Touch Android, Linux, NickelOS?, or others?

Anonym · 11-15-2023, 10:31 AM

I recently picked up my Kobo Touch (n905C) after a while and realized how my install on the SD card was quite messy. I wanted to reformat it and replace the Android Nexus mod I installed on it years back, but I'm at a stump for not knowing which would be the best choice for the device. Would using the original firmware on the device suffice for reading? Is there some merit to reinstalling the Android mod? Could I go alternative OSes?

Do note I'm quite light on E-reading, still prefer actual books but I can still use e-books (light novels, manga, and e-book novels/memoirs)

dreambeat · 11-19-2023, 12:46 PM

The original firmware is just fine for reading, especially if you use the patches.

Sirtel · 11-19-2023, 01:19 PM

Yes, the Kobo native OS is perfectly fine, if you like reading on an ereader at all. If you don't really like reading on an ereader, then it won't matter what you install, as you won't magically fall in love with ereaders just because they now have Android or Linux instead of whatever software they originally had.

Me, I no longer like reading paper books and this has not changed in the last 12 years. But there have been plenty of folks who have returned to paper after using an ereader for a while, and also folks who never warmed to ereading at all. Whatever floats your boat.

Quoth · 11-19-2023, 03:06 PM

^^ What Sirtel writes ^^

The current firmware version runs on a N905C touch and even without patches it's pretty good Firmware using a version of Linux. It integrates well with Calibre for metadata, transferring ebooks, exporting reading status, position, bookmarks, highlights and annotations.
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

The main limitation is the older eink screen.

An eink screen and the HW isn't much use for anything other than ebooks. I have an ereader with a nice custom Android (and Playstore can be turned on), but read almost everything on a Kobo.

I've had/have other makes too.

11-15-2023, 10:31 AM	#1
Anonym Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2023 Device: Kobo Touch N905C	Android, Linux, NickelOS?, or others? I recently picked up my Kobo Touch (n905C) after a while and realized how my install on the SD card was quite messy. I wanted to reformat it and replace the Android Nexus mod I installed on it years back, but I'm at a stump for not knowing which would be the best choice for the device. Would using the original firmware on the device suffice for reading? Is there some merit to reinstalling the Android mod? Could I go alternative OSes? Do note I'm quite light on E-reading, still prefer actual books but I can still use e-books (light novels, manga, and e-book novels/memoirs)

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11-19-2023, 12:46 PM	#2
dreambeat Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 2145544 Join Date: Jan 2022 Device: PW2, Kobos Mini & Libra 2.	The original firmware is just fine for reading, especially if you use the patches.

11-19-2023, 01:19 PM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,126 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Yes, the Kobo native OS is perfectly fine, if you like reading on an ereader at all. If you don't really like reading on an ereader, then it won't matter what you install, as you won't magically fall in love with ereaders just because they now have Android or Linux instead of whatever software they originally had. Me, I no longer like reading paper books and this has not changed in the last 12 years. But there have been plenty of folks who have returned to paper after using an ereader for a while, and also folks who never warmed to ereading at all. Whatever floats your boat.

11-19-2023, 03:06 PM	#4
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,154 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	^^ What Sirtel writes ^^ The current firmware version runs on a N905C touch and even without patches it's pretty good Firmware using a version of Linux. It integrates well with Calibre for metadata, transferring ebooks, exporting reading status, position, bookmarks, highlights and annotations. https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html The main limitation is the older eink screen. An eink screen and the HW isn't much use for anything other than ebooks. I have an ereader with a nice custom Android (and Playstore can be turned on), but read almost everything on a Kobo. I've had/have other makes too.

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