Glo [WIP] Port of Kindle Paperwhite OS

giorgio130 · 01-10-2013, 06:15 AM

Hi everyone!
I'm posting this to see if there's enough interest, and to find someone wanting to help me out.
I'm currently working on porting the Kindle Paperwhite firmware to the Kobo Glo. This should be fairly doable since the hardware is very, very similar.
Since the software is proprietary and under copyright, everyone interested to run it will have to download the 5.3.1 update from amazon and extract it from there.

Currently I've written some scripts that mount the firmware image extracted from the update in /mnt/kindle, and then chroot there. The software should then start calling the file "/etc/upstart/framework". It still doesn't display anything.

I will provide more detailed instructions if there's anyone willing to help.
The next steps I'm facing are:
- enabling logging. I've created a /var directory but still it stays empty.
- The framebuffer on Kobos has a depth of 16 bpp, while on Kindles it is 8 or 4 (still unclear to me). I have to find a way to change the mode of the display; I've tried fbset but it does nothing. -> SOLVED

I hope that someone else will be interested in this effort

to the next update!

EDIT: I'm adding the supporting files I've already created.
framebuffer_configure sets the eink panel to be driven at 8bpp, like the paperwhite does.

giorgio130 · 01-10-2013, 06:16 AM

reserved (hopefully) for future use!

koenieee · 01-10-2013, 08:45 AM

Are then any advantages for the Kindle paperwhite OS?
Is it better then Kobo?

giorgio130 · 01-10-2013, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koenieee

Are then any advantages for the Kindle paperwhite OS?
Is it better then Kobo?

As the time being, I'd say so. The firmware is much more mature and has far less bugs. However it would not substitute the original one, it would be a sort of dual boot.
Later I'll publish what I already have, maybe it can spark some interest...

stewacide · 01-10-2013, 01:40 PM

Interesting hack, but not sure what the Amazon firmware does better than Kobo's. A port of the Kobo firmware to the Kindle would have a lot more takers I think.

If you're looking for a project for the Glo, a way to set the backlighting to an arbitrary (lower) level would be hugely welcome. Or perhaps an inverse colour mode: a sorely needed feature imo.

EldRick · 01-10-2013, 02:59 PM

So you would give up the ability to read epubs? Why on earth would you want to do that?

koenieee · 01-10-2013, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldRick

So you would give up the ability to read epubs? Why on earth would you want to do that?

Yes, I'm wondering the same...

PeterT · 01-10-2013, 03:48 PM

Not only that; while the Kindle code MIGHT be stable on it's hardware, who knows HOW stable it would be in a hacked format on different hardware.

JSWolf · 01-10-2013, 03:58 PM

While you are at it, can you fix the line height bug in the KF8 portion of the Kindle firmware? If you could do that and get it running on a Kobo, it would make the Glo a lot nicer then the PW.

giorgio130 · 01-10-2013, 06:00 PM

Nice to see that the thread doesn't get ignored

Thanks for the suggestions...
It seems though that this forum lacks a little of technical people? I'll need some directions on the problem of different bpp...

lollazzo · 01-11-2013, 05:47 AM

It is a good project

traycold · 01-11-2013, 09:02 AM

another suggestion: maybe could be also useful (and possibly easier, too) to work on the port of the application KindlePDFViewer on Kobo platform.
In case you don't know it: despite its name, it's a complete reader application, not limited to PDF (using mupdf engine), but it can also handle DJVU (based on djvulibre), EPUB, MOBI, TXT, etc.. (all other formats supported by crreader engine).
It's open souce, written in C and lua (for the interface part). It includes a file manager and has several advanced features like: pdf zoom and pan, 2-column mode, pdf reflow, and many many other.
At the moment kindles with keyboard are supported, but a W.I.P. version that will be shortly released will include support for Kindle Paperwhite.
It's actively developed so in case of needs, you may ask support to the developers for help.
It makes use of framebuffer for the display, so I think it could be adapted to kobo platform.

For further info:

thread on MobileRead
project on github (see wiki and branch "new ui code" for paperwhite version)

giorgio130 · 01-11-2013, 09:42 AM

@traycold, I'm already working on that

windspeedo · 01-13-2013, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koenieee

Are then any advantages for the Kindle paperwhite OS?
Is it better then Kobo?

I have recently bought a Kobo Glo since the screen of my Kindle keyboard has some problems.

