Touch Connecting an external keyboard to Kobo Touch/Aura

robaire · 11-14-2013, 02:17 PM

Is anyone aware of a method of connecting an external keyboard to a Kobo eInk reader? I know this can be easily done for Android tablets with backlit screens using either usb, wireless or BlueTooth connection but why not eInk based eReaders? I find eInk screens very easy to read (partly as they are not illuminated out of necessity) but the virtual/touch-screen keyboards available are almost unusable for typing text. NB: I have heard of usbnet but know little of it's application in connecting to peripheral devices or if it can be used in this way.

KevinShort · 11-14-2013, 02:35 PM

There's currently no way of connecting an external keyboard to any of the e-ink Kobo devices.

PeterT · 11-14-2013, 02:36 PM

I think you will find the issue is that Kobo does NOT implement USB HOST mode in the eInk devices. Yes I believe some have made a H/W and kernel modification to allow this, but ....

Ken Maltby · 11-14-2013, 09:04 PM

I remember seeing where some in the soaring community had hacked Kobo devices by adding a serial to Bluetooth adapter. Perhaps such a mod would allow the use of a keyboard. Then you would still need to add the firmware support for an external BT keyboard.

Google; "kobo mod Bluetooth"
http://code.google.com/p/kobo-hacks/...uetoothConsole

Luck;
Ken

Goner · 11-15-2013, 04:13 AM

Just out of curiosity ; how often do you have to type so much text that you need a keyboard ?
I only use the touch keyboard for entering a URL or book/author when searching. Some people make annotations, I guess, but where would you store all the text that you plan to type ? Are there notepads/wordprocessors for e-readers ?

robaire · 11-18-2013, 11:55 AM

There are some apps that can be installed on the Kobo including a WP app via rooting the device. I know this has been done with the Nook Touch with keyboard connectivity. Eink screen are easier to read for many and do not light up or glare like a tablet or laptop screen. Most prefer to read text on an eink screen

lohtse · 11-18-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robaire

There are some apps that can be installed on the Kobo including a WP app via rooting the device. I know this has been done with the Nook Touch with keyboard connectivity. Eink screen are easier to read for many and do not light up or glare like a tablet or laptop screen. Most prefer to read text on an eink screen

Other apps?????

robaire · 11-18-2013, 02:13 PM

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201632

lohtse · 11-18-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robaire

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201632

thought you meant OTHER apps besides launcher etc..

gloriousglib · 05-23-2014, 08:13 PM

Anyone have luck connecting an external keyboard on an Android-hacked Kobo?

KevinShort · 05-24-2014, 02:55 PM

I haven't heard of anyone connecting an external keyboard to the Kobo under Android. On Linux, which is what the Kobos ship with, the hack exists to use an external keyboard, but it has yet to evolve into something user friendly.

iBurger2 · 05-03-2017, 04:40 PM

#######################
!! Kick from 2014 -> to 2017 !!
#######################

I would like to connect my bluetooth Keyboard, to koreader, so i can use the wireless keyboard to click the next page. I am also thinking of getting an 'night reading' holder, or an armstand, which allows you to hold the reader.

Does anyone know if it is possible to use a bluetooth keyboard in 2017 with the Kobo?

PeterT · 05-03-2017, 07:02 PM

The first challenge is that only the very first Kobo eReader had Bluetooth hardware.

11-14-2013, 02:17 PM	#1
robaire Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Glo	Connecting an external keyboard to Kobo Touch/Aura Is anyone aware of a method of connecting an external keyboard to a Kobo eInk reader? I know this can be easily done for Android tablets with backlit screens using either usb, wireless or BlueTooth connection but why not eInk based eReaders? I find eInk screens very easy to read (partly as they are not illuminated out of necessity) but the virtual/touch-screen keyboards available are almost unusable for typing text. NB: I have heard of usbnet but know little of it's application in connecting to peripheral devices or if it can be used in this way.

11-14-2013, 09:04 PM	#4
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	I remember seeing where some in the soaring community had hacked Kobo devices by adding a serial to Bluetooth adapter. Perhaps such a mod would allow the use of a keyboard. Then you would still need to add the firmware support for an external BT keyboard. Google; "kobo mod Bluetooth" http://code.google.com/p/kobo-hacks/...uetoothConsole Luck; Ken Last edited by Ken Maltby; 11-14-2013 at 09:16 PM.

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11-14-2013, 02:35 PM	#2
KevinShort Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 209937 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Virginia, US Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo	There's currently no way of connecting an external keyboard to any of the e-ink Kobo devices.

11-14-2013, 02:36 PM	#3
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,162 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	I think you will find the issue is that Kobo does NOT implement USB HOST mode in the eInk devices. Yes I believe some have made a H/W and kernel modification to allow this, but ....

11-15-2013, 04:13 AM	#5
Goner Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 11628 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Device: ARCHOS 80G9, Kobo Touch, Sony PRS-T1, BeBook Club S, Icarus Reader Go	Just out of curiosity ; how often do you have to type so much text that you need a keyboard ? I only use the touch keyboard for entering a URL or book/author when searching. Some people make annotations, I guess, but where would you store all the text that you plan to type ? Are there notepads/wordprocessors for e-readers ?

11-18-2013, 11:55 AM	#6
robaire Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Glo	There are some apps that can be installed on the Kobo including a WP app via rooting the device. I know this has been done with the Nook Touch with keyboard connectivity. Eink screen are easier to read for many and do not light up or glare like a tablet or laptop screen. Most prefer to read text on an eink screen

11-18-2013, 02:13 PM	#8
robaire Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Glo	https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201632

05-23-2014, 08:13 PM	#10
gloriousglib Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kobo Aura HD	Anyone have luck connecting an external keyboard on an Android-hacked Kobo?

05-24-2014, 02:55 PM	#11
KevinShort Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 209937 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Virginia, US Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo	I haven't heard of anyone connecting an external keyboard to the Kobo under Android. On Linux, which is what the Kobos ship with, the hack exists to use an external keyboard, but it has yet to evolve into something user friendly.

05-03-2017, 04:40 PM	#12
iBurger2 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2017 Device: Kindle 2nd g	####################### !! Kick from 2014 -> to 2017 !! ####################### I would like to connect my bluetooth Keyboard, to koreader, so i can use the wireless keyboard to click the next page. I am also thinking of getting an 'night reading' holder, or an armstand, which allows you to hold the reader. Does anyone know if it is possible to use a bluetooth keyboard in 2017 with the Kobo?

05-03-2017, 07:02 PM	#13
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,162 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	The first challenge is that only the very first Kobo eReader had Bluetooth hardware.

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