Database Develop

[Q] Using calibre to side load books

So I can get Calibre to send my books to my device and they show up in their respective folders but the cover art I added in Calibre shows up as a separate file from the book rather than on the book itself. Any ideas as to how I could correct this? I am saving them as ePub. Maybe a different format?

I've had th same problem. I've looked on the caliber forums and they say that the NC gets the covers from the first page of the book (not the image), but mine don't show up with either present. Sorry I can't give you a solution.
Sent rom my NC using XDA App

Make sure you have the latest version of Calibre. I've sideloaded several books and all bring over the cover art with the book file.
I'm running 1.0.1, rooted.

Yeah after I played with it a bit more I realized it got the cover from the first picture in the epub file. I got it to mostly work except for a few books that wouldn't allow me to add in the image I wanted to the front of the book.

Rent ebooks free from the public library 24/7 with overdrive

Sign up with an adobe account, have a library card and get good free ebooks and audio books anytime. Works on g tablet. Grab it from the market just search for overdrive

I second this post! If you have any problems let me know. The CEO is a good friend of mine.

I use Overdrive for my library books and love it!

Mikeg1969 said:
I use Overdrive for the library "books" but audio books will won't work with android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mikeg,
Its working here for the last three days on my tab.
Do you get errors when starting the audio?

Doesn't work for me
I'm a big Overdrive user on the PC and was excited to see it available on the Gtab, but it seems there are some issues.
The Overdrive program runs and I am able to register my Adobe ID. However:
- it only allows me to download ePub or mp3 files, as it thinks I am am Apple computer (probably due to the browser)
- every ePub file I tried either gave me a permissions error or the download hung and never finishes.
This is with the Boston Public Library Overdrive site.
Craig

billygtab said:
Mikeg,
Its working here for the last three days on my tab.
Do you get errors when starting the audio?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot seem to find any that are not in Window Media format. I have tried to download and play one of them but says does not support that format (cannot remember exactly what comes up). Just haven't found any in mp3 format that I want to listen to yet... Sorry for implying that the audio "just doesn't work" I have edited my original post. I do use and enjoy Overdrive for reading my library books, it's a great program.

Roadzero said:
Sign up with an adobe account, have a library card and get good free ebooks and audio books anytime. Works on g tablet. Grab it from the market just search for overdrive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm slightly confused here. Why do you need the Adobe ID?
My daughter was looking at this as it makes it easier for her check out books for school. Sadly all they have locally (NE PA) is audiobooks.

aaltieri said:
I'm slightly confused here. Why do you need the Adobe ID?
My daughter was looking at this as it makes it easier for her check out books for school. Sadly all they have locally (NE PA) is audiobooks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need the adobe id because epub is an adobe digital format if I am not mistaken. I guess adobe gets a cut of every file downloaded. On my public librarys site they had the audio books on the main page and you had to dig to find the ebooks.

it doesn't work. i activated it with my digital id but it doesn't open the ebook from library. need help here.

I assume you have a library account, you logged in on your library site and have downloaded the overdrive for android 2.0 apk? When you download a book, it saves it to you "overdrive" library on your device. You then open overdrive apk to select from your "library" of books and launch the reading of the book from there. Give me a step by step on how you are running it and I may be able to get some tech help from Overdrive staff. I have access to their tech support sometimes through a friend.

ok, here is what i did.
1. on my G tablet. i start overdrive.
2. tap on setting button(under the home button on the side), tap on get books.
3. choose the library (county of los angeles public library)
4. sign in with my library card number.
5. search the book (everybody's guide to small claims court).
6. add the book to my cart.
7. check out and start download.
8. a message show up says: OverDrive Media Console
This version of OverDrive Media Console does not support PDF eBook titles.

I have a question. I have registered with Adobe and have been authorized in the overdrive software settings but when I go to my library account in the ebooks that I have checked out via the libraries ebook website and try to download I get a blank white page that says error not authorized etc. Thanks for your help. I have been able to download from the free book libraries etc so I figure something is not talking between apps..ie the library/overdrive/adobe??
Update:
Contacted overdrive by email and they said to try a different browser as the stock browser that comes with the gtab out of the box does not play well with their app. Downloaded the dolphin browser and everything ran smoothly.

