I spend 5-8 hours a day on my smartphone and my computer, mostly for reading. It is disruptive to my eyes and sleep cycle so, it was a long wish of mine to have a dedicated ebook reader or e-ink device. In Indonesia though, it does not even have a niche, I’ve never seen anybody with one until I saw one of my upperclassman with 2nd gen Kindle Basic. There is some seller selling ebook readers here, but they sell with very high-profit margin so no, no.

Anyway, between all the popular brand, my choice is held onto Sony PSR-T1 because of these reasons: I want touch screen, I want physical buttons, I want it to be Android (so that I can root it), and it will be better if it has audio jack oh and, still reasonable price, please.

It is very hard though to find people who sell Sony ebook reader (importers will mostly have Kindle) and some who has it sells it outside my price range as written in the paragraph before. Last month I saw secondhand one with a somewhat reasonable price (still expensive though), so, that time or never, I bought it.

Anyway, as soon I get and play with it, then, I root it (my main objective). Anyway, I thought rooting it will be quite hard and I was ready for it to be bricked, but as I follow the tutorial from here and here (I install Rupor‘s), it was so easy making me wants to root my Galaxy back, decision, decision.

My go-to apps that I would install as soon as I have an ebook reader (or any Android device, really) from my tedious list:

• ebook reading apps (FBReader)
• comic reading apps (ACV)
• Pocket
• PDF reader (Radaee PDF Viewer)
• DJVU reader (Orion Viewer)
• Browser (Opera Mini  or UC Browser Mini)
• RSS apps (gReader)
• Swipepad
• Button Savior
• ES File Explorer
• and maybe a light-novel reading app (Baka Reader EX)

but reality tells me that it’s different.

Some of the mentioned apps before can’t be installed (Radaee, Button Savior) and some turn to big monochromic mess (doesn’t work well with the display) (ACV). Eh, the internal storage for apps is only 50 MB, so no big apps then and need to install App2SD stat (with the aforementioned tutorial in the first paragraph).

So, the configuration for my T1 as for now is changed into:

• ebook reading apps (FBReader)

For book formats that can’t be opened by the stock reader. Modified ver. support physical button.

(update: Add the TTS Plugin for those times when my eyes are tired but I want to continue the book)

• comic reading apps (Perfect Viewer)

Use the modified one with button enabled. I still getting used to the touch-screen mapping (it differentiate touch are to different functions, nifty but prone to wrong click). It needs to put everything in bookshelves that I hate. Other than those, it works perfect though

(update: I really like that I could set it so that it continues to next chapter after I finish a cbz. Nifty for reading through a series)

• Pocket

I love pocket! Before, I was going crazy because I couldn’t use the physical button. With Buttonmap.apk I can make physical buttons work so I’m happy. It synced a bit weird so far.

• PDF reader (Orion Viewer)

As for now. I am thinking of using Repligo, I’ve tried installing it but it is said that it’s flashing twice per page so I’m hesitant. it’s quite big too.

• DJVU reader (Orion Viewer)

My go-to apps for DJVU, can’t go wrong with this. It even supports physical button. Ebookdroid also supports DJVU but I haven’t tried it.

• Browser (Opera Mini or UC Browser Mini)

Browser for the poor (I use them mostly because of their compression rate). Use them with No-refresh because if you don’t, it will flash like crazy. I rarely browse on my ebook reader though, I have a phone for that.

• RSS apps (gReader)

Works very well, as usual, still trying. It is tied to my OldReader, so other RSS reader is not a good option.

(Update: now defunct)

• Total Commander (Explorer)

Come packaged with the root. It also works nicely as apps manager, so Total Commander then.

The root package comes with CatLog, Superuser, Rescan, and Terminal Emulator. Other than that, I also do these:

• Install Buttonmap.apk by altruizine

Very important for making Pocket works with a Physical button. Can be used for other apps to make physical button work (and other things)

Just change .pgdn file in Reader with

Profile <app package name> 0 0

For apps that already work with physical buttons such as Coolreader or Orion

Profile <app package name> 115 114

To remap physical button as volume buttons for apps like pocket and ACV that works with volume buttons. Don’t forget to check the volume button options inside the apps. App package name can be found on google play address after id

• Install NoRefresh hack

For easier scrolling and browsing with Opera

• Install Bar Shortcut

To go to apps directly after NoRefresh, it can’t go back to Sony apps for it to work. Smart Bar works well but I don’t like it.

• Install Titanium Backup and Uninstall Bluetooth Share, Bluetooth Pairings, Contact Storage, Calendar, Calendar Storage, Dialer, Dialer Storage, and VPN Service. Uninstalling them should give more battery life.
• My plan is to flash (install?) modified homescreen by Morkl and change the xml file for configuration. Then accidentally I install the APK making problem with my SD card apps. The home screen changed though, but I need to reflash the Android. I don’t suggest to do this in case people get the same problem. Ebookhome is also nice but it’s not my style. I want to actually put icons for Pocket and Perf Viewer but all the effort for resyncing Pocket make me think twice.
• Oh, and because I want a clock in my book, I also installed Modified Reader by morkl.

OK, all is finished and good. You can try to sideload your favourite apps by first downloading the apk with this. Or you can read the list of recommended apps for the T1 here.

After this, I want to make simple dimmable LED light for reading. If I can find my friend who wants to buy me Nook Glowlight or at least Kobo Glo (Aura and Pocketbook Lux is still too expensive) for good in-the-dark experience, but surely I will miss the physical button. Sony is slowly putting off its e-ink reader line,  Sony, why won’t you put out one series with light. I think it will still be out of my price range for an ebook reader).

As for now I still have my phone for night-reading. (Update: I have a Kobo Aura in which I installed Koreader and CoolReader, so mostly using that these days. Can’t have anything beaten Perfect Viewer “next chapter” function though.)

Do you have experience with e-ink device?