Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
Hello, Maybe Parabola-rM with reMarkable reader? [1]http://www.davisr.me/projects/parabola-rm/ Regards, Jan On Wed, Dec 22, 2021 at 4:13 AM J.B. Nicholson <[2]j...@forestfield.org> wrote: I would like to try reading some DRM-free eBooks with a backlit eBook reader which is lighter than using a laptop and less expensively than using a laptop. I don't need it to be network accessible (no wifi, no Bluetooth needed) so long as it has a USB port and a high capacity storage medium (perhaps a compact flash card) that I can easily copy eBooks to, install in the eBook reader, and use the eBook reader to read files. File format support should include common eBook formats that one can use in freedom (I'd imagine PDFs and epub are reasonable choices). The device should offer the ability to be recharged, ideally with batteries I can replace. It's also okay if the device needs to be plugged in while using the device. It's fine if the device has no upgradable software on it so long as what's on the device works reliably. Editing and/or marking up what I'm reading is not required. Does anyone know of a recommendable device that would do these things? I looked in [3]https://ryf.fsf.org/ and [4]https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en and I didn't notice anything named "ebook reader" or similar language. If I've overlooked something I should consider, please do let me know the URL for that device. Thanks. ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list [5]libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org [6]https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discus s -- Jan Prunk [7]janpr...@gmail.com Tel: +386 41 710598 Website: [8]https://janprunk.com PGP key: [9]https://janprunk.com/pubkey.asc PGP fp: 632E 9670 A3F3 46D3 9090 D59A C6FE 96E1 9FD7 F151 References 1. http://www.davisr.me/projects/parabola-rm/ 2. mailto:j...@forestfield.org 3. https://ryf.fsf.org/ 4. https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en 5. mailto:libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org 6. https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss 7. mailto:janpr...@gmail.com 8. https://janprunk.com/ 9. https://janprunk.com/pubkey.asc ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
I have not found a perfect solution yet. The PineNote looks promising, but is still in early development [1]. The first developer units were shipped out this month so it will be at least a few months before it works normally. The Remarkable tablet can be modified to work with free software in user space. [2] Some Kobo ereaders can be modified to work with free software in user space. [3] The Galaxy Tab 2 with Replicant [4] does not have an e-ink screen, but it could be used as an ebook reader with KOReader [5] from F-Droid [6]. This would probably be the best functional purpose for the device at this time. Books and apps would need to be loaded by USB on the Galaxy Tab 2 unless you get WiFi to work through USB. I have one with Replicant, but I don't need it and would part with it locally in Boston at cost. Really any Android based device works in a pinch with KOReader from F-Droid. [1] [1]https://pine64.com/product/pinenote-developer-edition/ [2] [2]http://www.davisr.me/projects/remarkable-microsd/ [3] [3]https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Hardware/research/e-readers/Kobo [4] [4]https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab2101GT P51xx [5] [5]http://koreader.rocks/ [6] [6]https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.koreader.launcher/ Best, Michael McMahon | Web Developer, Free Software Foundation GPG Key: 4337 2794 C8AD D5CA 8FCF FA6C D037 59DA B600 E3C0 [7]https://fsf.org US government employee? Use CFC charity code 63210 to support us through the Combined Federal Campaign. [8]https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/ On 12/22/21 11:10 AM, Greg Farough wrote: On Wed, Dec 22 2021, Caleb Herbert [9] wrote: I've been tempted to get a Kobo. It prefers PDF and EPUB, but it gets software updates. I've had this page[1] bookmarked for a while, but have never personally tried it. From what I understand, it could be a step above the usual method of installing KOReader, as I think it also replaces the nonfree "Nickel" software that's preloaded on the device. It seems like part of the build process for okreader is pulling in and compiling a kernel -- I wonder if that could be pointed to the identical linux-libre version. The lack of WiFi firmware wouldn't be an issue, since KOReader enables USB storage, but I'm not sure how the lack of "EPD controller firmware" would affect things. In the meantime, I enjoy reading books with nov.el in Emacs. :) -g [1]: [10]https://github.com/lgeek/okreader ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list [11]libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org [12]https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss References 1. https://pine64.com/product/pinenote-developer-edition/ 2. http://www.davisr.me/projects/remarkable-microsd/ 3. https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Hardware/research/e-readers/Kobo 4. https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab2101GTP51xx 5. http://koreader.rocks/ 6. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.koreader.launcher/ 7. https://fsf.org/ 8. https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/ 9. mailto:c...@bluehome.net 10. https://github.com/lgeek/okreader 11. mailto:libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org 12. https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
Hi, I just yesterday got the Kobo Libra 2.
[1]https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-libra-2
It has a USBc with 32GB of storage.
I used Calibre to download books in epub format and connected the
ereader with wifi turned OFF and transferred the books using Calibre.
[2]https://calibre-ebook.com/
The tricky part is setting up the ereader without wifi. This work
around did the trick
[3]https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/mt2f30/comment/guybpj1/
Please let me know if this is clear.
Striving for Freedom,
Crista
Original Message
On Dec 21, 2021, 8:12 PM, J.B. Nicholson < j...@forestfield.org> wrote:
I would like to try reading some DRM-free eBooks with a backlit
eBook reader which is
lighter than using a laptop and less expensively than using a
laptop.