I haven't tried this ony my Gtab yet, but did attempt to experience it on my PC. I would have thought that my library (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh) would have been a little further than it appears that they are. I was able to find books, but it's a very paltry selection. For instance, they report having 61 books in their history section. I clicked on the list only to find that all but 11 books were unaivalable. One of the largest public library systems in the country, with a storied history only has 11 history books available to borrow?
When I was at the library and saw the ad for this service, I talked to the librarian about it. I mentioned that this would be nice, because being in electronic format, that they SHOULD have unlimitted resources. I mean, logically, I am not renting a physical book, but an electronic version of a book. She mentioned thay they actually only have limited licensing per copy. You don't have to worry about overdue fees, because the system automatically expires your rental after 30 days. SO, the 50 history books that were "signed out," will be available 30 days after their original rental date. And don't forget that you can reserve them for when they are available. That means that I might not be able to actually access the "book" that I want to read for maybe 3 months?
if you think that this might be a good resource for children, think again. At our library, anyway, they don't even have a children's section online.
I understand that they are still in the beginning stages of this program, but really, Amazon Kindle store has a ton of "classics" for free, that I can't even get electronically from my public library.
The library even advertised a "class" that you can take ot learn how ot use this new, wonderful system. All I could picture after my experience was a teacher attempting to demonstrate how to sign out a book, only to find tha there aren't any available to rent. She'll keep clicking, and clicking on lists trying ot find a book that she can use for her demonstration...great way to introcude people to the system, huh?

insight3fl said:
I second this post! If you have any problems let me know. The CEO is a good friend of mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that is true, tell him we need some wma DRM support. Audio Books is useless on android w/overdrive because 95% of them will not work because the lack of wma drm support.
But good thing I can put mp3s in a podcast folder for bookmark support on stock music player!

Roadzero said:
You need the adobe id because epub is an adobe digital format i
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be a bit pedantic: epub is not an adobe format. It's open.
However, DRM can be laid on top of it, and this looks like adobe drm, so you need an adobe id.

Adobe ID
How do you get an Adobe ID?
UPDATE:
nvm, got it!!

I cannot get overdrive to install on my tablet. :-/ I keep getting error telling me installation was unsuccessful...
gtabcomb 3.3 bl 1.2

I set it up on my wife's Nook Color and it worked great. I also set it up for my gTab without luck. I could download book but the Nook Software won't open it. I had to download a different epub app - though it's probably a Nook software issue and not Overdrive.

I recently got this working on my gtab running TNT Lite 4.4
I can read the books either in Overdrive Media Console (OMC) or Aldiko Free. I prefer Aldiko as it has 2 page support in landscape mode.
The download using the stock browser fails, I had to use Opera Mini (other browsers may work too). The download from the library page downloads a .acsm file.
The reader (OMC or Aldiko) then reads the .acsm file and downloads the epub.
The Overdrive Media Console downloaded epub cannot be read with Aldiko, even though Aldiko has the Adobe DRM support. The epub has to be downloaded by the app to be used for reading.
To read using Aldiko..
Enable/Sign in Adobe DRM on Aldiko. (simple registration if you dont have an account).
From the library overdrive page download the book using Opera Mini, and save it (instead of opening OMC). This will save the .acsm file in your downloads dir. Use iFileManager or AstroFileManager to open the file, and it will give you an option for Aldiko. Choosing this will download the book and put it on your Aldiko shelf. For some reason you cannot open the .acsm file from Aldiko itself, so you have to go through a file manager. Also ES file explorer does not seem to know how to open the .acsm file.

nvanlaar said:
I cannot get overdrive to install on my tablet. :-/ I keep getting error telling me installation was unsuccessful...
gtabcomb 3.3 bl 1.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it working.. it ended up that I was out of space... :-|
Sent from my GtabComb using XDA Premium App

[Q] Is any EReader for WP7 can access txt / pdb file in storage (SD card)

Is anyone know where can find a Ereader for WP7 that can access txt/PDB file in SD card / Storage?
Thanks.

freda
sor far I dont know of any ebook reader that can access your sd cards to search for ebooks saved on it but...
have a look here: Ebook Reader - Freda, you also can find it in the market place. With freda you cannot directly access or copy eboods on your sd card, but you can access a dropbox account from wich you can download any placed ebooks there. According to the developer only EPUB (DRM-free), HTML and TXT format are supported. Might not be exactly what you are looking for but its a start.

folumi said:
sor far I dont know of any ebook reader that can access your sd cards to search for ebooks saved on it but...
have a look here: Ebook Reader - Freda, you also can find it in the market place. With freda you cannot directly access or copy eboods on your sd card, but you can access a dropbox account from wich you can download any placed ebooks there. According to the developer only EPUB (DRM-free), HTML and TXT format are supported. Might not be exactly what you are looking for but its a start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also search and try some readers in market place but no luck to find out directly method to access file in storge
But i will try the dropbox method you suggested.
Thanks folumi

from my trials, Amazon Kindle reader is the best ebook reader for WP7 out there - in terms of performance, UI, functionality, etc. I converted all my epub books to Kindle's format and side-loaded them on my WP7. Works like a charm...just perfect
If this is an option or u, then take a look at the side-loading Kindle books thread and you're good to go.
Cheers

