You Should Buy an Android E-Reader

[pefilix]

First i want to say how happy i am.

Because finally i get an ebook reader which exactly i want.

I dont recommend any brand but i recommend android based device who want advice for an e-rader.

Because i just install Moon+ Reader to this device and;

All epub page settings like font size, hypnation, margins, line spacing done in just 10 minutes. And all epubs opens with same settings.

I put my large ebook collection as categorized folders and sub folders to memory and i can easily navigate with moon readers integrated file browser. And i can see shortcuts for my bookmarked folders on Moon readers main screen .

Shelf view working. I can look my folders as shelf view. In shelf view i can tag all books in a folder just 2 steps. Select all and tag.

I can backup all settings annonations and highlights just on click as a file. And i can restore all of this any androidd device just one click.

Pdf page navigation smooth and all pdfs easy to read.

Plus moon readers fine brightness setting, night mode, background color features.

if you want to do this basic things on other non android ereaders yo need to do tons of patch tons of tweaks tons of efforts. and all of this operations needs too much effort to do every time.

so who want an advice for an ebook reader i recommend android based device.

[pazos]

Originally Posted by pefilix

First i want to say how happy i am.

Because finally i get an ebook reader which exactly i want.

I dont recommend any brand but i recommend android based device who want advice for an e-rader.

Because i just install Moon+ Reader to this device and;

All epub page settings like font size, hypnation, margins, line spacing done in just 10 minutes. And all epubs opens with same settings.

I put my large ebook collection as categorized folders and sub folders to memory and i can easily navigate with moon readers integrated file browser. And i can see shortcuts for my bookmarked folders on Moon readers main screen .

Shelf view working. I can look my folders as shelf view. In shelf view i can tag all books in a folder just 2 steps. Select all and tag.

I can backup all settings annonations and highlights just on click as a file. And i can restore all of this any androidd device just one click.

Pdf page navigation smooth and all pdfs easy to read.

Plus moon readers fine brightness setting, night mode, background color features.

if you want to do this basic things on other non android ereaders yo need to do tons of patch tons of tweaks tons of efforts. and all of this operations needs too much effort to do every time.

so who want an advice for an ebook reader i recommend android based device.

MoonReader is a really nice application.

I will add a few "contras" about android e-readers:

- Less battery time than linux ones.
- Suspend might work or not based on your vendor and the apps you install.
- Impossible to pick one android device that: 1 - don't spy on you / 2 - comply with software licenses.
- All android readers with the play store are spoofing fingerprints from other approved devices.
- Apps are, in general, not well optimized for e-ink: Even the ones who seem optimized cannot talk to the EPD driver directly, so most improvements are only used by vendor software (ie: scroll in A2 mode)
- MTP driver is a sh*t compared to good old mass storage that linux e-readers use. Try to bulk copy files in both a Kobo/Kindle and into an android device and see what I'm talking about.
- You're tied to certain restrictions that Google makes on newer android versions.
- You're tied to certain workarounds that vendors make and, sometimes, that make devices incompatible with stock android methods for doing stuff.

Some of these points can be workarounded by rooting, removing bloatware and spyware, remove system services that try to ping home or to scan books imported with MTP, removing play services/play store, etc. But that makes the whole experience less "plug&play" and makes the alternative of fine tunning a kobo (with out without 3rd party apps) easier on the eyes of the new buyer.


So, in my (grumpy) experience: do not buy an android reader unless you want to use a certain android app (Moonreader, Specific dictionary apps, etc). If you want to buy an android ereader buy one that doesn't have the play store.

IMO: From better to worst: Kobo -> Kindle -> (Nook, Tolino, Sony, Mobiscribe) -> Crappy RK clones

[Lparsons21]

Which e-reader is best is really purely subjective. The idea of an Android e-reader like those from Boyue, Nova and others is excellent, but the reality is they all have to make compromises for them to work well. Their big advantages are the ability to run more than one e-reading app and they have e-ink screens.

But they don’t perform as well as the dedicated e-reader devices like Kindles, Nook and others IMO.

If you aren’t insistent on e-ink, virtually any mid to upper range Android tablet will do better overall. Apple’s iPads also do quite well and have an advantage in that they will also run Apple’s Books app. They all do better than any e-ink Android tablet I’ve seen, mostly because they don’t have to figure out tricks to make apps that weren’t made with e-ink in mind perform acceptably.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[pefilix]

[QUOTE=pazos;3933472]MoonReader is a really nice application.
- Less battery time than linux ones.
+Maybe less than linux ones but normal for needs. All we have powerbanks and living in cities. No one needs one month battery life unless living middle of the jungle. 3 days for frequent usage enough.

