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Comment by llui85 | Hacker News Reader

Kobo's firmware is very open, although it's technical enough that your average (non-developer) end-user would have trouble modifying. You upload a `KoboRoot.tgz` file to a hidden folder when it's plugged into USB, which is extracted to the root directory of the device (which is linux + busybox, with a QT gui 'nickel'). Newer FW versions also have a development telnet server which can be enabled in settings.

The MobileRead forums are where most of the unofficial discussion/development happens: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=223

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=247

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IMO this is how it should work everywhere; the device works well out of the box for normal users, but if the owner wants to modify it, the means is right there and is actually pretty straightforward if you're technical enough to care. (There is room in the middle but dividing people into "wants to mod their device" vs "doesn't know what a tarball is" seems sane)

> Kobo's firmware is very open, although it's technical enough that your average (non-developer) end-user would have trouble modifying

That's good to hear. I have no problem with a device vendor focusing on just making sure their device works well, as long as they're not trying to close it off and actively working against external developers. I'd heard stuff like Kindle blows physical fuses so that one can't install older firmware and stuff like that so they actively prevent users from having control of their device. I have no desire to be a customer of such types of vendors.

I have a pocketbook touch hd3 [0]. It's nice, tbh I feel that my Kindle Keyboard (died after 10 years) was higher quality, mainly because the buttons on the hd3 can move a bit. Other than that it's a nice device, it can read all formats and has a feature to make the front light more red.

[0]: https://www.amazon.com/Pocketbook-Touch-HD-Metallic-Grey/dp/...

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