Aura HD Considering Aura HD, supplementing KPW1

[arspr]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I've been looking at the pictures
At this point in time I have this image of the Aura HD:

1. Book stats (reading time per chapter/book) doesn't work on side-loaded EPUB nor KEPUB.
2. Uploading the page number calculated by Count Pages is not possible.
3. The Aura HD displays less lines per screen, but some more text per line compared to the Kindle PW2; there may not be more text on screen as compared to the Kindle.

Is this correct?

1. Book stats (I really don't care) only work with "official" Kepubs. It used to work with sideloaded Kepubs but they don't anymore. It's not clear if it is some kind of bug or if Kobo has done it on purpose... In some places (home screen, book list) you get a % of your full book.

2. I don't follow you. Default page numbering in Kepubs are TRUE number of page turns per chapter (so if you change font size, the total number of pages changes. The downsize is that you only know the pages you have in your current chapter). Nevertheless you can change that behaviour to a more or less similar whole book fake number similar to the epub system through KoboTouch Extended driver for Calibre. (A must have).

3. Yes. The real problem with Kobos is that their interface wastes a lot of space in the header (which is present only in kepubs) and in the footer (which is also present in epubs). So, you can freely change font size, margins, embedded or forced font type, or whatever but there's always a lot of wasted room in the bottom and top of the screen. The Aura HD screen is wider and has some more resolution (dpi) than Paperwhite but it doesn't really use that advantage because that of its GUI design... (And I suppose this issue is worse in other models as they have the same GUI but a smaller screen).

In fact I don't think that buying a Aura HD (which a bigger price tag) makes a lot of sense if you come from a PW1... (which also has a more or less HD display).

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by jandrew

Here are the pics you requested - note, the supplied kepub didn't want to work, so I generated one from the epub via calibe. (epub then kepub):

Wow, that Aura HD KEPUB layout looks positively beautiful!

Thanks for those pictures. I wonder why the layouts on the review sites are always such utter crap, often left-aligning text, using huge spacings, and they basically only fit 23-25 lines of text on the screen; or is that a KEPUB layout as it is when you get it from Kobo? Pity, in that case.

I KNEW that if a book was marked up correctly (and the Feedbooks ones are, that's why I chose one of theirs), the display of the text could be much better. The rightmost picture looks a lot like my hardcover version of Lord of the Rings, which also has a page header and footer, and large margins.

Comparison:

My own Kindle PW1: 28 lines x 47 characters = 1.316 char/page
Right-most Aura HD KEPUB picture: 33 lines x 67 characters = 2.211 char/page

AHD vs. KPW1: 68% more text on Aura HD, despite the large margins and the header/footer on top!

Actually, I've just checked the layout of my hardcover LotR: 36 lines x 67 characters, with margins of about 1.5 cm all around, with a header and footer in the bottom margin. Many other books I own have a similar layout, even the paperbacks, although they have smaller margins, fewer lines and only 55-57 characters per line.

(I assume that text size on the Aura HD is comparable to the size I have set on the Kindle; at this point, Palatino 3, which is as large as the print in the paperbacks I have here.)

If I may bother you with some more questions, jandrew:

1. How did you create the KEPUB? The one in my archive was created by using the latest version of the KEPUB plugin, on the latest version of Calibre, and converting with the default settings. Is using the Kobo Touch Extended driver the better option?

2. Which firmware version is the Aura HD running?

3. What font did you pick?

4. Can the margins to the left or right be made smaller, or is this the smallest they'll go without using Kobo Patcher? (I don't really mind, as the page looks great as it is.)

Thanks in advance for answering

I think I just fell in love. I might actually throw caution to the wind and order a Kobo Aura HD somewhere next week or so, and then put it into [url=http://www.geckocovers.com/kobo-aura-hd-6-8-inch-cover-deluxe.html]this cover[/quote], which is quite comparable to the one I use for my Paperwhite.

PS: I think the EPUB display looks unbalanced. The margin on the bottom should be a lot smaller, or it should have a header such as the KEPUB one. The page with the chapter header looks OK, but the next one looks weird.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by arspr

1. Book stats (I really don't care) only work with "official" Kepubs. It used to work with sideloaded Kepubs but they don't anymore. It's not clear if it is some kind of bug or if Kobo has done it on purpose... In some places (home screen, book list) you get a % of your full book.

Thanks. So no book statistics.

Is it possible to disable any unused features, reading life, twitter, facebook, etc?

As I said in my post above, the time to read is the only "gimmick" I actually care somewhat about. All the rest of the functionality is wasted on me, and I'd like to disable it.

