Looking for the cheapest android e-ink reader

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Did you check that the Scribed app will run on Android 8.1?

According to Google Play, it works on 5.0 and up. And I can always try side-loading older APKs if necessary. My biggest concern is that the page turns are going to be painfully slow and stuttery. I don't know what my tolerance is going to be for that. We'll see.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Desertway

My biggest concern is that the page turns are going to be painfully slow and stuttery.

Not necessarily.
A halfway intelligent reader app will format and cache the next page while you read the current page.
Jumping around randomly could be slower.

[Aleron Ives]

The problem with Android e-paper devices is that most programs on Google Play are not designed for e-paper and will have terrible performance with unnecessary ghosting, because they assume you're using an LCD. If Scribd is optimised for e-paper, then you could potentially have a great experience, but if it's not, it could be terrible, and it wouldn't be the device's fault.

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

The problem with Android e-paper devices is that most programs on Google Play are not designed for e-paper and will have terrible performance with unnecessary ghosting, because they assume you're using an LCD. If Scribd is optimised for e-paper, then you could potentially have a great experience, but if it's not, it could be terrible, and it wouldn't be the device's fault.

All true. Some people, though, use Scribd and Libby on eInk Androids happily. But again, there are different levels of tolerance. Another option might be to use InkBro, the eInk browser, as one can read Scribd books on the web. I'll report back eventually.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

The problem with Android e-paper devices is that most programs on Google Play are not designed for e-paper and will have terrible performance with unnecessary ghosting, because they assume you're using an LCD.

Incorrect.
It's up to the operating system to take care of it.
The problem is that many applications contain animations and EInk is too slow for them - it doesn't look very good.
In this case you just choose those in which something like that does not occur or where they can be switched off

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Incorrect.
It's up to the operating system to take care of it.
The problem is that many applications contain animations and EInk is too slow for them - it doesn't look very good.
In this case you just choose those in which something like that does not occur or where they can be switched off

But in this case, there is no other app to choose. The idea is to use the Scribed app to read from Scribed.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Incorrect.
It's up to the operating system to take care of it.
The problem is that many applications contain animations and EInk is too slow for them - it doesn't look very good.
In this case you just choose those in which something like that does not occur or where they can be switched off

You just restated what the previous user said while also saying that person was incorrect.

[Renate]

If you do multiple graphic operations directly to the screen there could be big differences between updating a LCD screen vs naively updating an eInk screen.

Although I haven't dived into how all the reader apps work, I presume that they all compose a new page in an off-screen bitmap then draw that bitmap to the screen in a single operation. Not making any accomodation for eInk shouldn't make a difference.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You just restated what the previous user said

No - read it

while also saying that person was incorrect.

Yes - his reasoning was wrong.

[Desertway]

So I got the little 6" reader from Temu that was linked above. It took a little over a week to get here from China. Not bad. It's made by Boyue/Likebook/Meebook and runs Android 8.1 and has Google Play already activated.

I wanted it primarily for Scribd ebooks. It works, but with some compromises which did not surprise me. Scribd has page turn animations which can't be turned off. I knew that this was going to be an issue. It isn't too distracting in A2 mode, but A2 loses so much contrast that the text is quite faded. THAT would not be a problem if only Scribe offered a bold font, which it does not. So either it's slow page turns or faded text. Generally, I've chosen faded text which doesn't bother me much in the daytime, but my tired eyes can't really handle it at night.

Libby also has page turn animations, but with a bold font it works fine in A2 mode

Kindle (which I don't need because I have an Oasis) also works in A2 mode with the Ember bold font. In regular mode the page turns are too slow, even with page turn animations turned off.

KoReader works beautifully all the way around.

This little guy also has (VERY LOUD) speakers so I tried out my radio app and Audible. Both work great, though I can't imagine using this over my phone for audio.

Now the bad part. The unit I received was defective. The far left side of the screen was completely unresponsive to touch. I was able to work around it to get everything working, but it's not acceptable in the long run. I'm returning it, and have another unit on order. The funny thing is that I got a great coupon and the new unit only cost me $30. I can't complain at that price (assuming the new unit works properly).

[Renate]

Page turn animations (on any device, not just eink) are the stupidest invention ever.
You could probably delete everything in res/anim and resign the app.

[Desertway]

Originally Posted by Renate

Page turn animations (on any device, not just eink) are the stupidest invention ever.
You could probably delete everything in res/anim and resign the app.

You know, I've been (ignorantly) poking around inside the APK to see if it might be possible to add a bold font. I got nowhere.

So now I went ahead and looked to see if I could find res/anim. Unfortunately, they must be doing it differently, because that directory doesn't exist. At least not in my unzipped APK on my PC.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Renate

Page turn animations (on any device, not just eink) are the stupidest invention ever.
You could probably delete everything in res/anim and resign the app.

Yes, they should be a default off option if they exist at all.

I'm not sure if the stupidest invention ever, but certainly on the short list to vote on that.

[Desertway]

I received the second unit which is working perfectly. $29.25, free shipping. Longevity is yet to be seen.

[WarrenUK]

Originally Posted by Desertway

I received the second unit which is working perfectly. $29.25, free shipping. Longevity is yet to be seen.

Hi.

Are you still enjoying your Cappsu ereader? I'm looking for an Android ereader that can run Koreader. There are a few Cappsu ereaders left on Temu UK website. But it is £50. How did you manage to get your discount? Is it just random?

Thanks.