Database Users

[Q] What are the eReader options?

I just picked up a refurbed NC to add to my Android stable. Haven't done anything with it yet. I kind of like the stock ereader app in comparison with the Nook app that is on the Android Market. However, I do plan on rooting it and adding apps at a minimum.
My questions are:
1. Has anyone figured out how to get the stock ereader working on any of the custom ROMs?
2. If I want to retain the stock ereader and add capabilities to the device, do I only have two options (1. root stock, 2. dual boot)?
3. What are you guys doing for your ereading? How do you like the stock ereader in comparison with the alternatives? Has that influenced what you've done with the device? What are the best ereading apps?
I'd appreciate any feedback.

1. No; probably won't ever happen from what I've read.
2. Yes
3. I'm using FBReader and liking it. Never tried the stock reader. There are two or three other readers that are popular around here.

I may not fully understand the question...
My Nook Color is rooted with manual nooter, followed by an overclocked kernel.
The stock reader app works just fine, just like stock. All the stock features work just fine including B&N shopping and purchasing.
I did have some issue with program space, but once I moved all the android apps (Not the B&N apps!) to SD, space was freed up and all B&N apps installed and update just fine.
I have no reason to install any other reading application. The built in stock reader works great.

framitz said:
I may not fully understand the question...
My Nook Color is rooted with manual nooter, followed by an overclocked kernel.
The stock reader app works just fine, just like stock. All the stock features work just fine including B&N shopping and purchasing.
I did have some issue with program space, but once I moved all the android apps (Not the B&N apps!) to SD, space was freed up and all B&N apps installed and update just fine.
I have no reason to install any other reading application. The built in stock reader works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is asking about if you use a different rom the stock reader is only available on BN roms
I use either kindle app, nook app for magazines, and generic ones for epub and other such types. the stock one is nice but if you want to really expand the tablet it is a loss i was fine with.

Currently use FBreader for non-DRM'ed, Kindle for any Amazon purchases. Nook app is too buggy to use at the moment. Bluefire reader, which I really like on the iPad and iPod Touch, is only out for iOS atm but is supposed to be released for android in June -- I'm hoping it can read all DRM'ed books the way the iOS app can.

I'm using Moon+ reader
I am using the Moon+ reader and really like it. Biggest problem is lack of documentation (which I'm thinking of writing). Still needs some improvements, with book indexing, but has lots of nice features - automatic & locked screen orientation, finger slide for bright/dim settings, standard "squeeze" to change font size - tap & swipe & scroll paging - audio reading of books (like amazon, but voice not quite as good). It is very configurable - including fonts, backgrounds, margins, line spacing.
I already had all my books on the emmc card (sorry, I am running CM7 root off of my SD card) from my standard nook book and had no problems pointing Moon+ to look in the right location for my library.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I've found Aldiko superior to NC stock both for reading and browsing my epub titles. It also handles pdf, but not as well as ezPDF. For me, it strikes the best balance between ease of use and customization. Call me nuts, but I find cinnamon-on-mustard with the barest margin the most readable arrangement in any light.

I rooted and overclocked a new NC with 1.2 pre-installed, with no change in ROM so far. Rooting broke the ereader as well as the preloaded 'shop' app. Fortunately, books downloaded before the rooting procedure can still be read on the ereader, but nothing else. A couple side-loaded versions of the nook ereader app also do not work, and I haven't found any posts where anybody has gotten theirs working after root.
I use primarily the kindle app, but need an ereader that allows you to borrow ebooks from the public library.

mjf0000000 said:
I use primarily the kindle app, but need an ereader that allows you to borrow ebooks from the public library.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Overdrive is generally the library-borrowing app of choice, though I haven't used it myself.

Thanks taosaur, i'll try it

As taosaur mentioned, Ezpdf reader is the best pdf ebook reader. I generally only use it due to my heavy pdf collection (sorry epub fans). However, for certain books that have been "scanned" in or are heavy on pictures, I find that Adobe Reader is best for those; it's hardware accelerated.

Another vote for moon reader, very good program. The kindle app works pretty good too. Ezpdf reader is about the best pdf reader out there.

Kindle Reader book selection when rooted

Anyone have a solution to the Kindle Reader app not bringing up a book list if you change the launcher?
Currently I have to go to the stock KF Launcher and pick books/newsstand to selection a new book/magazine to read. Anyone have a hack or setting to change this?

I have the same problem, and would be very interested in hearing an answer!

This is a known issue and there is as of yet no workaround. What I have done and what most people have done is to set a short cut on the desktop for the Kindle Launcher. Then you can select your books/newstand etc. Not the most ideal but it is what we have until Amazon releases a fix or some crafy dev comes up with a better fix in a custom ROM.
-Eric

Thanks Eric!

