Kobo Vox - remove built-in apps

[phacdelm]

@jeff does rooting allow you to install the Android market, too?

@james these two issues (and I've just started) have me ready to return it. It is disingenuous to call the VOX an Android device.

[jefftheworld]

Originally Posted by phacdelm

@jeff does rooting allow you to install the Android market, too?

@james these two issues (and I've just started) have me ready to return it. It is disingenuous to call the VOX an Android device.

Not yet, but me and several others are attempting to get it installed. The Vox is very easy to modify and I have experience getting the Google Apps working on other devices so I'm guessing it won't be long before we get it working.

As for the issues you're having, would you mind elaborating? I might be able to figure it out, or start working on a fix.


Edit: Also, the Vox is very much an Android device. The lack of market support is Google's fault, not Kobo's. I'll admit that the Kobo seems a little rushed to market and there are some strange bugs, but I've not found anything major and the nature of Android makes them far more easily fixed than on iOS or another close-source platform.

[phacdelm]

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

As for the issues you're having, would you mind elaborating? I might be able to figure it out, or start working on a fix.

The other issue was the lack of Market support: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=155164

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

the Vox is very much an Android device. The lack of market support is Google's fault, not Kobo's.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh ... but I'm coming at this with an Android phone (LG Google Shine Plus) as my only 'droid device. I was totally shocked that the basic Google Apps (Gmail, Listen, etc.) aren't there; that they advertize Facebook, but it's only the website; that all apps have to be side-loaded b/c of no Market, etc.

I'm a software developer, so I'm no tech idiot ... but if I have to start rooting the device to get what I consider the baseline features of an Android device, I'm going to get a bit gnarly.

Maybe I'm a bit off on my expectations - so I'd appreciate some pointers to info on how this is Google's issue rather than Kobo's.

My bottom line is this: I bought it to give to my daughter for her 10th birthday. The "eReader" was a secondary consideration to fact that this is a lower-priced basic tablet. I was willing to compromise on the camera and some of the bells and whistles ... I just didn't realize how much device configuration control would be giving up.

It's a show-stopper. If I can't remove apps that I don't want my 10 year old to have (Rdio, Facebook "icon app", etc.) and get the very basic protection of ensuring the apps that she can install come from the Market ... without voiding the warranty (given the other issues out there re/ wifi sleep locking the device) ... then this is NOT the device for me, it's going back.

[Haesslich]

I think your expectations were too high, especially given this was from an ebook company - it's a reader first and foremost, just like how the Kindle Fire will be a media consumption portal for Amazon's music, video, and book services more than it'll be a basic tablet.

You want a cheap tablet for $200? The Coby Kyrios is about that price, and Viewsonic is looking at the $250 mark for their next tablet. The feature set here is focused around reading, with the ability to install other apps. Most tablets don't let you remove pre-installed apps either without rooting, nor do the basic Vanilla Android installs, so I'm not too surprised by it here.

In your shoes, I'd take this back and reconsider my plans. You won't get the features you want for anything below $300 (and even then you give up device configuration control), although installing an alternative launcher like Go Launcher EX world let you hide the icons, if not remove the apps. You can get it through GetJar too.

[ubermanx]

Originally Posted by phacdelm

The "eReader" was a secondary consideration to fact that this is a lower-priced basic tablet.

That is your first problem. The Kobo Vox is an eReader first and Android Tablet second. If you read the press releases and some of the interviews given by Kobo staff this was very much the focus of this device. Give users a colour eReader with social networking ties to the act of reading. The fact that the device can surf, email, etc is a side benefit.

Now don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you that if this device should have had official access to the App Market. If the Vox did it would surge in popularity. It's a shame that this wasn't worked out between Google and Kobo but I don't know the intricacies in Google's licensing arrangements for the App Market.

But you bought an eReader not an Android Tablet and as such it's pretty good.

Now as a hacking toy it's pretty good too. I've managed to sideload the Kindle app, Comixology and Opera Mini making it way more usable for me. I was also able to (without any "hacking") load my Google account using the "Microsoft Exchange" settings to give me calendar sync and push email. So it's been really good so far.

