the wicked waste that is closed Android hardware
Factory Direct is selling the Hobo Arc HD for $119 (with a coupon). On paper, this is great hardware. It has a 10" 2560x1600 pixel IPS display! Just like my Nexus 10. The Kobo comes with Android 4.2 and is frozen in time at 4.2.2. The Nexus 10 gets frequent updates (but not to Andoid 6). No third party firmware projects seem to exist for the Kobo. So this wonderful hardware cannot be recommended. Most Andoid devices seem to be abandoned way too young. Nexus devices have a better track record. If a device is well supported by Cyanogen Mod then there is real hope.
On 2016-05-14 11:59 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
Most Andoid devices seem to be abandoned way too young.
For sure. Ask me about my B&N Nook Color android tablet from 2011, that could sort-of be rooted, but the developers lost interest. Uses a not-quite-standard micro-USB cable too, so it could barely trickle charge with a standard cable.
Nexus devices have a better track record.
Except for my first gen Nexus 7. The one that came after it had all sorts of rooting options, and even native Linux. My one? None. These would make great little information devices with their touch screens, but the locked-down hardware makes them so much e-waste. cheers, Stewart
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 05/14/2016 11:59 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
Factory Direct ... Hobo Arc HD for $119 (with a coupon). On paper, ... great hardware. ... 10" 2560x1600 pixel IPS display! Just like my Nexus 10.
... comes with Android 4.2 and is frozen in time at 4.2.2. The Nexus 10 gets frequent updates (but not to Andoid 6).
No third party firmware projects seem to exist for the Kobo. So this wonderful hardware cannot be recommended.
AFAIK, one of the developers is based in YYZ. George, you lurking on the list?
Most Andoid devices seem to be abandoned way too young. Nexus devices have a better track record. If a device is well supported by Cyanogen Mod then there is real hope.
Had you seen this? https://github.com/kobolabs http://www.uscoffings.net/clc/tech/embedded/kobo-touch/ - -- Daniel Villarreal http://www.youcanlinux.org youcanlinux@gmail.com PGP key 2F6E 0DC3 85E2 5EC0 DA03 3F5B F251 8938 A83E 7B49 https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xF2518938A83E7B49 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJXN3t6AAoJEPJRiTioPntJpiYH/2X7P3d8VsHkLlTA+B4RX2CC 1zv0r3V6jOtlymrvS4ojIE6pqu8F+53hmRKYREyBduvBSrsvPORBGQvWXT7jhlv8 F3/iFkcZsykZrHPMIKRGec1jQXZVSd+TrzTaNjU1BZFRRr7kfpmnjRK0XyMT6qCe mDNs4/5G//k3rECfAfsawHgMHOjA4mzoaE+tJGsTCZasj3j0Cfe7e4NlhFUG/e47 /CE0TQ1d2vgzVsXLTx4xtpQUEWGv6RYuZ+rmoeMJl+jf8bmCKHHiHtfRDKDSON1z 6qX9Nd1k2AHtMqq/h4jSfUMoPRGq3wAI3wbHSDh++4JH98OagTatvryuPbiy4kQ= =Cp0F -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
| From: Daniel Villarreal <youcanlinux@gmail.com> | On 05/14/2016 11:59 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote: | > Factory Direct ... Hobo Arc HD for $119 (with a coupon). | AFAIK, one of the developers is based in YYZ. George, you lurking on | the list? I think that the Android device team was let go a while back. Rakuten/Kobo still support the Kobo Android application but there is not even a pretense of support for Kobo Arc or Vox Android tablets devices. Think of the known security holes revealed since they went dark. It's a bit sad. I have a Vox and an Arc 7HD. | Had you seen this? | https://github.com/kobolabs Not sure what that is there and what is missing. - it includes a lot of QT stuff - it includes the kernels for Arc10HD and so on. There's a claim that that is the total of GPL code which seems questionable (surely there is GPL beyond the kernel). - some other interesting things like calibre, busybox, and more. | http://www.uscoffings.net/clc/tech/embedded/kobo-touch/ Interesting. About the ereaders, not the (Android) tablets. Useful. Thanks.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 05/14/2016 04:03 PM, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
| From: Daniel Villarreal <youcanlinux@gmail.com> ... | AFAIK, one of the developers is based in YYZ....
I think that the Android device team was let go a while back. Rakuten/Kobo still support the Kobo Android application but there is not even a pretense of support for Kobo Arc or Vox Android tablets devices. Think of the known security holes revealed since they went dark.
It's a bit sad. I have a Vox and an Arc 7HD.
I think that if you want to pursue this, I advise you check out the Rakuten (if they're still the owners) and/or Kobo Japanese-language web sites. If memory services they were always the most up-to-date and the Japanese market got access to stuff earlier than everyone else. It probably couldn't hurt to check Chinese web sites, also. I'd like to think that Rakuten/Kobo would understand the importance of continuing support for these expensive devices, otherwise, why would a savvy customer spend money on one of these devices? I do remember Rakuten management having really good stock market valuation and wondered how much of that was due to the man in charge, one of his practices was making his employees learn English. I wonder if he's still there and if they've continued their tremendous success. I always wonder if we could better interface with the Japanese by studying their tea ceremony, and their culture, in general.
| http://www.uscoffings.net/clc/tech/embedded/kobo-touch/
Interesting. About the ereaders, not the (Android) tablets.