To answer the original question: actually there is no way to access 'SD Card/Storage' on Windows Phone 7. The storage card is formatted in a weird way, and it not accessible via USB synch. When you connect your phone to your PC using Zune, you can synch media files (music and video) onto it, but you can't control whether those files go on to the SD Card or into the phone's internal memory; the OS will just put them somewhere in its accessible memory space, and link them into the phone's Media Hub folder.
The Zune USB synch system and the WP7 media player don't understand any ebook formats, so there is no point putting EPUB (or MOBI, or PDB or PDF ... ) files into the Zune media folder - because they will get synched into the Media Hub folder on the phone, and the only program (WP7 Media Player) that has access to that folder does not know how to read those file types.
So you have to use an App (like Freda, Amazon or ABookReader) that comes with some way of side-loading ebooks into the app's own folders on the phone. Amazon does this using the Kindle side-load function, Freda and ABookReader can fetch books from DropBox, OPDS catalogs and web-sites.
I recommend Freda, but then I would, wouldn't I (see sig.)

Jim Chapman said:
To answer the original question: actually there is no way to access 'SD Card/Storage' on Windows Phone 7. The storage card is formatted in a weird way, and it not accessible via USB synch. When you connect your phone to your PC using Zune, you can synch media files (music and video) onto it, but you can't control whether those files go on to the SD Card or into the phone's internal memory; the OS will just put them somewhere in its accessible memory space, and link them into the phone's Media Hub folder.
The Zune USB synch system and the WP7 media player don't understand any ebook formats, so there is no point putting EPUB (or MOBI, or PDB or PDF ... ) files into the Zune media folder - because they will get synched into the Media Hub folder on the phone, and the only program (WP7 Media Player) that has access to that folder does not know how to read those file types.
So you have to use an App (like Freda, Amazon or ABookReader) that comes with some way of side-loading ebooks into the app's own folders on the phone. Amazon does this using the Kindle side-load function, Freda and ABookReader can fetch books from DropBox, OPDS catalogs and web-sites.
I recommend Freda, but then I would, wouldn't I (see sig.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been looking for you, in fact...
Foremost, let me thank you for the extraordinary devotion you've put into Freda, moreover that its actually free. I truly do appreciate it, as many others who commend it without hesitation.
I also would like to suggest to you that you consider/solicit assistance from some of XDA's finest graphics/ui designers, for example, EL Condor or the team currently responsible for the GTX theme. Freda is a testament to your FINE programming skills, but I believe it would benefit greatly from UI overhaul and aesthetic improvements.
I hope you consider this seriously as a sincere advice - I have nothing in my heart other than an earnest desire to see your initiative and hardwork prosper beyond its current stage.
With kindliest regards...

I use Freda. To get books on there (in any format), I use Calibre to convert to epub and then use the built in content server. Freda can access this over wifi.

indeed, freda is prolly the most promising e-reader for wp7. it's not quite usable yet, though. it has great features but desperately needs some ui design work. i really miss a decent ereader, so i'm anxiously awaiting an update.

ebook reader
really no alternatives???

yh ABookReader seems quite good although not customizable like Freda, Freda is like how it was on WinMo way too slow,this time it looks uglier...no offense Jim but every wp7 has 1ghz, books should be loading alot faster like in ABookReader.. but like everyone else agrees Freda's got lots of potential and with a little more performance improvements i wouldn't actually mind paying for it

Like I said, I tried "all" the ebook readers available in the marketplace (both paid & free). The BEST one is Amazon Kindle app. Here is why:
- Very streamlined, smooth & polished experience.
- No clutter of confusing options.
- Books load very fast, and you don't need to wait while book is loading & indexed.
- Only con is that you have to sideload your books. Check out the thread on it in this same section.
As for the rest, here are my 2 cents;
ABookReader, Freda, and iSilo all suffer from one or more of these:
- Jittery performance - lots of stuttering.
- Very slow to load & index apps and you can't really do anything while that's happening.
- inconsistent experience: too many options that are scattered all over the place, and they all invariably lack the familiar, content-centric design of Metro UI
- Getting books into the library is actually NOT as simple as you might think.
Cheers
I hope this helps both users & devs.

