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FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

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Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#91
post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

Is the only way to use it to break the DRM? I wish there was a path to being able to use all these devices with kindle ebooks legally

You need Android in that case, but that defeats the simplicity of these devices.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#93
post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

How do you get your kindle books on it?

Same way you get your ios apps on it.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#94
post #38

A Kobo ereader is as open as I need it with koreader installed. The Kobo Libra 2 black and white is the best ereader I have ever had. (not the color version,,unfortunately a step back in reading quality for normal reading)

I’m scared of installing koreader on my kobo. Right now my kobo syncs to my calibre web server seamlessly. Does koreader have the ability to sync your library to a calibre web instance?

Yes, if you upgrade to Calibre-Web-Automated https://github.com/crocodilestick/Calibre-Web-Automated#kore...

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#95
post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

Is there a non-annoying way to get Libby books onto it? It's a step or two with a Kindle, but it would be cool to have them on a more portable device

I have not seen any support on the mini readers.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#96
post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

Is the only way to use it to break the DRM? I wish there was a path to being able to use all these devices with kindle ebooks legally

What are you suggesting exactly? That the maker of this hardware should do whatever it takes so that there is some official Kindle app like on Android?

I want to access my books on random devices too, which is why I never bought a frikkn Kindle book.

I did buy a bunch of Audible books, starting way back when there was nothing else, and I knew the deal when buying, so I simply went through the grief on my end to strip them (easy these days) and don't care about the legality (or rather, am willing to fight and defend the legality).

But buying something from Amazon and then complaining to anyone but Amazon that you want something Amazon doesn't provide or even allow, I don't get that.

This wish for this thing that you want should be directed at Amazon, and if you recognize that that would be pointless, well, correct, that's why you shouldn't buy a book from Amazon in the first place.

Or you should decide you don't recognize any legal conflict and help write software to uncrappify your property.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#98
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rather liked my Sony PRS-505 and 600 for their 6.1" screen and that it would fit in a (large) shirtpocket. My Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges.

Yes, I too had a Sony ereader for years, and it was nice fitting it in my jacket pocket. But the reality is that most book pages are larger than 6", and if I found myself preferring the book because of the size, what's the point of an ereader? I first switched to 7", which was better, but not good enough. 8" is great, though. > Scribe Coloursoft go weeks between charges How many hours will the battery last while on ?…

Page size isn't that big a deal when the text reflows and can be resized as desired, except for when one wants to view a map or diagram. Before I got my Scribe I'd fire up the Kindle app on my tablet (or convertible) for such usages at need.

I can read and take notes and even web browse (insofar as browsing is supported on the Kindle browser) for hours on end and barely budge the battery percentage, while a tablet w/ an LCD screen would run through half or more of its charge for similar usage.

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#99
post #5

I got an Xteink X4 a few weeks ago and love it. I've tried out a few different firmwares but haven't settled on one yet. I love the screen and how simple the interface is. It's kind of a pain in the butt getting my Kindle books on there, but worth the effort. It's also encouraging me to buy books outside of the Amazon ecosystem. I've been getting more stuff from Humble lately.

How do you get your kindle books on it?

you'd have to take the DRM out of the books, convert them to epubs and then transfer them.

its an involved process but that's always going to be that way on any e-reader that's not a kindle (or android based, where you can install the kindle app).

Re: FreeInk: Open ecosystem for e-readers

#100
post #23

Are there any instances from the closed e-book system (kindle, nook, etc..) where you paid for a book and the book was either updated to a revised version or just removed from the device because of the content in the book?

Are there any serious legislative efforts to fix the ebook market? I know getting rid of DRM entirely isn't likely to happen, but at this point I'd be happy with just vendor-neutral DRM.

We're using LCP from EDRLab which is an open standard. Other vendors are starting to adopt it and I think Kobo intend to this year too. Basically the LCPL files you download can be opened on any compatible LCP reader.
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