I guess that there are two issues: First of all, you can find someone who can slap standard Android onto a standard device. Finding someone who can work with a raw AOSP is harder and will be more expensive. Which is exactly what you want to not do when trying to build a really cheap device. And Google has started to move more and more services and security updates to their own platform. Using AOSP is a really bad idea
Comment on Whatever happened to cheap eReaders? – Terence Eden’s Blog
Pxtl@lemmy.ca 4 weeks ago
I wonder if Android Wear wouldn’t work as an OS basis for this - lower power requirements, probably allows black-and-white screens. The problem there is that Android Wear is absolute hot garbage that can’t decide if it’s stand-alone or companion to your phone.
Obelix@feddit.org 4 weeks ago
Yingwu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 weeks ago
I don’t really know how they do it, but some do run newer Android versions like Android 14 (Meebook M8, Bigme B7). Anyway, the lack of Play store isn’t really a consideration in China, it’s only for foreign markets they have to include the Play store. This also means that China has many more Android e-ink brands than are available to us (which mostly are Boox, Meebook, Bigme or Hisense).