Useful. Thanks.
You're welcome. It used to be a real chore for GNU/Linux users to update their e-readers, not a lot of info on the internet. Surely there has to be a fair amount of interest in doing this. - -- Daniel Villarreal http://www.youcanlinux.org youcanlinux@gmail.com PGP key 2F6E 0DC3 85E2 5EC0 DA03 3F5B F251 8938 A83E 7B49 https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xF2518938A83E7B49 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJXN8V1AAoJEPJRiTioPntJe4AH/AuCsxrf8EJDeZeqB/Hb04Yq n7zVLvUBISkX59ve1n8gDDmxVzl2z95G/1vtY7oWzJPtV1s2HKVAUxCBs4MAlrHC UclGqzErsNbdWmTWzjk1tKm8auQtlTx8t4esFMZjPlk73BKxNZWZ90WpTIIXExWW m6ZzR0mpxqi157KDQheNRIcNX+XBWM1rqu0oW8iGJ8Mx7NCyAMLv9v4mEitFYnz+ RXpFovZQWfix6OIvl/GejZleKjipnOct6AZhhUBvfrai/lWgM6GtVYlEMWaDZ8R8 z5/Gc70dAuRyFcf5JZdUg5lrQdp5TZnQB2MyEgv2qZmPtvIxTAPugO9myAe8W0I= =9kcB -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
I tend to look at things a little differently. If you want to get the maximum number of updates, get a Nexus (and even THEY will not get updates forever, as Stewart notes. But I don't lose sleep for the others' not getting updates (or not getting them as fast as the tech press thinks they should). Background: I like tablets and have a few of them, including both gen Nexus 7s, an Acer Iconia, an ancient and underpowered Ainol Nova 7, and a Dell Venue 8 that I got for $99 at the opening of the Microsoft store in Eaton Centre. And at work I got a Nexus 9. Each of these has a function, though of course some have more function than others. One is nothing more than a web-enabled alarm clock with Accuweather and a photo frame that syncs with Google Photos. The Ainol serves a similar function on my desk at work. One is a home media player and remote for my Chromecast. Two allow me to experiment with Android and Windows 10 without mucking up the others. None of these is e-waste. Even old tablets that will never run anything newer than Jellybean can serve real purpose; remember that they are more powerful than many of the first computers for many of us. I read XDA and various fora, and I cringe at the volume of complaining about the lack of updates. IMO ... if you buy a mobile device based on what might happen in the future, you're certain to be disappointed. Any apps that will run on your device now will still work there in five years. Apps yet-uninvented might not run, but a whole lot of stuff will. And maybe it's just me, but I spend far more time in the apps than in the OS. I don't run to root devices until I have a need to. I will have use for my devices until their batteries die, and even then I have the option of just keeping them plugged-in (as I do with my high-tech alarm clocks). My most recent acquisition is a $150 gem of a 2nd phone (as a spare and for when I travel), a Xiaomi Redmi 3 that feels like a flagship and is functionally about 80% there. I don't ever expect an update, so any that comes is a bonus. It does what I need today, has the spare power to accommodate my present apps as they mature and get more featured (ie, bloated) over time, and that is good enough. I guess my main point is twofold; - Even old "obsolete" phones and tablets can serve a purpose - Updates are cool, but buy your device based on what it does now; planning for end-of-life before you even get the thing is needless stress -- Evan Leibovitch, Geneva, CH
On 2016-05-14 08:49 PM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
None of these is e-waste. Even old tablets that will never run anything newer than Jellybean can serve real purpose
Except when they're like the Nook Color, running a walled-garden limited Android version that the vendor has closed down their branded app store: http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/4/11160942/barnes-noble-nook-app-store-shutti... Shame; it's a nice bit of hardware. It would be really nice if these old devices were able to run a proper Linux, but they rely on boot blobs, so they won't. Stewart
FWIW, My only deal-breaker requirement on android is access to Google Play. That eliminates some promising equipment (ie the Kindle android-ish bargains) but is a long-term defensive strategy. On 15 May 2016 at 15:42, Stewart C. Russell <scruss@gmail.com> wrote:
On 2016-05-14 08:49 PM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
None of these is e-waste. Even old tablets that will never run anything newer than Jellybean can serve real purpose
Except when they're like the Nook Color, running a walled-garden limited Android version that the vendor has closed down their branded app store:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/4/11160942/barnes-noble-nook-app-store-shutti...
Shame; it's a nice bit of hardware.
It would be really nice if these old devices were able to run a proper Linux, but they rely on boot blobs, so they won't.
Stewart --- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
-- Evan Leibovitch Geneva, CH Em: evan at telly dot org Sk: evanleibovitch Tw: el56
participants (4)
-
D. Hugh Redelmeier -
Daniel Villarreal -
Evan Leibovitch -
Stewart C. Russell