For Our Calibre Experts (iPad questions)

[Aristoexian]

Hey, I'm delighted to find you all here! I'm an iPad/Calibre user with two questions I wonder if the hive might be able to address.

The first is to clarify that the device connect button in Calibre is not for iPad users. I do hope there is hope if it in the future, if not. I know we have other means, and I've been using the Content Server beautifully since I found Calibre many months ago. Now, however, iBooks is balking at taking in any more books. I have 10G of space left so it's not that, rather it seems to be something between Safari and iTunes (I've restarted and reset everything, being a Mac Tech.) I did find references to the problem for other users online, but nothing definitive.

Anyway, I'd be interested in any impressions. Thanks so much!

[unboggling]

See calibre + Apple iDevices: Start Here. I use the Connect to iTunes command under the Sharing icon to establish the connection to iTunes, then the Send to Device button to send selected books to iTunes. Also, I'd suggest upgrading iTunes to the latest version 10.7, if yours is an earlier version.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Aristoexian

The first is to clarify that the device connect button in Calibre is not for iPad users. I do hope there is hope if it in the future, if not. I know we have other means, and I've been using the Content Server beautifully since I found Calibre many months ago.

If by "device connect button" you mean "Start wireless device connection", then yes, and yes.

The first "yes": Calibre Companion, the app that uses calibre's wireless connection driver, currently runs only on android devices.

The second "yes": we (the builders of Calibre Companion) are looking at building an iOS (iPad etc) version of CC. We have two concerns: we need to convince ourselves that the demand is there, and that the Apple App Police won't refuse to put our app into the app store. The reason first concern is obvious: why build something that iPad users won't want? The second is is an issue because Apple might decide that we compete somehow with iBooks or iTunes and reject our app. The only way for us to find out is to spend the time and effort to build it, only to have it all go into the trash can if the app is rejected. We think this is an unlikely outcome, but it is a concern.

Did I answer your question?

[Aristoexian]

Indeed you did, thank you so much. Please believe that we iPad users most definitely want it. If you have any statistics at all on how many of us DO use the iPad may that be your guide as to potential profitability. I run an iPad user's group in my workplace. Out of 100 desks in our company 50 use an iPad and twenty more will soon. We are a Macintosh shop, but from what I've heard this is not a-typical of the general population. Of those who currently use iPad thirty are using Calibre, with various complications with transferring books. Some have SMTP size restrictions at home and security restrictions at work so email is unreliable, many, like me, have problems transferring via iTunes since jailbreaking (a problem documented on Apple Discussions) and some are just afraid of the Content Server. I'm not afraid of the server but have developed an issue that requires I completely quit iBooks for some books to transfer. This issue affects about thirty percent of my titles and is new since I got a retina MBP with Mountain Lion. All this is to say I think you will be blown away by the interest in an iPad app. I'm not a developer so not intimately familiar with the rules around acceptance/rejection but I'm sure this could be determined beforehand, so you don't waste all that effort. Let me know if you'd like me to look into that for you.

[unboggling]

Originally Posted by chaley

If by "device connect button" you mean "Start wireless device connection", then yes, and yes.

@Aristoexian, oops, sorry for misunderstanding your post and answering the wrong question.

@chaley, thanks for clarifying and responding.

[Aristoexian]

@Unboggling I meant to thank you for your kind response. You couldn't have known about my issues as I didn't describe them at all. You were very kind to jump in as you did.

[Ballaterboy]

Just an observation. Al my books are on kindle. 457!!!! I keep track using Calibre. There is a library for each author and the books grouped in series and in logical order so I can read them chronologically. To assist me when aim out and about and I want to move to a new book I need to access calibre to see the next in the series. Likewise if I change author just for a change. Calibre Companion is ideal for this as it is on my Android Smartphone.

Now I have an iPad4 it would be so much easier to have CC on that instead of the phone. Don't want to move books to iPad as I prefer my Kindle for reading.

Just a thought if you are deciding to have a version for iPad or not.

[chaley]

An iOS version of CC is on our todo list. We (well, Steven) just need to find the time to do the work.

[huotg01]

I know 2-3 persons that would be very interested in a iThing CC...

GH