Android on Kobo: "Tips and Apps"

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by fanoI

Nothing to do: other SD card (this is a Sony one) and nothing happens!
I'm following the instruction in this page:

http://angor00.blogspot.it/2014/02/b...35062013972671

it is the right page?
The last firmware update simply does nothing no backup and no bootloader installed the device simply restart!

I'm on 3.3.0 firmware could be this the problem? What firmware do you using?
It is possible to downgrade?

Thanks for your help...

P.S. Never delete that 30 MB partition! Now my Sandisk SD has only 30MB of space of type "RAW" there is no way to restore to its correct size (no the Sandisk SD tool does nothing "Read only" it says ) so make attention on what you do... 10 € on the waste bin for me

You should be able to reformat the sd card with "SDFormatter" and make it good as new.

Luck;
Ken

[embryo]

Originally Posted by fanoI

Nothing to do: other SD card (this is a Sony one) and nothing happens!
I'm following the instruction in this page:

http://angor00.blogspot.it/2014/02/b...35062013972671

it is the right page?
The last firmware update simply does nothing no backup and no bootloader installed the device simply restart!

I'm on 3.3.0 firmware could be this the problem? What firmware do you using?
It is possible to downgrade?

Thanks for your help...

P.S. Never delete that 30 MB partition! Now my Sandisk SD has only 30MB of space of type "RAW" there is no way to restore to its correct size (no the Sandisk SD tool does nothing "Read only" it says ) so make attention on what you do... 10 € on the waste bin for me

- I don't have an Aura HD, but the patch didn't create a backup on my Glo either.

- The first megabytes of the image is unpartitioned. There is no 30mb partition there.

- After every patch, do you see the update prossess with a reboot of the system?

- What happens if you keep the light button pressed when you turn On the device?

- What program are you using to write the image to the card, and how you mount the SD card? With an SD card reader, or while on the Aura?

I will not be back home for some weeks now, so its not easy for me to follow this thread.

[fanoI]

@Ken Maltby I've tried "SDFormatter" already it simply gives an error that Disk is Read Only, yes I've tried to put little level up & down but does nothing... it is dead apparently
... and it a good brand Sandisk... and dies so easily

Originally Posted by embryo

- I don't have an Aura HD, but the patch didn't create a backup on my Glo either.

So that part of the instruction is wrong... so what do you see after a successful installation of the last patch?

Originally Posted by embryo

- The first megabytes of the image is unpartitioned. There is no 30mb partition there.

OK, I've learned this now...

Originally Posted by embryo

- After every patch, do you see the update prossess with a reboot of the system?

Only after "fix-udev-tgz.zip" a really fast update process, the last one simply reboots and nothing happens, apparently...

Originally Posted by embryo

- What happens if you keep the light button pressed when you turn On the device?

The Aura HD not powers on if you press the light button togheter with the Power button if it this I've to do... it seems impossible!
Pressing the button after simply does nothing s*itty Kobo firmware loads as usual...

I'm unsure if the Kobo sees the SD card too as it shows no icon...

Originally Posted by embryo

- What program are you using to write the image to the card, and how you mount the SD card? With an SD card reader, or while on the Aura?

I'm using "Flash Drive Image Writer" per Angor instruction, I've tried to mount it using the internal reader of my Sony VAIO and an external card reader... nothing changes.

The Aura connected via USB shows no SD card on windows, it should?

Originally Posted by embryo

I will not be back home for some weeks now, so its not easy for me to follow this thread.

Thanks!
In your opinion it is possible to create a real boot loader for Kobo without doing strange button sequences? For example modifying "Kobo Start Menu"?

[embryo]

Originally Posted by fanoI

So that part of the instruction is wrong...

Maybe does not apply to the Glo.
I've read about successes from owners of AuraHDs.

so what do you see after a successful installation of the last patch?

Only after "fix-udev-tgz.zip" a really fast update process, the last one simply reboots and nothing happens, apparently...

You sould see an update bar and a restart after EVERY patch.
You DO disconnect your device every time, don't you?

The Aura HD not powers on if you press the light button togheter with the Power button if it this I've to do... it seems impossible!
Pressing the button after simply does nothing s*itty Kobo firmware loads as usual...

Normally pressing and holding the light button before pressing the power button, initiates a factory reset.
If this is not happening, it means that at least one patch is installed.

I'm unsure if the Kobo sees the SD card too as it shows no icon...

An icon? Where?

I'm using "Flash Drive Image Writer" per Angor instruction, I've tried to mount it using the internal reader of my Sony VAIO and an external card reader... nothing changes.

So there sould be a problem with the card...

The Aura connected via USB shows no SD card on windows, it should?

If the first partition is FAT32, it sould.

In your opinion it is possible to create a real boot loader for Kobo without doing strange button sequences? For example modifying "Kobo Start Menu"?

Maybe it needs more than a script to load an other OS.
I don't think tshering is working with Android.
Maybe Angor can do it.

[fanoI]

Originally Posted by embryo

Maybe does not apply to the Glo.
I've read about successes from owners of AuraHDs.

