Database Develop

Google Reader App?

What's the best Google Reader app that will work for the VG?

Well...have you tried the, uh, Google Reader app?

Of course. But I am unable to get my account to connect to it I get a no accounts message and hitting "add accojnt" gets me an unableto sign in message.

I use Pulse:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.alphonso.pulse&feature=search_result
works awesome, syncs with my google reader account perfectly and works great on a large screen.
I tried it a long time ago on my phone and I didn't like it, mostly because it didn't seem to fit well on the phone, but on the gTablet it's all kinds of awesome.
No issues whatsoever on vegan gingerbread rc1

I have used a bunch of the available options. If you want a fancy GUI and don't follow a ton of feeds there is pulse or feedly. A quicker/more pro type reader would be newsrob, g_reader, feedr or goodnews. Rssdemon is good, but doesn't 2 way sunc with Google reader. I think newrob might be the best of these right now, but this is very subjective and changes with releases.

I have been pleased with the features and flexibility of gReader. Works in conjunction with Google Reader feeds, and great for offline downloading and reading of RSS feeds. As I have a long commute without wireless access, the offline reading works well on the gTablet.

FeedR is the best out there. I have pulse, but just to show off. Pulse is rather pointless if you follow more than 10 feeds.

I have a problem with Google Reader and that when I click on an article it gives me a small window, about the size of a mobile phone screen to read the article and when I go back one level, it goes full screen again.

Try NewsRob
couchmonkey said:
I have a problem with Google Reader and that when I click on an article it gives me a small window, about the size of a mobile phone screen to read the article and when I go back one level, it goes full screen again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue.
I've settled on NewsRob, which I've been using on my phone forever. Works good enough with the large GTab screen.

couchmonkey said:
I have a problem with Google Reader and that when I click on an article it gives me a small window, about the size of a mobile phone screen to read the article and when I go back one level, it goes full screen again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you email Google for support? If you do and enough people mention it they will incorporate it into their next build.

It's apparently a version problem, in 0.9.3....0.9.2 didn't have that problem. If I could find the 9.2 .apk file, I'd go back one version.

From my experience the "tiny window" issue is a result of the DPI setting on Vegan Tab. In order to correct an issue with the market not displaying correctly the DPI has to be set to 161, but that throws off other apps. Mainly Google Reader it seams.
@thomashfoster
Sent from my HTC EVO using XDA App

I have used a lot of the readers out there. My current favorite is GoodNews. I use a lot of feeds (200+) and it seems to be the only one that can handle this load. The dev is doing a lot of new stuff and improvements.

I just recently found D7 and I'm a pretty big fan. Pretty fully featured with a nice interface. Fast too!

[Q] Which eReader for a rooted N2E?

Hi people,
Just wondering if you guys tried other readers?
I guess not all of them will work fine due to turn page animations and stuff (I didn't root mine yet).
The kobo one looks pretty slick, and you can import books into their library (though I'd prefer it to work with Calibre).
Well, just to gather some advices!

I find the stock reader to have the best contrast, so I usually use it. Aldiko works fine, but the black of the letters seems more washed out and the background is more white than the "grey" of e-ink.

Success so far with Ezpdf to read pdf (duh) and repligo.
I guess someone commented before that you can't get zoom and orientation change via software. Ezpdf changes orientation and repligo gets zoom.
I want both!!!
Will try epub this afternoon, and comics later on...

Great, thanks for the hints.
Could someone try Kobo? Looks really slick on my Nook Color, I wonder how it rates on the Touch.

Moonreader+ and Coolreader work well and page turns can be made with the hardware buttons. Kindle reader works well too.
I use Calibre and Calibre Library to get books onto the device. Mostly read with the 'stock' reader though.

disabling touch page turns
Do any of the alternative reader apps have the option to disable touch screen page turns, using only the hardware keys? I'm open to non-app software suggestions as well, but I can't really change my reading habits to stop using my finger.

