Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

loudreader.com

31–40 of 72 posts

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#31
post #8

Very cool project! Is it open sourced?

Would be cool if it was MPL, BSD, or MIT Licensed. Could eventually be embedded into browsers.

Browser-based EPUB and FB2 rendereres are pretty straightforward to build. You don't need a free implementation to embed it in a browser, you can always implement it from scratch if you are interested. You don't even need a team or too much time, a single developer is enough. I don't know much about MOBI/AZW3 but I doubt they are much harder. PDF is already there. Another useful format is DJVU and there have been well-known browser plug-ins for it.

I would love to see all these (not just PDF) to come with the common browsers by default. It seems sad to me they don't. The only browser that actually took care was the old Edge. I was very disappointed they decided not to port this feature to the new Edge.

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#32
I ran this in a Oculus Quest2 HMD and loving it !!

In the native browser it lets me access local storage content.

Can't do that in Firefox Reality but the browser's screen size certainly makes Alice 10ft tall!!

Thanks for the Show and Tell

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#36
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you describe what motivated you to build an ebook reader for the browser, when multiple free desktop and mobile book readers exist? Also, do I need to keep the screen open if I want to save my place in my book? It doesn't seem to save my book or my location when I reload the page.

I can't speak for the creator but I often read Japanese ebooks in my browser because it allows me to lookup unfamiliar words quickly with Yomichan and then create anki cards for them (if I want to).

A bit OOT but how do you transfer Yomichan to anki cards? Do you do it manually?

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#37
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you describe what motivated you to build an ebook reader for the browser, when multiple free desktop and mobile book readers exist? Also, do I need to keep the screen open if I want to save my place in my book? It doesn't seem to save my book or my location when I reload the page.

I can't speak for the creator but I often read Japanese ebooks in my browser because it allows me to lookup unfamiliar words quickly with Yomichan and then create anki cards for them (if I want to).

Have you tried calibre? It’s a proper ebook reader app that allows you to define custom dictionary URL patterns.

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#38
post #12

Try to read ebooks via browser and couldn't find one that really works that able to replace desktop readers. Made one that usable for daily use. Comments and suggestion welcome.

Can you describe what motivated you to build an ebook reader for the browser, when multiple free desktop and mobile book readers exist? Also, do I need to keep the screen open if I want to save my place in my book? It doesn't seem to save my book or my location when I reload the page.

Not the OP, but I find Calibre burdensomely heavy for what I want, and Okular far too glitchy. Also, sometimes I am at PCs where I can't install arbitrary software.

I think we still need far more/better solutions in the open source e-reading space.

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#39

I ran this in a Oculus Quest2 HMD and loving it !! In the native browser it lets me access local storage content. Can't do that in Firefox Reality but the browser's screen size certainly makes Alice 10ft tall!! Thanks for the Show and Tell

Whoa, I didn't know there were practical uses for VR besides gaming. Do you use yours for anything else?

Re: Show HN: A usable eBook reader inside a browser (azw3, mobi, ePub, pdf)

#40
post #29

I am very opinionated. My ebook reader requirements: - [ ] let me set colors for background and text. Extra points for saving more than two sets. - [ ] let me choose my own font, regardless of what the book says. (Pallatino, or TeX Gyre Pagella, is my preference.) - [x] let me set main font size - [ ] let me set margins and line spacing - [x] scroll by changing pages, not scrolling down a column. No animations. - [x]…

what reader are you using now that does all those things?
Post reply on HN