Is there an OPEN SOURCE ereader for android?

desk · 03-03-2011, 02:18 AM

Aldiko gives a version of its reader for free, but if you want the full version you must pay.

I wonder if there's an open source alternative to this?

Valkrider · 03-03-2011, 02:32 AM

Coolreader have a look at the thread in the Android forum.

rogue_librarian · 03-03-2011, 03:36 AM

There's FBReader, too.

Hellmark · 03-03-2011, 11:16 AM

Is there any particular reason it has to be open source, or are you simply wanting a free one?

bill_mchale · 03-03-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desk

Aldiko gives a version of its reader for free, but if you want the full version you must pay.

I wonder if there's an open source alternative to this?

Actually is there anything in the pay version of Alkido that is not in the free version? I use the free version from time to time and it seems pretty full featured to me. I think the pay version might be there for people who want to support the people who make the software. Though maybe they will get some money from feedbooks now that feedbooks is selling books as well as giving them away?

--
Bill

desk · 03-03-2011, 12:00 PM

thank you for the answers guys!!! let me check your suggestions

AnemicOak · 03-03-2011, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desk

Aldiko gives a version of its reader for free, but if you want the full version you must pay.

The free version is the same. The pay version is like donationware for folks who want to support development. Occasionally the pay users will get their software updated first, but that's it.

EsperKnight · 03-03-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Actually is there anything in the pay version of Alkido that is not in the free version? I use the free version from time to time and it seems pretty full featured to me. I think the pay version might be there for people who want to support the people who make the software. Though maybe they will get some money from feedbooks now that feedbooks is selling books as well as giving them away?

--
Bill

Your correct in that there's no difference between the premium and free versions and it's just to support the developers. The only thing I think you may get if you pay for the premium version is early upgrades if I'm remembering right.

FBReader is pretty nice but there is one thing I've noticed that I really haven't looked into is that it doesn't support italics. I haven't looked into the html for the affected epubs so I'm not sure if it's just those books using some italics code that's not the norm (if there is one) and could be fixed with just running them through Calibre's conversion process.

KevinH · 03-03-2011, 02:23 PM

Hi,

I believe that Calibre is GPL'd and it has a built-in reader/viewer for many types of ebooks including pdb, epub, mobi, etc. I believe the only requirement is python 2.7 and access to Qt4. I am not sure if either of those are available under Android (probably not) but someone could use them as a basis for a multi-reading GPL'd tool if they could port the python code to java (or whatever language Android needs).

Just a thought.

rogue_librarian · 03-03-2011, 02:34 PM

Sure, why not reinvent the wheel. Seriously, Calibre is great, but it's meant to be run on your desktop, not on the reader. I don't think a port would be feasible, actually.

user_none · 03-03-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EsperKnight

I've noticed that I really haven't looked into is that it doesn't support italics.

FBReader does not support CSS. This is why italics are not working in some EPUB files.

There is no port of calibre for Android. There is no official interest for a port and it would be a lot of work.

KevinH · 03-03-2011, 03:39 PM

Hi,

Agreed ... I searched and do see that Python does already exist for Android (SL4A - Scripting Language for Android) as does Jython so porting from Python to Java would not be required at all which is news to me.

Also you would not need get all of calibre running, just the viewers part of the code. I agree this would be a lot of work but should be doable depending on the requirements of the viewer software.

rogue_librarian · 03-03-2011, 03:55 PM

But why? There are perfectly good alternatives available already.

user_none · 03-03-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH

Also you would not need get all of calibre running, just the viewers part of the code. I agree this would be a lot of work but should be doable depending on the requirements of the viewer software.

The viewer requires the entire conversion engine. Which requires Qt. The viewer only supports displaying EPUB. So, every format is first converted to EPUB before being displayed. This can take a few minutes on a modern desktop so I don't want to think trying it on a phone. The viewer also uses a QWebView (WebKit widget) to display the pages.

KevinH · 03-03-2011, 04:26 PM

Hi user_none,

I was thinking more along the lines of Android 3.0 tablets but the current Qt requirement does seem a problem. I searched and did find a few references to Qt4 and webkit for Android, although I have no idea what state that port is in.

Oh well, it is one way to get a good GPL multi-viewer on Android with the benefits of getting a wonderful book management tool if you could ever get all of Calibre to run. A fun project for you! ;-)

Take care,

KevinH

03-03-2011, 02:18 AM	#1
desk Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	Is there an OPEN SOURCE ereader for android? Aldiko gives a version of its reader for free, but if you want the full version you must pay. I wonder if there's an open source alternative to this? Last edited by desk; 03-03-2011 at 02:23 AM.

03-03-2011, 03:36 AM	#3
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4073169 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	There's FBReader, too. __________________

03-03-2011, 02:34 PM	#10
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4073169 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	Sure, why not reinvent the wheel. Seriously, Calibre is great, but it's meant to be run on your desktop, not on the reader. I don't think a port would be feasible, actually. __________________

03-03-2011, 03:55 PM	#13
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4073169 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	But why? There are perfectly good alternatives available already. __________________

03-03-2011, 04:26 PM	#15
KevinH Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 230878 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi user_none, I was thinking more along the lines of Android 3.0 tablets but the current Qt requirement does seem a problem. I searched and did find a few references to Qt4 and webkit for Android, although I have no idea what state that port is in. Oh well, it is one way to get a good GPL multi-viewer on Android with the benefits of getting a wonderful book management tool if you could ever get all of Calibre to run. A fun project for you! ;-) Take care, KevinH Last edited by KevinH; 03-03-2011 at 04:29 PM.

03-03-2011, 02:32 AM	#2
Valkrider Groupie Posts: 159 Karma: 1136132 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Spain Device: iPad Mini, iPad2, PRS600, iPhone, iPod, Palm TX	Coolreader have a look at the thread in the Android forum.

03-03-2011, 11:16 AM	#4
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,499 Karma: 3629753 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505	Is there any particular reason it has to be open source, or are you simply wanting a free one?

03-03-2011, 12:00 PM	#6
desk Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	thank you for the answers guys!!! let me check your suggestions

03-03-2011, 02:23 PM	#9
KevinH Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 230878 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi, I believe that Calibre is GPL'd and it has a built-in reader/viewer for many types of ebooks including pdb, epub, mobi, etc. I believe the only requirement is python 2.7 and access to Qt4. I am not sure if either of those are available under Android (probably not) but someone could use them as a basis for a multi-reading GPL'd tool if they could port the python code to java (or whatever language Android needs). Just a thought.

03-03-2011, 03:39 PM	#12
KevinH Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 230878 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi, Agreed ... I searched and do see that Python does already exist for Android (SL4A - Scripting Language for Android) as does Jython so porting from Python to Java would not be required at all which is news to me. Also you would not need get all of calibre running, just the viewers part of the code. I agree this would be a lot of work but should be doable depending on the requirements of the viewer software.

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