I'm looking for a better reader me too.
After some weeks, what reader you recommend for epub?
Is there one that can read also lit files?
And for pdf?
Many thanks

I've tried a bunch of readers and went with Mantano Reader, available through the droid market: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mantano.reader.android.trial&feature=search_result. This is for a 7 day trial. I like being able to pick the dictionary the program uses and the app is nice. I've been talking with the company about adding touch key support for our Nooks and I believe they might do it with the next update. It's not cheap, it's $8.00 but displays book info and IMHO worth the purchase price.

There is no player that is compatible with the lit format?

Both repligo and ezpdf accept hardware button, and have zoom and orientation change via menus (even though some of them need some guessing, as menus wording is white or missing - I don't know which). Droid comic viewer is a winner too, light and fast (with cbz - as cbr tend to be quite slow).

best reader
Hi, after some testing, I would highly recomend coolreader, due to a few functionalities that other readers lack:
- it's aware you are using nook touch so:
- it has screen refresh options, with the configurable number of refreshes before the full refresh. No more black screen during refresh, refresh is even better that in original B&N reader. No other reader can do that !
- it knows you have four hardware keys, and, it can remap them to anything ! also double and long click, so you can have up to 12 actions assiociated with the hardware buttons.
- screen has 9 tap zones, also configurable, including touch and long touch
- a nice small title bar, you can have some useful info as clock here
- current reading book screensaver buid in. Just have to choose it as any other nook screensaver. Curren book cover copied automatically to the csreensaver directory after opening a book. Simple, but lot of fun.
- registers itself to the android as the EPUB reader, so you can open book directly from B&N library, which is still the best library for nook touch I think.
- plus all other functions as fonts, dictionaries etc..
it's not perfect of course - little slow book opening, no DRM and PDF support. But can still read a lot of formats, as rtf, and doc. even docx.

kefir135:
Very nice review. I've been using CoolReader as well for the past week or so and have come to many similar conclusions. Your review pointed out a few features I was unaware of until now, too:
kefir135 said:
- registers itself to the android as the EPUB reader, so you can open book directly from B&N library, which is still the best library for nook touch I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never thought of this! I agree the B&N library has the best "browseability". I don't really mind CoolReader's book list/browser, but two things annoyed me right from the start:
1. I had to open EACH book individually to get the covers to show up in the CoolReader library browser.
2. The CoolReader library listings would simply NOT hold the sort order I had given them (e.g., by author, title, etc.).
Other than that, though, I agree with your conclusion. And the HUGE selling point for me is the CoolReader has -- as you stated -- the refresh control. I don't like the slowness of having every page blink BLACK on each turn. It might be a total refresh and won't allow ghosting, but it simply doesn't look good to me.
Thanks again for your thoughts!

Nomad Reader is also very good.
It supports partial refresh, Nook's page turn buttons and you can adjust the contrast.

mdall said:
Nomad Reader is also very good.
It supports partial refresh, Nook's page turn buttons and you can adjust the contrast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently came upon this app as well when I noticed that it mentioned the Nook partial refresh capability (which is why I like CoolReader). I'll have to give this one a try. Thanks for the recommendation!

kefir135 said:
Hi, after some testing, I would highly recomend coolreader, due to a few functionalities that other readers lack:
- current reading book screensaver buid in. Just have to choose it as any other nook screensaver. Curren book cover copied automatically to the csreensaver directory after opening a book. Simple, but lot of fun.
- registers itself to the android as the EPUB reader, so you can open book directly from B&N library, which is still the best library for nook touch I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have installed CoolReader on my rooted NTR, but the default reader that opens when selecting book from Nook library is still Nook reader. And screen saver is still taking from the current book opened in Nook reader. Is there any other step I have to do to achieve what you told above? Thank you.

