Tolino has updated their whole lineup now

[LucyOne]

Someone had tried to install the Kobo Firmware on the Tolino Shine 3, which resembles the Kobo Clara HD. It didn't work, though. It would be interesting to see if the new Tolinos can be be cracked to run Android.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Nit-pick: none of these are "based on" Linux. All Kobo devices, including Kobo's tolino-branded devices, run a full Linux kernel, not a derivative. ...

I get your point. You're right. I should have said "Linux-based" not "based on Linux."

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Nit-pick: none of these are "based on" Linux. All Kobo devices, including Kobo's tolino-branded devices, run a full Linux kernel, not a derivative. So do Kindle devices for that matter. But not iPhone and iPad; these run a Mach + FreeBSD fusion called XNU. Kindle Fire devices run an os that is based on Android. Still have a full Linux kernel at the core but what sits above is a derivative of Google's AOSP sources.

Unknown if tolino firmware can be installed on Kobo-branded hardware or if Kobo firmware can be installed on tolino-branded hardware. They're the same hardware but the IPL code may be different.

Minor nit. The Tolino branded devices are still using Tolino's Android based firmware and not Kobo's Linux based firmware.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Minor nit. The Tolino branded devices are still using Tolino's Android based firmware and not Kobo's Linux based firmware.

Android runs on top of a Linux kernel. I don't know if Kobo/tolino have passed all the requirements needed to use the Android name and trademarks. If not then it's "based on Android" like Amazon's FireOS. Otherwise it's not "Android-based"; it's "Android".

Regardless, it wouldn't surprise me if both sets of operating systems use the same kernel version underneath. Same kernel version, same drivers, simplified maintenance since they wouldn't have to maintain multiple source trees.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Shine 3 (still the Clara clone) — Vision 5, now a Libra clone — Epos2, now a Forma clone. And Page (looks like an Aura 2 clone but comes with 8GB instead of 4GB).

Originally Posted by rcentros

Looks like they're still using the Tolino firmware. So, based on Android instead of Linux and much more "sparse."

With the hardware for both being the same, I don't understand why anybody not living in Germany would buy a Tolino.

I also don't understand why Kobo doesn't replace Tolino's O/S with Nickle, even if they rebranded it like they do the hardware.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

With the hardware for both being the same, I don't understand why anybody not living in Germany would buy a Tolino.

Because... they... want the inferior software?

I also don't understand why Kobo doesn't replace Tolino's O/S with Nickle, even if they rebranded it like they do the hardware.

There's probably Germany region specific functionality that hasn't yet been fully integrated with Nickel.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

With the hardware for both being the same, I don't understand why anybody not living in Germany would buy a Tolino.

In my case because I can buy books directly from stores like Feedbooks (even Kobo) without having to use install ADE in Wine on my Linux computer.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I also don't understand why Kobo doesn't replace Tolino's O/S with Nickle, even if they rebranded it like they do the hardware.

I would imagine because Tolino has a whole infrastructure built around the current software. They even use a non-Adobe DRM system (as well as ADE) for some libraries in Europe (something called LCP). So a Tolino is more versatile than a Kobo here.

Originally Posted by ratinox

Because... they... want the inferior software?

Or the fact that the Tolino has superior software for certain purposes.

Originally Posted by ratinox

There's probably Germany region specific functionality that hasn't yet been fully integrated with Nickel.

Kobo and Tolino software is quite a bit different. I'm not sure Tolinos will ever have Nickel. (I personally hope not.)

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Android runs on top of a Linux kernel. I don't know if Kobo/tolino have passed all the requirements needed to use the Android name and trademarks. If not then it's "based on Android" like Amazon's FireOS. Otherwise it's not "Android-based"; it's "Android".

Regardless, it wouldn't surprise me if both sets of operating systems use the same kernel version underneath. Same kernel version, same drivers, simplified maintenance since they wouldn't have to maintain multiple source trees.

Given the information internal to the firmware files, it's Android not Android-like.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

With the hardware for both being the same, I don't understand why anybody not living in Germany would buy a Tolino.

I don't know if I would spend the money on a new Tolino. I did, however, just buy a cheap used Tolino because it can get Overdrive library books directly via the built-in browser, like Sonys used to before Overdrive updates made them obsolete. (At least if this happens to my Tolino I didn't waste much money on it.)

With my Kobo there have been a few library books that I couldn't get directly on the reader and had to sideload from my PC. Not a problem if I'm home, but often I read away from home on my lunch break, while waiting for a dentist appointment or car repair, or whatever. Now I can take the Tolino if I'm going to be away from my home computer and want to be sure I can get any library book I want.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Given the information internal to the firmware files, it's Android not Android-like.

The original sources are Android, almost certainly AOSP.

But it is not Android for the same reasons that FireOS is not Android.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

With the hardware for both being the same, I don't understand why anybody not living in Germany would buy a Tolino.

I also don't understand why Kobo doesn't replace Tolino's O/S with Nickle, even if they rebranded it like they do the hardware.

Tolino offers different functionalities than Kobo. They're partnered with different stores, which change depending on the country (it's IBS in Italy, Thalia and possibly other shops in Germany according to their website - not sure if they're sold anywhere else), and they also offer a 5GB cloud space to store and sync personal documents across devices. Nickel would probably need a overhaul to be able to support this, not to mention that Tolino existed and had customers before being bought by Kobo, which means that there are people who are used to and might prefer their software to Nickel. My bet is that they decided that if it works, there's no point in changing it.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by mathil

Tolino offers different functionalities than Kobo. They're partnered with different stores, which change depending on the country (it's IBS in Italy, Thalia and possibly other shops in Germany according to their website - not sure if they're sold anywhere else), and they also offer a 5GB cloud space to store and sync personal documents across devices. Nickel would probably need a overhaul to be able to support this, not to mention that Tolino existed and had customers before being bought by Kobo, which means that there are people who are used to and might prefer their software to Nickel. My bet is that they decided that if it works, there's no point in changing it.

Yep. And since Tolino works with several different stores in Europe (and libraries that use the LCP(?) DRM) they are more versatile -- even when used in the United States. With a Tolino I can download any ePub book in Overdrive (including those that don't match up for the Kobo store), I can buy and download DRM ePubs from Kobo, Feedbooks, and eBooks.com and probably others. eBooks.com recognizes that the Tolino is Android based, so you have to bypass the Android software install, then choose "other Readers" and scroll down to ePub download (skipping the Adobe DRM setup, since you already have it installed on the Reader).

This is a huge plus for someone, like me, who doesn't have Adobe ADE (since I use Linux).

[SusanReads]

So it's only the software that's different? The lighting, the contrast, everything else is the same as the Kobos?

I would love to have a Libra with better (even) lighting, but I guess a Tolino is out of the question then?

[ottdmk]

The hardware is identical, but it's possible the drivers in the Tolino software might make some difference. Maybe.

[Butterfly1234]

Originally Posted by rcentros

That was quick! If the pictures of the Page 2 are correct, it doesn't have the off/on switch placed in the same location as the Aura 2, and it thickness seems to match the Shine 2's 9.1 mm instead of the Aura 2's 8.5 mm.

I don't know about all the technical stall you're all talking about, but I am in the posession of a Tolino Shine 2 HD and I'm very happy with it.

I bought the Kobo Clara because I wouldn't have to convert my Kobo books to epub, and would be able to read them directly on the Kobo e-reader, but it seems a Kobo is way more complicated in use.
Especially if you upload more than 3 books by the same author.
Some books by one author are under his name, and of some authors, the books are split into more than one or two folders. How stupid and frustrating!