Android 9.0 upgrade status?

[Ken Maltby]

I'm a fan of the KOReader project, but I also feel that a flexible substrata is a necessary component for large screen eink devices. I would not normally have considered an Onyx reader, due to its reported poor/problematic performance with KOReader, in the past. Their new 10.3" and 13" are running under Android 9, and my new Boox Note 2 10.3" device runs KOReader very well.

It is not only that it runs under Android 9, that makes this possible, though. They have a much faster and more powerful CPU and an adequate amount of fast memory. I would not expect that upgrading older Onyx devices to run under Android 9 would provide the type of performance that the newer Android 9 devices achieve.

Luck;
Ken

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

I'm a fan of the KOReader project, but I also feel that a flexible substrata is a necessary component for large screen eink devices. I would not normally have considered an Onyx reader, due to its reported poor/problematic performance with KOReader, in the past. Their new 10.3" and 13" are running under Android 9, and my new Boox Note 2 10.3" device runs KOReader very well.

It is not only that it runs under Android 9, that makes this possible, though. They have a much faster and more powerful CPU and an adequate amount of fast memory. I would not expect that upgrading older Onyx devices to run under Android 9 would provide the type of performance that the newer Android 9 devices achieve.

Luck;
Ken

Welcome to the dark side.I don't think there is a HUGE difference between a nova pro and a nova 2. The old nova should be able to run 9. They just don't want to invest the time, which AFAIC is fair enough. I knew what they are like about Android upvrades before I bought. I dong tend to run the latest apps anyway. I could see thiz would be more of an issue with a larger screen being used for more advanced functions. I primarily read and tinker with it.

On another note, Onyx are in breach of licence because they will not relaese the source code.

http://bbs.onyx-international.com/t/...der/237?page=2

But the forum is down and possibly defunct. Fragments of the long thread exist in the internet archive.

the kernel needs to be opened (perhaps also to comply with the GPLv2 license)

Then we could upgrade the OS ourselves. But Onyx ignored requests to comply.

[downeaster59]

If you look at the Boyue forum, it seems that Boyue is now offering their long-promised Android 8.1 upgrade for the Likebook Mars (at least). So, Onyx, it can be done. There is not much difference, hardware-wise, between the Nova Pro and the Nova 2. In fact, the original Nova is quite similar to both, except for the lack of stylus compatibility. Android 9.0 should run on all Nova models, at least.

And BTW, the latest KOReader version works beautifully on the Nova 2.

[ottischwenk]

No, there is a big difference between Boox Android 6 and Android 9 devices.
Quad Core 1,6 GHz vs Octa Core 2 GHz

[hobnail]

What's the justification for wanting the latest or a newer Android system? Are you installing apps from the Play store and running into compatibility problems?

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by hobnail

What's the justification for wanting the latest or a newer Android system?

I dont know.
Possibly the desire not to have anything old.

Are you installing apps from the Play store and running into compatibility problems?

No - I never had problems with my Android 6 devices.
But I don't do any banking with my reader, I also don't value high quality multimedia.
In my opinion, an Android 6 to 9 update does not bring any advantage on EInk devices.

[downeaster59]

I can't answer for others, but the app which is the main reason I looked into an Android eInk reader in the first place currently requires Android 5.0. I expect the requirement to change to 6.0 soon, and to continue to move upwards. That has been their trend. For me, moving up to an Android 9.0 eInk reader 'future-proofs' my device. I can use this app for quite some time without compatibility worries. The app has to do with reading and research, so eInk is an ideal platform for it.

If it were not for this app, I'd be in complete agreement with you! If it were a matter of reading eBooks only, then even Android 4.0 would work fine.

[cicabum]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

I dont know.
Possibly the desire not to have anything old.No - I never had problems with my Android 6 devices.
But I don't do any banking with my reader, I also don't value high quality multimedia.
In my opinion, an Android 6 to 9 update does not bring any advantage on EInk devices.

I agree with you.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I can't answer for others, but the app which is the main reason I looked into an Android eInk reader in the first place currently requires Android 5.0.

Which app is it?

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

No, there is a big difference between Boox Android 6 and Android 9 devices.
Quad Core 1,6 GHz vs Octa Core 2 GHz

But Boyue can upgrade the Mars to Android 8. Boyue is looking more attractive.

[whopper]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

No, there is a big difference between Boox Android 6 and Android 9 devices.
Quad Core 1,6 GHz vs Octa Core 2 GHz

no there isn't

the rock chip from note and max 2, is more than enough to offer android 9

the gap between RK3288 and 625 is not that big.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I can't answer for others, but the app which is the main reason I looked into an Android eInk reader in the first place currently requires Android 5.0. I expect the requirement to change to 6.0 soon, and to continue to move upwards. That has been their trend. For me, moving up to an Android 9.0 eInk reader 'future-proofs' my device. I can use this app for quite some time without compatibility worries. The app has to do with reading and research, so eInk is an ideal platform for it.

If it were not for this app, I'd be in complete agreement with you! If it were a matter of reading eBooks only, then even Android 4.0 would work fine.

Apps that now work on Android 6 will continue to work on Android 6.
And if an update of this app requires a higher Android version, then an update will not be possible - this app will still work in the last version.
It is a mistake to believe that a new version is always better.

[Crowriver]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Apps that now work on Android 6 will continue to work on Android 6.
And if an update of this app requires a higher Android version, then an update will not be possible - this app will still work in the last version.
It is a mistake to believe that a new version is always better.

Indeed!

This is borne out by formerly free Android apps which in recent versions became subject to regular rental fees, for example. A number of software developers are moving to this model, yes even for Android apps. So sometimes it is better (at least financially) to run the older, deprecated version.

Two relevant examples: Kingsoft Office and iA Writer. Both very useful apps which used to be free on Android. Okay iA Writer is only 30 bucks, so if you want ("need") the latest version, no big deal. If you want the full functionality of WPS Office (formerly Kingsoft) without annoying ads it's 30 bucks a year for the "Premium" version. Again, not expensive but it demonstrates the trend trailblazed by the likes of Adobe. Even those developers that were used to charging Apple or Windows users a healthy fee, used to think they could not charge for Android apps. That's now changed.

Developers of proprietary software are of course free to charge what they feel the market can withstand, I have no problem with this. For these two apps (and perhaps a number of others) older versions are perfectly usable and free if you can find an apk. They may or may not work properly on Android 9 - I don't know as I only have one device running 9 and have not tried the older versions on it. I suspect there may be some issues though.

[Pajamaman]

Android 6 may be adequate for now, but will it be adequate in two years time? App development and versions march on. There will assuredly come a time when an app comes out that someone would want to run, but requires higher than 6. Not upgrading an Android OS puts a shelf-life on a device. This is particularly galling when the producer won't supply the upgrade, despite promising it, AND worst of all, will not release the source which they are required to by law, and which would allow the community to produce the upgrade themselves.

Really, the more I think about this, the less I like Onyx's policies. They are breaking the law and letting down many of their buyers. I understand Remarkable has released sources, and the community is developing for it. Yes, this is a good reason to look elsewhere in future. I'm not sure I want to support Onyx's illegal policies.

[Crowriver]

Illegal perhaps, but quite common among smaller manufacturers of Android devices in China perhaps? I have a cheap Chinese Android smartphone which I bought a few years ago. Still stuck on 4.4. No firmware updates forthcoming, despite the device probably being capable of running 5, even 6. I realise I'm unusual in keeping a smartphone for so long when many people replace handsets every two years. Maybe this is the business model Onyx is looking at?