Marvin lives! - Page 2

JainaSJedi · 03-18-2016, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philantrop

I'm already in touch with Kris about that. I want to get them to work again, too. :-)

This! I hope the can fix the communication between Marvin and Calibre like it used to be in iOS 8.3 and earlier. This functionality is vital for me in that I am seriously considering buying a Kobo or Android device that communicates with Calibre for collections management. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Marvin though!

Faterson · 03-19-2016, 04:44 PM

The most important type of syncing has never worked in Marvin so far – the syncing of highlights and annotations, so let's hope that that is on the schedule as well. Until the syncing of highlights and annotations works, it's hard to see Marvin as anything other than a half-finished product, although very promising. I have seen people abandon Marvin for the likes of Google Books in recent months, due to the non-availability of syncing, and due to the perception that Marvin was abandonware. It's great to hear that that is not the case.

Heitor · 03-23-2016, 01:35 PM

More news:

Quote:

Here are some iOS improvements you can expect in Marvin 3...

iPad Pro, multi-columns on iPhone, Split View, Slide Over, Spotlight integration, Touch ID, Today Widgets, iCloud location sync, background updates, (private+optional) geotagged annotations with maps, and a few other things I'm working on right now.

I'll keep you posted with more details soon.

Heitor · 03-23-2016, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faterson

I have seen people abandon Marvin for the likes of Google Books in recent months, (…) due to the perception that Marvin was abandonware.

Only out of the bleakest despair, I'd make such a swap.

Faterson · 03-23-2016, 09:12 PM

Thanks for that Facebook link, Heitor. Here's how I reacted:

Syncing highlights and annotations is the no. 1 feature missing in Marvin, as I see it, and it doesn't look like it will make it into Marvin 3.

That's too bad, and one can only hope for future, but at any rate, it's great news that Marvin isn't a dead app, and Marvin SxS will be fantastic.

Heitor · 03-24-2016, 09:41 AM

There is still hope:

Quote:

Syncing highlights is something I am working on but am having some trouble making 100% reliable (Marvin depends on third party services to do this). Hopefully, I'll manage to crack it so it makes it into the final release.

pwalker8 · 04-03-2016, 05:10 PM

Great news. I had stopped checking the Marvin forum but noticed this thread in passing.

I'm not picky, as long as we get syncing the meta data back (i.e. reading lists, percent read, ect) I'm going to be one happy camper and will be more than willing to kick in some money to show my support. Does he plan to make a pay version of Marvin 3?

Turtle91 · 04-03-2016, 11:53 PM

I hope he does. He has certainly done enough work on this outstanding app/program to deserve some positive reinforcement!

Marvin 2 had a free version so people could experience "the bliss" of Marvin (and older iPads could run it) and there was also a paid version which did not have the 1 book at a time limit. I would expect Marvin3 to have something similar. I, for one, am more than willing to kick in a chunk of change for the new capabilities inherent in CSS3/ePub3.

NETLOLA · 04-04-2016, 08:25 PM

I hardly ever post on this forum, but frequently read for reference. However, when I saw the post about an imminent Marvin update, I was SO excited. I have spent the past weekend searching the App Store for a replacement that offered all the features that Marvin has, but found nothing to compare. The reason for my search? I had thought the developer had abandoned this incredible App because it had not been updated in months. Gerty, his alternative, just does not come close.
Happily anticipating next Marvin update!!!

ChristopherTD · 04-06-2016, 03:41 AM

+1 to the list of people who would be perfectly happy to have Marvin 3 as a paid update. Or at the very least I would pay for some more decorations to support the developer if he doesn't want to alienate people.

rfog · 04-06-2016, 03:54 AM

Of course I will pay for an update (whatever the way it will take), but I will prefer to have more regular and continuous updates.

I've always said (here and in other places): one of the success of an app in a store like iOS one, is to maintain the application alive with updates. Does not matter if they are only bugfixes or adding little new things (a new font, a new way to meter pages, whatever), or even new app purchased features.

This way the app continuously moves in the store and the customers see how it is evolving.

More: the only viable way to maintain an income from this kind of stores is the subscription way, but a cheap one. I mean, for example, enable sync across devices via subscription (for example 5 bucks/year). This way, once reached the limit of standalone sells (all target users have the app) the developer can continue maintaining himself with the subscription.

I have in my head a collab project, but if Marvin lives, let Marvin live (But update soon).

BTW, just now will be a great opportunity to release a new version with sync, because iBooks sync is completely broken since 9.3... Maaaaarvin!!!!!! Go!!!!! GO!!!!!!

ChristopherTD · 04-07-2016, 01:11 AM

@rfog I thought it was just me not knowing how iBooks sync was supposed to work. But you are right, it works about one time in 20 syncing reading position and every now and then to sync bookmarks. This is on a sideloaded ePub but it shouldn't matter, of course.

rfog · 04-07-2016, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherTD

@rfog I thought it was just me not knowing how iBooks sync was supposed to work. But you are right, it works about one time in 20 syncing reading position and every now and then to sync bookmarks. This is on a sideloaded ePub but it shouldn't matter, of course.

They broke it a little with iOS 9.3, and definitively with 9.3.1. You only need to to go Apple support forums and read. Normal thing is no sync at all (not reading position and not bookmarks), but for some people it has been even worse because they have lost their libraries.

Faterson · 04-07-2016, 07:04 PM

That's par for the course for Apple, renowned for atrocious software. One of the recent iOS updates introduced the "feature" of not being able to switch to full screen when watching videos in the Podcasts app on an iPad, rendering the app useless on iPads, except for audio podcasts. Most of the screen in the app is now permanently taken up by toolbars (!). It's been like that for quite a few iOS updates, and Apple just don't give a damn. Par for the course.

