IIRC it only suports plain text files / Markdown rn. Not supporting EPUB is a non-starter for me. I use my Kobo right now and love it. If they add EPUB support i will heavily consider building one.
this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
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The creator is working on an epub-to-text-file converter here:
I'm not sure I understand, epub is both the industry standard and an open format, as far as I know. Why not work on using it or build it around epub from the get-go?
I have to admit I'll have to wait for the project to start implementing epub to consider getting on board, but it's still a great effort.
It looks like it is powered by a microcontroller. Maybe it isn't powerful enough to support epub?
Doesn't calibre also have a built in converter?
It used to be able to strip DRM from stuff too, but I think they got rid of that for legal reasons.
Yes, Calibre can convert to most formats.
DRM removal is not a feature of Calibre, but of plugins you can add to it. Kobo and Adobe DRM have plugins available. Amazon DRM plugin is in a poor state as Amazon cracked down on a major method earlier this year.
Think I did it that way for some books.
I also seem to remember there being another workaround, by exporting it to my old sony e-reader via the official sony app, which is so old it doesn't have proper DRM, but I did have to sign up for adobe digital editions or some or other BS. Something like that. End result was a DRM free epub.
Huge waste of time, especially for something I'd paid full price for, so after that I gave up on buying ebooks, and simply pirated them.
Just like with DVDs back in the day and streaming now, you get a shittier experience if you pay full price. Better to pirate.
This is an interesting concept but doesn't seem like it has long term legs.
It depends on what you mean by open source and also even eBook reader (I'm assuming eInk), but if people want open source e-readers I would say flashing existing reader hardware with open source operating systems would be the way to go. However I'm not sure if there is much motivation to do that.
There are Android based eink ereaders available with more freedom than Kindle devices (Boox is an example) and you can side load free or open source reader software onto Kobo (maybe not Android Kindles though?), and you can load free books onto e-readers via software like Calibre. So you can read books in privacy outside the vendors ecosystem - it kinda reduces the imputus to build an open source ereader (hardware or OS).
I'd love to see a truly open source Eink device - particularly software wise. But I doubt the demand is enough. And this Open Source hardware solution seems a bit too cut back to fit the bill.
Really cool! I do wish the screen was a bit bigger. It's the size of my 2012 windows phone, haha.
I've got a Hisense A5 and reading is surprisingly nice on it. Although this looks even smaller?
Also regarding the overall idea - just get a Kobo and put Koreader on it, then sideload any book format you like.
I do have a kobo! It's pretty good. What's Koreader? Is that software to jailbreak it?
Yeah, you don't even have to jailbreak it, you can just install it alongside the kobo software, then you can keep both. It's a bit fiddly to set up but not too bad https://github.com/koreader/koreader/wiki/Installation-on-Kobo-devices
Koreader is available from the Play store if you have an android phone, you can try it out first. Its very customisable, I spend hours tweaking the settings because that's my idea of fun 😂
Thank you! Saving this post :)
Pocketbook anyone?
Here!
To add, the used linux kernel of PB devices is mostly open source last time I checked.
Love my Era
I'm glad to see some other options. I'm not a fan of Amazon, but the only other practical option has been tablets, which are generally a lot more expensive and less well-suited to the purpose. This looks like a good design.
There are tons of options out there other than Amazon. I just upgraded my original Kindle Paperwhite to a Onyx Boox Page. Paid the same amount as a Kindle Oasis (at least when it isn't on sale), but since it supports Android apps it has so many more uses.
I just can't understand why someone who cares about an open source book reader wouldn't just buy a Kindle for much less money and then flash a different OS...
Just so they can say they built it?