Arduous tinkerers have found a way to somewhat forcibly make the Kobo Glo e-reader run a full Android OS. While it does open up the device to a whole new world of possibilities, hardware limitations naturally prevent the 6-inch tablet from becoming more than what it is, even with Android’s help.
The hack that lets the Kobo Glo run Android is based on one that was used on the Tolino Shine e-reader, which apparently shared hardware similarities with the Kobo device. Such hardware includes a 1 GHz processor, a 6-inch E Ink touchscreen with a resolution of 1024×768, and 2 GB of internal storage, expandable to up to 32 GB via a microSD slot.
Running Android on the Kobo Glo will give users access to Google Play Store and Android apps just like any other Android device. However, due to low refresh rates inherent in E Ink displays, trying to run highly interactive or fast-changing apps, such as games or videos, will be an exercise in futility. Battery life will also considerably be shorter given the more complex processes carried out by an Android system compared to a simple e-book platform. Still, that hack might be useful for those who wish to get access to other e-book stores, such as Amazon and Barnes & Nobles, or other e-book apps.
Of course, those who want to really want a full Android experience on their Kobo device might just opt to get a Kobo Arc tablet instead. But those who want to combine the best of both worlds of a highly readable E Ink displays and an Android software ecosystem might be better off with this hack, that is, if they have the heart to risk the procedure.
VIA: The Droid Guy