Just found a workaround. Searched kindle in the market and updated the app. This installed the version that would usually be used on an android device and shows your whole library.
edit: Just a warning, there seems to be no way to make this kindle app full screen. It has the navigation bar (albeit the minimized one) and I'm pretty sure it used to go full screen in the stock kindle app. Also this new kindle app wont work from the stock launcher. I'm thinking about switching back for these two reasons (mostly the full screen thing is bothering me), anyone know how to revert back?
edit2: Also the slider that allows you to quickly jump between locations in the book is covered up by the navigation bar.. Very annoying. Wouldn't recommend doing this unless you don't need that. You can still manually "go to" a section of the book but I'd rather have the slider. Just did a factory restore to get the original kindle app back.

How much of the B&N stuff can you delete?

I would like to pare down my Nook a bit.
I do like the native reader app and I borrow library books.
Yes, I could use the OverDrive reader, but the native reader is much better.
The first thing that went was Shop.apk
It was kind of annoying to search for stuff on my Nook and come up with 50,000 suggestions of books that I could buy.
Social.apk seems to go away painlessly too.
Deleting (or renaming) Home.apk breaks the "Last Read" icon on the desktop.
You can still get there by Library and hitting the top of most recent.
It gets you to the right page.
It probably would not be hard to write an app to do the last read function.
Moreover, you'd have a system icon to do with what you will.
(It sends an intent that is not handled. I'll have to make a receiver and see what it is.)
Okay, deleting Home.apk also breaks additions to Library.
But, you can still borrow books on Adobe Digital Editions and read them by clicking them in a file browser.
Oh, well, might as well delete Library.apk
Hmm, I guess that Library.apk is a search content provider.
Books no longer show up in global search.
I guess that I'll have to roll my own.
Re-enable Home.apk, disable Reader.apk and see what intent goes.
(Last page read is kept in /data/data/com.bn.nook.reader.activities/databases/lastreadingpoint.db
Select ean from lastreadingpoint order by lastupdated
I'm not trying to get around the DRM or anything. I just want to get rid of all the cruft.

I see what you're trying to do here

I've been playing with this some more.
Reader.apk keeps track itself of last page read.
If you just use a file manager to open your books you'll get the right page.
If you are a big library user and use Adobe Digital Editions,
then the info that ADE dumps on your Nook could be integrated nicely.
You could have your books listed and show the return date.

Hmm, do you think it could be possible to fully debrand the device and have it running a normal, common Eclair, but using the actual ROM as base? like, deleting the B&N apps and creating custom providers & intent receivers to avoid FCs and such?

Well, if you delete (or rename) Home.apk and Library.apk but still like to use Reader.apk (the native epub reader),
then you might need a convenient way to get to your last read book.
It's not rocket science and I haven't figured out the little book icon on the status bar yet,
but if you want to get back to your book here is a little app to go to last read.
Put the icon on your desktop and click the "L" to go to last read.

Did you replace library, or just completely delete it?

darkguy2008 said:
Hmm, do you think it could be possible to fully debrand the device and have it running a normal, common Eclair, but using the actual ROM as base? like, deleting the B&N apps and creating custom providers & intent receivers to avoid FCs and such?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also wondered this, I use my nook for Kindle more than I do B&N lol. It would be great if we could get a ROM to flash that removes everything from the device and just makes it run stock Android then use Kindle and B&N apps, as well as whatever other apps for reading epubs to read our books. Don't know if this is possible but it would be nice, then we could fully repurpose all the buttons on the device purely for Android OS

And make a custom e-ink friendly version of the android homescreen, possibly including no-refresh?

Right now I've got the following apps deleted:
DemoMode.apk
Home.apk
Library.apk
Shop.apk
Social.apk
I will be working on a replacement library app.
I don't use the Kindle app. Do people who do also use the Nook native reader?
At the lowest level, all you need is a file manager.
I presume that each of the readers keep track of last page.
(Regarding the Nook lastreadingpoint:
Going straight to the database is the wrong approach, using the content provider is the right way.
LastRead.apk uses that.)
Ok, it's a neat hack to watch video on the Nook, but you really wouldn't want your Nook in A2 mode all the time.
As I've said before, the best uses of A2 is when an app knows when to use it, when dragging, scrolling, zooming.
If you have the source code to a browser/viewer/whatever, putting wrappers around the dragging/scrolling/zooming operation would be an improvement.
Personally, I have no problem with my ADW Launcher.
That it blurs and trails when parking an app on the desktop is no big deal.

I've got the little book icon on the status bar to open the last book in the native Nook reader.
That is, if you don't have Home.apk or (B&N) Library.apk
Here is a stop-gap release.
It works fine for the "Currently reading" but there is not yet other functionality in it.
I left it as a complete application so that you can easily see if you have it installed.
The actual "application" part of it is a blank screen.
No need to run it or put it on your desktop.
Just install it and click the little book on the status bar.

