Kobalt: an alternative reader app for Kobo devices

[neclepsio]

8bitdo Micro acts as a bluetooth keyboard, with remappable keys. With stock software, only up and down can be used in practice, to turn pages.

Does Kobalt support keyboard navigation or keyboard shortcuts? With a rapid search in source code I did not find anything.

I'd like page turning, backlight intensity and temperature, bookmark toggle, turning off and book change. Even non configurable, fixed keys would be more than enough.

[MrSilverstrike]

Originally Posted by neclepsio

Does Kobalt support keyboard navigation or keyboard shortcuts? With a rapid search in source code I did not find anything.

I haven't added any explicit support but since the Bluetooth remotes pass up/down and left/right key presses I would guess it'd work for page turns at least. I'll write down your other feature request, too.

[fogice]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

What I realized is that sync.crosspointreader.com can merge multiple md5s of the same book. Everyone struggling with the problem of that, you should look into that specific kosync server.

IMHO this is something that more sync servers should tacle.

And Readest (the only iOS kosync reader I can find) just added crosspoint syncing. This might be the fix for my sync issues!

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by MrSilverstrike

2. The serif typeface is used when you select Publisher Fonts and you supply a book without embedded fonts that's marked as `font-family: serif` in the CSS.

Yes, I think I understand the serif default, it's more the 'Default Global Font' I'm not clear about. Where does this get used?

I see you can explicitly set the Dictionary font and the Header/Footer font. A pop-up footnote seems to use a sans-serif font but not sure whether it's the custom UI sans-serif or the custom Fallback Fonts sans-serif or something else.

[MrSilverstrike]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Yes, I think I understand the serif default, it's more the 'Default Global Font' I'm not clear about. Where does this get used?

I see you can explicitly set the Dictionary font and the Header/Footer font. A pop-up footnote seems to use a sans-serif font but not sure whether it's the custom UI sans-serif or the custom Fallback Fonts sans-serif or something else.

The global default is the one you can also set by long-pressing on a font. It's Libron by default. It applies the font everywhere if you don't choose Publisher Fonts.

[neclepsio]

Originally Posted by MrSilverstrike

I haven't added any explicit support but since the Bluetooth remotes pass up/down and left/right key presses I would guess it'd work for page turns at least. I'll write down your other feature request, too.

I was trying to implement it myself, but I noticed you disabled pull requests. Are you open to contributions?

Also, I cannot build for Kobo qt5 and found no instruction. After downloading the docker container, as per console message, I get: "CMake Error: Could not read presets from /work/platforms/kobo: File not found"

[MrSilverstrike]

Originally Posted by neclepsio

I was trying to implement it myself, but I noticed you disabled pull requests. Are you open to contributions?

Also, I cannot build for Kobo qt5 and found no instruction. After downloading the docker container, as per console message, I get: "CMake Error: Could not read presets from /work/platforms/kobo: File not found"

Feel free to fork and make changes. Changes are a bit turbulent atm, I'd wait until it settles a bit with the release of v1.0 -- the repos aren't made for collaboration at the moment, though if you point an agent at the repo it should be able to figure things out.

I'm open to pulling in changes from other people in the future but I'm not leaving PRs open due to spam on GitHub. Same with issues, really.

[dhampny]

Or perhaps I don't understand how it's supposed to work. I've updated to Beta 6. I'm signed into my account on sync.techy-notes and whether I attempt a manual sync or turn on automatic sync, the result message in Kobalt is "Could not sync. Your position is saved locally." (I have the same issue when logged into my account on kosync.eu.)

I expected that when I sync my position in the ebook I'm reading on one Kobo that I would then be able to open the same book on another Kobo and sync to the same reading position there. Similar to the way Koreader sync works.

I have loaded the same book into both ereaders using Calibre.

Any ideas of what I should do differently?

[MrSilverstrike]

Originally Posted by dhampny

Or perhaps I don't understand how it's supposed to work. I've updated to Beta 6. I'm signed into my account on sync.techy-notes and whether I attempt a manual sync or turn on automatic sync, the result message in Kobalt is "Could not sync. Your position is saved locally." (I have the same issue when logged into my account on kosync.eu.)

I expected that when I sync my position in the ebook I'm reading on one Kobo that I would then be able to open the same book on another Kobo and sync to the same reading position there. Similar to the way Koreader sync works.

I have loaded the same book into both ereaders using Calibre.

Any ideas of what I should do differently?

You were able to sign in but sync doesn't seem to work, then?

Feel free to DM me your `.adds/kobalt/diagnostics/events.jsonl` after attempting a failed sync. Those may include more details about the nature of the failure.

[dhampny]

Private message sent.

[Gormagon]

Originally Posted by neclepsio

8bitdo Micro acts as a bluetooth keyboard, with remappable keys. With stock software, only up and down can be used in practice, to turn pages.

I've tried the Android apk of Kobalt v1.0-beta.6 and I could use my Boxput BPR2S remote control to either navigate as remote mouse or simple as BT pager turner with Kobalt, although the minus (-) button turned the page forward and the plus (+) button backwards. Haven't changed anything from the default settings.

What I'm missing on the Android version is:
- setting my own font(s) as default fonts,
- using the dictionaries I already have on my device to use for example with KOReader or using an external dictionary app likt InkPeek (see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=375843), and
- having only one status bar plus progress bar (for me it should be on top) and I rather have the book title instead of chapter number, compared to the first 2 items that's not that important, though.

It really boils down to these things for me, otherwise I like the simpler approach of Kobalt compared to KOReader. Ans I also see the risk that Kobalt becomes fatter and fatter when everyone's whim would be fulfilled. So there have to be limitations. But maybe others would like to see the same points fulfilled I'm missing right now.

[MrSilverstrike]

Those who had issues with KOSync should now have fewer issues with beta 7. Out now!

[dhampny]

Reading position sync works for me now with beta 7. I used it successfully with my three Kobo ereaders.

[MrSilverstrike]

Originally Posted by dhampny

Reading position sync works for me now with beta 7. I used it successfully with my three Kobo ereaders.

Yay!

[Apollyon202]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

I wonder if that even matters. Like, if your device lasts 20 hours or 18 hours?

Well actually, KOReader on Kobo devices hits the battery really hard. Like seriously, I got half or maybe even less of the battery life with KOReader compared to Nickel when I last used it. So more like ~7-8 hours instead of ~20 hours. I know this for sure as KOReader has over-the-top battery statistics. Most of the plugins were turned off, but still. There’s an option for power saving, but that hangs the system after a couple of minutes/pages, which leads to a hard reboot. So it’s either that or halved battery life.

Kobalt is really gentle on the battery. Probably placebo, but it feels like I get more battery life with it than I had on Nickel.