Sometimes I see people saying online that Kindles should run Android instead of the custom Linux-based software that Amazon has used since Kindles first came out.
I’m sure the hacking crowd would love it if Kindles ran Android instead. The Kindle software developers might like that as well since Fire tablets run Android and they have to support the Kindle Android app too. Software devs tend to dislike having to maintain the same software on multiple platforms, and it would probably be easier for them if Kindles did run Android, so if that were to ever happen that would probably be one of the main determining factors.
Personally, I’m firmly against Kindles ever switching to an Android OS. Android ereaders like Onyx’s Boox devices have a lot of great things to like about the software, but the Android OS is just never as smooth and polished as the Kindle’s more basic software. And while most Boox devices have octa-core CPUs and 4GB+ of RAM, Kindles are still faster to navigate, open books, and turn pages with their lower-specced CPUs and less RAM.
Android is also much less energy efficient. The battery life of Kindles is truly exceptional. I’ve only charged my new Kindle Paperwhite SE once since I got it over a month ago during Prime Day. Battery life on Android ereaders isn’t nearly as good as the battery life on Kindles.
I remember when Sony switched to using Android on their ereaders with the release of the Sony PRS-T1, and while it opened up more possibilities, the software felt laggier and less refined. The screen refreshing and transitions were slower and sloppier, and I remember liking the old Linux-based software better.
Kindles are better-suited to stay with the simple software they have now. Switching to Android at this point would likely make things worse instead of better. Sure, some people would love to be able to run Android apps on a Kindle, but there are better devices for that.
Besides, Amazon is never going to open up Kindles to allow installing anything they don’t have control of, and they’re never going to add memory card slots or allow for all the customizations to the software like Onyx does with Boox ereaders and eNotes, so they’re going to remain more limited regardless. Android just wouldn’t be a good fit for Kindles.
Here’s hoping that Kindles never change. In fact, I’d still be fine with the old software UI that Kindles used to have before all the software updates changed everything. Now with every update it seems they’re trying to make the Kindle software look more like Kindle apps on Android and iOS. Frankly, that’s a bit concerning because the more they’re alike, the more likely they’d eventually decide to switch Kindles to Android to simplify software development.
Anything but Android. It ruins everything it touches (see also “smart” TVs).
I am happy with e-readers as different as Kindle and Onyx Boox. Each one is better in its own field, although I sometimes use the Kindle app on my Android e-readers because of the integrated web search (which, unfortunately, Kindle e-readers do not have). I also prefer Kindle to stay as it is: basic, but well executed. For other things, there are other devices.
I am quite happy with Kindles running Linux, and I’m glad there are other e-readers available with the ability to run Android so people can experience both and choose what works for them.
If anything, I wish the Home screen was better. More options to customize recommendations, like the ability to remove a book you have no interest in, rather then stare at it for months before Amazon gives up and removes it themselves. Better ways to search for keywords for genres and tropes rather then depend on discovering something great by random.
The other problem is that Android keeps getting updated, and if the hardware doesn’t support that update, it will not receive any system updates nor security updates. I’m guessing they can update the OS on kindles with Linux since it is not so hardware dependent.
Nooks are Android based. As far as I’m aware, they still are. One of the many reasons I never liked my Oasis 2 as much as my Nook (or Kobos) was that it sucked down the battery faster. But maybe it was a fluke of mine in particular.
Why screw with success? My Oasis’ work fine, leave it alone unless you’re going to restore some of the best features you’ve dropped!
Amazon really needs to drop the continual scrolling on the library. It used to be pages that were so much easier, and you had a rough idea of where things were.
The trouble with Android is you get Google’s tentacles!
Android itself runs on Linux kernel if you didn’t know. There are no upsides for running Android on top for a e-reader — it’s bloaty, more energy-consuming and actually harder to hack at.
Exactly Nathan. The Sony PRS-T1 was the e-reader I wanted to love but ended up returning because of its buggy, laggy software.
No. I have an onyx ultra tab c and my pocket book HD 3 blows it out of the water in terms of being an ereader. It’s faster and more pleasant to use. Android has it’s uses but it will never beat the dedicated Linux platform. For sheer usability (as an ereader).
Couldn’t care less about whether it’s android or not. What I want is openness and an app store. Linux and just enough of a framework for a launcher and graphical applications and to let application providers have assurances that they’re safe.
It’s not like I’m going to start getting my books from elsewhere, but I’d like to have the option without all the downsides of Android.