Android App why kobo does not develop eink reader?

[Desdinova]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

Good point, but first of all as I showed they are far to be focused on sw in my opnion, (see pdf experience, and dictionaries for instance), and second the eink battery lasts ages, if you then open a lot of app that do not optimize the android cycle is your fault. Android 4 stock optimize really well the battery, and as you say regarding doing well one task, if you have good inbuilt dictionaries you do not need to look up in internet using wifi all the time, but opening only to do small things, the problem is that Kobo and Amazon want maybe benefit from Big Data but this is a personal opinion.

Every added app will draw more battery, and optimising isn't going to help that. As ebook readers have a small current draw, they typically have small batteries in comparison to tablets.

You're asking to turn an e-reader into a tablet. A poor one at that.

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by Desdinova

But you are in no way a standard e-reader user.

E-readers don't need apps, or app installs. You'll end up with a cross between a tablet and an e-reader with all the disadvantages of both and none of the advantages.

Poor battery life because of extra apps and system resources for example.

mmh OK I understand your battery point, or I am just waiting for one decent ereader software( with continuous updates)

( to be technical we should speak why sony and kobo are built on android... but it will become a developer discussion, in theory is up to you to install sw and reduce battery life... kobo put google play then i decide if I want the trade off between app/notifications or battery lenght)

[Desdinova]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

mmh OK I understand your battery point, or I am just waiting for one decent ereader software( with continuous updates)

One thing is that, as e-readers are specialised (i.e one trick ponies) devices, it is unlikely they will satisfy all users.

What is a big deal for some people (for example, with you dictionaries) is actually a non-issue for others (like me)

So in essence, Kobo (and any device manufacturer) will always aim to please 80% of the needs of 80% of the users...

There are some things I would like, but I have to be honest after coming from a 7th Gen Kindle I won't swap my Glo for anything. I far prefer it.

The notes thing is probably more Sony's fault than Kobo. You can't really blame one firm for not wanting to mess too much for another. I can't imagine you'd get much response from Amazon if you asked them to make it easier to transition from a Kindle to something else. And I can't imagine Kobo want to get too involved with note import and export because it would make people more likely to swap around ;-)


Its a fact of business life that firms will want to make you stay with them.

[Desdinova]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

mmh OK I understand your battery point, or I am just waiting for one decent ereader software( with continuous updates)

( to be technical we should speak why sony and kobo are built on android... but it will become a developer discussion, in theory is up to you to install sw and reduce battery life... kobo put google play then i decide if I want the trade off between app/notifications or battery lenght)

But Google Play isn't just one app, its a whole set of system services, on android (and IIRC Kobo is on Linux). Google would not certify Google Play on any device without all those services etc etc

And after a quick check - a device needs to be certified to have GPlay preinstalled.

And then of course, there's the bigger picture. If you JUST have the play services, then you can run the Store and download apps. But they're not going to work without more of Android there.

So now Kobo has to port over to Android from Linux.

And then of course, Kobo will open themselves out to thousands of support queries about 'why doesn't app <name of app> work'.

Kobo apparently have just got out of the tablet market, so it seems they're more keen to stay with single-use, dedicated devices.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by trocchietto

mmh OK I understand your battery point, or I am just waiting for one decent ereader software( with continuous updates)

( to be technical we should speak why sony and kobo are built on android... but it will become a developer discussion, in theory is up to you to install sw and reduce battery life... kobo put google play then i decide if I want the trade off between app/notifications or battery lenght)

Kobo is not based on Android, Kobos run a custom version of linux without any Android.
Porting over the firmware to Android is a non-trivial task, with no benefit except to allow users to buy from other ebookstores.

As for your main complaints against Kobo, it sounds like you mostly want two things -- decent dictionary support and transferring notes from Sony.


Transferring notes won't happen. No one does it, everyone has a unique system, and that will be fixed whenever the IDPF gets their rear in gear and writes some standards that are useful for a change.

If you want good dictionaries, get a Kindle. Kobo does not compete with Amazon when it comes to dictionaries.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

As for your main complaints against Kobo, it sounds like you mostly want two things -- decent dictionary support and transferring notes from Sony.


Transferring notes won't happen. No one does it, everyone has a unique system, and that will be fixed whenever the IDPF gets their rear in gear and writes some standards that are useful for a change.

Yes, I completely agree with this. It's not going to happen until someone writes the standards and code to support it.

Of course, as both the Kobo and Sony stores the annotations in a database, use RMSDK and its standard for location information in epubs, it wouldn't be hard* to write the code to transfer the annotations from one to the other. It would just need someone with the skills, time and interest** to do it.

