Reading Epub's without converting possible?

Hundebub · 04-19-2019, 04:08 PM

Hi!
First: sorry for my bad english, I'm German speaking...

I'm considering to buy a new Kindle Oasis 2 (8GB).
But there are 2 major problems for me:

- I have some ebook's in epub format (bought for my old Kobo Aura H2o) and I want to read them on the Oasis. Is this possible without converting?
Maybe an 3rd party app or something like that?

- I want to save my amazon books "forever" on my harddrive.
I don't like the fact, that amazon could block an ebook and you can't read it anymore.

Is there anything i can do about those problems?

Thank you all for your help!

j.p.s · 04-19-2019, 05:54 PM

The 3rd party app koreader can read epub, but you have to jailbreak the kindle to install koreader. A new Oasis 2 will probably have a too high firmware version to jailbreak.

Amazon books can be saved anywhere you like and copied to the kindle that amazon sold them for. If you ever replace that kindle, you would have to remove the DRM. Do a websearch on "apprentice alf" to research that.

just_jeepin · 04-19-2019, 07:05 PM

Why don’t you want to convert the epubs to azw3 via Calibre?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hollowpoint · 04-19-2019, 07:55 PM

If I can paraphrase, you want to own the ebooks you paid for, which includes having a permanent accessible backup copy on storage you control, and being able to read any ebook file you own on any device you own. A lot of us have that same basic need, so you're in the right place.

Bringing it to the specifics in your post, two thoughts. Get Calibre and learn to use it, and as JPS says, that includes the DRM plugins for the file formats you ask about, most of which are created by Alf but will install with Calibre. Calibre has good docs and you can also get help here in the Calibre forum. As for which device, if you really want to stick with the Voyage, then getting Calibre solves your problem. Convert your epubs to azw3 or mobi format, and you're good. If you're not 100% sure about the Voyage, research Kobo e-ink readers which can handle epub, mobi, and other file formats.

heyman · 04-19-2019, 09:00 PM

make into azw3

not mobi!

HarryT · 04-20-2019, 02:56 AM

I've converted many hundreds of ePub books to AZW3 over the years and had no problems at all.

Hundebub · 05-02-2019, 06:43 AM

Thank you all for your answers!
I'm still not 100% sure, which Reader i should pick...
The Kindle Oasis would be pretty much my favourite reader, but it must handle epub first...
How good is the Koreader app on an kindle device to use for Epub's and PDF's?
Is there a chance, to get a new Oasis 2 from amazon with a low enough firmware to jailbreak it?
Another option would be to buy an used Voyage and jailbreak it.
Would you recommend buying an older/used device?

On the other hand would be the Kobo Forma which handels epub direct from factory ;-)
But there are a few things which I don't like compared to the Oasis 2:

- price
- PWM issues
- no light sensor

darryl · 05-02-2019, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

The Kindle Oasis would be pretty much my favourite reader, but it must handle epub first...

It does not handle epub natively and I doubt it ever will.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

How good is the Koreader app on an kindle device to use for Epub's and PDF's?

Koreader is very good for what it is. Some excellent developers have worked very hard on it, but it is not for everyone. If you want to try KOReader I believe you can install it on your existing KOBO to see if you like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

Is there a chance, to get a new Oasis 2 from amazon with a low enough firmware to jailbreak it?

I'm not sure what firmware version Amazon is currently shipping, and they do not offer an option to select this or even ascertain it when you order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

Another option would be to buy an used Voyage and jailbreak it.
Would you recommend buying an older/used device?

Used devices can be good, but caveat emptor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

On the other hand would be the Kobo Forma which handels epub direct from factory ;-)
But there are a few things which I don't like compared to the Oasis 2:

- price
- PWM issues
- no light sensor

My recommendation is that you forget jailbreaking and KOReader for the time being until you become more knowledgeable and experienced. Your efforts at the moment are in my opinion best spent on Calibre. Download and install it on your PC. Visit Apprentice Alf and install the Calibre Plugins. This will give you the freedom to purchase from all of the major e-book stores, convert between formats as necessary and download to any reader you choose.

kacir · 05-02-2019, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

- I have some ebook's in epub format (bought for my old Kobo Aura H2o) and I want to read them on the Oasis. Is this possible without converting?
Maybe an 3rd party app or something like that?

Have a look at the Tolino readers and also on PocketBook readers.
Both support epub out-of-box and you can install additional software on PocketBooks without jailbreaking or hacking.

If you do get Kindle, it is possible to backup your books for that Kindle without any shenanigans. If you want to do some work it is relatively easy to break the DRM.

Have a look at the Calibre software. Extremely versatile and useful program for all e-book users. Can convert between formats with one click. No tweaking or hacking needed.

lumpynose · 05-02-2019, 02:36 PM

Hundebub, listen to what darryl and the others have said about converting to azw3.

The converting process is more or less merely replacing the wrapper. The internals of all of these different formats is html, the same stuff that's used for web pages. So you don't have to worry about degrading them or losing information.

See this page for what happens during a conversion:

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/conversion.html

Hundebub · 05-02-2019, 03:30 PM

You are all right.
I've tried to convert an epub to azw3 via calibre and it is indeed very simple.
Only the font of the book changed a little bit and is smaller but maybe I could change that somehow to keep it original?

rashkae · 05-02-2019, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hundebub

You are all right.
I've tried to convert an epub to azw3 via calibre and it is indeed very simple.
Only the font of the book changed a little bit and is smaller but maybe I could change that somehow to keep it original?

