I'm using my Kobo Glo as an Android e-Ink reader and I think is SUPER.
I'm creating this thread to put together all the "Tips and Apps" that I (subjectively) find interesting and can use, that are scattered through
this "Android on Glo" thread.
- Installing (?) Android on Kobo -
1. Get your SD card Image
Spoiler:
__________ Touch __________
[MarekGibek's] For a Touch image, mirrors
here. This image works on Touch N905C. For the N905B model check
this.
[angor00's] Another Touch image
here.
[MarekGibek's] For both the Touch and the Glo you can find the same images
here.
[angor00's] This Touch image is for Dual Boot.
[MarekGibek's] Newer image (mirrors here) for Touch with 'improved reading mode' (not for Dual boot).
__________ Glo __________
[MarekGibek's] For a Glo image,
here.
[angor00's] This Glo image is for Dual Boot.
[MarekGibek's]+++ This is a modified version of Marek's Glo Image.
Updated: Kobo Rotate App, AlReader, TotalCommander, Moon+ Reader.
Added: Auto Mount, FBReader, ES Explorer, Display Brightness, BatteryOverlayPercent.
More e-Ink friendly settings. You can uninstall the Tolino app and still connect Glo with a computer.
There is a
Stand-alone and a
Dual-boot version. The Dualboot version has also the "Back" button (Light) fix.
[MarekGibek's] Newer image for Glo with '
improved reading mode' (not for Dual boot).
__________ AuraHD __________
[phj's] For the AuraHD you can find one here, but it seems there is a problem with the DATA partition.
[phj's] I uploaded
another image here, with fixed DATA.
[angor00's] This AuraHD image is for Dual Boot.
[angor00's] A different
image for the AuraHD (for dual boot) with new kernel from angor00 with
instructions to create it yourself. Some mirrors
here. Its in Russian. For changing the language, check
this post.
2. Read some instructions here.
Xtra Note: I couldn't make "Image writer" to work on WinXP, so I used
RMPrepUSB. Its a bit overkill, but anyways ...
- Dual Boot Nickel - Android -
For the AuraHD the instructions are
here. The links for the Glo and Touch files are at the comments.
Spoiler:
The first thing you need to download the SD card image with Android for
AuraHD,
Glo, or
Touch. To create a SD card from this image you need
Flash Drive Image Writer and at least 8GB miсroSD card. You can use micro SD card up to 32GB, you only need to move the last two partitions to the end of the card and extend the first partition. After you create the card you'll need to delete the folder .kobo from the created SD card.
Now you are ready to install the patch that lets you run Android from the external SD. First we create a backup internal SD card. You need to install
this patch (fix-udev-tgz.zip), otherwise the device won't see the external card, which will be used to save the backup. Connect your device to your computer through USB and unzip fix-udev-tgz.zip to the folder named .kobo which is located on the device. Next you need to safely unmount and disconnect the device from the computer. Then the device will be upgrading and rebooting. Creating a backup is a long process, it took me about 15 minutes. Now you have to download the main patch for
AuraHD,
Glo and Touch. Connect your device to your computer through USB and unzip dualboot-android-******.zip to the folder named .kobo which is located on the device. Next you need to safely unmount and disconnect the device from the computer. Then the device will be upgrading and rebooting. During the upgrade will be created backup, so be prepared for a long wait.
After the device will reboot you will be able to choose which system to boot. If you press the backlight button when the device turns on then Android will boot from the external SD card which was created earlier. If backlight button isn't pressed the standard firmware will boot from the internal SD.
Note: You can modify your existing Android image for Glo, to use it as extSD for Dual boot, by adding (and replacing) the files of the attached "
Android System.dualboot.tar.bz2".The fix for the "Back" button is included.
- The Tips -
_____________
Scripts:
Spoiler:
Kill the blue LED blinking
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
ioctl -d /dev/ntx_io 127 0
Kill the Screen LEDS
Code:
#!/system/bin/sh
echo 0 > /sys/class/backlight/mxc_msp430_fl.0/brightness
Both must be run as root (SU - SuperUser)
You can use
Script Manager. Instructions
here, or
here.
Misc
Spoiler:
- Update the kobo rotate touch utility from
this post. I don't know if the image has the latest version in it.
- I replaced the launcher of the image with
LauncherPro
-You can then use the Power Control Widget to toggle WiFi On-Off and 10-50-100-Auto Brightness levels.
- I didn't create a Google Market account.
For downloading the apps from the Play Store, I use
this page.
- Connect with Calibre instructions,
here.
- If you want to change the pictures shown on sleep, shut down, low battery, etc., you can easily edit the MsgE6.apk with the
APK Multi-Tool and replace it in /System/Apps/ with
ES File Explorer
- The Apps -
_____________
Readers
Dictionaries
Misc
Many thanks to all the people that made this real.