If you want good dictionaries, get a Kindle. Kobo does not compete with Amazon when it comes to dictionaries.

The annoying thing is that Kobo has set up things so that the dictionaries can be replaced. When this happened, I was hoping they would sell better dictionaries as an upgrade. Or other dictionaries. It is fairly easy to replace them, but they can get overridden during a sync. Of course, sourcing the better dictionary is a problem.

* I'm a programmer, I'm allowed to make throw away claims like that about my profession.
** I have a slight technical interest, but I can find lots of other things to occupy my time. And occasionally I actually read a book.

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Kobo is not based on Android, Kobos run a custom version of linux without any Android.
Porting over the firmware to Android is a non-trivial task, with no benefit except to allow users to buy from other ebookstores.

did not know that! thanks you and also Desdinova.
I think we spoke about the main topics, from my side I should repeat my statements and this is not efficient, for the moment thanks all and see you next time

[dickloraine]

One thing that speaks against android for kobo is that I don't think they actually earn much money with the reader. To be profitable they depend on the eBook sells. If they just use the play store, people could easily buy books elsewhere. So they would need to make their own store, like amazon.

[Rizla]

I can't speak for the Boyue and Onyx, but I've been using a rooted Nook ST, and it's fast, stable and super feature rich. It also cost me $50 What I want is a larger screen (8" minimum) that will work as a secondary computer monitor. The Onyx is available, but I've read that the A2 refresh mode is poor, and anyway I won't risk ordering from Europe and having to send it back if it doesn't work. I've given up on getting an e-ink monitor for now. In a year or two, hopefully.

[filmo]

Amazon might sell the Onyx or Boyue reader you want with easy low cost returns.

[invention13]

You don't need or want android to make a good reader. While an e-reader doesn't need installed apps, it should be an open platform that supports plugins for new document formats and dictionaries.
Hardware wise, the kobo screen (at least my h2o) is great. I would concentrate on eliminating the need for any wired connection. Put inductive charging in it (for a low battery drain device like a reader, it's a natural). Make it an open platform - focus on integration with calibre (as in, give the developers details on the API and actively help them). The PC apps for most readers suck anyway (I hated the Sony App).

[eschwartz]

Wireless induction is pointless -- you still need the USB charging port for transferring books to/from your computer.

Now, once Wireless USB catches on, we can start talking...

[filmo]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Wireless induction is pointless -- you still need the USB charging port for transferring books to/from your computer.

Now, once Wireless USB catches on, we can start talking...

Like Bluetooth wireless? USB works good enough for me.

[invention13]

No, you don't.
You can do it with wireless, or even bluetooth (if you wanted to). Probably 90% of the books I put on it with calibre are done using their content server. What would be even better with calibre would be pushing the books to the reader through a wireless connection. From a distance/bandwidth/power consumption point of view, bluetooth might actually be a good way to go.
I'm not saying do away with the port, just reduce the dependence on actually plugging it in.
The point is, kobo had a good idea putting the usb port behind a sealed trap door. It keep moisture and crap out of it. From a reliability point of view, it is a good idea to have the insides sealed.
I'm intrigued by the kobo - I started exploring open source software for it because as much as I loved the reader, I hated the native pdf reader. I put koreader on it and am pretty happy with pdf viewing with it. But I got to thinking, kobo makes their money off the book store - fine. They probably break even or make a small profit on the hardware. The one business that is probably a nuisance for them is software. I think they should actively collaborate with the calibre developers - help them and make the reader an even more open platform.
I'm pretty happy with my reader, but I can think of improvements (android isn't one of them though).

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by invention13

You don't need or want android to make a good reader. While an e-reader doesn't need installed apps, it should be an open platform that supports plugins for new document formats and dictionaries.
Hardware wise, the kobo screen (at least my h2o) is great. I would concentrate on eliminating the need for any wired connection. Put inductive charging in it (for a low battery drain device like a reader, it's a natural). Make it an open platform - focus on integration with calibre (as in, give the developers details on the API and actively help them). The PC apps for most readers suck anyway (I hated the Sony App).

It is very easy to add a "Qi" receiver, it just plugs into the uUSB port. I tried one out on my AuraHD and it charged it up, it was slower that using the cable but it worked.

KOreader is an "open platform that supports plugins for new document formats and dictionaries". It works on Kindle, Kobo, and Pocketbook devices. There is also an Android version that works on a number of Android devices. Koreader integrates well with calibre, including OPDS support that can connect to the calibre content server and as a wireless device calibre will recognize as a device.

Luck;
Ken