6 ms·

You should check out the PocketBook Era. It's what I moved to from the Kindle Oasis and I've really enjoyed it. The device isn't as svelte as the Oasis since it

by IPTN 2y ago

You should check out the PocketBook Era. It's what I moved to from the Kindle Oasis and I've really enjoyed it. The device isn't as svelte as the Oasis since it isn't subsidized by Amazon, but has an assymetric design and even more physical buttons which you can fully customize the control scheme. Also like the Oasis it gets amazing battery life with it's light weight OS compared to the Android based e-readers. The PocketBook cloud is just as seamless as the syncing with Amazon if that is something you use. Only time I notice problems is during the weekly maintenance window which just looks like an outage. It has bidirectional sync for your progress as well as syncing new books and has a web interface and a phone app. Also offers the same email endpoint service as Kindle and you can set up Adobe DRM to use with library borrowing as well as other places that distribute ascm. The builtin store probably doesn't have the same availability of titles as Amazon but I haven't used it since I manage my library with Calibre and buy my books from various stores. Best of all is the customizability. Don't want to use their store or cloud? You can turn off (really just not setup and hide) all the features and integrations individualy to make it an "offline" reader but still bring it online for things like Wikipedia lookup and web searches. You don't even need an account to set it up. You can also load additional dictionaries, fonts, and even applications on it. It has a healthy if small development scene. There is a new color version but if you don't read things that require color I would get the original; Based on reviews it has the the same downside as Kobo and others that use the Kalaido screen where it's relatively dimmer in ambient light compared to the B/W one and so needs a higher average backlight level to compensate. Overall I've been really happy with my switch and can't see myself going back to Kindle.