But I do wish the App Market was available ...

[jefftheworld]

Originally Posted by phacdelm

The other issue was the lack of Market support: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=155164



Maybe I'm being a bit harsh ... but I'm coming at this with an Android phone (LG Google Shine Plus) as my only 'droid device. I was totally shocked that the basic Google Apps (Gmail, Listen, etc.) aren't there; that they advertize Facebook, but it's only the website; that all apps have to be side-loaded b/c of no Market, etc.

I'm a software developer, so I'm no tech idiot ... but if I have to start rooting the device to get what I consider the baseline features of an Android device, I'm going to get a bit gnarly.

Maybe I'm a bit off on my expectations - so I'd appreciate some pointers to info on how this is Google's issue rather than Kobo's.

My bottom line is this: I bought it to give to my daughter for her 10th birthday. The "eReader" was a secondary consideration to fact that this is a lower-priced basic tablet. I was willing to compromise on the camera and some of the bells and whistles ... I just didn't realize how much device configuration control would be giving up.

It's a show-stopper. If I can't remove apps that I don't want my 10 year old to have (Rdio, Facebook "icon app", etc.) and get the very basic protection of ensuring the apps that she can install come from the Market ... without voiding the warranty (given the other issues out there re/ wifi sleep locking the device) ... then this is NOT the device for me, it's going back.

Those Google Apps you mentioned are closed-source, unlike the rest of the Android OS. Google does not license them freely to every device manufacturer and Kobo is simply too small and too new a company to get those apps and the Android Market licensed.

The Getjar market that comes with the device is perfectly safe and has a good selection and is easy enough even for a 10 year old to use.

As for removing those other apps, it's not hard to just lock their use and remove them from the home screen (they'll still appear in the app drawer, but they'll be unusable). Even your LG Android device has apps you can't be removed without rooting and most carriers shove way more annoying junk on than Kobo did.

On the topic of device control, I'm not sure what features you're looking for that are missing from a vanilla Gingerbread install but I'd love to hear ideas on improving device control because I'm a control freak and I'd love to find a way of changing any settings I'm unaware of.

[3d0g]

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

The lack of market support is Google's fault, not Kobo's.

I'm unclear how you came to this conclusion...

[jefftheworld]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

I'm unclear how you came to this conclusion...

Read my post above. I explained it quite clearly, I believe.

[3d0g]

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

Read my post above. I explained it quite clearly, I believe.

Well, you're right that Android Market is closed source but any hardware developer can apply for a license. I fail to see how kobo choosing to go with an open source solution is Google's fault.

[taming]

If there is a cost associated with using the newer version, then it might simply have been a matter of cost. Kobo brought out a nice piece of kit, with a screen that was probably pretty pricey, for $199. They did this without having the economies of scale that Amazon has, the user base, or the possibility of making money off of it by selling high margin doo dads.

[Haesslich]

Also note that the Amazon Kindle Fire will ALSO be free of the Google Market and all the extras that are associated with it - they're going it alone with their own Amazon App Store. So they won't be licensing it either, nor do they want to.

Speaking of which, I've found Zeam Launcher speeds things up nicely when it comes to switching screens...

[3d0g]

Speaking of the Amazon App store, has anyone tried installing it on their Vox? Free apps every day from it.

[jefftheworld]

Okay, I've got the automated app remover almost done. Just need to work on the UI and throw some options out there. My plan is to offer the following options:

-Remove All Built-in Apps Permanently (removes all built-in apps other than the Kobo app)
-Disable All Built-in Apps (disables all built-in apps other than the Kobo app, restorable)
-Remove Selected Built-in Apps Permanently (select any you wish to remove)
-Disable Selected Built-in Apps (select any you wish to remove)

Anything else you think it should have?

[spikexp]

Enable them back. Might be a good thing

[jefftheworld]

Originally Posted by spikexp

Enable them back. Might be a good thing

I'm not going to lie, I meant to include that but somehow I totally didn't and put together a quick build before reading your post and saying "Oh yeah...duh."