How important to you is having WiFi in an E-reader device?

[librico]

Hi all,

I'm developing an e-reader device, which I hope I can get done by the end of this year, maybe to sell it and promote it for the next year.

I know it sounds like self-promotion, but I genuinely have something to ask you.

How important to you is having WiFi in an E-reader device? I made a poll but I would like to read some comments from you. And how do you use it? The PocketBook Verse I use has WiFi but personally I only use this device to read EPUB books I load via USB. No WiFi usage basically.

The SoC I chose doesn't integrate WiFi support on it, so I need an external module for it, but I don't find any within the price range in the distributor I'm using. Choosing a different SoC isn't an option. My preference is to add WiFi, but I have to evaluate my options.

Regards.

[Sirtel]

For me it's not important, I sideload everything from calibre via USB. But I suspect I'm in the minority with this.

[DiapDealer]

A reading device that I can't shop, buy, download and start reading on is useless to me.

But then I suspect you're referring to dedicated e-reading devices which are also useless to me.

[John F]

Depends. I don't use wifi for purchasing, syncing. But I would like it for other stuff: updates, dictionaries, maybe dropbox, ...

[DJUNGELSKOG]

I send .acsm files to my Pocketbook and it’s much easier than dealing with ADE. On top of that I’m a happy Kobo Plus customer. But if I sideloaded everything then I would have perceived the lack of WiFi as a benefit (no WiFi -> no phoning home).

[JSWolf]

I don't use WiFi all that much. The last time I used WiFi was when I updated KOReader on my Kobo Aura H2O. That was before the Kobo Libra 2 was released. So I've not used WiFi for at least 5 years.

If having WiFi is not going to increase the cost much, then go ahead. I think there will be others who will want WiFi. Now Bluetooth is also something I see others wanting for thins like a mouse, keyboard, buttons, and audio. So you'll want Bluetooth as well.

When you design this Reader, pick a processer that's fast and highly efficient when it goes to sleep. And also use a battery that has a lot of power. Also, if you plan on selling this in the EU, you'll need to make the battery able to be replaced without too much hassle.

And one other thing, NO COLOR!

[maddz]

I sideload all the time. WiFi has it's uses, but it's a battery drain so I have it off on my Kobo, only switching it on when downloading firmware (as Kobo desktop is deprecated).

[Loosheesh]

Wi-Fi is really important to me; I stopped sideloading over 5 years now.

[DNSB]

For me, WiFi is important for updating reading stats, downloading books, getting Instapaper items, using Google Drive and Dropbox, dictionary updates, getting firmware updates since most of the updates I install are not available any other way, syncing library books, purchasing the occasional book, etc. I do use USB for quite a bit of sideloading, metadata updates, etc.

[theducks]

I chose the middle.
WiFi is a backup for a flaky USB, but is rarely used. (The jack on my EasyReader failed, but I did get it so I could charge. It had an external SDcard. Speaking of external: I had a USBC to USB adapter and My Kobo could see the files on the Pen Drive I plugged in.
I would really prefer Bluetooth file transfer (a personal area connection. No phoning home)

[cpegg]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

For me it's not important, I sideload everything from calibre via USB. But I suspect I'm in the minority with this.

Same here. I started with a Nook and moved on to Kobos and never purchase over wifi from the devices.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me, WiFi is important for updating reading stats, downloading books, getting Instapaper items, using Google Drive and Dropbox, dictionary updates, getting firmware updates since most of the updates I install are not available any other way, syncing library books, purchasing the occasional book, etc. I do use USB for quite a bit of sideloading, metadata updates, etc.

Yes, well. Kobo replaced the excellent 2019 English dictionary with the much poorer 2024 one. Now I have to put back the older one after every time I've connected to wifi. "Dictionary updates"? No thanks.

