Calibre Companion or Calibre Cloud Pro

tamhas · 04-03-2015, 04:44 PM

In other threads
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=258377
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho....php?p=3072729
Theresa (TdeV) and I have discussed some issues about trying to use a Windows 8 tablet to support both a reader and a copy of Calibre so that one could browse the library with in-depth information in selecting a new book. We recognize that this has some issues, so we have set that aside for now to explore using a smaller Android tablet as a reader with Calibre Companion as a way to access the Calibre information. While in the store, Theresa was also pointed at Calibre Cloud Pro which purports to fill this function by putting the Calibre library in Dropbox or somesuch ... with the issues that entails, but which does not involve connecting the device to Calibre.

Does anyone have experience which would point strongly at one or the other? I notice that only Calibre Companion has a forum here.

eschwartz · 04-03-2015, 06:16 PM

Calibre Companion is developed by a calibre developer, who is active here (help and bugfixes) and personally wrote the smart device driver in calibre (which the app uses to communicate). He also knows a LOT about how to work directly with calibre.

Several other apps exist which utilize the smart device driver, but it was written and is developed primarily for Calibre Companion's needs.

Whichever app does what you need, get it. Keep in mind, chaley is a known quantity and someone you can easily contact, responsive about issues, requests, and bugs...
And people tend to appreciate that a lot here. In case you didn't notice, I am highly biased towards Calibre Companion.

BetterRed · 04-03-2015, 06:51 PM

@tamhas - I'm agnostic as I use neither

Calibre Companion has a free version, limited to 10, or maybe 20, books - which is enough if you only keep current and a few unread books on your device.

Calibre Cloud also has a free version, not sure what the limitations are - looks like you need Pro to use Mantano as the reader.

Whilst they fulfil a similar need, their approach is very different. So I suggest you try both of them and decide which best fits your needs.

Here's a recent thread on the feasibility of incorporating Calibre Cloud-like features into Calibre Companion ==>> Support Calibre database on cloud? . It also has a link to an older and longer discussion.

If I was to use either I would probably use Companion because I don't like to be cloud dependent as I'm often offline. But I only keep a few books on my devices hence I don't really need it, besides I prefer not to connect my devices (android) to calibre.

BR

tamhas · 04-10-2015, 10:08 AM

Companion is now being happily used.

Kartoffelr · 04-12-2015, 06:43 AM

I actually use Syncthing for quite a while to keep calibre libraries synchronous on multiple devices. We are only talking about few hundred MB, a few GB at most.

tamhas · 04-17-2015, 10:27 AM

My challenge at this point is to merge two libraries into one so that we can even think about syncing.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...30#post3081930

scarlettruin · 05-01-2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kartoffelr

I actually use Syncthing for quite a while to keep calibre libraries synchronous on multiple devices. We are only talking about few hundred MB, a few GB at most.

How do you use syncthing to do this please?

Kartoffelr · 05-08-2015, 01:40 AM

On computer and laptop you use either the windows, linux or mac version, on smartphone and tablet the android app (which is basically an additional GUI on top).
Once all devices "know" each other (you add their IDs in the other syncthing instances), you can add folders to be synchronized between all or a selection of them.

http://imgur.com/vvVlRXL

I am not sure about how well syncthing is yet supported on a windows 8 tablet, but one could just try it out or ask in the syncthing forum.

04-03-2015, 04:44 PM	#1
tamhas Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Calibre Companion or Calibre Cloud Pro In other threads https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=258377 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho....php?p=3072729 Theresa (TdeV) and I have discussed some issues about trying to use a Windows 8 tablet to support both a reader and a copy of Calibre so that one could browse the library with in-depth information in selecting a new book. We recognize that this has some issues, so we have set that aside for now to explore using a smaller Android tablet as a reader with Calibre Companion as a way to access the Calibre information. While in the store, Theresa was also pointed at Calibre Cloud Pro which purports to fill this function by putting the Calibre library in Dropbox or somesuch ... with the issues that entails, but which does not involve connecting the device to Calibre. Does anyone have experience which would point strongly at one or the other? I notice that only Calibre Companion has a forum here.

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04-03-2015, 06:16 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Calibre Companion is developed by a calibre developer, who is active here (help and bugfixes) and personally wrote the smart device driver in calibre (which the app uses to communicate). He also knows a LOT about how to work directly with calibre. Several other apps exist which utilize the smart device driver, but it was written and is developed primarily for Calibre Companion's needs. Whichever app does what you need, get it. Keep in mind, chaley is a known quantity and someone you can easily contact, responsive about issues, requests, and bugs... And people tend to appreciate that a lot here. In case you didn't notice, I am highly biased towards Calibre Companion.

04-03-2015, 06:51 PM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,660 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@tamhas - I'm agnostic as I use neither Calibre Companion has a free version, limited to 10, or maybe 20, books - which is enough if you only keep current and a few unread books on your device. Calibre Cloud also has a free version, not sure what the limitations are - looks like you need Pro to use Mantano as the reader. Whilst they fulfil a similar need, their approach is very different. So I suggest you try both of them and decide which best fits your needs. Here's a recent thread on the feasibility of incorporating Calibre Cloud-like features into Calibre Companion ==>> Support Calibre database on cloud? . It also has a link to an older and longer discussion. If I was to use either I would probably use Companion because I don't like to be cloud dependent as I'm often offline. But I only keep a few books on my devices hence I don't really need it, besides I prefer not to connect my devices (android) to calibre. BR

04-10-2015, 10:08 AM	#4
tamhas Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Companion is now being happily used.

04-12-2015, 06:43 AM	#5
Kartoffelr Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kindle PW1	I actually use Syncthing for quite a while to keep calibre libraries synchronous on multiple devices. We are only talking about few hundred MB, a few GB at most.

04-17-2015, 10:27 AM	#6
tamhas Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	My challenge at this point is to merge two libraries into one so that we can even think about syncing. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...30#post3081930

05-08-2015, 01:40 AM	#8
Kartoffelr Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kindle PW1	On computer and laptop you use either the windows, linux or mac version, on smartphone and tablet the android app (which is basically an additional GUI on top). Once all devices "know" each other (you add their IDs in the other syncthing instances), you can add folders to be synchronized between all or a selection of them. http://imgur.com/vvVlRXL I am not sure about how well syncthing is yet supported on a windows 8 tablet, but one could just try it out or ask in the syncthing forum.

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