MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - linux distribution... when will they catch on?

wallcraft · 09-15-2009, 07:29 AM

All the current EInk readers are using Linux. There have been hacks of the Kindle 2 (Ubuntu linux running on a Kindle 2), but the iRex devices are the most friendly to adding Linux apps. This is in part due to the touch screen, which requires much less modification to existing GUI-based Linux apps than a keyboard-only device. There is a iRex DR1000 Development VMWare Image, and, apparently, GTK+ apps are relatively simple to port. The DR1000S is expensive, but presumably the DR800 will be similar from a porting point of view (Mainstream iRex 8.1-inch reader for 400$). Finally, OpenInkPot (has its own forum) is a complete Linux-based open source firmware for EInk devices. It is currently only for the Hanlin V3 and the Hanvon HandyBOOK N516. One thing that is often requested is ports of OpenInkPot to other devices. This requires low-level Linux skills that are rare in EInk enthusiasts, so I'm sure Open InkPot would welcome participation in that area (or in adding new features or apps to Open InkPot).

09-15-2009, 07:29 AM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	All the current EInk readers are using Linux. There have been hacks of the Kindle 2 (Ubuntu linux running on a Kindle 2), but the iRex devices are the most friendly to adding Linux apps. This is in part due to the touch screen, which requires much less modification to existing GUI-based Linux apps than a keyboard-only device. There is a iRex DR1000 Development VMWare Image, and, apparently, GTK+ apps are relatively simple to port. The DR1000S is expensive, but presumably the DR800 will be similar from a porting point of view (Mainstream iRex 8.1-inch reader for 400$). Finally, OpenInkPot (has its own forum) is a complete Linux-based open source firmware for EInk devices. It is currently only for the Hanlin V3 and the Hanvon HandyBOOK N516. One thing that is often requested is ports of OpenInkPot to other devices. This requires low-level Linux skills that are rare in EInk enthusiasts, so I'm sure Open InkPot would welcome participation in that area (or in adding new features or apps to Open InkPot).