[GUI Plugin] Marvin XD

[skb]

This isn't a solution for specifically Marvin but...I have large numbers (100s) of epubs that I wanted to transfer to my ipod touch, but can't because Apple nobbled the software (thanks Apple). iTunes is painful and...doesn't always work for me.

Anyway, I remembered that I got some software called "iMazing" when I bought a app bundle a while back and thought I'd give it a try.

Success.

Although I still can't connect my device directly to Calibre (thanks Apple) you can transfer large numbers of files via iMazing and, I'm assuming, similar apps.

Basically, I now connect with iMazing, go to Apps & select Marvin. Then select "Copy to Device" and I select the Calibre directory and then "search" for ".epub" and by default it returns the epubs in date order. I select the multiples of files I want and it transfers them to the device.

It's not as elegant as using Calibre directly, but it gets the job done.

[MSWallack]

Is iMazing an iPhone/iPad app? Can you provide a link (when I searched the App Store I couldn't find it)?

Thanks.

[skb]

Sorry, MSWallack - I should have posted a link: https://imazing.com/

[MSWallack]

Thanks, skb. I'm curious to know if you've tried either iExplorer or iFunBox and, if so, how iMazing compares to either of those products.

[skb]

No, sorry, I haven't. I happened to have iMazing because it came part of a bundle of other apps, so I didn't buy it "on purpose". It just happens to do the job.

I used to have a similar app for my old iPhone but Apple nobbled that too (without exception, every time I get the functionality working on my iDevice, Apple remove it with an update - my previous phone I didn't update for over 18 months). I won't update my iPod again unless it's to jail break it (which is next on my list of to dos to see if I can get it talking directly to Calibre again - my preferred option).

[JainaSJedi]

Originally Posted by skb

This isn't a solution for specifically Marvin but...I have large numbers (100s) of epubs that I wanted to transfer to my ipod touch, but can't because Apple nobbled the software (thanks Apple). iTunes is painful and...doesn't always work for me.

Anyway, I remembered that I got some software called "iMazing" when I bought a app bundle a while back and thought I'd give it a try.

Success.

Although I still can't connect my device directly to Calibre (thanks Apple) you can transfer large numbers of files via iMazing and, I'm assuming, similar apps.

Basically, I now connect with iMazing, go to Apps & select Marvin. Then select "Copy to Device" and I select the Calibre directory and then "search" for ".epub" and by default it returns the epubs in date order. I select the multiples of files I want and it transfers them to the device.

It's not as elegant as using Calibre directly, but it gets the job done.

This may work, but the software is $34.99. Can you transfer files with the trial version or is it limited? Jailbreaking may be the way to go. I'm still running iOS 9.0.02. For those of your that jailbreak, can you still connect your device to itunes to transfer music, movies, etc..? Or does itunes recognize that it's jailbroken and refuse to communicate with it?

[skb]

Yes, I was lucky...the software came bundled with other stuff I bought. I have no idea how the trial version works (or not), sorry.

There are some other similar apps, I believe. Someone suggested them in another thread (not sure where that thread is now).

As to the jailbreaking - again, no idea. I haven't upgraded to iOS 9 yet (because I have no doubt that something else I use will no longer function) but as to what happens with iTunes etc...personally, I don't care because I don't use it (worst designed software ever) and only use my iPod Touch for reading, so hopefully, I'll never have to open it again

[AndrewG]

Thank you very much for alerting us to the imazing software. I can confirm that the trial version does transfer books -it also checks for duplicates while doing so.

It will also do a full backup of an idevice, thus avoiding the need to redownload a lot of stuff after a restore.

iFunbox will also enable bulk transfer of books to Marvin in much the same way.

[Apocalypto]

Originally Posted by JainaSJedi

This may work, but the software is $34.99. Can you transfer files with the trial version or is it limited? Jailbreaking may be the way to go. I'm still running iOS 9.0.02. For those of your that jailbreak, can you still connect your device to itunes to transfer music, movies, etc..? Or does itunes recognize that it's jailbroken and refuse to communicate with it?

iTunes functions as normal with jailbroken devices. To remove the jailbreak for whatever reason you just restore the phone in iTunes.

[chattympc]

Hello. I hate to jump in on and beat on a dead horse but does anyone know if there is any chance that the plugin developer will be able to make the required changes to the plugin so that it works with Calibre? This was the entire reason that I purchased Marvin to begin with. I know someone indicated that they hadn't reached out to the developer yet and I was wondering if there had been any more word on that front.

[ShellShock]

This horse is deader than John Cleese's parrot. There is no active developer for this plugin, and I think the Marvin developer has lost interest in Marvin.

Any fix would require changes to Marvin so it stores its database in "VendDocuments" and not "VendContainer" (the latter has been locked down by Apple). Then the plugin would need changing to use the new database location.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ShellShock

This horse is deader than John Cleese's parrot. There is no active developer for this plugin, and I think the Marvin developer has lost interest in Marvin.

Any fix would require changes to Marvin so it stores its database in "VendDocuments" and not "VendContainer" (the latter has been locked down by Apple). Then the plugin would need changing to use the new database location.

Not so fast, my friend. Marvin 3 has just been released.

[Montana Harper]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Not so fast, my friend. Marvin 3 has just been released.

Yes, but I don't believe the dev has made the required changes so that the plugin will work again, since he seems to be more focused on the ability to connect Marvin to Dropbox, etc., at least as far as the feature information in his request-for-beta-testers post went.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Montana Harper

Yes, but I don't believe the dev has made the required changes so that the plugin will work again, since he seems to be more focused on the ability to connect Marvin to Dropbox, etc., at least as far as the feature information in his request-for-beta-testers post went.

Here is what he said on the subject on May 19th -
" ...
When things settle down, hopefully in a few weeks, I'll polish my end of the interface, document the new procedure/protocol and publish it for anyone to pick it up and implement the plugin. I'm not competent to build the calibre plugin myself.

3) Assuming that someone does implement the plugin, it will happen. I've had a very high-level conversation with @Philantrop about this.
..."

You can see the whole thread in the Marvin forum. under the Marvin 3.0 thread

Sounds like it will happen sooner rather than later. Either way, I'm definitely looking forward to it.

[Montana Harper]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

You can see the whole thread in the Marvin forum. under the Marvin 3.0 thread

Ah, wonderful, thank you for pointing me in that direction!