Problem with FBReader for Andriod

DBDigital · 06-09-2016, 03:12 PM

A few weeks ago (mid may or so) FBReader started to crash every time I looked at the library (this is on my android tablet (Android 2.3). I found out it was the Bookshelf plugin. When removed it fixed the issue. But I really liked the functionality it added to FBReader. I can read without it, but I would really like to have it back.

The problem seems to be related to the ad system included with the plugin. There was a way to pay to have the ads removed, but since it crashes a second after I try to use the library, that is not possible now. From what I can tell, the ad system uses webview and something changed last month for several apps that used webview for advertising started crashing. Either upon startup or when a ad was to be displayed.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the whole thing (FBReader and plugin) to no avail. I am using a older version of FBReader 2.3 or 2.4 (not sure which at the moment) and not 2.6 which is the latest for the free version (which still works on Android 2.3) because I didn't like a couple of changes that were made. But that is not the root of my problem as I tried 2.6 and same crash occurs. All of the Apps and plugins are from the Google Play store.

I know the bookshelf is included with FBReader pro, but that requires android 4.0

Any thoughts on how I might get this working again? I tried contacting FBReader and no response. Like I said, I wouldn't mind paying to turn off the ads which would fix it, but I can't do that now since it crashes constantly.

Dr. Drib · 06-09-2016, 06:30 PM

Moved out of General Discussion, which is for....general discussions.

Don
(Moderator)

DBDigital · 06-09-2016, 11:20 PM

Ah, I saw android devices under ebook readers and thought that meant ebook dedicated hardware, not any software that ran on android. And general does mention software, oh well it would have helped if I looked at the contents instead of going by the names and short descriptions. Whoops.

Moe The Cat · 06-10-2016, 02:59 PM

What if you installed an ad-blocking program? If ads don't appear in the FBReader bookshelf program, maybe it won't crash?

Dr. Drib · 06-11-2016, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBDigital

Ah, I saw android devices under ebook readers and thought that meant ebook dedicated hardware, not any software that ran on android. And general does mention software, oh well it would have helped if I looked at the contents instead of going by the names an short descriptions. Whoops.

No problem. These things happen all the time.

Don
(Moderator)

DBDigital · 06-12-2016, 06:38 PM

Good idea moe, any suggestions on one to try?

Moe The Cat · 06-13-2016, 02:46 PM

Are you rooted or not? If you are, Adaway is a good choice. If not, you could try Adguard. I haven't tried Adguard myself, as I am rooted. You could even install the ad blocker just long enough to get FBReader Bookshelf to run and then purchase the Bookshelf and remove the ad blocker afterwards. I don't know if either ad blocker, however, will work on Android 2.3.

DBDigital · 06-15-2016, 02:44 PM

Sorry I should have mentioned I was rooted. I did a bit of searching and found Adaway (there is a version from last Oct that still works on 2.3). Tried it but so far no difference. I was thinking perhaps it was a bad ad that is now crashing it, but if that was the case shouldn't a uninstall/reinstall fix that? Not to mention a data clear from manage apps, but neither fixed the issue. Unless the webview cache is stored somewhere else. I have poked around in the data folders but haven't found anything so far.

DBDigital · 07-03-2016, 04:53 PM

Now for something truly odd. Today I was using my tablet and I noticed that Greader, a news feed app I use, had a ad at the bottom. No big deal, and it use to, but it has not this whole issue started. However, Greader never crashed unlike several other apps.

Being that the ad was displayed I went and reinstalled the same FBReader library app as before (I had a backup of the apk) and guess what? It worked! No problem at all now and I didn't do a thing. Leaves me scratching my head. I tried it a few days and it still did the same crash issue. I am guessing a google ad sever that was down (or misconfigured) is now back up? But why would it take so long to be fixed?

Moe The Cat · 07-04-2016, 03:03 PM

Were you able to purchase the FBReader library app, while it was working, to get rid of the ads?

DBDigital · 07-08-2016, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe The Cat

Were you able to purchase the FBReader library app, while it was working, to get rid of the ads?

Not yet. It would seem that they changed it so that if you buy it, you purchase FBReader Pro. They stopped supporting the ability to turn off the ads for the non pro version. I contacted them to see if they had a older version of pro that works with Android 2.3 and they don't.

I sent another message asking if there was a way I could pay and have the ads disabled in the library plugin since I can't use FBReader Pro. I have not heard back.