There is one feature of Kindle is very handy indeed.

One could easily send long articles from web pages to Kindle via the "send to kindle" extension of chrome. Then the Kindle would get the article with proper format via wifi automatically.

stewacide · 01-14-2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windspeedo

I have recently bought a Kobo Glo since the screen of my Kindle keyboard has some problems.

There is one feature of Kindle is very handy indeed.

One could easily send long articles from web pages to Kindle via the "send to kindle" extension of chrome. Then the Kindle would get the article with proper format via wifi automatically.

You could try Instapaper, using the Glo's browser to grab the .epub.

01-11-2013, 09:02 AM	#12
traycold Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 196 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kobo Glo Hd, Kobo H2O2	another suggestion: maybe could be also useful (and possibly easier, too) to work on the port of the application KindlePDFViewer on Kobo platform. In case you don't know it: despite its name, it's a complete reader application, not limited to PDF (using mupdf engine), but it can also handle DJVU (based on djvulibre), EPUB, MOBI, TXT, etc.. (all other formats supported by crreader engine). It's open souce, written in C and lua (for the interface part). It includes a file manager and has several advanced features like: pdf zoom and pan, 2-column mode, pdf reflow, and many many other. At the moment kindles with keyboard are supported, but a W.I.P. version that will be shortly released will include support for Kindle Paperwhite. It's actively developed so in case of needs, you may ask support to the developers for help. It makes use of framebuffer for the display, so I think it could be adapted to kobo platform. For further info: thread on MobileRead project on github (see wiki and branch "new ui code" for paperwhite version)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
F-Zero 4K, code ported, now it needs dumbing down. WIP...	twobob	Kindle Developer's Corner	2	09-06-2012 11:12 AM
Android [WIP] Overclocking the PE	plasticarmyman	enTourage eDGe	16	06-11-2012 08:08 PM
Seriously thoughtful I always knew Windows was a WIP	GeoffC	Lounge	4	02-06-2010 03:20 AM
Thirty - WIP - comments wanted	ravenlife	Writers' Corner	20	08-16-2009 01:10 PM
Opinions needed on a WIP ebook	Nate the great	Workshop	5	07-15-2009 12:38 PM

01-10-2013, 06:16 AM	#2
giorgio130 Time Waster Posts: 422 Karma: 289160 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kobo Glo and Aura HD	reserved (hopefully) for future use!

01-10-2013, 08:45 AM	#3
koenieee Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 208 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Glo	Are then any advantages for the Kindle paperwhite OS? Is it better then Kobo?

01-10-2013, 01:40 PM	#5
stewacide Groupie Posts: 197 Karma: 1086780 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo H2O Ed. 2, Glo HD, Glo, Touch, Clara HD	Interesting hack, but not sure what the Amazon firmware does better than Kobo's. A port of the Kobo firmware to the Kindle would have a lot more takers I think. If you're looking for a project for the Glo, a way to set the backlighting to an arbitrary (lower) level would be hugely welcome. Or perhaps an inverse colour mode: a sorely needed feature imo.

01-10-2013, 02:59 PM	#6
EldRick Evangelist Posts: 470 Karma: 112801 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Aura H2O (i86, M96C, Mini&Glo, PRS-950, STR, K-Touch, K-DX, K-3)	So you would give up the ability to read epubs? Why on earth would you want to do that?

01-10-2013, 03:48 PM	#8
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,698 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Not only that; while the Kindle code MIGHT be stable on it's hardware, who knows HOW stable it would be in a hacked format on different hardware.

01-10-2013, 03:58 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	While you are at it, can you fix the line height bug in the KF8 portion of the Kindle firmware? If you could do that and get it running on a Kobo, it would make the Glo a lot nicer then the PW.

01-10-2013, 06:00 PM	#10
giorgio130 Time Waster Posts: 422 Karma: 289160 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kobo Glo and Aura HD	Nice to see that the thread doesn't get ignored Thanks for the suggestions... It seems though that this forum lacks a little of technical people? I'll need some directions on the problem of different bpp...

01-11-2013, 05:47 AM	#11
lollazzo Member Posts: 13 Karma: 5396 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	It is a good project

01-11-2013, 09:42 AM	#13
giorgio130 Time Waster Posts: 422 Karma: 289160 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kobo Glo and Aura HD	@traycold, I'm already working on that