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Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

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Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#71

Post by m463 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #14
cherioo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those exists now, in the form of eink Android phone/tablet. The refresh rate of eink makes their experience suboptimal, but some find it usable enough. You can search for Boox tablet, or Hisense A5 phone.

Oh that's interesting, I missed this one: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/review-onyx-boox-max3-a... I know I shouldn't be complaining about price now that I've heard it exists at all, but $840 is really steep! I was thinking something more like $400. I know it's a niche product, but even so.

what was interesting was this one:

I thought the boox was interesting

But what about this one? https://amzn.com/B07XG9T898

it's a lenovo laptop with an e-ink screen

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#72

Post by Wowfunhappy »

m463 wrote: post #71
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh that's interesting, I missed this one: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/review-onyx-boox-max3-a... I know I shouldn't be complaining about price now that I've heard it exists at all, but $840 is really steep! I was thinking something more like $400. I know it's a niche product, but even so.

what was interesting was this one: I thought the boox was interesting But what about this one? https://amzn.com/B07XG9T898 it's a lenovo laptop with an e-ink screen

It's interesting, but I really have no interest in a laptop I can't type on.

On a tablet, I just acknowledge that I won't be typing, and I live with it due to the form factor's other advantage (namely, it's easier to lay back on the couch with a tablet than a laptop).

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#73

Post by m463 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #72
m463 wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what was interesting was this one: I thought the boox was interesting But what about this one? https://amzn.com/B07XG9T898 it's a lenovo laptop with an e-ink screen

It's interesting , but I really have no interest in a laptop I can't type on. On a tablet, I just acknowledge that I won't be typing, and I live with it due to the form factor's other advantage (namely, it's easier to lay back on the couch with a tablet than a laptop).

I think there's an actual keyboard on the other side of the e-ink screen. So It appears to have an lcd display, an e-ink display and a keyboard.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#74

Post by jonahbenton »

skyfaller wrote: post #24
jonahbenton wrote: post #18

Hoping for good things for this product but will put in an plug for the Remarkable- open source software, well designed and capable hardware, solid product vision.

Are you sure it's accurate to say the Remarkable uses open source software? Their website says it runs on "Codex — A purposely designed Linux-based operating system for low-latency digital paper displays", so at least the Linux kernel is open source, but look at their EULA: https://support.remarkable.com/hc/en-us/articles/36000028275... "You are not entitled to modify or distribute the Software." Doesn't sound like o…

I take the point, but two responses-

1) in practical terms, what you get is essentially an open, hackable platform. The CTO is a former KDE dev, you get root on the device, much of the product is being developed in the open-

https://github.com/reMarkable

And there are recipes for getting UI and background components running on the device. I have not done this, but do use the API in my own workflow to get content on the device.

2) Yes, they are building a product. A, say, religious commitment to open source, and/or open hardware, is a commitment to limit the range of decisions that may help the business to a much narrower set that adhere to the religion. Sometimes strict open source is good for business. Often it is not.

As someone who in his younger years has bought quite a large number of "open hardware" products, the software for which was always only barely usable, the business model hypothetical, and therefore never went anywhere and now litter the graveyard- I am very happy for this team to be doing the right things for the business.

It's a really good product, with a really bright future, and it also happens to be pretty open and hackable.

Kind of best case, in my opinion.

Cheers.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#75

Post by Wingman4l7 »

nyolfen wrote: post #56
GekkePrutser wrote: post #20

This isn't really equivalent to a kindle though. The fonts are basic, there's no enclosure. Fonts are a huge thing for eReaders and Amazon has spent a lot of time perfecting them. It's also important to remember that it's perfectly possible to use the Kindle without DRM. You can just put your own books on it with a cable, though you'll have to convert them to MOBI as it doesn't do ePub. The same can be done with othe…

>I think the problem with DRM and ebooks is not the readers. It's the availability of books without DRM... Basically the "GOG" of eBook stores. Even if you have an open eBook reader, where are you going to get the books from? libgen

... it's clear the OP meant, where do you obtain / purchase books legally (i.e., without violating copyright & piracy laws).

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#76

Post by hmart »

I vow for open standards and used to upload epub files to Google Play Books and read in my devices (Kindle Fire 8 - with Google Play sideloaded, iPhone, iPad) with decent Sync. In december I got a Kobo Aura 2, my eyes are more comfortable have less distractions but I lost ubiquity and sync, also E-reader feels slugish and dictionary font is very small even with glasses. It's a take the blue/red pill situation.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#77

Post by michaelmrose »

Wingman4l7 wrote: post #75
nyolfen wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I think the problem with DRM and ebooks is not the readers. It's the availability of books without DRM... Basically the "GOG" of eBook stores. Even if you have an open eBook reader, where are you going to get the books from? libgen

... it's clear the OP meant, where do you obtain / purchase books legally (i.e., without violating copyright & piracy laws).

Why would you care about violating a law nobody on earth has any chance of catching you and punishing you. If you want to give money to the author you could consider seeing if they have a way to take donation/patronage or buying a physical copy. If you don't actually need the physical copy or have room for it gift it to someone and request that they gift it when they are done with it.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#78

Post by michaelmrose »

mmm_grayons wrote: post #48
GekkePrutser wrote: post #20

This isn't really equivalent to a kindle though. The fonts are basic, there's no enclosure. Fonts are a huge thing for eReaders and Amazon has spent a lot of time perfecting them. It's also important to remember that it's perfectly possible to use the Kindle without DRM. You can just put your own books on it with a cable, though you'll have to convert them to MOBI as it doesn't do ePub. The same can be done with othe…

> it doesn't do ePub I was able to easily jailbreak mine and it does ePub fine after that. I don't think a home-made device offers me any more freedom than a jailbroken kindle; I can drop to a shell and do all the same things. That said, while I enjoy tinkering, basically the only non-stock things I do are read ePubs and play zork. I'd prefer to save my tinkering for a desktop or laptop and keep a device just for rea…

This signals that you are OK with drm.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#79

Post by hmart »

hmart wrote: post #76

I vow for open standards and used to upload epub files to Google Play Books and read in my devices (Kindle Fire 8 - with Google Play sideloaded, iPhone, iPad) with decent Sync. In december I got a Kobo Aura 2, my eyes are more comfortable have less distractions but I lost ubiquity and sync, also E-reader feels slugish and dictionary font is very small even with glasses. It's a take the blue/red pill situation.

Also had a Kindle some years ago and walked the Calibre road : Problems wity text flow, TOC, that are not Calibre problems but poorly formated books even from high end publishing houses.

Re: Open-source, DRM-free Kindle alternative

#80

Post by app4soft »

hmart wrote: post #76

I vow for open standards and used to upload epub files to Google Play Books and read in my devices (Kindle Fire 8 - with Google Play sideloaded, iPhone, iPad) with decent Sync. In december I got a Kobo Aura 2, my eyes are more comfortable have less distractions but I lost ubiquity and sync, also E-reader feels slugish and dictionary font is very small even with glasses. It's a take the blue/red pill situation.

I'm so sad that WikiReader project, debuted in 2009, was abandoned in 2014.[0]

Hopefully, The Open Book looks more promising & would be able to fully replace WikiReader.

JFTR, Need write an article about The Open Book Project[1] on Wikipedia.[2]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiReader

[1] https://github.com/joeycastillo/The-Open-Book

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Book

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