2. I don't follow you. Default page numbering in Kepubs are TRUE number of page turns per chapter (so if you change font size, the total number of pages changes. The downsize is that you only know the pages you have in your current chapter). Nevertheless you can change that behaviour to a more or less similar whole book fake number similar to the epub system through KoboTouch Extended driver for Calibre. (A must have).

Count Pages in Calibre can generate page numbers based on the number of characters per page. The Kindle driver can upload those pagenumbers to the Kindle, for each book; the number of pages does not change based on font size.

What algorithm does the Kobo Touch Extended driver use; do you know this?

3. Yes. The real problem with Kobos is that their interface wastes a lot of space in the header (which is present only in kepubs) and in the footer (which is also present in epubs). So, you can freely change font size, margins, embedded or forced font type, or whatever but there's always a lot of wasted room in the bottom and top of the screen. The Aura HD screen is wider and has some more resolution (dpi) than Paperwhite but it doesn't really use that advantage because that of its GUI design... (And I suppose this issue is worse in other models as they have the same GUI but a smaller screen).

To be honest, I really like the KEPUB layout as shown above. It has 33 lines by 67 characters, which is WAY more than I can fit on the Kindle, even despite the big margins around the text.

In fact I don't think that buying a Aura HD (which a bigger price tag) makes a lot of sense if you come from a PW1... (which also has a more or less HD display).

The one thing that really irks me on the Kindle is the limited selection fonts. The only ones I like are Baskerville (always too small or too large), and Palatino (mostly OK).

Also, looking at the layout of the Aura HD using KEPUB's as displayed above, makes it look better and much less cramped than the Kindle, probably BECAUSE of the larger margins while still fitting in more text.

[Katsunami]

Another question....

Does the Aura HD support files that are already soft-hyphenated using the Hyphenate This! plugin? I use this for the Kindle, and it works fine. I see the Kobo Touch Extended driver can also hyphenate, using the same dictionaries; and the Kobo seems to have it's own hyphenation dictionaries on board which can be replaced.

What happens if I don't do anything special (so, no hyphenation using the driver or extra dictionaries) but just convert the already hyphenated EPUB to KEPUB and upload this?

(Could this be the reason why the KEPUB I generated did not work? It was generated from an already-hyphenated EPUB. Note: The EPUB in my ZIP-file is hyphenated; it's the one I used to generate the KEPUB.)

[PeterT]

The Kobo Touch Extended driver uses NO algorithm for page count. The ACCESS engine used by Kobo to handle kepub format is what does all handling of the page numbers.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by PeterT

The Kobo Touch Extended driver uses NO algorithm for page count. The ACCESS engine used by Kobo to handle kepub format is what does all handling of the page numbers.

OK, thanks In that case, there would be no relationship between the Page Count plugin in Calibre, and the page count of the Aura HD; the latter would only be used to get a sense of where you are in a book, but it can't be used to judge how large/long the book is compared to a paperback.

[jandrew]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

If I may bother you with some more questions, jandrew:

1. How did you create the KEPUB? The one in my archive was created by using the latest version of the KEPUB plugin, on the latest version of Calibre, and converting with the default settings. Is using the Kobo Touch Extended driver the better option?

2. Which firmware version is the Aura HD running?

3. What font did you pick?

4. Can the margins to the left or right be made smaller, or is this the smallest they'll go without using Kobo Patcher? (I don't really mind, as the page looks great as it is.)

1) I don't know that your kepub wouldn't work per se, I threw both on a sdcard and the kobo only saw the epub ... so I just opened calibre and imported the epub, converted to kepub (I just have the "KePub Output (2.2.14)" plugin installed in Calibre, no extended drivers) and sent to device.

2) Aura HD 3.1.1 firmware

3) Amasis font (can't tell you the point size, just a slider set to just above halfway).

4) The margin slider is set to just above halfway -- setting it to minimum has the text go nearly edge-to-edge.

Here are two additional pics: the first with the kepub opened and showing the basic font/margin controls as they were in the original photo, the second with the margin slid all the way left (I prefer the former):

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by jandrew

1) I don't know that your kepub wouldn't work per se, I threw both on a sdcard and the kobo only saw the epub ... so I just opened calibre and imported the epub, converted to kepub (I just have the "KePub Output (2.2.14)" plugin installed in Calibre, no extended drivers) and sent to device.

Weirdness. I converted the same EPUB, using the same plugin, and the did a Save to Disk. Maybe something went wrong there, because KEPUB is not an "official" Calibre format. Calibre can do stuff like updating metadata on some types of files; maybe it has corrupted the KEPUB.