Yes it is only my device that apparently is having problems, could be a firmware issue?
Maybe in firmware 3.3.0 they blocked Android as Sony did?
I hope they not add this self limitations to their device too

Originally Posted by embryo

You sould see an update bar and a restart after EVERY patch.
You DO disconnect your device every time, don't you?

Yes I unmounted the device correctly...

Originally Posted by embryo

Normally pressing and holding the light button before pressing the power button, initiates a factory reset.
If this is not happening, it means that at least one patch is installed.

To do an emergency Factory Reset yesterday I need to press the pin hole and the light button togheter for minutes... now I've an hole in my finger

Originally Posted by embryo

An icon? Where?

I don't know but the device does not notify in any way a SD Card is inserted? Possible?

Originally Posted by embryo

So there sould be a problem with the card...

No, the card is a Sony brand new as the Sandisk was before being killed by myself destroying the partition table

Originally Posted by embryo

If the first partition is FAT32, it sould.

... and this is the problem, indeed, the first partition is not FAT32 but is 30 MB of "empty" space!
The device should not see the empty space but apparently do this, indeed sometimes removing and re-inserting the card it says that the SD is not in FAT32 but it is...

Maybe is Windows 8 the problem? But it is USB Flashwizard that cloning the images creating the partitions so

Originally Posted by embryo

Maybe it needs more than a script to load an other OS.
I don't think tshering is working with Android.

I have asked to him and indeed he says that could be done but we need to know how Android is launcher, maybe is before Nickel and so cannot be done...

Originally Posted by embryo

Maybe Angor can do it.

Sadly for now I had no responses from him...

[fanoI]

Finally I've done it!
I don't known what's was wrong before

The first I've noticed is that is little difficult to see the icons, they are too small and there is a sort of lack of contrast, it is possible to make them better visible? Launch PRO is the solution? In the screenshot it seems really better...

What is the better reader between the ones installed?
Do you have tried a comic reader? What is the best?
It is possible to show the reading book cover on standby? It gives a really bookish touch to the reader (Sony PRS-T2 did this and I liked it much....)

[fanoI]

In Android my PC not see the device via USB neither the internal SD neither the Android one?
How to solve this issue?

I had already an account on google play store so I signed using it, sadly it tries to installed in my other device how to change this?

Thanks!

[embryo]

Originally Posted by fanoI

In Android my PC not see the device via USB neither the internal SD neither the Android one?
How to solve this issue?

If you uninstalled Tolino reader, you have to install the 'Mount your SD Card' app.
See the first post...

I had already an account on google play store so I signed using it, sadly it tries to installed in my other device how to change this?

Create different accounts for different devices?

[fanoI]

I've not seen Tolino reader as an installed app what procedure I need to follow to remove it?
It is its fault if internal and external SD are not mounted by Windows?

I'll to create another Google Playstore account but should have been possile to add it, really.

Another thing my SD is of 8 GB only and it has only 1.5 GB of free space I remember that the partition table has 1 GB of empty space is safe to extended the FAT32 partition to have more space?

Could explain me what you have done to have that beautiful desktop? My icons are little and I have no contrast

Thanks!

[embryo]

Originally Posted by fanoI

I've not seen Tolino reader as an installed app what procedure I need to follow to remove it?
It is its fault if internal and external SD are not mounted by Windows?

I don't known what image you are using, but in some of them there is the Tolino reader app, which was included in the original Android image that was later modified for our kobos.
That app connected the reader to the computer.
If its not in your image, then just install the 'Mount SD Card' app.

Another thing my SD is of 8 GB only and it has only 1.5 GB of free space I remember that the partition table has 1 GB of empty space is safe to extended the FAT32 partition to have more space?

There is info for resizing the FAT32 partition in this thread, some post back.

Could explain me what you have done to have that beautiful desktop? My icons are little and I have no contrast

I just use LauncherPro with a white background.

[fanoI]

Originally Posted by embryo

I don't known what image you are using, but in some of them there is the Tolino reader app, which was included in the original Android image that was later modified for our kobos.
That app connected the reader to the computer.
If its not in your image, then just install the 'Mount SD Card' app.

The one that starts in Russian: "014-02-28_Android_Kobo_Aura_HD.7z."
In the App panels there is no "Tolino" and in any way the USB doesn't work with the already installed "Auto Mount" app, or better it works but then SD is unomunted returning to the OS... how Android could work is a mystery really!
In the end I've resolved using "Samba File Sharing" that shares via Samba the SD card... better that use USB card really.
The only problem is how to charge the device now as in Android I'm under the impression it does not charge... and the boot procedure is annoyng

Originally Posted by embryo

There is info for resizing the FAT32 partition in this thread, some post back.

OK I'll look to them!

Originally Posted by embryo

I just use LauncherPro with a white background.

OK I've found an white background but your iconds the one upper the dock are more contrasted at least in the screenshot!
Another thing Kobo doesn't show correct hour I've set correct timezone but now I'm 21:32 and it shows 20.57
He has not a clock battery or it is an Android problem? I ask why you have a giant clock on your screen and I think it is not wrong for you
Another thing how add / remove Apps from "desktop"?