The main reason that I use the stock reader is the page numbering - it seems like all of the other readers change the "number of pages" and "what page am i on" based on the current font selection. Stock reader must be able to determine what the "true" page number is so it feels more like a printed book.
I tried CoolReader but there were too many options - and besides the aforementioned page number issue, I didn't like the status bar at the top.
I really have no complaints with the stock reader...

spedinfargo said:
The main reason that I use the stock reader is the page numbering - it seems like all of the other readers change the "number of pages" and "what page am i on" based on the current font selection. Stock reader must be able to determine what the "true" page number is so it feels more like a printed book.
I tried CoolReader but there were too many options - and besides the aforementioned page number issue, I didn't like the status bar at the top.
I really have no complaints with the stock reader...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Status bar can be hide. I like the feature in the CoolReader that I can double tap the word then search the colordict dictionary.

thangnh said:
I have installed CoolReader on my rooted NTR, but the default reader that opens when selecting book from Nook library is still Nook reader. And screen saver is still taking from the current book opened in Nook reader. Is there any other step I have to do to achieve what you told above? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case nook asks me which application should open the book chosen in Library application. Maybe you have selected "Always use this app" in this dialog earlier. Try to install another reader or remove and install cool reader again.
Regarding the screensaver, cool reader stores the book cover in a screensaver directory. Just open nook settings and select Current book screensaver.

millertary said:
Do any of the alternative reader apps have the option to disable touch screen page turns, using only the hardware keys? I'm open to non-app software suggestions as well, but I can't really change my reading habits to stop using my finger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use fbreader, then customize the zones of the touch screen to disable any action on touch.

ace7196 said:
You can use fbreader, then customize the zones of the touch screen to disable any action on touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the same applies for coolreader too.

Eink [NST] Optimizations (Apps, launchers, SetCPU...)

So there are a few threads of apps that plain work on the NST, but I want apps that are optimized (i.e. black and white/no animations/useable). Below are my findings.
Battery drain
First off, let's say you've rooted and installed some basics gapps. I found that some things seems to cause some pretty fierce battery drain (I remember on my G1 that calendar sync was buggy, resulting in constant syncing attempts and bad battery drain). Now this is on a per-user basis, but I basically removed everything but the core gapps files and gmail. Here's a list of stuff you can "safely" remove (remember, ALWAYS backup).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Launchers
I've tried them all, but the ADW with the minimalistic black theme is the best IMO. You can make the background white of the app drawer, remove all but one page, and turn off everything that moves (I set all the options to max/0 to ensure that I do not see any animations of any sort).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Navigation
So depending on how you achieved root, you may or may not have button savior installed. I didn't want extra stuff cluttering up my screen, so I removed it. For those of you who want a high contrast eink button savior, you've got it here. Buy the pro and support the dev. If you want to use the hardware buttons, you have to get this (which you may already have if you have rooted via Nooter).
I set the top left button as back, top right as menu, bottom left as pagedown, and bottom right as pageup. The page up and page down are from the normal left side, so they appear as LEFT_PAGEDOWN and LEFT_PAGERIGHT. I also disabled the BN menu when you press the N and made it just go to ADW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps
Sorry to disappoint, but since I want to get rid of as many distractions as possible, I only have a few:
Android PDF Reader: Has optimizations for eink devices, is quick to redraw, and page up and down work.
Sparse RSS: I've been working with the dev and have gotten page up/down to work. I have a dev build if interested, but I'm sure he'll publish an update soon with it working on the market (1.3.1 does not work, but the next version should have the fix).
Some of the other random eink optimized apps floating around the Apps section here.
SetCPU: Allows for changing the governor and you can underclock if you wish. I have to 600 MHz, and it's fine for reading. I setup the scale up preference to 80, and the Powersaving Bias to 300. Feel free to look up and mess around with these...it's pretty safe.
Coolreader: Has some nice eink optimized settings (can change how the page is partially refreshed/how often/etc. You can also set it as the main reader app in the NookSimple Tools apps, so when you click the book in the top left if opens Coolreader. The standard BN library and reader aren't bad, though (except for PDFs that are not meant for reflow, like tech. documents).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hi,
Here is a NST optimized (and slightly customized) version I did for Simon Tatham's Puzzles Collection (including source).
github.com/marspeople/sgtpuzzles/downloads
ace7196, could you post the "page up/down" patch for Sparse RSS? Also, I've noticed a interface bug (also present in NewsRob) when you go back to the article list, it loses which list position it was previously, that is pretty annoying.