andrewla 2y ago
I have a significant library with Amazon -- does this have any support for Kindle books? The Android-based ones let you run a Kindle app, which, while not ideal, at least lets me access the library. I've considered doing a sweep to download all of my kindle books and de-DRM them so that I have an archive, but this is a tortuous process if your library has over a thousand titles, as mine does.
- IPTN 2y ago
  Not seemlessly because Amazon has their store locked down to Kindle. But you can export all your books from the Amazon web interface or use the desktop Kindle app to download them all. You would then use Calibre with a couple plugins to deDRM them. At that point you have plain ebook files in Amazon's format to do what you want with. Calibre can convert them to any one of the open ebook formats (I personally prefer epub) and sync them to your device(s)). Those ebooks are treated like any others and fully supported by PocketBook cloud if you use it. The convenience of Amazon's store for Kindle is nice, but it's also how they lock you in to their ecosystem and devices so you keep only buying/paying for a subscription with them. The process is really not bad at all if you use the desktop Kindle app to download your library before importing to Calibre. Each step is fully automated with the only manual parts being setting it up and doing each step in sequence for the whole library but not each individual book.
  - drilbo 2y ago
    I haven't been able to find any sort of option to export from the web interface, and poking around at it with dev tools I don't see a non-trivial way to grab whole books. Am I missing something obvious?
    - IPTN 2y ago
      The last time I looked into it, you had to have a valid target device or client registered to your account, typically a kindle reader. Then an option to download for transfer with usb would show kn the menu for entries in your library. It will download a kindle format ebook (there are multiple generations and even a new format) that is compatible with that device that and is also DRMd using that devices serial as a key. So no, I wouldn't say you missed anything obvious, which is a feature not a bug as far as Amazon is concerned.
  - criddell 2y ago
    Amazon's latest file format (KFX, I think) hasn't been cracked. You can't reliably strip DRM from new Amazon books. The tools work on some of the books some of the time, but you can't rely on it working. The workarounds mostly involve getting Amazon to give you the book in an older format, but then you lose the typography improvements that KFX gets you. Apple's DRM format (Fairplay?) has never been cracked but I believe Adobe's has. Buying from the Google store of Kobo store is probably the best bet. The book DRM problem requires a legislative solution.
akvadrako 2y ago
I bought a Pocketbook Verse Pro last year and it's okay, but has some issues. There is no PB Cloud support but it uses Dropbox, however that means no syncing progress like with kindle. It takes a few seconds to start since it's Android and fully turns off. And highlighting is very clunky. The software situation with that company is pretty sketchy. From their website both mine and yours are listed as the same OS but seem totally different.
- IPTN 2y ago
  Dropbox syncing is seperate from PocketBook Cloud even though the device calls it Dropbox PocketBook. Your device seems to have gotten all the same recent FW updates as mine on a similar timeframe, so as far as I can tell from release notes and the User Manuals they are running the same firmware and support the same features. Not sure why you have the impression it is running Android, but hopefully you don't have some knockoff? You do have to setup and login to a PocketBook account to use the cloud synchronization. I have not tried the Dropbox integration, but it only supports a synchronized file folder. In the user manual for the Verse Pro[1], the setup for PB Cloud starts on page 79 and isn't grouped with the Dropbox sync or email endpoint earlier on in the manual. The only controversy related to PB Software that I am aware of is that it used to be even more open with a published SDK. It was many years ago that they stopped actively maintaining tne SDK. That doesn't seem to have stopped people from continuing to develop for PB devices, and as far as I'm aware PB have not done anything to prevent this or lock down their devices beyond not continuing public development of the SDK. Certainly theur current lineup of devices allow you to run 3rd party applications and are simple to get root shell access on. [1]https://support.pocketbook-int.com/fw/634/u/6.8.3796/manual/User_Manual_Verse_Pro_EN.pdf https://support.pocketbook-int.com/fw/634/u/6.8.3796/manual/...
  - akvadrako 2y ago
    It definitely does not support Pocketbook Cloud; it just isn't an option. I have a pocketbook account and can use it for the app on phones. Maybe it's a regional thing.
    - 2y ago
DavideNL 2y ago
Two things that are stopping me from buying a PocketBook: 1. Android (privacy...) 2. No light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness to surroundings (i currently have the Kindle Oasis 3, jailbroken, running KOreader.)
- IPTN 2y ago
  If I understand your first point correctly, then I have great news. I guess my wording could have been more clear, but PocketBook devices do NOT run Android. As for the second, if that is a requirement then at least the Era doesn't have an ambient light sensor. I don't have any issue without it because I just have the front light off entirely by default since it is e-ink. Obviously if I need to use it in the dark I turn it on, but that is easy without having to navigate a screen I can't see since you can configure a hardware shortcut to toggle the front light (it is set to long press on the home button by default). While it does support automatic screen brightness and temperature (individually toggled), these are driven by a schedule based on the set timezones.
  - DavideNL 2y ago
    Thanks @IPTN; > PocketBook devices do NOT run Android Well actually some _do_ run Android, but good to see also some of them (like the Era) do not... > these are driven by a schedule based on the set timezones Yea, i don't really like that unfortunately, as it doesn't properly work inside when lighting changes. I'll patiently wait on a next release, hoping for a non-Android and light sensor included device :-)
    - IPTN 2y ago
      > Well actually some _do_ run Android, but good to see also some of them (like the Era) do not... I was unaware of this. Looks like they have a couple devices that are "e-note" devices, are larger, and support stylus input that are Android devices. Maybe also a couple readers from a long time ago, saw an article mentioning one running KitKat 4.4. Thanks for letting me know!

by IPTN 2y ago

andrewla 2y ago

I have a significant library with Amazon -- does this have any support for Kindle books? The Android-based ones let you run a Kindle app, which, while not ideal, at least lets me access the library. I've considered doing a sweep to download all of my kindle books and de-DRM them so that I have an archive, but this is a tortuous process if your library has over a thousand titles, as mine does.

IPTN 2y ago
Not seemlessly because Amazon has their store locked down to Kindle. But you can export all your books from the Amazon web interface or use the desktop Kindle app to download them all. You would then use Calibre with a couple plugins to deDRM them. At that point you have plain ebook files in Amazon's format to do what you want with. Calibre can convert them to any one of the open ebook formats (I personally prefer epub) and sync them to your device(s)). Those ebooks are treated like any others and fully supported by PocketBook cloud if you use it. The convenience of Amazon's store for Kindle is nice, but it's also how they lock you in to their ecosystem and devices so you keep only buying/paying for a subscription with them. The process is really not bad at all if you use the desktop Kindle app to download your library before importing to Calibre. Each step is fully automated with the only manual parts being setting it up and doing each step in sequence for the whole library but not each individual book.
- drilbo 2y ago
  I haven't been able to find any sort of option to export from the web interface, and poking around at it with dev tools I don't see a non-trivial way to grab whole books. Am I missing something obvious?
  - IPTN 2y ago
    The last time I looked into it, you had to have a valid target device or client registered to your account, typically a kindle reader. Then an option to download for transfer with usb would show kn the menu for entries in your library. It will download a kindle format ebook (there are multiple generations and even a new format) that is compatible with that device that and is also DRMd using that devices serial as a key. So no, I wouldn't say you missed anything obvious, which is a feature not a bug as far as Amazon is concerned.
- criddell 2y ago
  Amazon's latest file format (KFX, I think) hasn't been cracked. You can't reliably strip DRM from new Amazon books. The tools work on some of the books some of the time, but you can't rely on it working. The workarounds mostly involve getting Amazon to give you the book in an older format, but then you lose the typography improvements that KFX gets you. Apple's DRM format (Fairplay?) has never been cracked but I believe Adobe's has. Buying from the Google store of Kobo store is probably the best bet. The book DRM problem requires a legislative solution.

