Augen Gentouch 78 Portrait Mode Hack For eBook Reading

I acquired one of the cheap Augen Gentouch 78 Android tablets K-Mart is offering - a crazy excursion that made me wonder if the Delorean didn't go over 88 (it really hasn't seemed to change in the last couple of decades since I last went). Anyway, the goal was to acquire an ebook reader and a platform for experimenting with Android as I'm not terribly keen to risk my phone.

There are lots of other people going over the drawbacks of the device, but I try to be a glass-half-full kind of guy. As an e-reader I need to be able to open:

• ePub
• pdb
• chm
• azw (kindle)
• djvu
• pdf

FBReader handles ePub and can handle either orientation.

Using iReader, pdb and chm are covered and they do a good job as you can configure the orientation. The Kindle app works really well in either orientation. vuDroid handles djvu, but doesn't take up the full screen. Still looking for a decent djvu reader.

Pdf is the critical one and that's why I saved it for last. There are several options, including a few that come with. However, as-is, there are problems with all of them. Repligo Reader handles orientation changing, but doesn't go full screen - that seriously affects real-estate and reading experience. Every other one, including Adobe Reader, doesn't handle orientation change. However, I found a quick and easy hack to force the device into portrait mode and act as a serviceable reader.

The trick is to open an app that defaults into portrait mode and then open the pdf from there. In my case, I discovered this by accident while showing off the device at the local Tampa Web Developer Meetup. I opened up RealCalc, a great scientific calculator with rpn for android, and then bounced to the home screen. From there, I opened ES File Explorer and selected my pdf. The Adobe Reader worked well and, especially with reflow, has transformed the Gentouch into a decent device. Still impatient for the update from Augen and the rom from Cyanogen, but it's a more comfortable wait now.

I plan to share more observations about the device - particularly after the Augen update (scheduled for 8/10/2010, or so I hear), but am happy to answer any questions about it.