Here's the latest release dev build of Sparse RSS.
I know the left side buttons for page up/down are mapped, not sure if he mapped the right side equivalent as well.
Also, I've noticed on a few rss readers (as mentioned above) that once you touch the screen and make is scroll, the titles of the articles change, but not that content. I only plan on using the hard keys, so now that I have an RSS reader that works with that...

What is the checkbox under Feed URL when you're adding a feed? Other than that, seems to work great!

Tired_ said:
What is the checkbox under Feed URL when you're adding a feed? Other than that, seems to work great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure....try checking it

ace7196 said:
Not sure....try checking it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installed it on my phone, turns out it's "Only Sync over Wifi". Kind of a useless setting for us Nookies, but it's good to know I guess.

Sparse RSS is really great though the right buttons are not mapped.
Also, is there a way to remove the "Goto link" bar at the bottom of each page?
It blocks the last line of text on every page. It is also kind of distracting and I will never need to go to the full page or use the onscreen touch buttons since the buttons are mapped

Got email from the author that right button support will be added, and will be published this week (will let you know when).

Latest Sparse RSS Reader with left and right button support:
http://code.google.com/p/sparserss/downloads/list

Launcher
too add...
I'm finding Relaunch as optimized launcher.
I'm happy with it, give it a spin.
(well you might need to spend some time in enabling adb to install non market apps)
I've attached the screens (not screenshots taken in nook, but a pic by phone)
the home, app list and the settings

marspeople said:
Here is a NST optimized (and slightly customized) version I did for Simon Tatham's Puzzles Collection (including source).
github.com/marspeople/sgtpuzzles/downloads
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone happen to have an APK kicking around for this eink optimized version of Simon Tatham's Puzzle Collection that MarsPeople made so long ago? I've been using the regular version for years and just ignoring about half the puzzles since they require color. It would be great to have an eink version.
I contacted the author, but he doesn't have an APK anymore. He did point me to his other GitHub, which is still up and has his modified forkof the source, but no APK. I don't have any environment for building Android apps and I don't relish trying to set one up for Eclaire.
https://github.com/marcelogp/sgtpuzzles

[Q]New nook library

1. It is posible?
2. How?
3. What you can edit in library.apk?

Yes, I have my own Library.apk (that's in a thread here somewhere).
No, it's nowhere as flashy as your version but it serves my needs.
It just uses a basic list but it displays library expiration dates which are important to me.

You must change the whole library.apk? or configure someting in /data/data...

You have to write your own application, or coerce somebody into doing it.

Somebody do it !!!

I actually stopped by to see if there was anything out there like what the OP is asking for, either a custom ROM or launcher or even just a better library app. I'm honestly kind of shocked that there isn't something like this out there. I guess devices like this don't get a ton of home brew mods like phones do?

Headcase_Fargone said:
I actually stopped by to see if there was anything out there like what the OP is asking for, either a custom ROM or launcher or even just a better library app. I'm honestly kind of shocked that there isn't something like this out there. I guess devices like this don't get a ton of home brew mods like phones do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally dumped the stock B&N reader and library after losing shelves too many times and wanting to read PDFs. I've replaced both with Mantano Reader, which works well on the NST, and handles epubs and PDFs nicely. I've used Nook Touch Tools to remap my QuickLaunch Libary buttons to take me to the Mantano home screen and I never even see the B&N stuff anymore.
Mantano also has a for-fee cloud sync service that I'm using to keep reading positions and collections consistent between several devices.
I think now I've got a Mantano Simple Touch reader.

bobstro said:
I finally dumped the stock B&N reader and library after losing shelves too many times and wanting to read PDFs. I've replaced both with Mantano Reader, which works well on the NST, and handles epubs and PDFs nicely. I've used Nook Touch Tools to remap my QuickLaunch Libary buttons to take me to the Mantano home screen and I never even see the B&N stuff anymore.
Mantano also has a for-fee cloud sync service that I'm using to keep reading positions and collections consistent between several devices.
I think now I've got a Mantano Simple Touch reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent you a PM on this, you've got me curious. Do the hardware buttons work with this reader? I take it you just launch Mantano whenever you reboot the device and stay in it? Any shortcomings?

