Is it possible to sync reading position between Kobo reader and (any app) iOS?

[RedTomato]

Hi all, newb here so please be kind.

I like my Kobo Aura One, but one thing I miss from Kindle is the ability to sync reading position between the Kobo and an iOS app. Often I have my phone with me but not my Kobo, and it would be nice to be able to do some reading on the phone, then continue later on the Kobo from where I left off on the phone.

I've searched the forums for guidance but not been able to find anything definitive. I've set up calibre-web for my calibre install, am just about to install KOReader and am looking through the various kobo hacks.

I can't seem to see any way of doing this. I guess using the iOS Kobo app is a non-starter. I tried sideloading epub files to the Kobo iOS app, and it opens them but won't sync reading position. There are a large number of other epub readers available for iOS, I'm happy to use anything that does the job.

There must be a way for Koreader or some other onboard reader to smuggle out page position to somewhere that an iOS reader can grab it and vice versa?

[RedTomato]

Edit: I mean specifically for sideloaded epubs not purchased directly from Kobo.

[Cootey]

I often move between the Kobo iOS apps and my Kobo Clara. To ensure a sync, I will exit out of the book in either the app or reader. This forces a sync to the cloud. Otherwise, the sync happens at a more leisurely pace—usually long after you've found your last location manually!

I regret to inform you that page location is generally all that syncs between iOS apps and the reader. I find bookmarks, highlights, and notes sync might sync once when the book is first opened in the iOS app, then never again. It's as if they are on two different databases. I haven't found a solution for it yet. I'd rather annotate on my iOS device. It's so much easier. Kindle has one over on Kobo on this particular feature. It's a shame.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I often move between the Kobo iOS apps and my Kobo Clara. To ensure a sync, I will exit out of the book in either the app or reader. This forces a sync to the cloud. Otherwise, the sync happens at a more leisurely pace—usually long after you've found your last location manually!

The reading status should sync quickly. It should upload to the server when you do something such as close the book or put the device to sleep. For downloading, it should do this when you open a book or wake the device. My experience is that, as long as I have a good network connection, this works. I have frequently tested this by paging through a book on one device/app, closing the book, picking up another device and opening the book there. After a few seconds it prompts me with a message that the book had been read on another device/app and if I want to go to that location. Checking now, the reading location synced from my phone to an ereader in less that 30 seconds from the time I put the phone down.

I regret to inform you that page location is generally all that syncs between iOS apps and the reader. I find bookmarks, highlights, and notes sync might sync once when the book is first opened in the iOS app, then never again. It's as if they are on two different databases. I haven't found a solution for it yet. I'd rather annotate on my iOS device. It's so much easier. Kindle has one over on Kobo on this particular feature. It's a shame.

The state of annotations syncing is a bit different. It should happen, but, it doesn't happen immediately. There is a delay. I think it is somewhere between 6 and 12 hours. That's based on Kobo telling me that they had reduced it below 24 hours and then when I tested, annotations that I added in the Android app at night, weren't on the device when I went to bed, but were there when I checked after lunch the next day.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The reading status should sync quickly. It should upload to the server when you do something such as close the book or put the device to sleep…


The state of annotations syncing is a bit different. It should happen, but, it doesn't happen immediately. There is a delay. I think it is somewhere between 6 and 12 hours.

I have to be honest, David. After extensive testing when I first got my KA1 a few years back, I haven't revisited the issue much lately. I will test it again. Those sound like good improvements, though I would like to see annotation be sent just as quickly as bookmarks. I think I just got into the habit of the elaborate sync process I described above from the earlier buggy days when it was necessary.


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[Numnumnum]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The reading status should sync quickly. It should upload to the server when you do something such as close the book or put the device to sleep. For downloading, it should do this when you open a book or wake the device. My experience is that, as long as I have a good network connection, this works. I have frequently tested this by paging through a book on one device/app, closing the book, picking up another device and opening the book there. After a few seconds it prompts me with a message that the book had been read on another device/app and if I want to go to that location. Checking now, the reading location synced from my phone to an ereader in less that 30 seconds from the time I put the phone down.


The state of annotations syncing is a bit different. It should happen, but, it doesn't happen immediately. There is a delay. I think it is somewhere between 6 and 12 hours. That's based on Kobo telling me that they had reduced it below 24 hours and then when I tested, annotations that I added in the Android app at night, weren't on the device when I went to bed, but were there when I checked after lunch the next day.

Hello, this post about the state of syncing on the Kobo app between the e-reader and other android or iOS device - is it referring only to Ebola purchased through Kobo or side loaded books as well? I like to read on Kobo at home and iPhone on subway. Will the Kobo app sync side loaded books between devices? Thanks for all your contributions.

[salamanderjuice]

Kobo app only syncs purchases. Not sideloaded content.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Numnumnum

Hello, this post about the state of syncing on the Kobo app between the e-reader and other android or iOS device - is it referring only to Ebola purchased through Kobo or side loaded books as well? I like to read on Kobo at home and iPhone on subway. Will the Kobo app sync side loaded books between devices? Thanks for all your contributions.

Unfortunately, not only aren’t side-loaded books synced, their bookmarks and annotations aren’t synced either. Not at this time, at any rate.

When I am in the situation you are in, wanting to read a side-loaded book on my iPhone while waiting in line, I have to use some planning to pull it off.

First, side load the book onto both ereader and iPhone (obviously ), but then I also mark where I left off on Goodreads and refer to that when I’m out and about. You could also just take a photo of which page you’re on before you head out the door and refer to it later. Neither solution is elegant, but I’ve used Goodreads this way for years, so I’m used to it.




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