware to do that, but even that add-on hardware was nothing compared to the video extensions on modern microprocessors.

01-26-2012, 06:49 AM	#6
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	My Vox plays Netflix fine, flash is a bit slow. No interest in ROMs.

01-26-2012, 10:05 AM	#7
kcarscadden Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 13776 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: semi-north Ontario, Canada (N 45.41 W -79.67) Device: Sony 505, iPod Touch, Kobo Vox	None of what you want requires a different ROM. You can root your VOX, then remove or install any apps you want. It is easier to install other apps if you also install Android Market after rooting.

01-26-2012, 01:22 PM	#9
kcarscadden Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 13776 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: semi-north Ontario, Canada (N 45.41 W -79.67) Device: Sony 505, iPod Touch, Kobo Vox	Let me say this a different way. It is not the ROM you are objecting to, it just interfaces the hardware with the lowest software level. You don't like the Kobo apps and how they are presented. The apps loaded by Kobo are "special" in that they are root apps, rather than normal user apps. The main difference is that they can't be deleted unless you root the VOX. If you want the Kobo apps de-emphasized, get the Go Launcher from Android Market, then you can get rid of all the Kobo apps on the bottom row of the home screen.

01-27-2012, 01:31 PM	#13
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 433 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo vox	Not the same as rooting but yes it would still be android. It would be "pure" android without kobo's customizations.

01-27-2012, 02:05 PM	#14
paulsalter Fanatic Posts: 523 Karma: 1108551 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Device: Nexus 7, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy SII	Cant really answer this question, I personally wouldn't want one, happy with the Vox as it is, but if others want it then no problem with it being done


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