2) Aura HD 3.1.1 firmware

Good

3) Amasis font (can't tell you the point size, just a slider set to just above halfway).

4) The margin slider is set to just above halfway -- setting it to minimum has the text go nearly edge-to-edge.

Here are two additional pics: the first with the kepub opened and showing the basic font/margin controls as they were in the original photo, the second with the margin slid all the way left (I prefer the former):

Thanks If that size is the one above halfway, then it can go really tiny I guess.

Yes, while the picture shows that it's indeed possible to squash more text onto the screen, the page will get a very wide, "squashed" look. I prefer the one in your picture too.

Was that setting of 67 characters and wide margins a concious choice? It's the standard of the LaTeX typesetter. I reall LOVE the default LaTeX output, and your settings remind me of it. I wouldn't even be surprised if you told me that you use LaTeX a lot for work or a technical university course

That KEPUB layout really looks like a page set into a wooden frame, and I like it so much that I'm temped to just order the Aura HD so I can see what it does and can't do for myself, maybe even foregoing nice stuff such as Time To Read to be able to read books in that layout

PS: If the font size was bigger and lines would become shorter than 67 characters, I'd reduce the margins a bit.

[booklover6]

Yes! I use the Hyphenate This! Calibre Plugin for all my books. The Aura HD displays the hyphenations.

I do NOT do anything to "convert the already hyphenated Epub to KEpub." My books in calibre are all epubs. I use the Kobo Touch Extended Plugin to have Calibre send the epub to the Kobo, which converts it to the kepub. It is automatic.

I do not have a special on device hyphenation dictionary. I think it came preloaded with a dictionary. I didn't put one on, but when I long press a word, I get the definition.

With the side-loaded kepub, as has been said, it no longer shows time left, but it shows page # of page # in chapter, so at least you know how long til the end of the chapter.

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Another question....

Does the Aura HD support files that are already soft-hyphenated using the Hyphenate This! plugin? I use this for the Kindle, and it works fine. I see the Kobo Touch Extended driver can also hyphenate, using the same dictionaries; and the Kobo seems to have it's own hyphenation dictionaries on board which can be replaced.

What happens if I don't do anything special (so, no hyphenation using the driver or extra dictionaries) but just convert the already hyphenated EPUB to KEPUB and upload this?

(Could this be the reason why the KEPUB I generated did not work? It was generated from an already-hyphenated EPUB. Note: The EPUB in my ZIP-file is hyphenated; it's the one I used to generate the KEPUB.)

[jandrew]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Was that setting of 67 characters and wide margins a concious choice? It's the standard of the LaTeX typesetter. I reall LOVE the default LaTeX output, and your settings remind me of it. I wouldn't even be surprised if you told me that you use LaTeX a lot for work or a technical university course

Subconsciously I suppose ... when I got the Aura HD in December (my first ereader, so I am not any kind of expert), I played around with various settings until pages "looked right" ... and yes, I have indeed used LaTeX quite a lot in the past

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Yes! I use the Hyphenate This! Calibre Plugin for all my books. The Aura HD displays the hyphenations.

Great

I do NOT do anything to "convert the already hyphenated Epub to KEpub." My books in calibre are all epubs. I use the Kobo Touch Extended Plugin to have Calibre send the epub to the Kobo, which converts it to the kepub. It is automatic.

I know. The Kobo Touch Extended Driver (is the shorthand KTED in use in this forum? If not, it now is ) converts on the fly, so if you use Hyphenate This on your EPUB's in the library, you actually do convert your already-hyphenated EPUB to KEPUB. You just don't save it.

I prefer to have all formats I use in Calibre, if possible, because I have some positively HUGE books that would take 10+ minutes to convert if I decided to read them. Now, I store the EPUB (base format) and AZW3 formats for all books. Assuming the KEPUB conversion plugin would normally work, I would just store the KEPUB format as well.

Still, if the driver conversion works better than the plugin for whatever reason, I'd use the driver. I don't really care what sort of file ends up in the device, as long as it looks alright and I can create it from my base EPUBs.

I do not have a special on device hyphenation dictionary. I think it came preloaded with a dictionary. I didn't put one on, but when I long press a word, I get the definition.

OK, I understand. I've read that it is possible to store/update a hyphenation dictionary on the Kobo (actually, the same one as is used by Hyphenate This), and then have the KEPUB changed in such a way that the book can use it. At least, that is the way I understand it.

Clearly, when using Hyphenate This, that is no longer neccesary, as the hyphenation is built into the book directly. (If you count pages after hyphenation, the book will actually be longer, because of the invisible soft-hyphens.) I'd prefer using Hyphenate This, because I use it on the EPUBs I send to the Kindle.

