New Mars Firmware

Sir Loyne · 02-13-2021, 06:07 AM

Hello everyone. I saw on Good E Reader that the Mars has a new firmware that is being pushed over WiFi. I'm wondering if anyone has tried it yet. Does this update also update Android to 8? I've read about people who updated to 8 and had problems. I just read sideloaded epubs using Moon+ Reader Pro. It there any benefit to installing this new firmware?

Thanks

ottischwenk · 02-13-2021, 06:26 AM

Likebook OTA updates are only available for Android 8.1.
To be able to enjoy them, you have to update to Android 8.1

Quoth · 02-13-2021, 08:06 AM

How new?
The last was in January 2021. Koreader is good, but direct download, not the Boyue App Store. I looked at Moonreader on Android and found it abysmal at respecting CSS compared to Aldiko or Lithium. The koreader allows over-riding bad CSS.

The built-in Mars reader seems very good for image / scan based PDFs. Ancient books and magazines.

My Mars had Android 8.1 pre-installed and then did a patch update and a firmware update at the setup screen. Various features such as an extra comic format, partial exFAT sd card support (can use 64 G to 128 G as portable but not integrated, which is still 32 G max), and extra BT support.

There are instructions here to upgrade to 8.1

I find it much as I'd expect an 7.8 " eink tablet with Android and switchable Google Framework support. I have an actual Lenovo LCD 10" Android 8.x tablet and the android aspects and limitations are similar, except where limited by the eink. The Boyue Homescreens and GUI is actually marginally better than Google Go, Android 6 or 8 or Nova launcher.

Sir Loyne · 02-13-2021, 11:14 AM

I'm still running Android 6.1 on it. Installing the 8.1 update sounds like a hassle, and I can't find any benefit in doing it. If it ain't broke, after all...

Thanks.

ottischwenk · 02-13-2021, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Loyne

I'm still running Android 6.1 on it. Installing the 8.1 update sounds like a hassle, and I can't find any benefit in doing it. If it ain't broke, after all...

All Boyue updates are based on Android 8.1

p38lightning · 02-18-2021, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Loyne

I'm still running Android 6.1 on it. Installing the 8.1 update sounds like a hassle, and I can't find any benefit in doing it. If it ain't broke, after all...

Thanks.

Have come to the same conclusion regarding my Mars. Looked at all of the "benefits/improvements" with the initial jump to Android 8+ offering and, with my highly limited usage, simply did not see the need. I use eReader Prestigio as my reading software and sideload all of my books from my various Calibre libraries. With that limited usage, the Android 6 series does the trick.

franzli · 02-20-2021, 05:49 AM

Some people have reported better battery life on the newer Android 8 firmware. I have a similar impression, but can't really tell for sure since I haven't been using the Mars a lot since I did the update some time last year (sadly no time to read for leisure and for work purposes I need annotation, so I'm using my Onyx Note 2)

Quoth · 02-20-2021, 08:01 AM

There was a new update via WiFi last night. Unlike some systems it asked nice if I wanted, explained it fixed PDF reader bugs and wrote my data would be OK.

I think it may have been the built in reader application. Is that a version of fbreader? Anyway, it downloaded fine. You could see progress in Notifications.
It installed and nothing broke.

My Mars was Android 8.1 when I got it and did two updates at the setup screen.

Quoth · 02-20-2021, 08:03 AM

Note that some playstore apps, maybe Kobo, don't install on Android 6.x but do on Android 8.x

02-13-2021, 06:07 AM	#1
Sir Loyne Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 5392 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo Glo HD, Likebook Mars, Mobiscribe Wave B&W	New Mars Firmware Hello everyone. I saw on Good E Reader that the Mars has a new firmware that is being pushed over WiFi. I'm wondering if anyone has tried it yet. Does this update also update Android to 8? I've read about people who updated to 8 and had problems. I just read sideloaded epubs using Moon+ Reader Pro. It there any benefit to installing this new firmware? Thanks

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02-13-2021, 06:26 AM	#2
ottischwenk Wizard Posts: 2,910 Karma: 3933245 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Salzburg AT Device: Bigme 3/3, Boox 4/14, Like-/Meebook 2/8, Tolino 1/10, Ki/Ko 0/8	Likebook OTA updates are only available for Android 8.1. To be able to enjoy them, you have to update to Android 8.1

02-13-2021, 08:06 AM	#3
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,958 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	How new? The last was in January 2021. Koreader is good, but direct download, not the Boyue App Store. I looked at Moonreader on Android and found it abysmal at respecting CSS compared to Aldiko or Lithium. The koreader allows over-riding bad CSS. The built-in Mars reader seems very good for image / scan based PDFs. Ancient books and magazines. My Mars had Android 8.1 pre-installed and then did a patch update and a firmware update at the setup screen. Various features such as an extra comic format, partial exFAT sd card support (can use 64 G to 128 G as portable but not integrated, which is still 32 G max), and extra BT support. There are instructions here to upgrade to 8.1 I find it much as I'd expect an 7.8 " eink tablet with Android and switchable Google Framework support. I have an actual Lenovo LCD 10" Android 8.x tablet and the android aspects and limitations are similar, except where limited by the eink. The Boyue Homescreens and GUI is actually marginally better than Google Go, Android 6 or 8 or Nova launcher.

02-13-2021, 11:14 AM	#4
Sir Loyne Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 5392 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: Kobo Glo HD, Likebook Mars, Mobiscribe Wave B&W	I'm still running Android 6.1 on it. Installing the 8.1 update sounds like a hassle, and I can't find any benefit in doing it. If it ain't broke, after all... Thanks.

02-20-2021, 05:49 AM	#7
franzli Addict Posts: 220 Karma: 704750 Join Date: Apr 2016 Device: Nook Simple Touch, Onyx Boox T68 Plus	Some people have reported better battery life on the newer Android 8 firmware. I have a similar impression, but can't really tell for sure since I haven't been using the Mars a lot since I did the update some time last year (sadly no time to read for leisure and for work purposes I need annotation, so I'm using my Onyx Note 2)

02-20-2021, 08:01 AM	#8
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,958 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	There was a new update via WiFi last night. Unlike some systems it asked nice if I wanted, explained it fixed PDF reader bugs and wrote my data would be OK. I think it may have been the built in reader application. Is that a version of fbreader? Anyway, it downloaded fine. You could see progress in Notifications. It installed and nothing broke. My Mars was Android 8.1 when I got it and did two updates at the setup screen.

02-20-2021, 08:03 AM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,958 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Note that some playstore apps, maybe Kobo, don't install on Android 6.x but do on Android 8.x

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