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Quoth · 07-20-2025, 11:32 AM

Ha!

The barriers to an alternate OS on a Kobo
Time
Expertise
Perceived return on investment, Value compared with existing OS.

It's eink so of extremely limited value for anything other than reading novels. I do have an Android eink and Gboard, which works on older phones, doesn't work properly.

I've Andriod 3 to 14 PDAs/Phones/Tablets working here. I've had Symbian and installed DOS games on it. I still have a Palm PDA. I've had/have both Linux and Android based Sony ereaders.

I've put custom OSes on setboxes and routers. Developed 2x 4G VOIP handsets 2006-2009, developed a combo TV & Internet system using DOCSIS over Microwave and DOCSIS security instead of a TV viewing card. Setbox provided TV, PVR and WiFi/Ethernet router. Developed a 4G/3G portable WiFi router using OpenWRT in 2007 (PCMCIA slot for WAN modem). Assembled a test PC playout for H.264 DVB-T and DVB-C to feed the microwave transmitter at IF. Sadly in 2007-2008 real-time encoding was too expensive for the demo. Built custom VOIP PABX systems. See https://www.asterisk.org

Networked the GP2X handheld gaming console. Used Linux on Sony Playstation. Ported 4G PCMCIA modem drivers.

So I've the experience of this stuff and the commercial work of R&D. Hence my conclusions based on experience. No one bothers replacing DVD player OS. There is motivation to change the Firmware on game consoles, or routers, or setboxes, or phones or tablets. Or even run MacOS on a not-Apple.

Though people have worked on stuff for eink (Kindle, Sony, Kobo etc) it's a niche hobby obsession and almost pointless compared with what it achieves. I have jailbroken a Kindle. I have used KOReader on Kobo and Android.

Basically the eink technology means it's all a huge waste compared with alternate OS or firmware or applications for phones, setboxes, game consoles, tablets or TVs.

I'd like to be able to ditch Android TV, or run alternate software easily on a Nintendo Switch, or turn off the Google Framework on phone/tablet.

The Kobo ereader and Library interface already is maybe the best. Porting that onto a reMarkable (ghastly system), or an Android eink (Boyue/meebook) is more use than replacing OS on Kobo.

Android on eink is a lazy solution for smaller eink companies, or bigger ones that miss what an eink based ereader is for and what Android is for and have lost the plot.

07-20-2025, 11:32 AM	#14
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,255 Karma: 105299897 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Ha! The barriers to an alternate OS on a Kobo Time Expertise Perceived return on investment, Value compared with existing OS. It's eink so of extremely limited value for anything other than reading novels. I do have an Android eink and Gboard, which works on older phones, doesn't work properly. I've Andriod 3 to 14 PDAs/Phones/Tablets working here. I've had Symbian and installed DOS games on it. I still have a Palm PDA. I've had/have both Linux and Android based Sony ereaders. I've put custom OSes on setboxes and routers. Developed 2x 4G VOIP handsets 2006-2009, developed a combo TV & Internet system using DOCSIS over Microwave and DOCSIS security instead of a TV viewing card. Setbox provided TV, PVR and WiFi/Ethernet router. Developed a 4G/3G portable WiFi router using OpenWRT in 2007 (PCMCIA slot for WAN modem). Assembled a test PC playout for H.264 DVB-T and DVB-C to feed the microwave transmitter at IF. Sadly in 2007-2008 real-time encoding was too expensive for the demo. Built custom VOIP PABX systems. See https://www.asterisk.org Networked the GP2X handheld gaming console. Used Linux on Sony Playstation. Ported 4G PCMCIA modem drivers. So I've the experience of this stuff and the commercial work of R&D. Hence my conclusions based on experience. No one bothers replacing DVD player OS. There is motivation to change the Firmware on game consoles, or routers, or setboxes, or phones or tablets. Or even run MacOS on a not-Apple. Though people have worked on stuff for eink (Kindle, Sony, Kobo etc) it's a niche hobby obsession and almost pointless compared with what it achieves. I have jailbroken a Kindle. I have used KOReader on Kobo and Android. Basically the eink technology means it's all a huge waste compared with alternate OS or firmware or applications for phones, setboxes, game consoles, tablets or TVs. I'd like to be able to ditch Android TV, or run alternate software easily on a Nintendo Switch, or turn off the Google Framework on phone/tablet. The Kobo ereader and Library interface already is maybe the best. Porting that onto a reMarkable (ghastly system), or an Android eink (Boyue/meebook) is more use than replacing OS on Kobo. Android on eink is a lazy solution for smaller eink companies, or bigger ones that miss what an eink based ereader is for and what Android is for and have lost the plot.