e-Ink eReader - Onyx Boox Afterglow 2 (Logos on Kindle-like screen)
I just purchased an Onyx Boox Afterglow 2 The purpose is to run Logos, Vyrso and Faithlife Study Bible on it. Here is a brief review:
This e-Ink eReader is definitely the best purchase I've made all year. It is so much easier on the eye than my tablet or phone with its e-Ink screen (it reads like paper) and is an excellent platform for distraction free reading. The Android apps work well on it for the purpose of reading and highlighting.
Pros:
- Easy on the eyes with a nice sharp display that is as easy as paper. I find the screen size to be well suited.
- Sunlight reading is fantastic and late night reading via a front-lit screen is good for me (and my wife who is generally trying to sleep)
- All Faithlife apps are currently working and books downloading (I did need to shift the app to the SD card). The page turns and highlighting are very good. Making notes is not as functional, but still very usable.
- Headphone output for audio
- Great battery life (less than a week with wifi on, but still very good)
- Android 4.2 (better app compatibility) and Google Play app store installed (enabling lots of other uses).
- I also have the Kindle app working for those books I've not yet got on Logos.
Cons:
- The official Faithlife stance is that eInk Android readers are not supported. Actual support wouldn't be difficult. This becomes a problem if ever the app becomes incompatible with the reader.
- All the current eInk readers have limited app storage space. This can limit what apps you can install or how many. This can be a pro as I've used Smart Locker to lock the internet / news reader so I have a distraction free environment.
- Touch screen is not as accurate with finger presses as it could be so typing is difficult and sometimes you can miss the menu item in the apps. This is not a problem when highlighting or reading.
- No multi-tasking with apps.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend it? Definitely. It has changed my reading experience and given me a device that is distraction free for devotion and study in the sun and in the dark. But I'd only recommend it for you if you're a person that is willing to carry a little bit of the standard baggage for an early adopter (patience and a willingness to fiddle a bit).
Comments
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If you want to support e-Ink screens receiving some attention in Android apps then please vote here https://logosmobile.uservoice.com/forums/190765-logos-mobile-apps/suggestions/6804981-support-e-ink-for-android-ereader
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Is this available in the states?
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alabama24 said:
Is this available in the states?
Seems to be when I looked. Costs US$40 in shipping from Onyx
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Randle Bond said:
Seems to be when I looked. Costs US$40 in shipping from Onyx
You mean $40 to ship the device from Europe, or $40 for the device? I don't see where this is being sold in the US:
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If you click on calculate shipping you will be able to enter your country / state. It ships from Europe (Poland) and arrived for me in Australia within 5 days.
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Thanks, Randle. This looks like a great option.
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Hello Mr. Bond
I went to the link and it featured a soft core porn book called MY FIRST in the ad.
Capitulating to the world turns me off. I saw it as an omen this device is (to be kind) NOT for me.
Merry Christmas though Sir.
[:)]
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JoshInRI said:
I went to the link and it featured a soft core porn book called MY FIRST in the ad.
Capitulating to the world turns me off. I saw it as an omen this device is (to be kind) NOT for me.
An unfortunate choice of advertising! The app you see there is Kindle for Android and the Amazon store continually seems to have dodgy books like that on its top sellers list. I'm not sure why they don't have an option to only show age appropriate content in this section.
If you were to get this device it is easy to restrict it to certain applications using an application locker as well as remove access to the free book libraries. There is nothing dodgy installed on the device to begin with (not even the Kindle app).
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Randle,
This looks like a great solution for strained eyes using Logos resources!
I'm in Canada, do you see any drawbacks from using the onyx here, being it comes from the Europe?
Also, when you highlight and make notes, does that get saved in my regular Logos account?
There is a regular Logos app for this device?
Thanks!
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I'm from Australia and can see the only potential drawback as being if there is a fault and a return needs to be made. If there is a fault I believe you need to pay one way of the shipping (this is fairly standard for online purchases). I know this encouraged some people to buy previous models through Amazon when they became available.
