I'm hearing good things about the Palma. I currently have a first gen paperwhite and am looking to upgrade. I'm thinking either the palma or the kobo libra color. They are about the same price, I think.
It's pretty good. The only problem is that the glass on the screen scratches easily. If you're okay with a screen protector then it should be fine.
In terms of software, it has access to the playstore but I actually haven't downloaded any apps on it. I've used fdroid and aurora store.
I installed a minimal launcher called unlauncher. I use Koreader as my main reader and I have it there most of the time so that I unlock/lock the e-reader and I'm taken directly to the book. It has amazing support on this device (I've used other android based E-readers and support wasn't the best). Can't change front light from the Koreader app though, which is slightly annoying.
Other than that, and the main reason I got an android e-reader, is that I use an android based manga reader. The experience is amazing. Yes, the manga reader is not fully optimised for e-reader screens like Koreader is but it works well enough that it's not a problem.
Overall, it's a really nice E-reader. My favourite thing about it is the size and form factor. Really, I have a 6 inch Kobo reader and this one is much easier to carry around. I'm very much used to reading on my phone anyway so the size is very comfortable for me.
Overall, it's been a positive experience. I'm waiting for either a color device in this form factor with kaleido 3 or perhaps another b/w with carta 1300.
But yeah, it's positive. Hardware is good and software can be made enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing! I too have looked at the Palma, but without it also being a phone, I can't go for it, because I'd have to carry it and a LCD-screen phone.
Colour e-ink works by having a colour filter over the screen, and every third pixel being dedicated to each colour (please correct me, people who actually know the details!).
Therefore they inherently have lower resolution, and are also by nature around 2/3 less white in the pixels not displaying anything.
When reading text, most pixels are uncoloured, meaning in most cases you significantly lose screen resolution, compared to b/w e-ink.
Thus, with colour e-ink screens, unless you're out in sunlight, you'll need backlight most of the time.
This is my reason to keep using the black and white versions, and it might be something for you to keep in mind when you select your next reading device.
It's pretty good. The only problem is that the glass on the screen scratches easily. If you're okay with a screen protector then it should be fine.
In terms of software, it has access to the playstore but I actually haven't downloaded any apps on it. I've used fdroid and aurora store.
I installed a minimal launcher called unlauncher. I use Koreader as my main reader and I have it there most of the time so that I unlock/lock the e-reader and I'm taken directly to the book. It has amazing support on this device (I've used other android based E-readers and support wasn't the best). Can't change front light from the Koreader app though, which is slightly annoying.
Other than that, and the main reason I got an android e-reader, is that I use an android based manga reader. The experience is amazing. Yes, the manga reader is not fully optimised for e-reader screens like Koreader is but it works well enough that it's not a problem.
Overall, it's a really nice E-reader. My favourite thing about it is the size and form factor. Really, I have a 6 inch Kobo reader and this one is much easier to carry around. I'm very much used to reading on my phone anyway so the size is very comfortable for me.
Overall, it's been a positive experience. I'm waiting for either a color device in this form factor with kaleido 3 or perhaps another b/w with carta 1300.
But yeah, it's positive. Hardware is good and software can be made enjoyable.