MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - my quest for an e-ink typewriter

Steenstrupian · 06-12-2017, 06:45 AM

I'm wondering if anyone can help a tentative Android newbie, on this topic.

My own quest for an e-ink typewriter is going well - I'm currently trying out both the inkBook Prime and the Onyx Kepler Pro with a Bluetooth keyboard and running writing apps. The keyboard is working excellently, and I've got apps to work on both machines. The Kepler Pro is technically higher end, and I like it fine, but I actually prefer the InkBook Pro - it's lighter and its screen, though lower resolution, actually looks crisper and lighter to me. But both machines have OS problems which, though I'm tantalisingly close to exactly what I need, are stymying me. I'm wondering if someone has any advice on how to overcome these.

What I need is very simple - to run Dropbox, integrating it with Jotterpad and maybe a couple of other writing apps. That's all! Everything else can go.

On the Kepler, I've achieved that, and it works well... but because the Kepler runs Android 4.0.4, I can only run much older versions of the various apps, like Jotterpad X, rather than 12, which is missing a couple of options I really need (typewriter scrolling! Etc). And there are apps I'd like that I can't run at all.

Conversely, the InkBook is running Android 4.2.2 - but for some reason though I've sideloaded the Google Play store (where I have an account) and Google Play services, the Play store simply won't load. The icon appears, but nothing happens when I press it (except occasionally I get a pop-up saying 'Google Play services has stopped'). I can run Jotterpad on the InkBook... but I need to make an in-app purchase to use Dropbox and other features, and can't do so without the Play store running.

So can anyone advise on either how to update Android to a later version on the Kepler (I know there's a thread elsewhere on this but I haven't seen anyone get it to work successfully in ways I understand), or how to get the Google Play store to work on the InkBook, so that I can upgrade Jotterpad? (I've emailed InkBook and asked for help too re Google Play, but no response so far.)

Many thanks for any thoughts.

06-12-2017, 06:45 AM	#17
Steenstrupian Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: None	Help with Android, to make an e-ink typewriter? I'm wondering if anyone can help a tentative Android newbie, on this topic. My own quest for an e-ink typewriter is going well - I'm currently trying out both the inkBook Prime and the Onyx Kepler Pro with a Bluetooth keyboard and running writing apps. The keyboard is working excellently, and I've got apps to work on both machines. The Kepler Pro is technically higher end, and I like it fine, but I actually prefer the InkBook Pro - it's lighter and its screen, though lower resolution, actually looks crisper and lighter to me. But both machines have OS problems which, though I'm tantalisingly close to exactly what I need, are stymying me. I'm wondering if someone has any advice on how to overcome these. What I need is very simple - to run Dropbox, integrating it with Jotterpad and maybe a couple of other writing apps. That's all! Everything else can go. On the Kepler, I've achieved that, and it works well... but because the Kepler runs Android 4.0.4, I can only run much older versions of the various apps, like Jotterpad X, rather than 12, which is missing a couple of options I really need (typewriter scrolling! Etc). And there are apps I'd like that I can't run at all. Conversely, the InkBook is running Android 4.2.2 - but for some reason though I've sideloaded the Google Play store (where I have an account) and Google Play services, the Play store simply won't load. The icon appears, but nothing happens when I press it (except occasionally I get a pop-up saying 'Google Play services has stopped'). I can run Jotterpad on the InkBook... but I need to make an in-app purchase to use Dropbox and other features, and can't do so without the Play store running. So can anyone advise on either how to update Android to a later version on the Kepler (I know there's a thread elsewhere on this but I haven't seen anyone get it to work successfully in ways I understand), or how to get the Google Play store to work on the InkBook, so that I can upgrade Jotterpad? (I've emailed InkBook and asked for help too re Google Play, but no response so far.) Many thanks for any thoughts.