Sideloading Books

gavinjb · 12-02-2013, 09:09 AM

Hi,

I am looking at getting a Kobo Aura, but have heard rumors that with a Kobo a different reader is used for Sideloaded Books compared to reading books brought from the Store.

Is this correct and if it is are there any issues compared to using the reader for store books (features missing etc..)?

Thanks,

Gavin,

Joques · 12-02-2013, 09:32 AM

Yes, there are differences between vanilla epubs and the socalled "kepubs" which are Kobo's own format. But if one is so inclined, one can use a plugin for Calibre in order to access most of the kepub-only features with regular epubs, such as the "pages per chapter" pagination and floating footnotes. Previously one could also access reading data (like, time remaining in book/chapter and a bar diagram of the chapter lengths) from within the book, but that has since removed, so now that is only possible with proper kepubs. It is unclear whether that feature will make it back.

ploum · 12-02-2013, 11:03 AM

Interesting. As I only sideload epub from other sources (I strictly refuse to buy anything with DRM), I was not even aware of those features.

Can you point me to a link on how to test those features with calibre?

Lady Stardust · 12-02-2013, 12:02 PM

I think you just add this plugin
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220565
And convert to kepub.
I was also surprised by the difference between epub downloaded from Kobo and side loaded and kepub of the same book.

AnemicOak · 12-02-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploum

Interesting. As I only sideload epub from other sources (I strictly refuse to buy anything with DRM), I was not even aware of those features.

Can you point me to a link on how to test those features with calibre?

You can use the plugin that Lady Stardust mentioned or you can just use the Kobo Touch Extended Driver (works with newer readers since Touch too) and have them converted on the fly as they're sent to the reader.

Also, just so you know. While books from big publishers mostly have DRM (due to the publisher) a lot of books at Kobo don't use any DRM.

gavinjb · 12-02-2013, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the info, good to know I can get most of the functionality of a book purchased from Kobo

12-02-2013, 09:09 AM	#1
gavinjb Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 12028 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle	Sideloading Books Hi, I am looking at getting a Kobo Aura, but have heard rumors that with a Kobo a different reader is used for Sideloaded Books compared to reading books brought from the Store. Is this correct and if it is are there any issues compared to using the reader for store books (features missing etc..)? Thanks, Gavin,

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12-02-2013, 09:32 AM	#2
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	Yes, there are differences between vanilla epubs and the socalled "kepubs" which are Kobo's own format. But if one is so inclined, one can use a plugin for Calibre in order to access most of the kepub-only features with regular epubs, such as the "pages per chapter" pagination and floating footnotes. Previously one could also access reading data (like, time remaining in book/chapter and a bar diagram of the chapter lengths) from within the book, but that has since removed, so now that is only possible with proper kepubs. It is unclear whether that feature will make it back.

12-02-2013, 11:03 AM	#3
ploum Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 22818 Join Date: Apr 2013 Device: Pocketbook Touch HD 3 + koreader	Interesting. As I only sideload epub from other sources (I strictly refuse to buy anything with DRM), I was not even aware of those features. Can you point me to a link on how to test those features with calibre?

12-02-2013, 12:02 PM	#4
Lady Stardust User Posts: 234 Karma: 3246802 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Iphone, Kindle 3, PW1/2/3, KOA1/2/3, Aura HD/One/, Kobo Forma	I think you just add this plugin https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220565 And convert to kepub. I was also surprised by the difference between epub downloaded from Kobo and side loaded and kepub of the same book.

12-02-2013, 02:24 PM	#6
gavinjb Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 12028 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle	Thanks for the info, good to know I can get most of the functionality of a book purchased from Kobo