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Kobo can run apps now

153 pointsby thepoettoday at 4:25 PM62 commentsview on HN

Comments

the-grumptoday at 6:18 PM

For the unaware, there is an existing solution that integrates with Kobo's native software (Nickel).

It has been maintained for years, and it supports every Kobo AFAIK.

It's called NickelMenu, and it's great. I'm in the Kobo ecosystem because of NickelMenu and Plato.

One note if you're thinking about getting a kobo due its relative openness: consider getting a two-core device. I did not do my homework and got a Clara BW because I don't want the color display. Later I found out that color is the only one with the two-core CPU.

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wbxp99today at 6:25 PM

>These are photographs of the device, not simulator captures

Thanks for the clarification Claude

Artgortoday at 6:17 PM

Isn't the whole point of Kindle (or other ebook readers) being able to read books without distractions?

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rglovertoday at 5:23 PM

Wow. This is rad, well done. I've been trying to find an alt OS for my Clara Colour and this looks great. Being able to author apps means I can finally add a way to review my highlights/quotes and search them with ease.

Edit: damn, just saw the BW note. It looks like the Clara Colour would be blocked by Cobalt...

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5G_activatedtoday at 6:47 PM

I find LLM copywriting revolting, especially Claude's and it is pretty obvious that it is Claude, and even though I might find the software interesting since I own a Clara 2E, it puts such a sour taste in my mouth that I don't want to touch this thing with a 10 foot pole.

If your software is mostly written by the slop machine, fine. I don't have to be upset about it unless I think about contributing and then notice the uncanny nature of the source code. But a website and a README is directly user facing and it is a major disservice, and in my opinion, lack of respect, to generate your website copy with an LLM.

yoavmtoday at 6:46 PM

FWIW, some Kobos can run PostmarketOS. I built this UI for my Clara - https://www.github.com/bjesus/air . It runs Firefox, Syncthing, KOReader, and basically anything else you can run on Linux.

conqrrtoday at 6:02 PM

Very cool and definitely useful. I'm not the audience but I'll say: I like my ereader to just have books that sync. That is all. It's my library room and peace time, the last thing I need is Claude to distract me.

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VariousProgramstoday at 6:47 PM

I am enjoying the recently trendy Xteink e-readers that can't do anything but read books. An app store and the internet would just make an e-reader feel like a "worse phone" to me.

podgietarutoday at 6:38 PM

Previously I built something using NickelHook

https://github.com/Podginator/KoboOmnivoreConverter

It took a lot of messing around trying to figure out how nickel fit together. This is much more … impressive.

QwenGlazer9000today at 6:28 PM

For most of the use cases I would need an app for, koreader's plugin system works just fine for it. You'd be surprised the gems you can find for koreader.

far_focustoday at 6:13 PM

So cool. I have this exact model. Might try to build something

ee334y5rthsrthtoday at 6:49 PM

I need OTP for loging to ssh and meshtastic

pmkarytoday at 5:11 PM

As a Kindle owner; I'm very jealous.

erelongtoday at 6:22 PM

Noting again that postmarketos exists and works on some kobos (and potentially could be ported to more?)

dylandoddstoday at 6:39 PM

Just bought a kobo bw after reading this article

jhacktoday at 6:00 PM

This is incredible and super useful. More reasons to use my e-reader around the house instead of my phone.

GlenTheMachinetoday at 6:13 PM

I vote for Zotero integration!

jasongitoday at 5:24 PM

Amazing. Hopefully Kobo don't ruin this by locking it down.

sa-codetoday at 5:43 PM

Would this also work on a Tolino?

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BoingBoomTschaktoday at 5:45 PM

Vibecoded, from what I see in the git log.

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bellowsgulchtoday at 6:35 PM

poob has it for you

dopetrailertoday at 7:02 PM

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hn5595p698today at 6:52 PM

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