Quelch · 04-08-2016, 01:20 AM

So happy Marvin is getting fixed
My sister-in-law helpfully updated our iPad 4 to IOS 9.3.1.
Whereas I had intended to leave it on iOS 8.3
Marvin stopped working
I was cross but there was no point it getting angry with the lovely lady, so I had a whiskey instead

When can we download the Marvin update ?

04-06-2016, 03:54 AM	#26
rfog Guru Posts: 696 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	Of course I will pay for an update (whatever the way it will take), but I will prefer to have more regular and continuous updates. I've always said (here and in other places): one of the success of an app in a store like iOS one, is to maintain the application alive with updates. Does not matter if they are only bugfixes or adding little new things (a new font, a new way to meter pages, whatever), or even new app purchased features. This way the app continuously moves in the store and the customers see how it is evolving. More: the only viable way to maintain an income from this kind of stores is the subscription way, but a cheap one. I mean, for example, enable sync across devices via subscription (for example 5 bucks/year). This way, once reached the limit of standalone sells (all target users have the app) the developer can continue maintaining himself with the subscription. I have in my head a collab project, but if Marvin lives, let Marvin live (But update soon). BTW, just now will be a great opportunity to release a new version with sync, because iBooks sync is completely broken since 9.3... Maaaaarvin!!!!!! Go!!!!! GO!!!!!! Last edited by rfog; 04-06-2016 at 03:56 AM.

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03-19-2016, 04:44 PM	#17
Faterson pokrývač škridiel Posts: 1,525 Karma: 3300000 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Device: 3iPad, SamsungNote & Tabs, 2OnyxBoox, Huawei 8″, PocketBook	The most important type of syncing has never worked in Marvin so far – the syncing of highlights and annotations, so let's hope that that is on the schedule as well. Until the syncing of highlights and annotations works, it's hard to see Marvin as anything other than a half-finished product, although very promising. I have seen people abandon Marvin for the likes of Google Books in recent months, due to the non-availability of syncing, and due to the perception that Marvin was abandonware. It's great to hear that that is not the case.

03-23-2016, 09:12 PM	#20
Faterson pokrývač škridiel Posts: 1,525 Karma: 3300000 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Device: 3iPad, SamsungNote & Tabs, 2OnyxBoox, Huawei 8″, PocketBook	Thanks for that Facebook link, Heitor. Here's how I reacted: Syncing highlights and annotations is the no. 1 feature missing in Marvin, as I see it, and it doesn't look like it will make it into Marvin 3. That's too bad, and one can only hope for future, but at any rate, it's great news that Marvin isn't a dead app, and Marvin SxS will be fantastic.

04-03-2016, 05:10 PM	#22
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Great news. I had stopped checking the Marvin forum but noticed this thread in passing. I'm not picky, as long as we get syncing the meta data back (i.e. reading lists, percent read, ect) I'm going to be one happy camper and will be more than willing to kick in some money to show my support. Does he plan to make a pay version of Marvin 3?

04-03-2016, 11:53 PM	#23
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,395 Karma: 20212733 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	I hope he does. He has certainly done enough work on this outstanding app/program to deserve some positive reinforcement! Marvin 2 had a free version so people could experience "the bliss" of Marvin (and older iPads could run it) and there was also a paid version which did not have the 1 book at a time limit. I would expect Marvin3 to have something similar. I, for one, am more than willing to kick in a chunk of change for the new capabilities inherent in CSS3/ePub3.

04-04-2016, 08:25 PM	#24
NETLOLA Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Apple iPad Air 2	I hardly ever post on this forum, but frequently read for reference. However, when I saw the post about an imminent Marvin update, I was SO excited. I have spent the past weekend searching the App Store for a replacement that offered all the features that Marvin has, but found nothing to compare. The reason for my search? I had thought the developer had abandoned this incredible App because it had not been updated in months. Gerty, his alternative, just does not come close. Happily anticipating next Marvin update!!!

04-06-2016, 03:41 AM	#25
ChristopherTD Addict Posts: 343 Karma: 1010002 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London. UK Device: Marvin Reader on iPad Air (via Calibre)	+1 to the list of people who would be perfectly happy to have Marvin 3 as a paid update. Or at the very least I would pay for some more decorations to support the developer if he doesn't want to alienate people.

04-07-2016, 01:11 AM	#27
ChristopherTD Addict Posts: 343 Karma: 1010002 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London. UK Device: Marvin Reader on iPad Air (via Calibre)	@rfog I thought it was just me not knowing how iBooks sync was supposed to work. But you are right, it works about one time in 20 syncing reading position and every now and then to sync bookmarks. This is on a sideloaded ePub but it shouldn't matter, of course.

04-07-2016, 07:04 PM	#29
Faterson pokrývač škridiel Posts: 1,525 Karma: 3300000 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Device: 3iPad, SamsungNote & Tabs, 2OnyxBoox, Huawei 8″, PocketBook	That's par for the course for Apple, renowned for atrocious software. One of the recent iOS updates introduced the "feature" of not being able to switch to full screen when watching videos in the Podcasts app on an iPad, rendering the app useless on iPads, except for audio podcasts. Most of the screen in the app is now permanently taken up by toolbars (!). It's been like that for quite a few iOS updates, and Apple just don't give a damn. Par for the course.

04-08-2016, 01:20 AM	#30
Quelch Groupie Posts: 177 Karma: 1656608 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Kobo Touch and iPad 4 hers, Samsung Galaxy S 8.4 mine !	So happy Marvin is getting fixed My sister-in-law helpfully updated our iPad 4 to IOS 9.3.1. Whereas I had intended to leave it on iOS 8.3 Marvin stopped working I was cross but there was no point it getting angry with the lovely lady, so I had a whiskey instead When can we download the Marvin update ?