Freda performance and UI
Hi all,
And thanks for the commentary on Freda. A couple of thoughts:
1) UI design:
I'll be happy to receive UI design advice, but it does raise IP issues, because I do expect to get some revenue from Freda (advertising, licensing to book publishers, etc.) and I do not want to give away a share of that revenue. And I can quite sympathise with a UI expert who doesn't want to give their work to me free of charge.
That said, any UI designer who does want to give me free, no-obligation advice is welcome to. To be useful, such advice needs to be detailed and specific, and implementable in WP7 XAML/C#. That last point is actually a very strong constraint; I have tried out all sorts of slick design ideas that look neat in principle, but give unacceptable performance on a real WP7 device.
2) Performance:
This is an area that I continue to work on. But EPUB files will always present something of a challenge, because opening them involves decompressing a big ZIP archive and parsing large-ish XHTML files. Amazon Kindle actually has it easier here, because the MOBI format is easier to open and parse quickly.
One point to note: I have optimised Freda for the use-case of "I want to resume reading a book that I was reading before". The first time you open a book, you will wait some time before you can see the first page (up to 30 seconds) while it downloads and unpacks the book, and you'll get jittery performance for a few minutes while the whole book is processed. But on subsequently opening the same book, you should be reading smoothly within 5-10 seconds.
Cheers,
Jim

Wonky NC e-reader app on 2.2

I have a rooted NC 2.2 Froyo. Everything, by and large, works splendidly. Youtube, gmail, chat, etc all seamless.
My biggest problem is the nook e-reader app.
1. It won't sync
2. epub files i load to the "document" folder are erratic. Some show up, some don't and most won't even open.
eg. this morning i loaded 10 epub books into the folder. 3 appeared in "my files" and only one opened.
I tried clearing the cache, trying different folders, only loading the epub files without the image file...nadda.
Any help would be greatly appreciated since i bought my nook primarily for reading.

Oh, and when i try to open certain games i receive the message "Information about your device cannot be retrieved due to an unstable platform status. Please restart the application."

anyone? anyone?

FBReader
HI,
Not sure what your issue is, but I was reading books on NC SD card Froyo using
FBReader successfully. I also used Calibre Library to access my ebooks on PC,
served from Calibre (Open source ebook manager) (Doing same now on emmc version
of Cyanogenmod. (CM7/14)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=966339
Talks about a problem on Honeycomb version, perhaps it is also for Froyo Versions?
Good luck, I have been enjoying my NC a lot for ebook reading!
P

Share your Calibre setup for converting PDF's on Xoom??

Heya guys,
So I just recently discovered the real beauty of E-books and the awesome capability of the Xoom in this activity. My question is what are the settings everyone's using to convert their PDF's into E-book format in Calibre? I'm pretty lost in a lot of the settings and all of my PDF's loose their colorful pictures and such when I convert them.. I'm also playing with Aldiko, Kindle, and Nook for viewing my books.. Whats everyone else's preference?

I just have mine set to generic e-ink and then I just convert any pdf to epub and it works great. I have not made any changes to any of the settings. If you have played around with your settings then just revert them back to default and try it again.

The problem I am having is that I have a few magazines that were scanned into PDFs. If I use QuickOffice to view the pdf the font is small, but very crisp and clear. The only issue I have with this option is that I can not save where I left off reading and the page turning is not as smooth. I do not care about the fancy page transitions, although Google Books does look nice. I would like just a simple button to advance pages. With QuickOffice you have to drag the page and it does not snap to the next page.
I tried using Calibre and then reading in Aldiko or using Adobe Reader and the fonts do not render nearly as crisp as using QuickOffice. Does anyone have some suggestions?
These magazines have plenty of color pictures so I do not want to loose those either.
Thanks!

Same boat here. A solution would be helpful!

pratik5705 said:
Same boat here. A solution would be helpful!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For large PDF files (like magazines for example) I have found that converting them to epub format is a waste because it lags when you open it using any of the book readers. You can use Adobe/Quickoffice/Documents to Go but like you mentioned, the only downside is that you cannot create a bookmark so you always have to find your way back to where you left off. If you do convert the files how ever to epub and they are not too big then I found that the problem is that most scanned magazines just do not appear right since you may have 2 magazine pages scanned to one pdf page, images distort how the text looks or where it is located, etc. Another solution is use a comic viewer to read the magazines but this takes too long to create sometimes but it is much better than using a book reader since coming viewers handle large file sizes very well.

My problem is that the PDF's I convert to Ebooks lose all their formating. There is not seperation between lines anymore, the text is all one size, page breaks get deleted, so on and so forth.. They look terrible.. I wonder what type of PDFs everyone else is converting with so much success..