Calibre e-reader operating system

[ohIdon'tknow]

I think it'd be rather wonderful if there was a Calibre e-reader OS for open e-ink devices like the PineNote. An open-source e-reader which could integrate with Calibre's open-source e-book manager. The beginnings of an escape from Kindle, Kobo etc.

An enterprising developer has made a good start with a working Quill OS for the PineNote. Perhaps it could provide the basis for development of Calibre OS.

I know it'd be a lot of work but it makes sense to me.

[rantanplan]

Isn't the PineNote Linux based? Why would one need a "Calibre OS" if you can just install Calibre on the device?

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Isn't the PineNote Linux based? Why would one need a "Calibre OS" if you can just install Calibre on the device?

Perhaps because Calibre is designed for a desktop and it's possibly not best on a touch screen device. And it'd be nice to have something super-simple for my grandmother.

Also, wouldn't that mean hosting all of my books on my desktop and tablet simultaneously? With library corruption a real possibility.

When I suggest a Calibre OS I'm not thinking of a complete e-book library management system but rather a simple e-reader OS as you'd find on a Kindle or a Kobo.

[Sirtel]

Given that your average ereader user is hardly likely to be interested in PineNote or other niche devices, there probably isn't enough interest in such a project.

Also, why would someone want to escape from Kobo? It's entirely possible to use a Kobo ereader strictly for sideloaded books and never even open the Kobo store. It's also possible and very easy to use a Kobo device without a Kobo account. And you can install KOReader on it without any need for rooting/jailbreaking. What's there to escape from?

The same applies to Pocketbooks.

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

What's there to escape from?

A world controlled entirely by ravenous corporations and closed-source proprietary software.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ohIdon'tknow

A world controlled entirely by ravenous corporations and closed-source proprietary software.

Kobo OS isn't closed source. You can write patches and apps for it as much as you want. And how is it controlled by Kobo, if you use your device without a Kobo account? You can even disable any software updates, or go back to an older firmware version. Again quite easily.

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kobo OS isn't closed source. You can write patches and apps for it as much as you want. And how is it controlled by Kobo, if you use your device without a Kobo account? You can even disable any software updates, or go back to an older firmware version. Again quite easily.

Christ Alive, why are you being so angry and aggressive? All I said is it'd be nice to have a Calibre e-reader.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ohIdon'tknow

Christ Alive, why are you being so angry and aggressive? All I said is it'd be nice to have a Calibre e-reader.

I'm not angry at all. I'm just wondering about your phrase "escape from Kindle, Kobo etc." Escaping from Kindle I get - that really is a closed, proprietary OS entirely controlled by Amazon, with which you can't do anything unless you jailbreak. But the OS on Kobos and Pocketbooks isn't. You don't even have to register or log in anywhere to use them.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kobo OS isn't closed source.

Are you sure about that? Because I cannot find the source code for the e-readers.

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

But the OS on Kobos and Pocketbooks isn't. You don't even have to register or log in anywhere to use them.

At present you can mess about with Kobo and Pocketbooks. But isn't Kobo introducing secure boot across its range? Which could seriously hamper 3rd party development. Who's to say Pocketbook won't go the same way. And could you do anything to stop them? I just think maybe it'd a good idea to have an open e-reader OS than can't be locked down at the whim of some CEO or other.

And Kobo isn't entirely 100% open-source, is it? It does have some proprietary elements like DRM and wotnots. I know that for the clever cloggs there are ways to bypass DRM and the Kobo ecosystem, but that's not really the point. It will still affect the wider society. Maybe a PineNote (and other e-ink tablets) with Calibre OS won't make much of a dent in the enshittification of society, but it's likely better than relying upon the kindness of strangers in some distant boardroom.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Are you sure about that? Because I cannot find the source code for the e-readers.

It's not published online, no. But it's not locked down either. Meaning, you can access it and third-party apps (like calibre) can access and manage it.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ohIdon'tknow

At present you can mess about with Kobo and Pocketbooks. But isn't Kobo introducing secure boot across its range? Which could seriously hamper 3rd party development. Who's to say Pocketbook won't go the same way. And could you do anything to stop them? I just think maybe it'd a good idea to have an open e-reader OS than can't be locked down at the whim of some CEO or other.

And Kobo isn't entirely 100% open-source, is it? It does have some proprietary elements like DRM and wotnots. I know that for the clever cloggs there are ways to bypass DRM and the Kobo ecosystem, but that's not really the point. It will still affect the wider society. Maybe a PineNote (and other e-ink tablets) with Calibre OS won't make much of a dent in the enshittification of society, but it's likely better than relying upon the kindness of strangers in some distant boardroom.

Well, yes, I mostly agree with these points. DRM, of course, is there because publishers demand it, not because Kobo wants to make it impossible for you to access your purchased books. Kobo sells plenty of DRM-free ebooks as well.

And yeah, all this could change one day and probably will. Not necessarily for the better, of course.

Still, for just book reading, PineNote is an overkill and far too expensive. What most Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook users would want is a dedicated ereader with reasonable specs and hardware, which is priced as an ereader, not as a tablet. I don't think such a device exists at the moment.

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Still, for just book reading, PineNote is an overkill and far too expensive. What most Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook users would want is a dedicated ereader with reasonable specs and hardware, which is priced as an ereader, not as a tablet. I don't think such a device exists at the moment.

You're absolutely right. Total overkill and way, way too expensive for use just as an e-reader. But it's a place to start. A chicken and egg thing. There won't be any affordable open e-ink devices until there's a demand. And there won't be any demand until you can do something with them. Like use them with Calibre OS as the platform for your e-reading. Maybe with Calibre OS pre-installed.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ohIdon'tknow

You're absolutely right. Total overkill and way, way too expensive for use just as an e-reader. But it's a place to start. A chicken and egg thing. There won't be any affordable open e-ink devices until there's a demand. And there won't be any demand until you can do something with them. Like use them with Calibre OS as the platform for your e-reading. Maybe with Calibre OS pre-installed.

I don't think there will ever be a calibre OS for mobile devices, unless someone else creates and maintains it. Kovid has said he's not interested in doing it.

There is KOReader, though. And yes, it's also overkill for many people, but it's still very popular.

[ohIdon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I don't think there will ever be a calibre OS for mobile devices, unless someone else creates and maintains it. Kovid has said he's not interested in doing it.

My biggest worry for the future of calibre is the lockdown of sideloading. In my cynical imagination I can see someone at Amazon and Rakuten proposing a restriction on sideloading. Fixing it so the usb port is for power only. Their rationale being that they are losing e-book sales to rival stores or public libraries. At that point calibre could be largely redundant for most people.

While there's a good chance that none of that will happen, it might be worth some of the people behind calibre considering a long-term backup plan.