Quote:
Originally Posted by paolamanzini
Ah, maybe I am getting it: in a way, a folder on the device is simply a set of links to the various books/documents. So with what you are suggesting one could even connect wirelessly to the pc's calibre library and download the desired books, am I getting this right?
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Yes.
That is how Aldiko (on Android) and Stanza (on iOS) do it; you pick the Catalog you want and it connects you to the site's published book list *inside the app*. Selecting a title pops up a pane that shows you a thumbnail and the full description/summary/comments associated with it. Plus the option to download the file. Except for the download pop-up it is like finding and opening a local link.
The chief advantage is integrating the web-hosted content with the local storage without having to bounce between apps.
Here's a step-by-step guide showing how to use dropbox and calibre to feed Stanza on iOS using OPDS catalogs.
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2010...-opds-dropbox/
You can also access books directly from *your* PC instead, if you choose to.
BTW, OPDS is not the only way to do this kind of stuff; Calibre will also export straight to any browser. Or you can set up your own web page or FTP site and download the books that way. A friend of mine uses his router's FTP function to export his home PC's ebook folders to his Kindle. (With strong security, of course.

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Some time this summer I hope to find the time to take a crack at it myself. There's a lot of value in wifi Readers beyond directly connecting to a storefront.