Renate NST said:
I've got the little book icon on the status bar to open the last book in the native Nook reader.
That is, if you don't have Home.apk or (B&N) Library.apk
Here is a stop-gap release.
It works fine for the "Currently reading" but there is not yet other functionality in it.
I left it as a complete application so that you can easily see if you have it installed.
The actual "application" part of it is a blank screen.
No need to run it or put it on your desktop.
Just install it and click the little book on the status bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm, looks interesting, seems like you've managed to already wrap some events to dummy workers we can attach to in the future and mod this thing up . Awesome!
I'll be testing it somewhere between today and tomorrow. Right now I'm trying to replace the stock keyboard. LatinIME.apk is deleteable but there isn't any working keyboard for it yet (I've tried GO Keyboard, GB Keyboard for Froyo/Eclair and HTC IME with no avail) and it's one of the biggest annoyances I have with it since I need more of a PC-keyboard-lookalike rather than an ebook keyboard

Although I am not getting the point of your mission :-D try Hacker's keyboard. It is possible to google out android 2.1 version. It is the best I have found so far although it is quite dark.

Just thought I'd drop this link here for hacker's keyboard.
http://code.google.com/p/hackerskeyboard/issues/detail?id=57
Also, make sure that after you install it you move it to /system/app

Googie2149 said:
Just thought I'd drop this link here for hacker's keyboard.
http://code.google.com/p/hackerskeyboard/issues/detail?id=57
Also, make sure that after you install it you move it to /system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, you rock! I've wanted that keyboard to work specifically. Thanks a lot!!

I've had some progress on the Library replacement.
It's not ready for prime time, but it is cute.
It will list the expiration date of your library books.
It's nice to be able to fit over 10 titles on the screen.

Renate NST said:
I've had some progress on the Library replacement.
It's not ready for prime time, but it is cute.
It will list the expiration date of your library books.
It's nice to be able to fit over 10 titles on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome!
When will you release it?

I've been working on two different approaches.
One is to use the Android native mediastore.
There are some bugs with this and it can get out of sync.
The other is to do all the searching for books myself.
That works ok as long as the books are found in the usual places:
/system/media/books
/data/media/B&N Downloads/Books
/media/My Files/Books
/media/Digital Editions
/sdcard/My Files/Books
Are there any other locations that I am missing?

darkguy2008 said:
When will you release it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't know if it suits anyone's needs besides my own.
Because the stock Home.apk, Library.apk and Shop.apk are all tied together,
to have my app work correctly you have to rename or delete the three of them.
As far as I know it should allow books bought from B&N to still work correctly,
but I don't know because I don't own any. I only get library books or Gutenberg.
Is it important for people to be able to buy B&N books directly on their Nook?

Renate NST said:
Is it important for people to be able to buy B&N books directly on their Nook?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not if it's free?
Naturally, I speak for myself only.
You need credit card added to buy B&N free books still...
From another hand you can get same free books somewhere else, right?

Apokrifx is right, also, that app would suit me too. I need a credit card to buy B&N books, which I don't have -and- I'm not interested at all in using it as a reader. If I want to read something I'll download it and slam it through a PDF reader installed on it.
My main use for it is to take out ALL of the B&N stuff and use it as an android tablet, so, to me, it's really useful

[Q] Add MOBI Book to Kindle App?

Is there a way to add a MOBI book the Kindle for Windows 8 app? I tried looking through the installation files in the %appdata% folders, but I didn't see any .mobi books, so I wasn't sure where I would put it.

Nobody has found one yet. It's sad; the Kindle app for WinRT is by far the worst I've seen yet; even the one on WP7 allowed sideloading books if you could put them in the right place in the filesystem.

GoodDayToDie said:
Nobody has found one yet. It's sad; the Kindle app for WinRT is by far the worst I've seen yet; even the one on WP7 allowed sideloading books if you could put them in the right place in the filesystem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weird. You'd think Amazon would just integrate with the File Picker, why not? The Kindle app for Windows RT actually looks nice, but there's just a bunch of issues that need resolved (weird space limitation, no transition between page turns, store doesn't work for me at all, can't side load books, even hunting through the file system...). It's too bad. Thanks for the help.

Does anyone know if this is possible now? I have acer iconia w510 and I want to add some mobi books I have stored on the kindle app but I cant find a way to do it

Perhaps you might want to give the "freda" app a try. I use it to read my "mobi" files.

Convert Kindle Fire into Kiosk/Smart Home tool

Hiya,
I have some old Android tablets lying around, two of which are Kindle Fires. I'd like to figure out some use for them.
One thought is making one connected all the time to a to-do list app (like Google Keep) and have that mounted on a wall. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions and getting an extremely barebones ROM on a Kindle Fire, but with the ability to login to Google and use up-to-date apps like Google Keep. Preferably it would be "pinned" that that app all the time. Wondering if there is a ROM that eliminates the launcher entirely and just goes to a single app (but with the ability to do full authentication with a Google account)
Thanks for any help!

This probably could be done - like you say, we'd need to have a non-stock rom that could utilize the tablet features of the kindle instead of the reader features.
I like the idea a lot!
I'll see what I can dig up, since I also have this tablet and would like to do that as well.