this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
861 points (99.5% liked)

Technology

86160 readers
3685 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] treadful@lemmy.zip 62 points 2 months ago
[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 52 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

Just FYI, older Kobos are exceptionally easy to repair and modify. They used to have an SD card as the hd you could remove and do all sorts of cool things with. They also published the version of the linux kernel they used and any modifications they (Kobo) devs had to do to get things working. It was awesome for a time. Its more locked down now... :(

I used to play around with https://quill-os.org/ and it worked decently well on kobo until the newer versions started to crack down on the mod scene.

Nowadays im thinking the open book or Diptyx E-Reader might be a better bet for long term sustainability. Its great ifixit is working with kobo, but the software is still locked down.

For a bigger list take a look: https://itsfoss.com/open-source-ebook-readers-options/

[–] Echolynx@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Yup, I have a 256 GB microSD card in my Kobo Clara HD.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] lemmyng@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I just recently bought the Kobo Calibra BW. I just watched that Diptyx video and I. Have. A MIGHTY NEED!!!!

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] XLE@piefed.social 47 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm not saying there's anything untoward here, but at what point do we start looking at these partnerships and start to wonder if it affects the repairability ratings?

HMD partnered with iFixit and created a very repairable phone... Except in the software realm, where the bootloader is locked, it's still on Android 15, and allegedly the next major update will be its last (giving it a shorter security shelf life than a glued-up Samsung).

[–] Nindelofocho@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

You can buy some parts for the steamdeck but not the mainboard despite them claiming you could buy every part when they announced the partnership. iFixit has been getting just a littttttle bit sus honestly

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Territorial@piefed.ca 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I had a kobo reader once, and when I had questions about repairing it they refused to help in any shape or form. They told me to buy a new one, and I did - but never again a kobo. Maybe this is a step in the right direction, maybe it's too little, too late.

[–] Burghler@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

I guess for you, I haven't bought one yet loool

Big fan of my Kobo as well. I wish the software was swappable, if just so I could try other stuff out, but Koreader is alright when I don't want the default setup.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago

I bought my brother Kobo precisely because of being privacy and consumer friendly.

[–] brynden_rivers_esq@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 months ago

Sweet, this makes me immediately want to go buy a kobo! I love ifixit.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

have the Kobo Libra Colour

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (3 children)

This is my first time hearing about Kobo. Do you like it?

[–] ExperiencedWinter@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Not the person you replied to, but I've had 2 kobos and didn't have a problem with either. (The screen on the first one broke, but that was my fault for dropping a book on it. I might have been able to fix it if they had this ifixit deal back then)

[–] detren@sh.itjust.works 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Breaking an e-book with an actual book is hilarious

[–] ExperiencedWinter@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's funnier now than it was when it happened

[–] detren@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago

Yeah… fair enough

[–] Trilogy3452@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Are you able to borrow books from the library with it?

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] osanna@lemmy.vg 2 points 1 month ago

I've had my kobo (clara BW) for about 2 years or so. I love it. It made me fall in love with reading again like I haven't felt for years.

[–] scott_anon_21@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

I have had two for many years and both are working fine. I bought the second because they introduced a waterproof version. Still use both 10? years later. This could tip me to buying a third with colour.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] sronweb@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Using Kindle Paperwhite from some years as my first ebook reader, but I'm tired about the DRM stuffs and I will move to Kobo as soon it will be time to replace it.

[–] lemmyng@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Before you do, make sure to backup your Kindle library and remove DRM from your library by entering your Kindle's device key into Calibre after installing the De-DRM plugin. I deleted my Amazon (Kindle) account before switching to Kobo + Anna's Archive, and there are some books that I found on Kindle that aren't found anywhere else.

[–] JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 2 points 2 months ago

Thank kindle unlimited exclusivity bullshit for that...

[–] BadlyDrawnRhino@aussie.zone 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you have an original Paperwhite, your device is going to lose internet access next month, so make sure you make a backup of all your ebooks before then.

Luckily I have the Paperwhite 2 from 2013 so I'll be able to keep using mine for now. But I'll be backing up everything anyway because it's only a matter of time before Amazon comes for my device too. I'll not be buying another Kindle once mine is no longer functional.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] SaneMartigan@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Calibre software works for Kindle too.

[–] sronweb@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Yes, I'm using it too ;)

[–] Butterphinger@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Android is still a bad match for e-reader usecase and hardware but whatever.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I dunno, it's not perfect, but I tend to enjoy the experience of moonreader, librera, or other really solid apps on android better than the experience on kindles, or the others I've tried that aren't android based.

That's even on eink options; I have a boox, and a kobo that are eink, with the boox running Android, and kobo whatever they used. I tend to find less hassles on the boox, despite it being their cheapest model.

I don't think any of them have really perfected the overall form and function, but I find the apps on android give better immersion and less hassle.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 months ago

The apps, yes, while the system sucks (battery).

[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I dunno, I had a kobo many years ago, put an android launcher on there and could use it as an e-ink tablet. Don't know if you can still do this, but it was pretty handy.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›