How to Install Android Apps and English Firmware on Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader | Good E-Reader - eBooks, Publishing and Comic News
Apr
05

How to Install Android Apps and English Firmware on Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader

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mirasol ereader

The Kyobo Mirasol e-reader is one of the first digital readers in the world that uses the new color e-paper by Mirasol. It is only available in South Korea and many people are buying them on eBay or other markets and getting them shipped to Europe or North America. One of the drawbacks is that the default firmware comes shipped only in Korean and people are finding it next to impossible to install 3rd party applications on it.

We are lucky enough to get our hands on the firmware that was sent to us in our tester unit that gives you a fully English GUI and gives you root access for your Kyobo. This will allow you to install apps from the Amazon App Store and give you a ton of default e-reading applications.

The first thing you want to do is download the firmware to your PC from HERE. Next you want to copy the file you downloaded directly to your SD Card.  You don’t want to UNZIP it or anything like that. Once it’s on your SD Card, go to Setting > Privacy > software update >update.

It should reboot your Kyobo e-Reader and you should have full root and super user access to the device. It will not augment the default menus or animations found on the device and instead will give you a full menu at the bottom of the screen that will show your carasal of installed applications. I recommend getting all of your android apps from our own app store HERE.

Michael Kozlowski (3016 Posts)

Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about electronic readers and technology for the last four years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the Huffington Post, CNET and more. Michael frequently travels to international events such as IFA, Computex, CES, Book Expo and a myriad of others. If you have any questions about any of his articles, please send an email to michael@goodereader.com


Related posts:

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  3. Official Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader Commercial Launched
  4. Kyobo Mirasol Color e-Reader Review
  5. Hands on Video Review of the Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader
  6. Amazon Kindle Fire VS. Kyobo Mirasol e-Reader
Categories : Reviews, Tablet PC News, Technology
  • http://twitter.com/nice4dice nice4dice

    AWESOME!!! Thanks a million!!!

    Could you please tell me how I can add Estonian (I probably need unicode system font to it) because instead of some Estonian letters I see check boxes. Help, please…

  • zinj

    Thanks for a link to the update. Unfortunately, my Kyobo won’t update no matter how many times I try. I heard from the xda forums that this is a problem with some of the units. Have you heard of this issue?

  • http://twitter.com/nice4dice nice4dice

    I found out how to fix font problem.

  • Pingback: Hacked Firmware for the Kyobo Mirasol eReader Doesn’t Work - The Digital Reader

  • Jojoj

     Hey nice4dice!
    where did you find the font?
    i have the same problem….need german fonts so much
    Thanks for your help!
    Joe

  • http://twitter.com/nice4dice nice4dice

    For anybody in need I can help you with:
    1. Removing restriction to download apps from Google Play only (you will be able to install any app)
    2. Fix font for languages that have specific characters (check boxes instead of letters)
    4. Connect Kyobo to a PC and get SD access.
    5. Restore Kyobo to “original” state
    6. Switch from Kyobo UI to Android UI (functions like a regular tablet)
    7. Download any free app from Google Play to a PC and then move it to Kyobo

    vardas505 (at) gmail (dot) com

  • zinj

    Michael,
    Do you need to rename the file to “update.zip” for it to work?

  • Taloin

    My kyobo boots to a blank screen.  Is there anyway to force it to run update.zip on booting via some key press sequence?

  • Smith Jenkinson

    I’ve bought a Kyobo. Can someone tell me step by step how to get to Setting > Privacy > software update >update from start-up, please? All the options are in Korean!!

  • Smith Jenkinson

    I was advised that first time charging should be done from a PC via USB, not via mains adapter / USB. At first I thought I had a duff Kyobo. CollectKorea who I bought it through have been brilliant so far. They also emailed me a photo of the parcel to prove that they HAD got my name and address correct (Parcelforce had copied it incorrectly!). CollectKorea also said to charge for at least 4-5 hours. I am delighted to say that their advice was spot on. I didn’t think there was any difference etween charging via USB from a PC and from a mains adapter but there obviously is. Hope this info is useful.

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