Really thanks... now is another machine our Kobo... a poor man tablet, right ?

[embryo]

Originally Posted by fanoI

The one that starts in Russian: "014-02-28_Android_Kobo_Aura_HD.7z."
In the App panels there is no "Tolino" and in any way the USB doesn't work with the already installed "Auto Mount" app, or better it works but then SD is unomunted returning to the OS... how Android could work is a mystery really!
In the end I've resolved using "Samba File Sharing" that shares via Samba the SD card... better that use USB card really.
The only problem is how to charge the device now as in Android I'm under the impression it does not charge... and the boot procedure is annoyng

If it doesn't charge, maybe a cable problem?
Since I have a Glo, I cannot help with this image.

OK I've found an white background but your iconds the one upper the dock are more contrasted at least in the screenshot!
Another thing Kobo doesn't show correct hour I've set correct timezone but now I'm 21:32 and it shows 20.57
He has not a clock battery or it is an Android problem? I ask why you have a giant clock on your screen and I think it is not wrong for you
Another thing how add / remove Apps from "desktop"?

Press and hold an app in the 'App drawer' to drag it to the desktop.

I set the clock manually. Most of the time it stays OK.

Don't remember any setting about icon contrast.

[fanoI]

Originally Posted by embryo

If it doesn't charge, maybe a cable problem?
Since I have a Glo, I cannot help with this image.

The cable is the Kobo original one, but I've said that I've the impression it does not charge (I've not seen the battery icon change state for example) for now I'm at 56% let's see if can remember to recharge it when it is at 5% what's happens in Android.
There is a battery low reminder?

Originally Posted by embryo

Press and hold an app in the 'App drawer' to drag it to the desktop.

Let's see if I have understood correctly I push the button with the little squares in the dock then choose my application press & hold and then? How to drag into the desktop? I close App Drawer ?

Originally Posted by embryo

I set the clock manually. Most of the time it stays OK.

It doesn't seem so for me, you use a particular App that refreshes the screen any minutes or does something particular? Maybe the Glo has a clock battery and Aura HD not ?

Originally Posted by embryo

Don't remember any setting about icon contrast.

Then the Glo shows them better maybe because the screen is more smaller?
There is the possibility to make icons bigger maybe they will become better...

P.S. There's a decent browser? Dolphin has too little fonts and the text resize add on does nothing (it shows that I am already at max size!), Opera mini says that I'm not connected and to check settings... but there are NOT settings!
I've tried to install Chrome and Firefox but the first refuses to install the other crashes when an horrendous alert in Deutsch

[lekofraggle]

Originally Posted by fanol

Let's see if I have understood correctly I push the button with the little squares in the dock then choose my application press & hold and then? How to drag into the desktop? I close App Drawer ?

That is how it works. You open the app drawer (the little dots) and then you select your app by pressing on it and not releasing. The device senses this and switches from app drawer to desktop. Then you drag out to the window you want.

Alternatively if you switch launchers, many, like launcher pro, allow you to choose apps from the desktop.

Long click on the desktop
choose shortcuts
Wait a bit for it to load your list of apps
Select your app

It doesn't seem so for me, you use a particular App that refreshes the screen any minutes or does something particular? Maybe the Glo has a clock battery and Aura HD not ?

I use automatic without any other app to manage time, however, I had to switch it to manual and change my time zone first. Then I reselected Automatic and it just worked.

Then the Glo shows them better maybe because the screen is more smaller?
There is the possibility to make icons bigger maybe they will become better...

Try using launcher pro. Some launchers allow you to adjust the size of the icons. I thought launcher pro was one, but maybe only with the plus add-on.

Good luck,
Leko

[lekofraggle]

Hello everyone,
I was having some difficulty with a few things and I thought O would bump the post over here from the other Android thread.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I think I am not able to get r/w access through either adb or ssh.

~Jacob

Thank you all for creating such a wonderful hack. I have Android running on the Kobo. I am looking to do a few tweaks, but since it is not deodexed, I am having difficulty. I no longer have a linux box so I cannot access the /system partition directly (even though I do have adb up and running).<br />
<br />
So, my questions...<br />
I want to map the light button to do something (probably a page flip in mantano, it has many hardware options but my light button does not seem to do anything, or screen refresh, thanks for that app by the way).<br />
<br />
I also want to change the background images in sleep mode.<br />
<br />
In my sd card image whenever I change the apps involved, it reverts back to the standard file. <br />
<br />
Does anyone have any advice?<br />
I tried using the button remaper app, but that does not recognize button id 90 which is our light button. I tried editing the key file (mxckpd.kl), but it does not take.<br />
<br />
I did decompress the apk with the images (MsgE6.apk), but it seems odexed so even when I push the modified apk through adb, it does not take.<br />
<br />
Thanks again. This is on the verge of being the very best ereader ever.<br />
<br />
~Leko<br />
<br />
Edit: I totally forgot to give specifics. Sorry. I am on the Kobo Glo. I am running kernel 2.6.35.3-ga50ec-dirty <br />
Build # is GRJ22-535-39ecbe85dad5-p<br />
I am using an sd card image<br />
/Edit<br/>