Wikipedia offline on E-readers?

ProDigit · 12-25-2015, 04:48 AM

A few years ago (perhaps almost a decade ago), I was the one suggesting Wikipedia to start uploading their site to torrent sites, so others could have access to the digital website offline; since the initial problem was bandwidth issues. Wikipedia was enormous,
without audio and video files, and only English, it could easily expand over 200GB (20GB when compressed).

Now I wonder if it would be a good idea to be able to read it from ebook readers, specifically those with an SD card, as the entire wiki page, could reach from about 200GB in 2004, to several terrabytes in data today (probably including all revisions and multimedia data included).

I have a Kobo H2O, which has a Micro SD cardslot, and a generic BeBook 5" reader with SD cardslot (accepts probably upto 32GB).

Anyone interested in starting a project to see if it is possible to get Wikipedia offline for ebook readers?

DiapDealer · 12-25-2015, 07:43 AM

I'm not all that interested in the online version of Wikipedia, to tell the truth.

ottdmk · 12-25-2015, 09:44 AM

Are you familiar with Wikipedia's "Create a book" functionality? Won't do the whole site, but definitely useful for taking parts of it with you offline on e-readers.

You could also check out this project.

fjtorres · 12-25-2015, 10:02 AM

Yes, you can do it. For at least some readers. Going to need lots of space:

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...just-30-hours/

ProDigit · 12-26-2015, 01:56 AM

Most e-readers that have a micro SD card slot, accept upto 32GB cards. That's indeed not the entire Wikipedia, but it's quite a lot of pages, especially when compressed!

ProDigit · 12-26-2015, 03:21 AM

Do you think if there's ever a Wikipedia ebook, if it will be allowed to be published on MobileRead?

fjtorres · 12-26-2015, 07:41 AM

Wikipedia ebooks have already been done, going back to 2006, and discussed around these parts:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54166

At current sizes it would likely be larger than the entire library so I doubt the generosity of our hosts would stretch that far. Something that big moves best via torrents so I would search online for wikipedia ebook versions in the torrent lands.

Katsunami · 12-26-2015, 09:54 AM

Digital Wikipedia is not epic anymore.

Printed books is where it's at.
Abbreviated version: one-volume feature articles.

Regarding an offline digital version: I think it would be useless. Wikipedia links to other websites. If you would want to have complete references, you would need to include those websites as well.... and the websites they refer to. In the end, you would end up with an offline version of the internet, and I don't think that's the point of the internet

harriska2 · 01-01-2016, 03:33 PM

I had the entire wikipedia encyclopedia on my toshiba pocketpc back in 2004 or 2005 using the tomeraider pocket pc database software that worked surprisingly well. It was about 32gb and had pictures that were smaller and compressed.

I wish tomeraider were upgraded for apple ios

pdurrant · 01-01-2016, 03:46 PM

Someone even produced a dedicated Wikipedia reader a while back. WikiReader. You might find their (now orphaned) code useful.

barryem · 01-01-2016, 06:19 PM

If you get the 3G Paperwhite or Voyage you can access Wikipedia easily on the go. I do it all the time.

Barry

PeterT · 01-01-2016, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Someone even produced a dedicated Wikipedia reader a while back. WikiReader. You might find their (now orphaned) code useful.

I'd been trying to think of the name of that device! I'd seen it on the shelves of Best Buy.

ProDigit · 01-04-2016, 05:26 AM

Amazing!
I wish I had a wikireader back in the day!
Now it might be better to have one with an e-ink screen.

HarryT · 01-04-2016, 05:57 AM

I honestly don't see the point. Most people these days have a Smartphone and can access it online.

pdurrant · 01-04-2016, 06:23 AM

There are still some places where the phone data signal is not reliable.