Headcase_Fargone said:
Sent you a PM on this, you've got me curious. Do the hardware buttons work with this reader? I take it you just launch Mantano whenever you reboot the device and stay in it? Any shortcomings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the left buttons work. You can't customize them, but they do work. Lower is forward, upper is back.
I replaced the B&N Library option with Mantano on the QuickLaunch menu using Nook Touch Tools. It provides pretty much the same functionality. I also pointed the recent read button to Mantano. Now I don't see the B&N reader or library at all.
On 1st boot, I am in ADW until I launch an app. After that, I pick from my most used (Mantano, Maildroid, Calendar Pad, Astrid Tasks, Orientation) off the QuickLaunch menu.

A new reader app

There are any number of things that annoy me about the stock B&N reader.
I've been writing my own reader app from the ground up.
It's missing a lot of features, but it's still become my standard reader.
I have a lot of technical references in PDF.
At least my reader will allow me to see them in landscape mode fit to width.
The app has adjustable overscan to get rid of the paper margins.
For EPUBs, there are 17 font sizes, 30 margin sizes, 21 line spacings.
EPUBs or PDFs can be viewed in either orientation.
The app is eInk smart but runs on standard cell phones too.

I assume that you plan on making this app available to the community at some point. When you are ready for other users to test, I would be glad to volunteer.

Yes, as soon as I get rid of the worst bugs, I'll let this loose.
It doesn't have text search or word lookup or annotations or bookmarks.

From MY perspective, bookmarks would be priority #1, followed by dictionary look up. I have never used annotations or word search, though I am sure others have.
Just my $0.02. Other's opinions will vary.

From MY perspective, dictionary look up would be priority #1, and never bookmarks, as I am Russian speaking person. I have never used annotations or word search.
Just my $0.02. Good luck in your efforts.

I'm still working on this.
One of the things I found most lacking was good navigation on large PDFs.
It can get a bit hairy dealing with the table of contents on some PDFs.
Sometimes a page number is more specific than a TOC entry and sometimes it's the other way around.

Will you be supporting mobi files as well ?
It seems it's hard to find a nice reader that support both epub and mobi ...

No, it will not read MOBI.
MOBI is a really stupid format based on database files for Palm OS.
EPUB is a halfway reasonable format.
HTML based reflowable text and a table of contents.
What more do you need?
Of course, all the manufacturers (like Kindle) are pushing for whiz-bang HTML5 formats.

Renate NST said:
No, it will not read MOBI.
MOBI is a really stupid format based on database files for Palm OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I really liked Palm
just kidding, nostalgia kicked in
2) I already have some books in MOBI format, that's why I'm asking.
Yes, I know I can convert them to EPUB ...
Thanks!

Finally ready for a super pre-alpha preview.
Very short user manual:
Hit the right screen edge or PAGEDOWN for forward a whole page
Hit the left screen edge or PAGEUP for backward a whole page
Hit the top screen edge for the navigation menu
Hit the bottom screen edge for table of contents view
Hit the middle of the screen when viewing PDFs to go down a chunk of one page
(These 4 edges are actually the edges of the page view.
When the TOC is showing, the left edge will be somewhere in the middle of the screen.)
There are separate config dialogs for EPUB and PDF.
In TOC view, the +/- are indicators and not controls.
The app tries to keep everything as compact as possible.
TOC scrolls with a drag, selects with a push on a chapter title, dismisses with a bottom push in the page side.
You can call up navigate, page forwards and backwards while the TOC is showing.
A single empty square and the title indicates that the PDF has no TOC.
The eInk special handling only works with 1.2.1 software.
If you are using nofresh/fast refresh/whatever, then no guarantee nor interest in what it will do.
It may be self-delusion, but it seems to me that the text is clearer than the stock reader?
You can just install this as a regular app.
You can set it as default for EPUB or PDF separately.
Unless you're me, you shouldn't get rid of the stock reader just yet. :cyclops:
Hmm, I'm not sure if it will handle Last Reading Point correctly if you are using the stock library.
Oh! It will list all the fonts on your system, but it won't handle the fonts that the underlying library files don't like.

