Looking for: Small, FOSS, long battery life

ManDay · 05-29-2014, 01:08 PM

I'm looking for a small reader (preferably light, of course) with a long battery life (chargeable via USB, if possible) and, very important, completely open source software (preferably Linux, but Android would do, if there is no Linux device which matches the criteria).

Do any of you know of such a device?

I want to use it as a kind of trekking tablet to keep maps on (and other things), but without gimmicks like "Earl" (if that's ever released...)

Thank you.

PS: Given that I would like a small device, it would need an accordingly high resolution.

PS 2: By completely FOSS I do not include certain programs which may or may not ship with the reader, but the base system (kernel and drivers) must be completly open and preferably vanilla.

Katsunami · 05-29-2014, 01:22 PM

There are some readers that run on Linux (IIRC, even the Kindle), but if you are looking for a reader that is open in such a way that you can tamper with it yourself and compile and install your own software without resorting to cracking and hacking the reader, then I think you're out of luck.

WillAdams · 05-29-2014, 02:53 PM

Have you considered the Asus Eee Note EA800?

eschwartz · 05-29-2014, 03:38 PM

Pretty much any e-ink ereader runs either linux or android. You can usually hack them to install anything you want.

ManDay · 06-11-2014, 02:46 AM

Thanks for the replies. My concern is that I don't expect the default software configuration to provide what I need (i.e. a map, let alone with a good user interface) so I expect that I will hace to write my own program. By FOSS I just want to make sure I don't run into any unexpected problems due to closed-ness (e.g. I need a different kernel but I can't compile a working kernel because all the drivers are compiled in and propriatary).

So I take it the Kobo (on which I know people have installed software like XCSoar) does not match those requirements?

HarryT · 06-11-2014, 08:05 AM

There is no "completely open source" reader. Things like the display driver and reading apps will always be proprietary code.

roger64 · 06-11-2014, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There is no "completely open source" reader. Things like the display driver and reading apps will always be proprietary code.

Try Koreader with the kobos. I think it fits the bill. I mean it's free software.

And it's now quite stable. I use it on my Kobo Glo and it's an excellent and very reactive reader.

There is a very active thread about it on this forum.

Billi · 06-11-2014, 08:25 AM

Or have a look at this thread, maybe that's kind of what you want:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=222123

HarryT · 06-11-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger64

Try Koreader with the kobos. I think it fits the bill. I mean it's free software.

And it's now quite stable. I use it on my Kobo Glo and it's an excellent and very reactive reader.

There is a very active thread about it on this forum.

That's a reading application, not a reading device. The OP is after a device with a completely open source operating system. No such device exists.

It's one thing to install a different reading app on an eInk device; it's quite another to try to use an eInk device as a general-purpose tablet, which I get the the impression is what the OP is trying to do. eInk devices are designed primarily for long battery life and low power consumption, and hence have slow CPUs and very limited memory. This makes them very poor general-purpose tablets.

ManDay · 06-11-2014, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Or have a look at this thread, maybe that's kind of what you want:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=222123

That looks pretty good - how is that not what I want, HarryT? (Closed applications aside, my concern is with an open base/kernel).

HarryT · 06-11-2014, 09:21 AM

See my previous message about the shortcomings of using eInk devices as tablets. I really don't think you'd find it a terribly satisfying experience, but there's only one way to find out: try it and see!

ManDay · 06-11-2014, 09:58 AM

I do not mean to use it as a general purpose tablet. I want to use it primarily as a map but I have very specific requirements as for the interface to allow for efficient use.

HarryT · 06-11-2014, 10:06 AM

Best of luck with your project. Please let us know how it turns out.

Billi · 06-18-2014, 03:07 PM

ManDay, a link in the German subforum here brought me to this site that perhaps is of some interest to you and shows what might be possible in regard of maps and the kobo.

http://max.kellermann.name/projects/xcsoar/kobo.html
and some more links and pictures, but in German:
http://www.gleitschirmdrachenforum.d...Mini-Touch-Glo

dboddie · 06-22-2014, 02:03 PM

ManDay, I bought a Kobo Mini and was able to put my own kernel and user space distribution on it, so it's certainly possible. I wasn't interested in using the Wi-Fi module so I haven't looked at whether there's a truly free kernel module for that.

The main problem I can see now is the availability of the Kobo Mini. Nowhere in the UK, for example, seems to stock it. What happened? Did Kobo retire the product?

05-29-2014, 01:08 PM	#1
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	Looking for: Small, FOSS, long battery life I'm looking for a small reader (preferably light, of course) with a long battery life (chargeable via USB, if possible) and, very important, completely open source software (preferably Linux, but Android would do, if there is no Linux device which matches the criteria). Do any of you know of such a device? I want to use it as a kind of trekking tablet to keep maps on (and other things), but without gimmicks like "Earl" (if that's ever released...) Thank you. PS: Given that I would like a small device, it would need an accordingly high resolution. PS 2: By completely FOSS I do not include certain programs which may or may not ship with the reader, but the base system (kernel and drivers) must be completly open and preferably vanilla. Last edited by ManDay; 05-29-2014 at 01:22 PM.

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05-29-2014, 01:22 PM	#2
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	There are some readers that run on Linux (IIRC, even the Kindle), but if you are looking for a reader that is open in such a way that you can tamper with it yourself and compile and install your own software without resorting to cracking and hacking the reader, then I think you're out of luck.

05-29-2014, 02:53 PM	#3
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,256 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	Have you considered the Asus Eee Note EA800?

05-29-2014, 03:38 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Pretty much any e-ink ereader runs either linux or android. You can usually hack them to install anything you want.

06-11-2014, 02:46 AM	#5
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	Thanks for the replies. My concern is that I don't expect the default software configuration to provide what I need (i.e. a map, let alone with a good user interface) so I expect that I will hace to write my own program. By FOSS I just want to make sure I don't run into any unexpected problems due to closed-ness (e.g. I need a different kernel but I can't compile a working kernel because all the drivers are compiled in and propriatary). So I take it the Kobo (on which I know people have installed software like XCSoar) does not match those requirements?

06-11-2014, 08:05 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There is no "completely open source" reader. Things like the display driver and reading apps will always be proprietary code.

06-11-2014, 08:25 AM	#8
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Or have a look at this thread, maybe that's kind of what you want: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=222123

06-11-2014, 09:21 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	See my previous message about the shortcomings of using eInk devices as tablets. I really don't think you'd find it a terribly satisfying experience, but there's only one way to find out: try it and see!

06-11-2014, 09:58 AM	#12
ManDay E-Reader Posts: 274 Karma: 1606616 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: DPT-S1	I do not mean to use it as a general purpose tablet. I want to use it primarily as a map but I have very specific requirements as for the interface to allow for efficient use.

06-11-2014, 10:06 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Best of luck with your project. Please let us know how it turns out.

06-18-2014, 03:07 PM	#14
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	ManDay, a link in the German subforum here brought me to this site that perhaps is of some interest to you and shows what might be possible in regard of maps and the kobo. http://max.kellermann.name/projects/xcsoar/kobo.html and some more links and pictures, but in German: http://www.gleitschirmdrachenforum.d...Mini-Touch-Glo

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06-22-2014, 02:03 PM	#15
dboddie Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 36 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kobo Mini	ManDay, I bought a Kobo Mini and was able to put my own kernel and user space distribution on it, so it's certainly possible. I wasn't interested in using the Wi-Fi module so I haven't looked at whether there's a truly free kernel module for that. The main problem I can see now is the availability of the Kobo Mini. Nowhere in the UK, for example, seems to stock it. What happened? Did Kobo retire the product?