- Impossible to pick one android device that: 1 - don't spy on you / 2 - comply with software licenses.
+dont connect to internet

- All android readers with the play store are spoofing fingerprints from other approved devices.
+dont connect to internet

- Apps are, in general, not well optimized for e-ink: Even the ones who seem optimized cannot talk to the EPD driver directly, so most improvements are only used by vendor software (ie: scroll in A2 mode)
+Moon Reader seems perfect for ereaders

- MTP driver is a sh*t compared to good old mass storage that linux e-readers use. Try to bulk copy files in both a Kobo/Kindle and into an android device and see what I'm talking about.
+copied 4gb in 6 miutes

- You're tied to certain restrictions that Google makes on newer android versions.
+Moon readers current version perfect and if you have apk file you dont need anything for ever.

- You're tied to certain workarounds that vendors make and, sometimes, that make devices incompatible with stock android methods for doing stuff.
+Moon readers current version perfect and if you have apk file you dont need anything for ever.

dont say me Kobo. Kobo is fiasco. Kobo is ridiculous. Kobo must be joke in world electronic device history.

this is only and most popular platform about ereader devices on internet and who praising kobo i doubt him or her.

[pefilix]

Originally Posted by Lparsons21

Which e-reader is best is really purely subjective. The idea of an Android e-reader like those from Boyue, Nova and others is excellent, but the reality is they all have to make compromises for them to work well. Their big advantages are the ability to run more than one e-reading app and they have e-ink screens.

But they don’t perform as well as the dedicated e-reader devices like Kindles, Nook and others IMO.

If you aren’t insistent on e-ink, virtually any mid to upper range Android tablet will do better overall. Apple’s iPads also do quite well and have an advantage in that they will also run Apple’s Books app. They all do better than any e-ink Android tablet I’ve seen, mostly because they don’t have to figure out tricks to make apps that weren’t made with e-ink in mind perform acceptably.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

i think you talking about the very first versions of this android ereaders

for current systems with 1gb ram, 1ghz proceccor, 16 gb storge works 3 or 4 times faster and stabile than my old linux one

[Lparsons21]

Originally Posted by pefilix

i think you talking about the very first versions of this android ereaders



for current systems with 1gb ram, 1ghz proceccor, 16 gb storge works 3 or 4 times faster and stabile than my old linux one

You would be thinking wrong then.

Currently I have a Likebook Mars from last year and just got a Onyx Boox Nova Pro. Both current models, both with mostly good reviews.

I also have Kindle Oasis (2017 model), Nook Glowlight Plus (7.8” model), iPad Mini 4 and a slew of other iOS and Android devices. These all run overall better than either the Mars or Nova Pro.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[pefilix]

anyway i dont see any performance issue on device. everything smooth fast and stable.

[Sirtel]

I've used Moonreader Pro on my phone occasionally. Yes, it's very customizable. But the overall reading experience is not as nice as on my Kindles, Kobo and Nook, IMO. And while the Kindle app for Android has much fewer options, I like its layout, fonts etc more than the Moonreader's. So personally I would never buy an Android ereader. But it's great to have a choice and I'm sure many people like Android eink and Moonreader just fine.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by pefilix

Because i just install Moon+ Reader to this device and;...

It looks like this is more of a Moon+ Reader review than a Android eInk review. I tried Moon+ Reader once on my tablet and didn't fall in love with it. (I was curious what it was all about, though I realize and LED tablet and eInk tablet are two different animals.) I like single purpose simplicity -- which is one of the main reasons I like a dedicated eReader. That, and better battery life (yes, that really does matter to me) and the fact that dedicated eInk eReaders are (on average) much cheaper than Android eInk tablets/eReaders.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I've used Moonreader Pro on my phone occasionally. Yes, it's very customizable. But the overall reading experience is not as nice as on my Kindles, Kobo and Nook, IMO. And while the Kindle app for Android has much fewer options, I like its layout, fonts etc more than the Moonreader's. So personally I would never buy an Android ereader. But it's great to have a choice and I'm sure many people like Android eink and Moonreader just fine.

