MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - You Should Buy an Android E-Reader

pazos · 12-28-2019, 01:21 PM

@pefilix:

I talked about software issues on android devices, given that this thread is not about hardware. Some of these issues have workarounds but I think is not realistic to say "don't connect to internet".

Most of the issues related to android can't be easily resolved, because:

- people choose android to install their favorite ereader app.
- normally these apps are distributed in the play store and use com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE (or related frameworks) to avoid piracy
- these apps won't work on devices without play store services (legally obtained or spoofed)
- there aren't any certified e-ink readers, so all play stored enabled devices spoof fingerprints from approved ones.

The way android works is:

- the manufacturer/vendor is god and can do whatever it wants with the software.
- since CTS is only for legally/certified android devices most e-ink manufactures skip the test.

So we end with two kind of devices:

- devices that are promoted like android devices: open launcher, can install apps, usually ship with play store and play services
- devices that use AOSP as the base but they're closed and require root/adb to do most of the things we usually do with an android device.

The first kind of devices are Likebook, Onyx, Mobiscribe...
The second kind are Tolinos, Nooks and Sony.

I would go for the second kind of devices if I want an android e-ink reader, mainly because:

- vendors usually know what they're doing (they implemented their own software stack on top of AOSP and make sure it works fine and its compatible with latest android improvements for an specific API level)
- they don't need to include play store services, or apks like ContactsSyncProvider which are not useful for their target audience.
- they usually choose freescale as their platform

The other kind of devices usually ship with more memory and multicore processors and steal code for "wide-range" apps instead of using some of the heavily optimized libraries available. Having more memory and more cpu power by itself it isn't bad but it doesn't mean "faster" if it's not optimized. It usually means less battery life.

Never tried a Nook but I'm sure it will behave faster than the latest likebook X even when the first has 512MB/1024MB of ram and a single/double core proccesor and the second has gigabytes of ram and an octacore processor.

Of course comparing a Likebook/recent Nook with a Sony T1 isn't fair because they are two different archs: arm7-a vs arm5.

12-28-2019, 01:21 PM	#13
pazos cosiñeiro Posts: 1,406 Karma: 2451781 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: BQ Cervantes 4	@pefilix: I talked about software issues on android devices, given that this thread is not about hardware. Some of these issues have workarounds but I think is not realistic to say "don't connect to internet". Most of the issues related to android can't be easily resolved, because: - people choose android to install their favorite ereader app. - normally these apps are distributed in the play store and use com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE (or related frameworks) to avoid piracy - these apps won't work on devices without play store services (legally obtained or spoofed) - there aren't any certified e-ink readers, so all play stored enabled devices spoof fingerprints from approved ones. The way android works is: - the manufacturer/vendor is god and can do whatever it wants with the software. - since CTS is only for legally/certified android devices most e-ink manufactures skip the test. So we end with two kind of devices: - devices that are promoted like android devices: open launcher, can install apps, usually ship with play store and play services - devices that use AOSP as the base but they're closed and require root/adb to do most of the things we usually do with an android device. The first kind of devices are Likebook, Onyx, Mobiscribe... The second kind are Tolinos, Nooks and Sony. I would go for the second kind of devices if I want an android e-ink reader, mainly because: - vendors usually know what they're doing (they implemented their own software stack on top of AOSP and make sure it works fine and its compatible with latest android improvements for an specific API level) - they don't need to include play store services, or apks like ContactsSyncProvider which are not useful for their target audience. - they usually choose freescale as their platform The other kind of devices usually ship with more memory and multicore processors and steal code for "wide-range" apps instead of using some of the heavily optimized libraries available. Having more memory and more cpu power by itself it isn't bad but it doesn't mean "faster" if it's not optimized. It usually means less battery life. Never tried a Nook but I'm sure it will behave faster than the latest likebook X even when the first has 512MB/1024MB of ram and a single/double core proccesor and the second has gigabytes of ram and an octacore processor. Of course comparing a Likebook/recent Nook with a Sony T1 isn't fair because they are two different archs: arm7-a vs arm5.