[JBaby]

I sideload everything with Calibre via USB, but I leave WiFi on 100% of the time because I want to use all of the features of my Kindle. That includes borrowing library books, syncing to GR, Wikipedia, and translations. Charging more often doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

[librico]

Hi! Thank you for all the votes and replies. I initially thought it wasn't really used because the people I spoke with who also use e-readers don't use WiFi at all, but I see there are many other use cases where it's required to have connection.

So it's a must, I'll fit it somehow.

I'll try to reply to some comments here, I hope it works because this system is a little bit old-fashion.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

A reading device that I can't shop, buy, download and start reading on is useless to me.

But then I suspect you're referring to dedicated e-reading devices which are also useless to me.

Originally Posted by DJUNGELSKOG

I send .acsm files to my Pocketbook and it’s much easier than dealing with ADE. On top of that I’m a happy Kobo Plus customer. But if I sideloaded everything then I would have perceived the lack of WiFi as a benefit (no WiFi -> no phoning home).

I see, managing a virtual book shop for my platform is out of my scope... Who knows, if my project goes really well, maybe it could be considered.

For now it's a dedicated e-reader for people to load the books they previously acquired/downloaded by other means.

Originally Posted by John F

Depends. I don't use wifi for purchasing, syncing. But I would like it for other stuff: updates, dictionaries, maybe dropbox, ...

Originally Posted by maddz

I sideload all the time. WiFi has it's uses, but it's a battery drain so I have it off on my Kobo, only switching it on when downloading firmware (as Kobo desktop is deprecated).

Yeah, basically the same I think about it.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't use WiFi all that much. The last time I used WiFi was when I updated KOReader on my Kobo Aura H2O. That was before the Kobo Libra 2 was released. So I've not used WiFi for at least 5 years.

If having WiFi is not going to increase the cost much, then go ahead. I think there will be others who will want WiFi. Now Bluetooth is also something I see others wanting for thins like a mouse, keyboard, buttons, and audio. So you'll want Bluetooth as well.

When you design this Reader, pick a processer that's fast and highly efficient when it goes to sleep. And also use a battery that has a lot of power. Also, if you plan on selling this in the EU, you'll need to make the battery able to be replaced without too much hassle.

And one other thing, NO COLOR!

Thanks for all the tips.
I think WiFi has more priority than Bluetooth, and for this first attempt Bluetooth will be added only if the WiFi system offers an easy way.

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Wi-Fi is really important to me; I stopped sideloading over 5 years now.

May I know why is it important to you? What is your use case? So I can annotate it into my requirements.

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me, WiFi is important for updating reading stats, downloading books, getting Instapaper items, using Google Drive and Dropbox, dictionary updates, getting firmware updates since most of the updates I install are not available any other way, syncing library books, purchasing the occasional book, etc. I do use USB for quite a bit of sideloading, metadata updates, etc.

Originally Posted by JBaby

I sideload everything with Calibre via USB, but I leave WiFi on 100% of the time because I want to use all of the features of my Kindle. That includes borrowing library books, syncing to GR, Wikipedia, and translations. Charging more often doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

About syncing the library books and dictionaries over WiFi, do you use the solutions the e-reader makers offers (kindle, kobo platforms) or are they third party / self hosted solutions?

Originally Posted by theducks

I chose the middle.
WiFi is a backup for a flaky USB, but is rarely used. (The jack on my EasyReader failed, but I did get it so I could charge. It had an external SDcard. Speaking of external: I had a USBC to USB adapter and My Kobo could see the files on the Pen Drive I plugged in.
I would really prefer Bluetooth file transfer (a personal area connection. No phoning home)

I agree USB can get loose or straight up broken over time. I made some design choices to avoid the books being inaccessible / inconvenient to modify in the device.
About Bluetooth, if it's easier to use along the WiFi, then it can be added, but WiFi is the priority here.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by librico

About syncing the library books and dictionaries over WiFi, do you use the solutions the e-reader makers offers (kindle, kobo platforms) or are they third party / self hosted solutions?

Almost certainly the built-in features of Kindle and Kobo platforms. (Almost because I don't sync over wifi myself, but I've been a member here long enough to know how most folks use their ereaders).