Yep - all the highlights and notes transfer across perfectly. It is an Android tablet and so it uses the Logos Android apps.
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I've just ordered the Afterglow 2 and will receive it sometime in January...I've been looking for an e-ink reader that could run the Logos Android app, as well as the Kindle and Nook apps, since I have some books in all formats. I'll try to come back to the forum and review the Onyx Boox Afterglow 2 after I get my hands on it. If I had an extra couple of hundred dollars, I would have considered the Onyx Boox M96 Universe because of the larger 9.7″ E Ink display (even with the fact that you can only use a stylus on the screen). Maybe the next generation of e-ink readers will have the larger screen without a stylus and full Google Play apps!
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Just a quick note - the Afterglow 2 is available through Amazon in the US now. That will save you shipping costs!
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I got my Afterglow 2, and overall I'm pleased with it. I bought it primarily to run the Logos mobile app, but also wanted to run the Kindle and Nook apps, since I have some books in each of those formats. The interface isn't as clean as a Kindle, but it does the job. I'm a little disappointed that the internal memory is so small. I added a 32gb microSD card, but not all of the apps I want to run will transfer over to the SD card. Some don't give that option and must remain on the internal storage. I'm trying to figure out how to sideload apps (if that's possible), or if I can get any help from their company on how to make the SD card more useful. Also, it makes me sign into the Logos App every time I try to use it (something my other Android devices haven't required). I'm not sure if that a Logos issue or a Afterglow 2 issue, but I'm willing to put up with it to use the app on an e-ink screen. It looks great on e-ink! Thanks to those on the forum who posted quick reviews, it helped me take the plunge!
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Mr. Bond,
Great review. Unfortunately this comment "Touch screen is not as accurate with finger presses as it could be so typing is difficult and sometimes you can miss the menu item in the apps," gives me pause to purchase one of these.
I tried a Onyx T-68 once and the touch accuracy on the tablet was BAD. I can't imagine it being as bad as the T-68 but I am betting that it had not been fully addressed if someone is mentioning accuracy already.
As a reference, I own a Boyue T-62 and love it. Very accurate compared with the T-68.
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Yeah, you wouldn't think it'd be that hard to get touch screen performance right. It is something they've missed in successive generations. I still find it usable but would've loved this solved. But I've probably found the app space a more limiting factor
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I'm looking into buying one of these, since my current e-ink reader doesn't support the latest FL apps any longer, and more and more resources are being made unusable by incompatible updates...
Does anyone know whether the Afterglow2 supports the "default write disk" setting?
http://www.trishtech.com/2014/06/change-default-storage-for-android-device/
With that setting, it should be possible to save resources to external SD.
Jan
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I don't think it has that setting (I couldn't find it)...but it would sure make the device a WHOLE LOT more useful! But if you root the device, you might be able to do it. I haven't attempted that.
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You would need to root it. I personally would wait for one that has a larger app storage area. I really enjoy my afterglow 2 but get frustrated by the lack of space for apps (even with moving to SD card). I never have enough solace for Kindle application updates! I rooted mine to create extra space. I'm confident there will be something new soon?
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I know of two remedies for that lack of user app space. If you're rooted, look into Link2SD. It's an app that works its magic in the background (after you've done some prep work on your external SD card) so that apps you install from Google Play are installed onto a partition of your external SD card. I've tried it with the Onyx Boox C67ML Carta (which is essentially like the AfterGlow) and it works well.
The other remedy (if you don't mind buying another device) is the Boyue T62. It has one gig of user app space. I also see that Arta Tech (who sell the AfterGlow) now has the inkBOOK Onyx available (which is essentially the Boyue T61). It should also have more user app space than the AfterGlow.
The latest FL apps work fine on either device (so far!).
It just seems to me that an FL app on an E-Ink device is a no-brainer. They are a great match.
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Randle, any advice on rooting? I've never rooted a device before, so I'm unfamiliar with the process. But if it allows me to move the Logos app and its resources to my 32gb microSD card, than I'd want to try. Does rooting allow that to happen?
