IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Rakuten Kobo returns to U.S. retail as sales double

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Theme 1 – Kobo’s openness and hackability
Many commenters chose Kobo because it lets them SSH in, run BusyBox, install custom software like KOReader, and treat the device as a generic storage drive.

  • “I bought one in July, I chose Kobo because it's hackable and you can ssh in.” – fred_is_fred
  • “If Kobo supports SSH, I'll have to give it another look!” – rpdillon
  • “It's busybox underneath so you can hack on it but you can't run full apps in the Android sense.” – fred_is_fred
  • “I love that Kobos can still be set up completely offline … they can always avoid being e‑waste even if Kobo disappears.” – Pfhortune

Theme 2 – Simple, user‑friendly file management
Users praise Kobo’s mass‑storage mode and the ability to drop plain EPUB (or KO‑converted KE‑Pub) files straight onto the device without clunky proprietary software.

  • “I love how it shows up as a mass storage device when plugged into my computer. No clunky management software … you just manage plain old epubs in your file browser.” – cosmic_cheese
  • “Just drag and drop them onto the Kobo.” – jjice
  • “Calibre can also do that for you transparently when loading the files onto the Kobo.” – pepperoni_pizza
  • “By default, files with an .epub extension are rendered with RMSDK… Easy fix: rename the file to .kepub.epub.” – MrDOS

Theme 3 – Concerns about DRM, lock‑in, ads, and shifting market trends
Several remarks highlight frustration with Kindle’s advertising, DRM hurdles, privacy worries, and the perception that the publishing ecosystem now favors romance/“romantasy” titles.

  • “So nice not getting ads.” – ryanmcbride (switching from Kindle to Kobo)
  • “I prefer whatever ecosystem sells me the ebooks that are easiest to de‑DRM so I can own what I've paid for.” – unethical_ban
  • “I switched to buying books from Kobo this year because removing DRM from books bought at Amazon is getting too difficult and unreliable.” – criddell
  • “Goodreads … is now overwhelmingly centered around romance and romantasy novels.” – TFNA
  • “The current publishing industry feels awfully hostile to me.” – bluefirebrand

🚀 Project Ideas

Kepubify Desktop – Simple EPUB to Kepub converter & Kobo sync

Summary

  • Drag-and-drop EPUB files to automatically convert them to Kepub format and copy to a connected Kobo device mounted as mass storage.
  • Eliminates the need for command‑line tools or heavyweight Calibre UI, giving users a fast, reliable way to get properly formatted books onto their Kobo.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Kobo owners who sideload EPUBs and want correct rendering without fuss
Core Feature One‑click EPUB→Kepub conversion (using kepubify library) + automatic detection of Kobo mass‑storage device and file copy
Tech Stack Electron (or Tauri) for cross‑platform desktop, Node.js binding to kepubify (or Rust port), USB device detection via node‑usb/libusb
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN users complained about weird cover image and internal link issues when using plain EPUB on Kobo (MrDOS) and praised Kepubify as a fix but noted it’s slightly involved (MrDOS). A desktop GUI would make this trivial and satisfy the desire for “just manage plain old epubs in your file browser” (cosmic_cheese).
  • Could spark discussion on optimal conversion settings and integration with KOReader’s own rendering pipeline.

KoboPrivacyLauncher – Open‑source Kobo home screen replacement for offline, ad‑free, privacy‑focused reading

Summary

  • A drop‑in launcher that replaces the stock Kobo UI, disables telemetry/account prompts, hides branding/logo, and provides quick access to KOReader, web browser, notes, and mass‑storage mode.
  • Gives users a truly private, offline‑first experience while keeping the device’s hardware advantages.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Privacy‑conscious Kobo owners who dislike ads, forced accounts, and visible logos
Core Feature Custom home screen with configurable shortcuts, telemetry blocker, logo‑hiding theme, and optional OPDS catalog browser
Tech Stack Kotlin/Java (Android‑based Kobo firmware) or C++ using the existing Linux framebuffer; can be built as a Kobopatch/KoboRoot modification
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Commenters expressed frustration with Amazon‑like lock‑in, ads, and the desire to “set up completely offline” (Pfhortune) and to remove the logo/name staring at them while reading (rationalist). A privacy launcher would directly address those wishes and could be distributed via the existing Kobopool/Kroot community.
  • Potential for discussion on balancing openness with device warranty and on extending the launcher to support other e‑ink devices.

KoboRemote – Bluetooth LE page‑turner app with private sync

Summary

  • A small companion app (Android/iOS) that pairs with a Kobo via Bluetooth LE to send page‑turn commands, plus an optional self‑hosted sync endpoint for reading progress, annotations, and last‑read position—offering a remote‑control experience without relying on Amazon/Goodreads.
  • Satisfies the request for a remote page turner and private progress tracking while keeping the e‑ink device “dumb” and distraction‑free.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Kobo users who want a handheld remote for turning pages (e.g., while exercising or in bed) and who prefer private sync over proprietary services
Core Feature Bluetooth LE HID‑like page‑turn signals (next/previous page) and optional encrypted sync to a user‑run OPDS/Flask endpoint
Tech Stack React Native or Flutter for the mobile app; Arduino‑BLE or ESP32 firmware optionally for a physical button device; Node.js/Python backend for private sync
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Several users wanted a remote to turn pages (usern20260720) and lamented the lack of Goodreads integration while disliking Amazon tracking (Insanity, jm4). A BLE remote plus private sync would give them the convenience of a remote without sacrificing privacy, echoing the love for KOReader + OPDS + Tailscale setups (Larrikin).
  • Could inspire a sub‑ecosystem of open‑source remotes and sync servers, fostering discussion on open standards for e‑reader telemetry.

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