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#1 |
Junior Member
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Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: kobo forma/4th gen kindle
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What version of Android is the Glowlight Plus (2019) software using?
I know Nooks use some kind of interface over Android - what version of Android are they running currently? I'm sort of idly curious since I have been considering getting a Nook Glowlight Plus (for the big screen & buttons) and hacking it so I can do other stuff with it/get to the the regular Android stuff.
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#2 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 28684
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Nook GL3, Kobo H2O, Nook STG, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500
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4.4.2 (KitKat)
Be aware that the default software has no back button and most Android apps need one. Button saviour app can add on-screen back, home, and menu buttons or you can root and re-map one of the hardware buttons to be a back button. I have my Glowlight 3 (also Android 4.4.2) rooted to re-map the buttons and to set sleep screen to be the cover of the book I'm currently reading. I use Zeam Launcher, Calibre Companion, Alreader, ColorDict, and Solid Explorer apps. It is the best reading experience I've had out of all the devices I've owned. |
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#3 |
Wizard
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Karma: 10700629
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Device: Onyx Nova
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The xda forum details how to root it. I think buttonsaviour will be a must install to get a back button. I have the 6" and the screen is excellent. But I use an Onyx now. But you can get a Nook real cheap and root it and put nookmanager on there. Works good. Way better than the default software.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/h...ght-3.3802331/ |
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#4 |
Junior Member
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Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: kobo forma/4th gen kindle
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Ooh thanks for all the tips! I've definitely heard that the default software is terrible.
I was debating getting a Glowlight Plus for the bigger screen and then saw a refurbished Kobo Forma for $145 on ebay and grabbed it immediately because it was such a fantastic price (and it works great, definitely pleasant in some ways that my ancient kindle was lacking) but I think the Glowlight Plus might be a better fit for me. Does anyone know if Hoopla works decently on the Glowlight's version of Android? Or is it too old/slow for that? |
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#5 |
Wizard
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Karma: 10700629
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Device: Onyx Nova
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#6 | |
Debugging Unenthusiast
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Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: Nook Glowlight 3
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#7 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 28684
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Nook GL3, Kobo H2O, Nook STG, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500
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To side load apps you do not need root. Just ADB initially and if you put a launcher and file explorer you then can side load apps via usb drag and drop (then install from file explorer on reader) instead of ADB. I have my reader rooted to re-map the hardware buttons (one being a back button) and to enable me to display the book I'm currently reading as the sleep screen.
I have Calibre Companion which I use instead of the default library software which gives me wireless transfer of books, far more customizable navigating options of my books (By tags, series, author, etc.), CC can set the cover of the book I'm currently reading as the sleep screen (with root). For reading software I use Alreader which has a lot more customization options than the BN reader. I can side load fonts, customize touch screen zones, show how many pages left in chapter, chapter name, clock, battery level, reading position bar with chapter marks, ability to open images in external image viewer with ability to pinch zoom (I use solid explorer for this). I like the ColorDict dictionary better than the BN dictionary but I don't really use the dictionary that much. It also integrates with Alreader really well. I've re-mapped the hardware buttons (with root) so that the "n" button is page forward which makes a huge difference for me since I like to hold the reader with one hand on the bottom with my thumb to press the "n" button. The downside is that it takes quite a bit of time to get it all set up correctly but once it's all set up it all works really, really well. Last edited by Ryzir; 01-01-2021 at 06:41 PM. |
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#8 |
Debugging Unenthusiast
![]() Posts: 9
Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: Nook Glowlight 3
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#9 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 28684
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Nook GL3, Kobo H2O, Nook STG, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500
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No unfortunately, you have to re-map for the page turn buttons to work in Alreader. Once you have root it's easy to re-map, basically just changing some text in a file.
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#10 | |
Debugging Unenthusiast
![]() Posts: 9
Karma: 10
Join Date: Dec 2020
Device: Nook Glowlight 3
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#11 | |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 28684
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Nook GL3, Kobo H2O, Nook STG, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500
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Quote:
Alreader can be set to control the backlight with an edge swipe but I didn't like how it worked so I set the top middle touch zone to toggle fullscreen on tap to be able to access the light controls. Last edited by Ryzir; 01-02-2021 at 12:33 AM. |
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#12 |
Connoisseur
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 65
Karma: 28684
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Nook GL3, Kobo H2O, Nook STG, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500
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Some additional notes:
Apps and versions I'm using: AlReader for E-Ink devices v1.61 150218 (from https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=340035) Zeam Launcher v3.1.10 Calibre Companion v5.4.3.3 ColorDict Offline Dictionaries v4.4.2 Solid Explorer v2.3.7 The six hard buttons are mapped in /system/usr/keylayout/imx-keypad.kl Power Button = key 116 Home "n" Button = key 102 Lower Left Button = key 191 Upper Left Button = key 192 Upper Right Button = key 193 Lower Right Button = key 194 Original Mapppings Code:
key 158 BACK key 116 POWER WAKE key 139 MENU key 412 BACK key 102 HOME WAKE key 353 DPAD_CENTER key 103 DPAD_UP key 105 DPAD_LEFT key 106 DPAD_RIGHT key 108 DPAD_DOWN key 114 VOLUME_DOWN key 115 VOLUME_UP key 90 BUTTON_B key 191 F9 key 192 F10 key 193 F11 key 194 F12 Code:
key 158 BACK key 116 POWER WAKE key 139 MENU key 412 BACK key 102 PAGE_DOWN key 353 DPAD_CENTER key 103 DPAD_UP key 105 DPAD_LEFT key 106 DPAD_RIGHT key 108 DPAD_DOWN key 114 VOLUME_DOWN key 115 VOLUME_UP key 90 BUTTON_B key 191 PAGE_DOWN key 192 BACK key 193 HOME key 194 PAGE_DOWN /data/data/com.nook.partner/shared_prefs/screen_saver_preference.xml Code:
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8' standalone='yes' ?> <map> <boolean name="pref_key_screen_saver_from_sdcard" value="true" /> <string name="pref_key_screen_saver_from_path">/storage/emulated/0/Screensaver/sleep.jpg</string> <boolean name="pref_key_screen_saver_low_power" value="false" /> <int name="key_screensaver_img_index" value="5" /> </map> You can change the path and the name of the .jpg to whatever you want and use whatever image you want. Last edited by Ryzir; 01-02-2021 at 12:33 AM. |
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android, nook glowlight plus |
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