akvadrako 2y ago

I bought a Pocketbook Verse Pro last year and it's okay, but has some issues. There is no PB Cloud support but it uses Dropbox, however that means no syncing progress like with kindle. It takes a few seconds to start since it's Android and fully turns off. And highlighting is very clunky. The software situation with that company is pretty sketchy. From their website both mine and yours are listed as the same OS but seem totally different.

IPTN 2y ago
Dropbox syncing is seperate from PocketBook Cloud even though the device calls it Dropbox PocketBook. Your device seems to have gotten all the same recent FW updates as mine on a similar timeframe, so as far as I can tell from release notes and the User Manuals they are running the same firmware and support the same features. Not sure why you have the impression it is running Android, but hopefully you don't have some knockoff? You do have to setup and login to a PocketBook account to use the cloud synchronization. I have not tried the Dropbox integration, but it only supports a synchronized file folder. In the user manual for the Verse Pro[1], the setup for PB Cloud starts on page 79 and isn't grouped with the Dropbox sync or email endpoint earlier on in the manual. The only controversy related to PB Software that I am aware of is that it used to be even more open with a published SDK. It was many years ago that they stopped actively maintaining tne SDK. That doesn't seem to have stopped people from continuing to develop for PB devices, and as far as I'm aware PB have not done anything to prevent this or lock down their devices beyond not continuing public development of the SDK. Certainly theur current lineup of devices allow you to run 3rd party applications and are simple to get root shell access on. [1]https://support.pocketbook-int.com/fw/634/u/6.8.3796/manual/User_Manual_Verse_Pro_EN.pdf https://support.pocketbook-int.com/fw/634/u/6.8.3796/manual/...
- akvadrako 2y ago
  It definitely does not support Pocketbook Cloud; it just isn't an option. I have a pocketbook account and can use it for the app on phones. Maybe it's a regional thing.
  - 2y ago

DavideNL 2y ago

Two things that are stopping me from buying a PocketBook: 1. Android (privacy...) 2. No light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness to surroundings (i currently have the Kindle Oasis 3, jailbroken, running KOreader.)

IPTN 2y ago
If I understand your first point correctly, then I have great news. I guess my wording could have been more clear, but PocketBook devices do NOT run Android. As for the second, if that is a requirement then at least the Era doesn't have an ambient light sensor. I don't have any issue without it because I just have the front light off entirely by default since it is e-ink. Obviously if I need to use it in the dark I turn it on, but that is easy without having to navigate a screen I can't see since you can configure a hardware shortcut to toggle the front light (it is set to long press on the home button by default). While it does support automatic screen brightness and temperature (individually toggled), these are driven by a schedule based on the set timezones.
- DavideNL 2y ago
  Thanks @IPTN; > PocketBook devices do NOT run Android Well actually some _do_ run Android, but good to see also some of them (like the Era) do not... > these are driven by a schedule based on the set timezones Yea, i don't really like that unfortunately, as it doesn't properly work inside when lighting changes. I'll patiently wait on a next release, hoping for a non-Android and light sensor included device :-)
  - IPTN 2y ago
    > Well actually some _do_ run Android, but good to see also some of them (like the Era) do not... I was unaware of this. Looks like they have a couple devices that are "e-note" devices, are larger, and support stylus input that are Android devices. Maybe also a couple readers from a long time ago, saw an article mentioning one running KitKat 4.4. Thanks for letting me know!