To prevent calibre from making probably unecessary changes to your books when converting.

In Look and Feel, Check the "Disable Font Size Rescalling" box,
In Heuristic Processing, uncheck "Enable heuristic Processing"
In Page Setup, set Output Profile to "Tablet"
In Structure Detection, change Chapter Mark to "None"

The calibre defaults are well optimized to creating e-books from many sources, (word documents, rtf files, web pages, etc.) However, if your primary use is coverting from modern e-book formats, (ie, epub to azw3, or vice versa,), then changing those defaults will probably have better results, or at least, make fewer unexpected changes.

These settings can all be changed in Calibre as the new default, instead of changing for each book you convert.

barryem · 05-02-2019, 09:18 PM

Thanks for that. I've been making changes under look and feel with every book and I didn't realize I could set them as defaults.

Barry

lumpynose · 05-02-2019, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

Thanks for that. I've been making changes under look and feel with every book and I didn't realize I could set them as defaults.

Barry

Although if you convert a book later on, the global settings are overridden by any settings you may have used for the individual books. For example, if you later change the global settings.

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...for-conversion

DNSB · 05-03-2019, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashkae

To prevent calibre from making probably unecessary changes to your books when converting.

In Look and Feel, Check the "Disable Font Size Rescaling" box,
In Heuristic Processing, uncheck "Enable heuristic Processing"
In Page Setup, set Output Profile to "Tablet"
In Structure Detection, change Chapter Mark to "None"

I would agree with all but the last item. I've had too many ebooks with all the text in a single file which calibre will happily split. I may have to do some editing to correct some splitting errors (most often where the book title and author both have header tags) but easier in most cases to let calibre do the heavy lifting.

04-19-2019, 04:08 PM	#1
Hundebub Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: Kobo Aura H2O (first Gen)	Reading Epub's without converting possible? Hi! First: sorry for my bad english, I'm German speaking... I'm considering to buy a new Kindle Oasis 2 (8GB). But there are 2 major problems for me: - I have some ebook's in epub format (bought for my old Kobo Aura H2o) and I want to read them on the Oasis. Is this possible without converting? Maybe an 3rd party app or something like that? - I want to save my amazon books "forever" on my harddrive. I don't like the fact, that amazon could block an ebook and you can't read it anymore. Is there anything i can do about those problems? Thank you all for your help!

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04-19-2019, 05:54 PM	#2
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,786 Karma: 103362673 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	The 3rd party app koreader can read epub, but you have to jailbreak the kindle to install koreader. A new Oasis 2 will probably have a too high firmware version to jailbreak. Amazon books can be saved anywhere you like and copied to the kindle that amazon sold them for. If you ever replace that kindle, you would have to remove the DRM. Do a websearch on "apprentice alf" to research that.

04-19-2019, 07:05 PM	#3
just_jeepin Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1010848 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Why don’t you want to convert the epubs to azw3 via Calibre? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-19-2019, 07:55 PM	#4
hollowpoint Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 6672188 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: Ipad Mini, Kindle PW5, Libra 2	If I can paraphrase, you want to own the ebooks you paid for, which includes having a permanent accessible backup copy on storage you control, and being able to read any ebook file you own on any device you own. A lot of us have that same basic need, so you're in the right place. Bringing it to the specifics in your post, two thoughts. Get Calibre and learn to use it, and as JPS says, that includes the DRM plugins for the file formats you ask about, most of which are created by Alf but will install with Calibre. Calibre has good docs and you can also get help here in the Calibre forum. As for which device, if you really want to stick with the Voyage, then getting Calibre solves your problem. Convert your epubs to azw3 or mobi format, and you're good. If you're not 100% sure about the Voyage, research Kobo e-ink readers which can handle epub, mobi, and other file formats.

04-19-2019, 09:00 PM	#5
heyman Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 2000 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: sony	make into azw3 not mobi!

04-20-2019, 02:56 AM	#6
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've converted many hundreds of ePub books to AZW3 over the years and had no problems at all.

05-02-2019, 06:43 AM	#7
Hundebub Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: Kobo Aura H2O (first Gen)	Thank you all for your answers! I'm still not 100% sure, which Reader i should pick... The Kindle Oasis would be pretty much my favourite reader, but it must handle epub first... How good is the Koreader app on an kindle device to use for Epub's and PDF's? Is there a chance, to get a new Oasis 2 from amazon with a low enough firmware to jailbreak it? Another option would be to buy an used Voyage and jailbreak it. Would you recommend buying an older/used device? On the other hand would be the Kobo Forma which handels epub direct from factory ;-) But there are a few things which I don't like compared to the Oasis 2: - price - PWM issues - no light sensor

05-02-2019, 02:36 PM	#10
lumpynose Wizard Posts: 1,086 Karma: 6719822 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Palm Pilot M105	Hundebub, listen to what darryl and the others have said about converting to azw3. The converting process is more or less merely replacing the wrapper. The internals of all of these different formats is html, the same stuff that's used for web pages. So you don't have to worry about degrading them or losing information. See this page for what happens during a conversion: https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/conversion.html

05-02-2019, 03:30 PM	#11
Hundebub Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2019 Device: Kobo Aura H2O (first Gen)	You are all right. I've tried to convert an epub to azw3 via calibre and it is indeed very simple. Only the font of the book changed a little bit and is smaller but maybe I could change that somehow to keep it original?

05-02-2019, 09:18 PM	#13
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	Thanks for that. I've been making changes under look and feel with every book and I didn't realize I could set them as defaults. Barry

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