Integrating an eBook Reader with CC

Jeremy Pallant · 03-06-2015, 11:52 AM

I have, relatively recently, started using Calibre Companion as my library application. What I like to do is long-tap on a book, and open it up directly in a reader. When I exit, I like to be able to exit straight back to CC.

Straight into the book and straight out, nothing in between.

The primary ebook reader applications I use for this are Cool Reader, FBReader and Skoob. All three have excellent implementations of the epub 2.0 standard. Arguably Cool Reader is the better one.

I was wondering what other application do people use with Calibre Companion in a similar fashion.

chaley · 03-06-2015, 12:12 PM

I think that any reader app that directly opens a book behaves as you describe. I have tested it on two that you name, Cool Reader and FBReader, and on Moon+, Mantano, Adobe Reader, PDF Viewer, Komik, and a few others.

Are you asking people what reader app they prefer?

Jeremy Pallant · 03-06-2015, 12:31 PM

Actually for CBR and CBZ files I've used Komik as well.

But yes, I'm wondering what readers other people prefer. It might lead me to a better solution than I'm currently using.

I prefer not to use readers that import the book I wish to read.

Moon+ Reader used a rather poor epub implementation which actually is what lead me to Calibre Companion.

Mantano looks very nice, but I don't like that it is so entrenched in its own online service. A similar comment applies to Prestigo.

I've basically tried a round dozen or so book readers to get to the three I'm currently using, through the primary one is Cool Reader. Actually, the best in terms of integration is Skoob, but it eats battery life at an incredible rate. Also Cool Reader has a better epub implementation.

cybmole · 03-09-2015, 02:26 AM

Mantano does what you want. When it says "importing" its not actually making a 2nd epub copy, just making database records for highlights etc. as for its expensive "cloud" service, just don't buy it - it's an optional monthly fee extra anyway.
if you delete a book via CC though, mantano bookshelf will still list it, greyed out i.e. it will know it has gone but will not delete any associated notes, highlights etc unless told to. that's probably a good feature ?
of all those ones I tried, Mantano was most respectful of book CSS,; Moon + makes far too many arbitrary changes for me.
the Kindle fire native app would be ok if I could configure screen tap zones, for left handed use, but that's not allowed. ditto for Kobo android app.. so I have done my best to mimic the Kindle app line spacing and background colour themes in mantano

Jeremy Pallant · 03-09-2015, 08:03 AM

I like what I've seen of Mantano, with the exception of the intrusive and ever-present bookstore. What does put me off is that it crashes regularly.

I am spending quality time with Namo's Pubtree Reader at the moment and Obreey's Pocketbook Reader.

cybmole · 03-09-2015, 10:18 AM

My mantano premium install on Kinlde Fire never crashes. and I rarely see their book store page , the app usually opens on "my bookshelf." I think it only goes to their shop page on 1st open after a reboot.

I read that their experimental epub3 renderer is flaky. but for what I do: i.e. read epub books, bookmark progress, highlight the occasional type for later correction, look up the occasional word in colordict/wikipedia, its solid

NB I am not one of these compulsive must store 15,0000 books on a tablet persons, I just have the 5 or 6 that I am currently reading.

They do release regular updates., but like Kobo it's often fix one bug, add two more rush-release type updates which I don't care for. every other release seems to be a bug fix for the previous one!.

Reading the google play comments and their own site support pages, suggests that they are fairly good at dealing with issues.

the two other readers you name are not in my amazon store

Jeremy Pallant · 03-09-2015, 01:46 PM

Like I say, I like what I've seen of Mantano with the exceptions I mention. I find, as a result, it's not suitable for my purposes. As a stand-alone, I might like it rather better.

My yardstick when it comes to a reader is, how does it compare with iBooks, which seems to be the gold standard for epub 2 implementation.

hleo12 · 03-14-2015, 09:36 AM

I'm using Pocketbook. It has all the basic functions that I need (except for an intuitive bookmarking system. I used to use Moon+ Pro but it's epub rendering is sometimes horrendous I cringe whenever I'm looking at it.

I'm still trying to find a better one. Mantano seems promising but I've been seeing mixed reviews on playstore and here. But Pocketbook works really well for me right now.

Jeremy Pallant · 03-14-2015, 01:12 PM

Pocketbook is my second choice after Pubtree, though it somewhat interferes with my "straight in - straight out" policy when running from CC. However I like its epub 2 implementation.

Certainly Moon+ Pro isn't a great epub 2 implementation. However I did like its library system, and the way I could download cover pages.

I would like to try EPUBreader, but it doesn't work with Firefox on Android, and Mike Volz' implementation for Android is essentially non-functional on a Nexus 7.

