I'm curious if there are custom firmwares for e-ink devices similar to what Rockbox (website, wikipedia) is for digital audio players.
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5This may possibly be to be too broad as there are many very different e-ink devices. e-Ink is a display technology, not an architecture – DVK Dec 20 '13 at 22:04
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I think OP was purposefully broad because they aren't even sure where to start, except by asking. And asking is where good ideas start. – Bulrush May 9 '16 at 23:49
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It depends on specific device and its architecture.
Those that are built on top of Android, typically tend to get AOSP ports, e.g. Nook (here's Simple Touch instructions), or Kindles - the latter even has CyanogenMod ROM.
Sony PRST 1 was hacked to expose full underlying rooted Android but I'm not sure if AOSP based ROM is available for it - this might be it.
I'm not sure if there are any non-Android-based mainstream eInk readers - most of the ones I heard of (which is not a lot) seem to be Android under the covers and thus can be opened up (e.g. see Kobe Glo).
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1But... neither the Nook nor the Kindle Fire is an e-ink device as the question specifically asked. – Nathan Osman♦ Dec 21 '13 at 20:21
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@NathanOsman - barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-simple-touch-barnes-noble/1102344735. I thought that was e-ink? I'm unsure of the varieties of Kindles, but was under impression that they were all Android-based. I'll check. – DVK Dec 21 '13 at 21:28
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@NathanOsman - Nook, I can confirm. This article on rooting it confirms e-Ink: alexroddie.com/2013/06/android-on-nook-simple-touch-part-2.html – DVK Dec 21 '13 at 21:29
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There is a project, called PRS+, for older Sony PRS devices (PRS-300, PRS-505, PRS-600, PRS-350, PRS-650, PRS-950).
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KOReader is an ereading software available for several devices and platforms. Quoted from Mobileread wiki:
KOReader is a document viewer for Linux based E Ink devices. Currently there are versions for Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, and Android devices.
The installation procedure depends on the device. Support forums are available on Mobileread.
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XDA Developers don't have the e-Ink Kindle, but they have a page for the Nook Touch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nook-touch
Check out the "Android Development" thread.
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There is a crowdfunding campaign for an e-ink device that says they will release the firmware as free software.
We intend on making the firmware for the 13.3 inch e-reader available to the entire community.
I have no affiliation with the campaign or the people behind it.