I don't need it to be network accessible (no wifi, no Bluetooth
needed) so long as it
has a USB port and a high capacity storage medium (perhaps a compact
flash card) that
I can easily copy eBooks to, install in the eBook reader, and use
the eBook reader to
read files.
File format support should include common eBook formats that one can
use in freedom
(I'd imagine PDFs and epub are reasonable choices).
The device should offer the ability to be recharged, ideally with
batteries I can
replace. It's also okay if the device needs to be plugged in while
using the device.
It's fine if the device has no upgradable software on it so long as
what's on the
device works reliably. Editing and/or marking up what I'm reading is
not required.
Does anyone know of a recommendable device that would do these
things?
I looked in [4]https://ryf.fsf.org/ and
[5]https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en and I
didn't notice anything named "ebook reader" or similar language. If
I've overlooked
something I should consider, please do let me know the URL for that
device.
Thanks.
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s
References
1. https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-libra-2
2. https://calibre-ebook.com/
3. https://www.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/mt2f30/comment/guybpj1/
4. https://ryf.fsf.org/
5. https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en
6. https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
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Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
I have a Pocketbook Touch HD3, and I'm happy with it. It does epub very well and mobi tolerably (I only use mobi when a free ebook isn't offered in epub and I'm too lazy to convert with Calibre). It can read PDFs but has the same problem as any small screen - PDFs are meant be a page-based format, and anything involving reflowing the text is likely to have problems. (How well it works depends a lot on what software was used to make the PDF.) It's got wifi, which I've never turned on; a touch screen, which I use about half the time (I like page-turn buttons); and a frontlight. (E-ink doesn't have backlight, but they do a reasonably good imitation these days.) Doesn't have a flash card but 16gb is a ridiculous amount of storage for ebooks. Does not have user-replaceable batteries; it plugs into a USB port to charge or sideload books. NewEgg is one of the few places in the US that sells them: [1]https://www.newegg.com/PocketBook-International-SA-E-Book-Read ers/BrandSubCat/ID-207683-782 They weren't available in the US at all for many years. The Pocketbook HD is my fifth or sixth ereader; my all-time favorite stopped being produced years ago, but this one ranks 2nd or 3rd for me. If it's too pricey, or not quite what you're looking for, Mobileread's "Which One Should I Buy?" forum is a terrific place to get the pros and cons of several devices: [2]https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=123 If you don't mind dealing with Amazon, the Kindles are probably the cheapest on the market. They make it complicated to sideload ebooks purchased or free-downloaded from other places, but it can be done. You'd also need to get used to Calibre to convert other ebook formats into mobi or azw3 for a Kindle. On Tue, Dec 21, 2021 at 7:13 PM J.B. Nicholson <[3]j...@forestfield.org> wrote: I would like to try reading some DRM-free eBooks with a backlit eBook reader which is lighter than using a laptop and less expensively than using a laptop. I don't need it to be network accessible (no wifi, no Bluetooth needed) so long as it has a USB port and a high capacity storage medium (perhaps a compact flash card) that I can easily copy eBooks to, install in the eBook reader, and use the eBook reader to read files. File format support should include common eBook formats that one can use in freedom (I'd imagine PDFs and epub are reasonable choices). The device should offer the ability to be recharged, ideally with batteries I can replace. It's also okay if the device needs to be plugged in while using the device. It's fine if the device has no upgradable software on it so long as what's on the device works reliably. Editing and/or marking up what I'm reading is not required. Does anyone know of a recommendable device that would do these things? I looked in [4]https://ryf.fsf.org/ and [5]https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en and I didn't notice anything named "ebook reader" or similar language. If I've overlooked something I should consider, please do let me know the URL for that device. Thanks. ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list [6]libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org [7]https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discus s References 1. https://www.newegg.com/PocketBook-International-SA-E-Book-Readers/BrandSubCat/ID-207683-782 2. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=123 3. mailto:j...@forestfield.org 4. https://ryf.fsf.org/ 5. https://h-node.org/hardware/catalogue/en 6. mailto:libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org 7. https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
On Wed, Dec 22 2021, Caleb Herbert wrote: > I've been tempted to get a Kobo. It prefers PDF and EPUB, but it gets > software updates. I've had this page[1] bookmarked for a while, but have never personally tried it. From what I understand, it could be a step above the usual method of installing KOReader, as I think it also replaces the nonfree "Nickel" software that's preloaded on the device. It seems like part of the build process for okreader is pulling in and compiling a kernel -- I wonder if that could be pointed to the identical linux-libre version. The lack of WiFi firmware wouldn't be an issue, since KOReader enables USB storage, but I'm not sure how the lack of "EPD controller firmware" would affect things. In the meantime, I enjoy reading books with nov.el in Emacs. :) -g [1]: https://github.com/lgeek/okreader -- Greg Farough // Campaigns Manager Free Software Foundation Join the FSF and help us defend software freedom: https://my.fsf.org signature.asc Description: PGP signature ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
Re: Are there any eBook readers one can use in freedom?
I've been tempted to get a Kobo. It prefers PDF and EPUB, but it gets software updates. -- Caleb Herbert https://bluehome.net/csh/ Sent from my GrapheneOS device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. ___ libreplanet-discuss mailing list libreplanet-discuss@libreplanet.org https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