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Let me get back to you on that one. I googled it and had to- use this app in another language. I can't remember where I got it but remember it being a bit fiddly. I'm going to try the SD link on Monday, so I'll let you know how successful I am with that
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All right, I've written to Onyx support and asked whether they have ANY device with the default storage setting.
Might depend on the Android version I think.
I'll add their reply to this thread...
Rooting is something I'd like to avoid - I've done that with my previous Onzx device, and it's a lot of hassle.
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Thanks for letting me know about that e-reader company. I've just ordered the brand new inkBook Onyx 6" model, which looks like it is superior to Amazon's excellent Voyage but a lot cheaper. I may post a review here when I've received the inkBook and had a chance to install and use the Logos app.
EDIT: When I mentioned that the inkBook appears to be superior to the Voyage I should have added the exception that the Voyage has a higher screen resolution, namely 300 ppi compared to the inkBook's 212 ppi. However, given that the Voyage won't install the Logos app, I can imagine that it will be far more pleasurable to read Logos books on the inkBook's 212 ppi display than not being able to read them in 300 ppi! [;)]
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I've just started using Link2SD (Plus). I'm not sure why I didn't do it sooner! It has completely solved my app storage issue!!!
Here are the steps I used to make my Onyx Boox Afterglow 2 work with enough space for my purposes:
- Root the Onyx Boox Afterglow2 using the attachment here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3018678#post3018678) Yes, I had to use google and it took a few reboots to get right. I think it was also a fiddle to get SuperSU installed.
- I followed this guide to then get Link2SD working. Using my laptop I created an external micro SD card partitioned with 75% FAT32 and 25% ext2 using MiniTool Partition Wizard
- Installed link2SD and link2SD Plus on my onyx.
- Inserted micro SD card and followed link2SD's prompt to choose ext2 and reboot.
- Started moving apps.
I wish I could be more helpful with the rooting, but unfortunately it was 8 months ago and I've forgotten the exact steps. If you have trouble, ask around the forum I linked to (or google). I also have SD Maid Pro installed, OneDrive and Titanium Backup, but haven't bothered with a custom launcher.
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Link2SD (Plus) also allows you to move data (like Logos resources) to your external SD card. If Link2SD won't do the data links for you for some reason, try foldermount. I have used foldermount successfully.
A word to the wise: although most user apps can be moved to the external SD card, some apps you should not be. Don't move to the external SD card any app that needs root access. Don't move Google Play Store to external. I've tried this, and these apps do not like it! But for FL apps, and many user apps you are likely to install on this kind of device (eBook reading apps, Instapaper, Pocket, Divine Office, iBreviary), it works very well.
For rooting, I have found that the Root Master apk has worked easily and flawlessly for me in the past. If anyone is interested in this, let me know.
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Yep. I've found the moving of data to work perfectly on Link2SD (Plus). I think it also prevented me from moving parts of Google Play Store to prevent issues, but thanks for the heads up on not moving apps needing root access!
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Gordon Jones said:
Thanks for letting me know about that e-reader company. I've just ordered the brand new inkBook Onyx 6" model, which looks like it is superior to Amazon's excellent Voyage but a lot cheaper. I may post a review here when I've received the inkBook and had a chance to install and use the Logos app.
EDIT: When I mentioned that the inkBook appears to be superior to the Voyage I should have added the exception that the Voyage has a higher screen resolution, namely 300 ppi compared to the inkBook's 212 ppi. However, given that the Voyage won't install the Logos app, I can imagine that it will be far more pleasurable to read Logos books on the inkBook's 212 ppi display than not being able to read them in 300 ppi!
Gordon, how has your experience with the inkBook Onyx Carta been? How is the screen light?
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Hi Devin,
Sadly my experience with the product was disappointing.
Battery life was very poor - only lasting a few days rather than the advertised weeks.
I was able to install the Logos android app via Amazon Apps, which I side-loaded (Google Play Store wasn't available). Unfortunately, the text in Logos resources displayed as pale grey rather than the high contrast, near black on near white, of regular epub or PDF files.
I returned the unit and the company is processing a refund.
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