06-09-2016, 03:12 PM	#1
DBDigital Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1701716 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook	Problem with FBReader for Andriod A few weeks ago (mid may or so) FBReader started to crash every time I looked at the library (this is on my android tablet (Android 2.3). I found out it was the Bookshelf plugin. When removed it fixed the issue. But I really liked the functionality it added to FBReader. I can read without it, but I would really like to have it back. The problem seems to be related to the ad system included with the plugin. There was a way to pay to have the ads removed, but since it crashes a second after I try to use the library, that is not possible now. From what I can tell, the ad system uses webview and something changed last month for several apps that used webview for advertising started crashing. Either upon startup or when a ad was to be displayed. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the whole thing (FBReader and plugin) to no avail. I am using a older version of FBReader 2.3 or 2.4 (not sure which at the moment) and not 2.6 which is the latest for the free version (which still works on Android 2.3) because I didn't like a couple of changes that were made. But that is not the root of my problem as I tried 2.6 and same crash occurs. All of the Apps and plugins are from the Google Play store. I know the bookshelf is included with FBReader pro, but that requires android 4.0 Any thoughts on how I might get this working again? I tried contacting FBReader and no response. Like I said, I wouldn't mind paying to turn off the ads which would fix it, but I can't do that now since it crashes constantly.

06-09-2016, 11:20 PM	#3
DBDigital Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1701716 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook	Ah, I saw android devices under ebook readers and thought that meant ebook dedicated hardware, not any software that ran on android. And general does mention software, oh well it would have helped if I looked at the contents instead of going by the names and short descriptions. Whoops. Last edited by DBDigital; 06-12-2016 at 06:40 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
iLiad FBReader 0.10.7 Problem	Fellball	iRex Developer's Corner	15	06-03-2009 11:03 PM
Andriod based HTC G1	pilotbob	Alternative Devices	6	10-23-2008 03:45 PM
little problem with fbreader	Escaflowne	iRex	1	02-05-2008 05:10 PM
iLiad Little problem with fbreader	Escaflowne	iRex Developer's Corner	8	01-16-2008 01:30 AM

06-09-2016, 06:30 PM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Moved out of General Discussion, which is for....general discussions. Don (Moderator)

06-10-2016, 02:59 PM	#4
Moe The Cat Bear Melt Posts: 919 Karma: 5433051 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Device: Google Pixel 6, Moto G9 Power (both with Fbreader) & Kindle PW2	What if you installed an ad-blocking program? If ads don't appear in the FBReader bookshelf program, maybe it won't crash?

06-12-2016, 06:38 PM	#6
DBDigital Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1701716 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook	Good idea moe, any suggestions on one to try?

06-13-2016, 02:46 PM	#7
Moe The Cat Bear Melt Posts: 919 Karma: 5433051 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Device: Google Pixel 6, Moto G9 Power (both with Fbreader) & Kindle PW2	Are you rooted or not? If you are, Adaway is a good choice. If not, you could try Adguard. I haven't tried Adguard myself, as I am rooted. You could even install the ad blocker just long enough to get FBReader Bookshelf to run and then purchase the Bookshelf and remove the ad blocker afterwards. I don't know if either ad blocker, however, will work on Android 2.3.

06-15-2016, 02:44 PM	#8
DBDigital Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1701716 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook	Sorry I should have mentioned I was rooted. I did a bit of searching and found Adaway (there is a version from last Oct that still works on 2.3). Tried it but so far no difference. I was thinking perhaps it was a bad ad that is now crashing it, but if that was the case shouldn't a uninstall/reinstall fix that? Not to mention a data clear from manage apps, but neither fixed the issue. Unless the webview cache is stored somewhere else. I have poked around in the data folders but haven't found anything so far.

07-03-2016, 04:53 PM	#9
DBDigital Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1701716 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook	Now for something truly odd. Today I was using my tablet and I noticed that Greader, a news feed app I use, had a ad at the bottom. No big deal, and it use to, but it has not this whole issue started. However, Greader never crashed unlike several other apps. Being that the ad was displayed I went and reinstalled the same FBReader library app as before (I had a backup of the apk) and guess what? It worked! No problem at all now and I didn't do a thing. Leaves me scratching my head. I tried it a few days and it still did the same crash issue. I am guessing a google ad sever that was down (or misconfigured) is now back up? But why would it take so long to be fixed?

07-04-2016, 03:03 PM	#10
Moe The Cat Bear Melt Posts: 919 Karma: 5433051 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Device: Google Pixel 6, Moto G9 Power (both with Fbreader) & Kindle PW2	Were you able to purchase the FBReader library app, while it was working, to get rid of the ads?