e Reader options for xc soar?

On Tuesday, July 23, 2013 3:03:20 PM UTC+1, Sean F (F2) wrote:
What e Readers are you all using with XC Soar?

The only e-reader currently planned to be supported by XCSoar is the Kobo Mini, which is 4/5ths the size of the Nook Simple Touch. Its dimensions are similar to 5" PNAs such as the Oudie / Vertica:

Oudie 2 : 135 x 86 x 14 mm
Kobo Mini: 133 x 102 x 10 mm
Nook Simple Touch: 165 x 127 x 12 mm

Top Hat is a derivative ('fork') of XCSoar that does support the Nook.

The only e-reader currently planned to be supported by XCSoar is the Kobo Mini.

Well that is unfortunate!
In the USA the Kobo mini is almost unheard of!
I see you can get it on Amazon for $90, about the same as the Nook. But the quality is not as good. Three reviewers out of 12 said " Don't waste your money on this e-reader. "

Just so everyone knows what they are getting into:
Currently, the method of getting XCSoar to run on the Nook is tedious but do-able with the help of the detailed instructions at the TopHat site. It requires a couple of spare micro-SD cards and about an hour. You also have to do some soldering to create a special junction cable that will connect your GPS USB to the Nook and to a 5V USB power source that plugs into your glider's 12V power. This requires purchasing a few male & female USB connectors, a USB cig.lighter charger and a small On-the-Go (OTG) USB adapter cable to fit into the Nook. A really nice hockey-puck GPS module is available for $31 at DX.com. With the ghosting on the screen, I'm not sure it is all worth the effort. My Streak is very clear in the cockpit.

On Wednesday, July 24, 2013 6:04:26 PM UTC+1, Soartech wrote:
The only e-reader currently planned to be supported by XCSoar is the Kobo Mini.

Well that is unfortunate!

In the USA the Kobo mini is almost unheard of!

I see you can get it on Amazon for $90, about the same as the Nook. But the quality is not as good. Three reviewers out of 12 said " Don't waste your money on this e-reader. "


Check out http://www.kobo.com/kobomini/wheretobuy/

I don't know how they compare for reading, but in the display mode we're using for XCSoar there's no significant difference in quality between the Nook and the Kobo Mini.

Installation of XCSoar on the Kobo Mini will consist of connecting the ereader to a PC and copying a single file to the ereader.

Ghosting is more noticable on e-ink displays at higher temperatures, but it's hard to put figures on it because airflow around the display seems to be more of a factor than the ambient temperature.

On Wednesday, July 24, 2013 5:25:58 PM UTC+2, wrote: The only e-reader currently planned to be supported by XCSoar is the Kobo Mini

Not exactly true.

The Nook will be supported, too, but the installation procedure requires rooting and hacking the kernel (like TopHat). I believe the Kobo is the better one, but I leave people a choice.

The Nook will be supported, too, but the installation procedure requires rooting and hacking the kernel (like TopHat). I believe the Kobo is the better one, but I leave people a choice.

Kobo size will be more practical, specially if you mount it somewhere in the instrument panel area. Rob has made excellent instructions on how to root NOOK, and lately I have been flying with TopHat connected with IOIOv1 and IOIO-OTG cards without connection breaks. I will fly with NOOK until KOBO with IOIO connection is ready. Thanks for the developers!

Compared to DELL Streak operating system update, IMHO NOOK rooting is easy.