Bluetooth page-turner enthusiast here! I’ve developed the Bluetooth page-turner add-on for KOreader (
Kobo KOReader which you can find on this forum), and I use my trusty 8BitDo controller with KOReader every single day.
I usually read in two modes. The first is my casual reading mode, when I just want to sneak in a few pages during the day, this is done using the reader directly, no remote. The second is what I call my “trance mode,” where I spend hours reading while lying down, completely immersed.
In trance mode, I set my e-reader on a tablet stand, get a blanket on and with the Bluetooth controller, I can operate everything without ever leaving the comfort of my blanket. This is usually how I fall asleep.
I’m not sure how many people enjoy this kind of “trance reading,” but I’ve had multiple users reach out to thank me for making the plugins public, so I know there are at least a few kindred spirits out there.
As you can tell, I see a lot of potential in remote reader control. My faith in touchscreens, however, is very low. Here’s why:
Before going through all the trouble, I actually tried using a Wi-Fi page turner for a while (check out the thread “
A Wi-Fi Remote Control Page Turner for Kobo e-Readers” on this forum). It’s essentially the same concept with yours, but designed for Kobo devices, and it works from a browser that you make fullscreen on your phone.
For proper remote control, you really need at least two buttons: previous page and next page. If you only have next page, I can almost guarantee you’ll misclick more often than you’d like,and eventually, you’ll need to intervene manually. But once you add a second button, precise control becomes the next challenge.
If you’re trying to operate your reader without looking directly at the controller, a non-tactile surface like a smartphone touchscreen becomes incredibly frustrating. Your finger will slide around, you’ll lose position, and you’ll start misclicking again.
I think anyone who’s willing to go through the effort of setting up a proper remote control will probably already own some kind of e-ink device, and for those, good remote solutions already exist. On an iPad, though, maybe a simple wireless keyboard plugin could still be a practical and tactile option.
For those who use kobo but not koreader, I highly recommend tsowell's kobo-nickel plugin that can be found
here for similar remote device support.