Kobo can run apps now • Hacker News Board

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#161

Post by jaimex2 » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 2:52 AM UTC

jasongi wrote: post #7

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

Unlikely. Being open is why they are recommended over Amazon

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#162

Post by Method5440 » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:01 AM UTC

Read the porting document - do we think this would be a difficult port to the Libra Color? I’m reluctant to order a Clara BW in addition, but also not sure I know enough about the ecosystem to contribute a working port. Anyone interesting in teaming up to take a crack at it?

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#163

Post by onemoresoop » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:08 AM UTC

VariousPrograms wrote: post #58

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.

It can read books quite okay if it’s mostly text. With photos it’s sluggish. I personally like it but there are other better optionsnout there for a little extra $.

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#164

Post by onemoresoop » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:11 AM UTC

inatreecrown2 wrote: post #130

Would it be possible to support the Anki app on this?

You could probably even vibe code your own anki app for it. I just ordered a clara bw to play with.

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#165

Post by onemoresoop » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:12 AM UTC

dylandodds wrote: post #50

Just bought a kobo bw after reading this article

Same here.

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#166

Post by mplewis » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:13 AM UTC

Pretty insulting to not mention Koreader anywhere in your Claude-written marketing copy.

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#167

Post by mastazi » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 3:49 AM UTC

> A reboot returns to the stock Kobo reader.

so it's not something you can daily drive just yet? Is this because of technical issues that prevent it from surviving a reboot?

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#168

Post by mkagenius » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 4:06 AM UTC

KennyBlanken wrote: post #129

thepoet wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, author here. NickelMenu is terrific and Cobalt uses it to show the menu item in the default Kobo menu. It's just that Cobalt and NickelMenu are not the same in terms of project goals. I created this as I could not find anything existing that gives the capabilities I wanted. I read several things downloaded over web apart from books on my Mac and phone, which I would prefer to do on an eInk display. Search papers…

[flagged]

The project already does QA.

  cargo test --workspace --all-features

The above command runs 2000+ tests. Instead of being toxic, you could have just looked at docs or the code to find them.

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#169

Post by wonnage » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 4:10 AM UTC

mkagenius wrote: post #168

KennyBlanken wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

The project already does QA. cargo test --workspace --all-features The above command runs 2000+ tests. Instead of being toxic, you could have just looked at docs or the code to find them.

2000 ai generated tests on a hobby project that the author has almost certainly not reviewed does not inspire confidence

Re: Kobo can run apps now

#170

Post by thepoet » Sat, Aug 22, 2026, 4:16 AM UTC

mawise wrote: post #140

Has anyone built a dedicated OPDS client for the Kobo? I've experimented some with the Kobo ecosystem since I got my Clara BW, I've played with NickleMenu, Plato, and KOReader. KOReader has a built-in OPDS client, but KOReader is a bit heavyweight and it would be really nice to have a dedicated stand-alone client (especially one that supports credentialed OPDS feeds like calibre-web exposes)

This project has an OPDS client implemented as an app example here, tested on Gutenberg's OPDS and standard eBooks. https://github.com/BandarLabs/Cobalt/tree/main/examples/gute...