12-25-2015, 04:48 AM	#1
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Wikipedia offline on E-readers? A few years ago (perhaps almost a decade ago), I was the one suggesting Wikipedia to start uploading their site to torrent sites, so others could have access to the digital website offline; since the initial problem was bandwidth issues. Wikipedia was enormous, without audio and video files, and only English, it could easily expand over 200GB (20GB when compressed). Now I wonder if it would be a good idea to be able to read it from ebook readers, specifically those with an SD card, as the entire wiki page, could reach from about 200GB in 2004, to several terrabytes in data today (probably including all revisions and multimedia data included). I have a Kobo H2O, which has a Micro SD cardslot, and a generic BeBook 5" reader with SD cardslot (accepts probably upto 32GB). Anyone interested in starting a project to see if it is possible to get Wikipedia offline for ebook readers?

12-26-2015, 07:41 AM	#7
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Wikipedia ebooks have already been done, going back to 2006, and discussed around these parts: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54166 At current sizes it would likely be larger than the entire library so I doubt the generosity of our hosts would stretch that far. Something that big moves best via torrents so I would search online for wikipedia ebook versions in the torrent lands. Last edited by fjtorres; 12-26-2015 at 07:51 AM.

12-26-2015, 09:54 AM	#8
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Digital Wikipedia is not epic anymore. Printed books is where it's at. Abbreviated version: one-volume feature articles. Regarding an offline digital version: I think it would be useless. Wikipedia links to other websites. If you would want to have complete references, you would need to include those websites as well.... and the websites they refer to. In the end, you would end up with an offline version of the internet, and I don't think that's the point of the internet Last edited by Katsunami; 12-26-2015 at 09:58 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Offline wikipedia for DR	fekhner	iRex Developer's Corner	6	02-02-2012 07:33 AM
offline wikipedia ? PLEASE	fsvum	Calibre	6	11-24-2011 07:29 AM
Wikipedia offline on JB	wyrm	Ectaco jetBook	3	02-20-2011 08:32 AM
Offline wikipedia on pocketbooks	logan	PocketBook	5	01-02-2010 12:49 AM
offline Wikipedia on DR1000? Is it possible?	whopper	iRex	6	02-04-2009 03:41 AM

12-25-2015, 07:43 AM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,351 Karma: 203720150 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I'm not all that interested in the online version of Wikipedia, to tell the truth.

12-25-2015, 09:44 AM	#3
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,217 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	Are you familiar with Wikipedia's "Create a book" functionality? Won't do the whole site, but definitely useful for taking parts of it with you offline on e-readers. You could also check out this project.

12-25-2015, 10:02 AM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Yes, you can do it. For at least some readers. Going to need lots of space: http://arstechnica.com/information-t...just-30-hours/

12-26-2015, 01:56 AM	#5
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Most e-readers that have a micro SD card slot, accept upto 32GB cards. That's indeed not the entire Wikipedia, but it's quite a lot of pages, especially when compressed!

12-26-2015, 03:21 AM	#6
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Do you think if there's ever a Wikipedia ebook, if it will be allowed to be published on MobileRead?

01-01-2016, 03:33 PM	#9
harriska2 Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 8000000 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Corvallis, OR Device: Kindle PW2, iPad Pro	I had the entire wikipedia encyclopedia on my toshiba pocketpc back in 2004 or 2005 using the tomeraider pocket pc database software that worked surprisingly well. It was about 32gb and had pictures that were smaller and compressed. I wish tomeraider were upgraded for apple ios

01-01-2016, 03:46 PM	#10
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,608 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Someone even produced a dedicated Wikipedia reader a while back. WikiReader. You might find their (now orphaned) code useful.

01-01-2016, 06:19 PM	#11
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	If you get the 3G Paperwhite or Voyage you can access Wikipedia easily on the go. I do it all the time. Barry

01-04-2016, 05:26 AM	#13
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Amazing! I wish I had a wikireader back in the day! Now it might be better to have one with an e-ink screen.

01-04-2016, 05:57 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I honestly don't see the point. Most people these days have a Smartphone and can access it online.

Advert

Advert

01-04-2016, 06:23 AM	#15
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,608 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	There are still some places where the phone data signal is not reliable.