Pocket app/webpage reading setup on Tolino

[torto]

Hello everybody, nobody asked but I just want to share the configuration I ended up using with the Pocket app on the Tolino, which makes it an incredibly practical read-it-later/offline reader/increased readability solution (i. e. without ads and with better typography for long reads).

I have a free account at https://getpocket.com, and I often save articles and posts directly from my web browser using Pocket's chrome add-on (there are other solutions for other browsers). I also have Pocket on my cellphone, so it is also easy to save long reads from social media to Pocket too.

Next step, my Tolino has sideloaded Android apps*, amongst them the Pocket for Android app. I use version 7.27, which takes 12.47 MB, is a bit heavy for the Tolino, but does the job just fine. It is only important to configure it to save articles on the SD card instead of the main memory and limit the amount of storage for offline articles.

I also installed the free Key Mapper app, which allows me to configure the page turning buttons so that they are also recognized as page up/down keystrokes on Android. So now I can quickly turn pages on Pocket while holding the Tolino with one hand. As an added comfort, I also configured a long press on the up button as a back button, so that it is easier to move around in android in general.

* for sideloading apps, I used a mix of the solutions described here and here (sorry, both in German!). So now, besides the native Tolino app, I also have KO Reader (better than the Tolino app for most formats, specially PDFs), a Kindle app (for protected Kindle books - they're often cheaper than in Tolino-compatible stores), Wikipedia, APK Pure for easy installation of new apps etc.

[cincila]

sorry for necroposting

is it possible that you send me an sd image of this setup? would love to use it myself if possible

[torto]

sorry, I don't even know how to do this

I went the lazy way and installed total commander and F-Droid (or APKpure, Idk), and then I downloaded an APK of Pocket 7.27.0.1. I used one of these to install it, I just sideload apps and never went the full image way.

[cincila]

do you still use it? does it affect battery life or anything?

[torto]

Yes I do, just not every day. Battery life is not great but is okay (like charging every 2 weeks), specially if I turn wifi off when I am not using it. I also have a bunch of other sideloaded apps, so I don't know what is using more battery. I think Pocket's impact is nonetheless low.

Just mind the fact that since Vision's cpu is really shitty, Pocket takes a looong time to load (like 2-3 minutes) if it is not already loaded in the background. Once it is there, and it can stay there for weeks if you're not using many other apps, it is fast. It is anyway much more practical and comfortable than any other systems I tried.

[cincila]

Originally Posted by torto

Yes I do, just not every day. Battery life is not great but is okay (like charging every 2 weeks), specially if I turn wifi off when I am not using it. I also have a bunch of other sideloaded apps, so I don't know what is using more battery. I think Pocket's impact is nonetheless low.

Just mind the fact that since Vision's cpu is really shitty, Pocket takes a looong time to load (like 2-3 minutes) if it is not already loaded in the background. Once it is there, and it can stay there for weeks if you're not using many other apps, it is fast. It is anyway much more practical and comfortable than any other systems I tried.

I installed simple launcher "no launcher" and pocket. If I want to enter pocket I need to restart my tolino and pick it up, as when I enter "tolino" app I can't use anything else before restart, but it seems to work fine

What other apps do you use? any recommendations ?

[torto]

Nice!

As a matter of fact, the only other app I use regularly is Koreader, which mostly replaces the original Tolino app with lots of advantadges (good PDF reading/reflowing, many formats, flexible formatting, wifi Dropbox connection etc).

The ones I sometimes use are:
- Kindle (when there's a book that's much cheaper or only available there), but the reading experience is not that good, it crashes from time to time etc. Only older versions work.
- Wikipedia (mostly when I am travelling, so that I save a bunch of article abt cities/countries etc. for offline reading during the flight)

I've also tried a few browsers, but I'm never really comfortable with them.

For the launcher, I use "Simple Ink Launcher". And I also use a Keyboard helper named "Key Mapper" in order to have the pageup/down keys available in other apps. And the "Button Savior (non-root)" that gives me a little floating collapsed menu with a back button, a home button etc.

[cincila]

Originally Posted by torto

Nice!

As a matter of fact, the only other app I use regularly is Koreader, which mostly replaces the original Tolino app with lots of advantadges (good PDF reading/reflowing, many formats, flexible formatting, wifi Dropbox connection etc).

The ones I sometimes use are:
- Kindle (when there's a book that's much cheaper or only available there), but the reading experience is not that good, it crashes from time to time etc. Only older versions work.
- Wikipedia (mostly when I am travelling, so that I save a bunch of article abt cities/countries etc. for offline reading during the flight)

I've also tried a few browsers, but I'm never really comfortable with them.

When I buy books from kindle (and their shop is usually better) I simply rip DRM and put them in epub format.

I used to have kindle and left some 200-300 euro to them for their books, why should I be limited by their ereaders?

Also, please tell me what version of KOreader to install? can you give me direct link if possible.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by cincila

Also, please tell me what version of KOreader to install? can you give me direct link if possible.

koreader-android-arm-v2021.10.1.apk
From https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases


You should also update koreader regularly, simply remember the correct naming convention:
koreader-android-arm-vXXXX.XX.X.apk

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by torto

The ones I sometimes use are:
- Kindle (when there's a book that's much cheaper or only available there), but the reading experience is not that good, it crashes from time to time etc. Only older versions work.

Also (at least on my Boox devices) deactivating animations in the app doesn't actually do anything so transitioning to the next page always leaves bad ghosting from the animation.

[torto]

Originally Posted by cincila

When I buy books from kindle (and their shop is usually better) I simply rip DRM and put them in epub format.

What do you use for that? I tried a few times, but only a few very old azw books worked.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by torto

What do you use for that? I tried a few times, but only a few very old azw books worked.

Calibre using DeDRM. There are enough guides out there.

[cincila]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

koreader-android-arm-v2021.10.1.apk
From https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases


You should also update koreader regularly, simply remember the correct naming convention:
koreader-android-arm-vXXXX.XX.X.apk

how to update? I just install over it ?

[cincila]

Originally Posted by torto

What do you use for that? I tried a few times, but only a few very old azw books worked.

I did it a year or so ago but I found it over gogle. I know that you need a calibre plugin and old version of kindle app for PC, as newer ones are better protected.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by cincila

how to update? I just install over it ?

Yes, just install over it.