03-06-2015, 11:52 AM	#1
Jeremy Pallant Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 321146 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: NVIDIA Shield Tablet 32GB	Integrating an eBook Reader with CC I have, relatively recently, started using Calibre Companion as my library application. What I like to do is long-tap on a book, and open it up directly in a reader. When I exit, I like to be able to exit straight back to CC. Straight into the book and straight out, nothing in between. The primary ebook reader applications I use for this are Cool Reader, FBReader and Skoob. All three have excellent implementations of the epub 2.0 standard. Arguably Cool Reader is the better one. I was wondering what other application do people use with Calibre Companion in a similar fashion.

03-09-2015, 08:03 AM	#5
Jeremy Pallant Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 321146 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: NVIDIA Shield Tablet 32GB	I like what I've seen of Mantano, with the exception of the intrusive and ever-present bookstore. What does put me off is that it crashes regularly. I am spending quality time with Namo's Pubtree Reader at the moment and Obreey's Pocketbook Reader. Last edited by Jeremy Pallant; 03-09-2015 at 02:14 PM.

03-09-2015, 10:18 AM	#6
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	My mantano premium install on Kinlde Fire never crashes. and I rarely see their book store page , the app usually opens on "my bookshelf." I think it only goes to their shop page on 1st open after a reboot. I read that their experimental epub3 renderer is flaky. but for what I do: i.e. read epub books, bookmark progress, highlight the occasional type for later correction, look up the occasional word in colordict/wikipedia, its solid NB I am not one of these compulsive must store 15,0000 books on a tablet persons, I just have the 5 or 6 that I am currently reading. They do release regular updates., but like Kobo it's often fix one bug, add two more rush-release type updates which I don't care for. every other release seems to be a bug fix for the previous one!. Reading the google play comments and their own site support pages, suggests that they are fairly good at dealing with issues. the two other readers you name are not in my amazon store Last edited by cybmole; 03-09-2015 at 10:22 AM.

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03-06-2015, 12:12 PM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,416 Karma: 8012664 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	I think that any reader app that directly opens a book behaves as you describe. I have tested it on two that you name, Cool Reader and FBReader, and on Moon+, Mantano, Adobe Reader, PDF Viewer, Komik, and a few others. Are you asking people what reader app they prefer?

03-06-2015, 12:31 PM	#3
Jeremy Pallant Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 321146 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: NVIDIA Shield Tablet 32GB	Actually for CBR and CBZ files I've used Komik as well. But yes, I'm wondering what readers other people prefer. It might lead me to a better solution than I'm currently using. I prefer not to use readers that import the book I wish to read. Moon+ Reader used a rather poor epub implementation which actually is what lead me to Calibre Companion. Mantano looks very nice, but I don't like that it is so entrenched in its own online service. A similar comment applies to Prestigo. I've basically tried a round dozen or so book readers to get to the three I'm currently using, through the primary one is Cool Reader. Actually, the best in terms of integration is Skoob, but it eats battery life at an incredible rate. Also Cool Reader has a better epub implementation.

03-09-2015, 02:26 AM	#4
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	Mantano does what you want. When it says "importing" its not actually making a 2nd epub copy, just making database records for highlights etc. as for its expensive "cloud" service, just don't buy it - it's an optional monthly fee extra anyway. if you delete a book via CC though, mantano bookshelf will still list it, greyed out i.e. it will know it has gone but will not delete any associated notes, highlights etc unless told to. that's probably a good feature ? of all those ones I tried, Mantano was most respectful of book CSS,; Moon + makes far too many arbitrary changes for me. the Kindle fire native app would be ok if I could configure screen tap zones, for left handed use, but that's not allowed. ditto for Kobo android app.. so I have done my best to mimic the Kindle app line spacing and background colour themes in mantano

03-09-2015, 01:46 PM	#7
Jeremy Pallant Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 321146 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: NVIDIA Shield Tablet 32GB	Like I say, I like what I've seen of Mantano with the exceptions I mention. I find, as a result, it's not suitable for my purposes. As a stand-alone, I might like it rather better. My yardstick when it comes to a reader is, how does it compare with iBooks, which seems to be the gold standard for epub 2 implementation.

03-14-2015, 09:36 AM	#8
hleo12 Guru Posts: 655 Karma: 5078890 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kobo Glo (deceased), Kindle 4th, Kindle Basic 10th Generation	I'm using Pocketbook. It has all the basic functions that I need (except for an intuitive bookmarking system. I used to use Moon+ Pro but it's epub rendering is sometimes horrendous I cringe whenever I'm looking at it. I'm still trying to find a better one. Mantano seems promising but I've been seeing mixed reviews on playstore and here. But Pocketbook works really well for me right now.

03-14-2015, 01:12 PM	#9
Jeremy Pallant Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 321146 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: NVIDIA Shield Tablet 32GB	Pocketbook is my second choice after Pubtree, though it somewhat interferes with my "straight in - straight out" policy when running from CC. However I like its epub 2 implementation. Certainly Moon+ Pro isn't a great epub 2 implementation. However I did like its library system, and the way I could download cover pages. I would like to try EPUBreader, but it doesn't work with Firefox on Android, and Mike Volz' implementation for Android is essentially non-functional on a Nexus 7.

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