14 DAY TRIAL // Would you like to turn your Kobo Glo eReader into a functional Android tablet? It turns out you can. Even if the Kobo device uses its own branded software to allow users to read eBooks, this can be changed.
The eReader features a 6-inch e-ink display featuring a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. It’s fueled by a 1GHz processor and offers 2GB of internal storage. If users need more, there’s the possibility to increase it via the microSD card.
A user on the MobileReader forum discovered a way to enhance the Kobo Glo experience. It appears, the eReader has very similar hardware to the one found in a German digital reading device called the Tolino Shine, which runs Android.
The Tolino slate features a 6-inch HD screen with infra-red touch. The device can read ePubs naively and comes equipped with an SD card slot and Wi-Fi. Like the Kobo Glo, its purpose is to provide customers with a platform for digital reading.
The forum member discovered the possibility of taking the software form the Tolino Shine and mounting it on the Kobo Glo. Of course, swiping interfaces like this might be fun, but it’s not really that useful.
Unless, you root the firmware for the Shine and acquire access to Android third-party apps and other goodies. MobileReader user KevinShort confirms this can be done and even posts a picture to prove it.
The Kobo Glo doesn't offer a color display or move as fast as your usual Android tablet, but people could use the hacked slate to play simple games or gain access to the Amazon Kindle app. But if you think you’ll be able to stream videos or play advanced games on the Kobo, you can forget about it.
Back in September, the Kobo Glo got another interface makeover, as it was turned into a Linux tablet.