Renate NST said:
Unless you're me, you shouldn't get rid of the stock reader just yet. :cyclops:
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First problem: On my nook it didn't show up in adw so I can't run it

richardcoop said:
On my nook it didn't show up in adw...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it wouldn't, would it?
The stock reader doesn't show up there either.
For an application to show up in a launcher its AndroidManifest.xml would have to have:
Code:
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
File viewers normally don't have that, they are invoked by other intents.
Use your "Last Read" icon, a library application or a file manager to open an EPUB or a PDF.

Renate NST said:
Finally ready for a super pre-alpha preview.
I
It may be self-delusion, but it seems to me that the text is clearer than the stock reader?
You can just install this as a regular app.
You can set it as default for EPUB or PDF separately.
Hmm, I'm not sure if it will handle Last Reading Point correctly if you are using the stock library.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think the text is clearer!
Doesn't remember the Last Reading Point for me but not using the stock library.
---------- Post added at 10:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 PM ----------
Also, looses my place when the screen saver kicks in.

Thanks for the good work Renate. I think the display is better than other epub/pdf readers and maybe stock reader too. As most of my reading is done with my Glow version in bed, a "Night Mode" switch for white font on black background would be great if possible?
Thanks again.

richardcoop said:
Also, loses my place when the screen saver kicks in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the integration between a reader app and a library app is close.
Tracking of last point is usually done in the library app.
I was planning on adding a single LRP directly in the reader for files that aren't tracked in the library.

Is it possible to run this on an Android 2.3.4 installation or its code assumes a Nook?
The reason I ask, is because I have a Kobo Glo with android installed, and I would like to check it there, if it is e-Ink optimized.

The problem with supporting eInk is that the interface classes in Java are all different.
Even in the Nook 1.1, 1.1.5. 1.3 are incompatible with 1.2.1
(Notice that the latest 1.3 on the white Nook uses an older scheme than the 1.2.1)
They all use android.hardware.EpdController in /system/framework/framework.jar
I have no idea what the Kobo is using.
I can guarantee that the application posted above will do no special eInk handling as it checks the system build fingerprint for compatibility.
If you are using Nook 1.1.5 or 1.3 it will also not do any special eInk handling.
The application should work on any device if you copy over these two library files:
/system/lib/libpdfhost.so
/system/lib/libbndeviceinfo.so
I have this app running on my (old) Kyocera Rise (cell phone).
It should run (without any special eInk handling) on your Kobo.
Anything further would require research and programming.

Renate NST said:
Hmm, I'm not sure if it will handle Last Reading Point correctly if you are using the stock library.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does not handle Last Reading Point correctly when using the stock library.
Great work! I used this for all of 10 minutes and the potential is evident. With some more of your excellent development work you will have a real winner on your hands.
Question, as this obviously will not read books with B&N DRM, is there some way to make this reader the default when using your library app and allow the stock reader to be the default when using the stock library? Perhaps a setting in your library app to use either the "device default" (stock or other) reader or Temblast Reader specifically when a book is selected.
With regard to the text being clearer than the stock reader, I don't notice a difference. However, I am using the Tweaked Modded ROM, which states:
"Forced all rendering to be done on the GPU." I noticed the text was darker using this ROM when I first installed it. Perhaps your reader essentially does the same thing? This might account for the those who notice the text being clearer when using your reader.

David0226 said:
"Forced all rendering to be done on the GPU."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, that's not what I explicitly did, but maybe it's effectively what I did.

Font display doesn't seem as good as stock reader upon closer inspection.
For PDF reader I still use two particular versions of Repligo and ezPDF-Reader both: fast, full of options and pinch in-out for zoom on txt/image based files and more, opening all pdfs.
The epub reader is suffering on some files with wrapping longer lines so I get remainder lines with two or three words, unless fonts are much smaller even with little margins so back to AlReader and FBReader I'm afraid.