Agreed. For those who like Moon+ Reader it's nice that they have options. I'm happy with the very simple software that comes with my Tolinos.

[pefilix]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I've used Moonreader Pro on my phone occasionally. Yes, it's very customizable. But the overall reading experience is not as nice as on my Kindles, Kobo and Nook, IMO. And while the Kindle app for Android has much fewer options, I like its layout, fonts etc more than the Moonreader's. So personally I would never buy an Android ereader. But it's great to have a choice and I'm sure many people like Android eink and Moonreader just fine.

You can install your fonts just copy your font to fonts folder in android system. Layout is very usefull on moon reader but you can try another apps on android if you want.

[pefilix]

Originally Posted by rcentros

It looks like this is more of a Moon+ Reader review than a Android eInk review. I tried Moon+ Reader once on my tablet and didn't fall in love with it. (I was curious what it was all about, though I realize and LED tablet and eInk tablet are two different animals.) I like single purpose simplicity -- which is one of the main reasons I like a dedicated eReader. That, and better battery life (yes, that really does matter to me) and the fact that dedicated eInk eReaders are (on average) much cheaper than Android eInk tablets/eReaders.

Yes the reason why i suggest android is simplicity. Doing patches finding strings on txt files and using 3rd party apps for only set top margin is not simplicity.

[pazos]

@pefilix:

I talked about software issues on android devices, given that this thread is not about hardware. Some of these issues have workarounds but I think is not realistic to say "don't connect to internet".

Most of the issues related to android can't be easily resolved, because:

- people choose android to install their favorite ereader app.
- normally these apps are distributed in the play store and use com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE (or related frameworks) to avoid piracy
- these apps won't work on devices without play store services (legally obtained or spoofed)
- there aren't any certified e-ink readers, so all play stored enabled devices spoof fingerprints from approved ones.

The way android works is:

- the manufacturer/vendor is god and can do whatever it wants with the software.
- since CTS is only for legally/certified android devices most e-ink manufactures skip the test.

So we end with two kind of devices:

- devices that are promoted like android devices: open launcher, can install apps, usually ship with play store and play services
- devices that use AOSP as the base but they're closed and require root/adb to do most of the things we usually do with an android device.

The first kind of devices are Likebook, Onyx, Mobiscribe...
The second kind are Tolinos, Nooks and Sony.

I would go for the second kind of devices if I want an android e-ink reader, mainly because:

- vendors usually know what they're doing (they implemented their own software stack on top of AOSP and make sure it works fine and its compatible with latest android improvements for an specific API level)
- they don't need to include play store services, or apks like ContactsSyncProvider which are not useful for their target audience.
- they usually choose freescale as their platform

The other kind of devices usually ship with more memory and multicore processors and steal code for "wide-range" apps instead of using some of the heavily optimized libraries available. Having more memory and more cpu power by itself it isn't bad but it doesn't mean "faster" if it's not optimized. It usually means less battery life.

Never tried a Nook but I'm sure it will behave faster than the latest likebook X even when the first has 512MB/1024MB of ram and a single/double core proccesor and the second has gigabytes of ram and an octacore processor.

Of course comparing a Likebook/recent Nook with a Sony T1 isn't fair because they are two different archs: arm7-a vs arm5.

[kacir]

Try Alreader.
It even has support for e-ink screens.
You do not need play store or anything. Simply download apk file from authors site.
http://alreader.com/downloads.php?lang=en

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by pefilix

Because i just install Moon+ Reader to this device and;

All epub page settings like font size, hypnation, margins, line spacing done in just 10 minutes. And all epubs opens with same settings.

So you like a generic every book looks the same view? Any attempt by the publisher to create an ebook with different layout will be sent to the bitbucket? One CSS to rule them all is not acceptable to me. One item that I found rather humourous was an ebook that did not display images when used with Moon+ -- evidently, .jpeg was not considered a valid extension for an image file.

Originally Posted by pefilix

I put my large ebook collection as categorized folders and sub folders to memory and i can easily navigate with moon readers integrated file browser. And i can see shortcuts for my bookmarked folders on Moon readers main screen .

So back to the days of CP/M and DOS when it comes to file handling? In my personal experience, I can find books a lot faster on my Kobo ereader using it's search capability compared to browsing for a book by multi-tapping my way through a directory tree. Not to mention the joys of handling a ebook with multiple authors.

Personally, I prefer the Pocketbook Android app since it does honor publisher CSS.