Even if I buy the Aura HD, I'll not sell the Kindle. I could get €70 for it, including the cover, and that's not worth it. I'd rather keep it as a backup; assuming the Aura HD actually gets bought and stays.

With the side-loaded kepub, as has been said, it no longer shows time left, but it shows page # of page # in chapter, so at least you know how long til the end of the chapter.

I've read the thread about re-enabling those stats. If it can't be done, it can't be done. I just want SOME way to know where I am in the chapter, or at the very least, in the book.

I'll just use the Count Pages page numbers in Calibre, so I can estimate the "paperback size" of a book, and have the Kobo use whatever it uses. I just need to time my reading speed once, to know how many pages an hour I can read on the Kobo. I can then calculate my own TTR wel enough.

If the chapter page numbers are displayed (for example, Page 4 of 17 in Chapter 3) is there a way to also see the number of pages in the book?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by jandrew

Subconsciously I suppose ... when I got the Aura HD in December (my first ereader, so I am not any kind of expert), I played around with various settings until pages "looked right" ... and yes, I have indeed used LaTeX quite a lot in the past

Hehehe. Thought so. If you get used to LaTeX, everything else starts to look wrong. (Actually, the mentioned hardcover of Lord of the Rings is printed using LaTeX. I'd recognize the default layout and font anywhere.)

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Even if I buy the Aura HD, I'll not sell the Kindle. I could get €70 for it, including the cover, and that's not worth it. I'd rather keep it as a backup; assuming the Aura HD actually gets bought and stays.

Having 2 readers is a good idea, in case something unforseen happens to one of them!

Originally Posted by Katsunami

If the chapter page numbers are displayed (for example, Page 4 of 17 in Chapter 3) is there a way to also see the number of pages in the book?

Not for a kepub. But a really nice feature of the Aura HD (and Glo and Aura) is the home screen. It shows all the tiles of the books you've most recently opened. And the one you had open last, shows % read and how much time to go. Mine is showing 51% read, 3.6 hours to go. When I open the book, at the bottom it reads Chapter Nineteen - Page 1 of 50. It looks really nice. And I just love the home screen. There are so many things that I like better about these Kobo readers, than the Kindles.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Weirdness. I converted the same EPUB, using the same plugin, and the did a Save to Disk. Maybe something went wrong there, because KEPUB is not an "official" Calibre format. Calibre can do stuff like updating metadata on some types of files; maybe it has corrupted the KEPUB.

The problem is the extension. "kepub" as an extension doesn't mean anything outside calibre. When a kepub is sent the the Kobo devices, it is sent there with ".kepub.epub" as the extension. When that is processed by the device, it will be added to the library as a kepub. If you rename the file, it will work.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I know. The Kobo Touch Extended Driver (is the shorthand KTED in use in this forum? If not, it now is ) converts on the fly, so if you use Hyphenate This on your EPUB's in the library, you actually do convert your already-hyphenated EPUB to KEPUB. You just don't save it.

I prefer to have all formats I use in Calibre, if possible, because I have some positively HUGE books that would take 10+ minutes to convert if I decided to read them. Now, I store the EPUB (base format) and AZW3 formats for all books. Assuming the KEPUB conversion plugin would normally work, I would just store the KEPUB format as well.

Still, if the driver conversion works better than the plugin for whatever reason, I'd use the driver. I don't really care what sort of file ends up in the device, as long as it looks alright and I can create it from my base EPUBs.

The conversion the extended driver does is not the same as a calibre conversion. It only makes the changes to add kepub features. If you do a calibre conversion from epub to kepub, all the conversion options come into play.

I've read the thread about re-enabling those stats. If it can't be done, it can't be done. I just want SOME way to know where I am in the chapter, or at the very least, in the book.

When reading, the current page number is always displayed at the bottom of the page. For a kepub, this will be per chapter page numbers and will also show the chapter title. If you tap the screen to show the menus, the top bar shows the time for about 5 seconds. Then the time is replaced by the percent through the book.

I'll just use the Count Pages page numbers in Calibre, so I can estimate the "paperback size" of a book, and have the Kobo use whatever it uses. I just need to time my reading speed once, to know how many pages an hour I can read on the Kobo. I can then calculate my own TTR wel enough.

If the chapter page numbers are displayed (for example, Page 4 of 17 in Chapter 3) is there a way to also see the number of pages in the book?

The is an option you can add to the config file on the device to have page numbering for the whole book for epubs. The extended driver has an option that does the change for you.