What do you want

StudentTuWien · 11-10-2014, 01:09 PM

Hi,
Me and a group of 5 other students are going to develop this term an
eBook management application.

Right now, we have:
Organisation of ebooks in "Libraries".
Rating of Books
Barcode-Scanner for the ISBN
Child Protection Password
Author Based Automatic Book Organisation
Tagging System
A simple epub editor
Printing

What of those features is the most/least important to you?

Is there any feature you want to see in an ebook management system?

Thank you for helping out!

crich70 · 11-10-2014, 03:47 PM

Most of those features are already available in Calibre. The barcode, child protection and printing are the only features you mention that I don't see already available. Perhaps an online version of such an app might be good. So that people could search out a given ebook that they own easier than they can at the present.

murg · 11-10-2014, 03:56 PM

Why do you need a barcode scanner for an eBook?

Depending on where you live, printing the eBook itself may be illegal.

shalym · 11-10-2014, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Most of those features are already available in Calibre. The barcode, child protection and printing are the only features you mention that I don't see already available. Perhaps an online version of such an app might be good. So that people could search out a given ebook that they own easier than they can at the present.

Actually, printing is available from Calibre from the previewer. A plugin could could probably be written pretty easily to generate barcodes and insert them into the metadata based on whatever criteria you want to use (ISBN? ASIN? Author+Title+Series?) Since I'm not sure what is meant by "child protection" I can't tell if that's something that is feasible to do using a plugin. I guess you could create a custom column with a certain flag and write a plugin that would hide books with that flag from being shown unless a special password is entered. Is that what is meant by "child protection"?

Shari

crich70 · 11-10-2014, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

Actually, printing is available from Calibre from the previewer. A plugin could could probably be written pretty easily to generate barcodes and insert them into the metadata based on whatever criteria you want to use (ISBN? ASIN? Author+Title+Series?) Since I'm not sure what is meant by "child protection" I can't tell if that's something that is feasible to do using a plugin. I guess you could create a custom column with a certain flag and write a plugin that would hide books with that flag from being shown unless a special password is entered. Is that what is meant by "child protection"?

Shari

Interesting. I didn't know that. Of course I think one of the great advantages of ebooks is they are easier to store since there isn't a physical book to deal with so I don't need to do much printing anyway.

cromag · 11-10-2014, 06:32 PM

Honestly, in view of the fact that everything on your list can be accomplished by a currently available (and free) application, I wonder if you guys actually read any ebooks.

And I don't understand how an ebook bar code reader would work, either.

jkrzok · 11-10-2014, 06:40 PM

I always imagined a barcode scanner on a barnes and noble device. Go book browsing in a brick and mortar store, scan a books barcode and buy the ebook on your device.

eschwartz · 11-10-2014, 09:45 PM

Barcode scanning already works in calibre, too.

Connect a barcode scanner go to Add Books, select the option for importing a list of ISBNs, and start scanning ISBNs, which will print out like a keyboard, with isbn numbers spat out separated by line breaks.

calibre will even pull metadata from online sources.

eschwartz · 11-10-2014, 09:47 PM

Also there is the Extract ISBN plugin.

Phogg · 11-11-2014, 12:24 AM

If you want to write an application with some use, how about an app to insert a photograph and pen input into existing book and comic book formats. One that has versions for most tablet and phone operating systems.

The purpose would be to insert pictures and autographs as watermarking at digital book signings.
I would like to see autographed books go digital.

Froide · 11-11-2014, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Barcode scanning already works in calibre, too.

Connect a barcode scanner go to Add Books, select the option for importing a list of ISBNs, and start scanning ISBNs, which will print out like a keyboard, with isbn numbers spat out separated by line breaks.

calibre will even pull metadata from online sources.

I use Goodreads' Android app to scan the barcodes of paper books; Goodreads, in turn, communicates with Calibre.

murg · 11-11-2014, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Honestly, in view of the fact that everything on your list can be accomplished by a currently available (and free) application, I wonder if you guys actually read any ebooks.

And I don't understand how an ebook bar code reader would work, either.

This sounds like a homework project.

Purple Lady · 11-11-2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froide

I use Goodreads' Android app to scan the barcodes of paper books; Goodreads, in turn, communicates with Calibre.

I keep meaning to do this. I have a lot of paper books I want to get rid if and I'd like to have a record of what I had.

Freeshadow · 11-11-2014, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murg

Depending on where you live

Trying to guess I say Austria, as the handle translates to:
StudentTechnicalUniversityVienna

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

If you want to write an application with some use*, how about an app to insert a photograph and pen input into existing book and comic book formats. (...) The purpose would be to insert pictures and autographs as watermarking at digital book signings.
I would like to see autographed books go digital.

*) instead of reinventing the wheel you mean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by murg

This sounds like a homework project.

wouldn't bet against that too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Honestly, in view of the fact that everything on your list can be accomplished by a currently available (and free) application, I wonder if you guys actually read any ebooks.

Amen to that.

StudentTuWien · 11-11-2014, 09:26 PM

Thank you for all your input!

I don't know what you mean by Homework project, but yes it is for a course we take this term.

I would love to make an Android App, but the course administration said no, because we have a fixed set of technologies we have to use.

And regarding the legal stuff, our application will only allow to search for books in the public domain.

The project got already accepted, but thanks you for your suggestions Froide.

11-10-2014, 01:09 PM	#1
StudentTuWien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Wien Device: Kindle	What do you want Hi, Me and a group of 5 other students are going to develop this term an eBook management application. Right now, we have: Organisation of ebooks in "Libraries". Rating of Books Barcode-Scanner for the ISBN Child Protection Password Author Based Automatic Book Organisation Tagging System A simple epub editor Printing What of those features is the most/least important to you? Is there any feature you want to see in an ebook management system? Thank you for helping out! Last edited by StudentTuWien; 11-10-2014 at 02:56 PM.

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11-10-2014, 03:47 PM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,304 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Most of those features are already available in Calibre. The barcode, child protection and printing are the only features you mention that I don't see already available. Perhaps an online version of such an app might be good. So that people could search out a given ebook that they own easier than they can at the present.

11-10-2014, 03:56 PM	#3
murg No Comment Posts: 3,238 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	Why do you need a barcode scanner for an eBook? Depending on where you live, printing the eBook itself may be illegal.

11-10-2014, 06:32 PM	#6
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,272 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Honestly, in view of the fact that everything on your list can be accomplished by a currently available (and free) application, I wonder if you guys actually read any ebooks. And I don't understand how an ebook bar code reader would work, either.

11-10-2014, 06:40 PM	#7
jkrzok Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 1265322 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Clara HD, Aura One, Voyage, Oasis 1 & 2, Many others getting dusty.	I always imagined a barcode scanner on a barnes and noble device. Go book browsing in a brick and mortar store, scan a books barcode and buy the ebook on your device.

11-10-2014, 09:45 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Barcode scanning already works in calibre, too. Connect a barcode scanner go to Add Books, select the option for importing a list of ISBNs, and start scanning ISBNs, which will print out like a keyboard, with isbn numbers spat out separated by line breaks. calibre will even pull metadata from online sources.

11-10-2014, 09:47 PM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Also there is the Extract ISBN plugin.

11-11-2014, 12:24 AM	#10
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	If you want to write an application with some use, how about an app to insert a photograph and pen input into existing book and comic book formats. One that has versions for most tablet and phone operating systems. The purpose would be to insert pictures and autographs as watermarking at digital book signings. I would like to see autographed books go digital.

11-11-2014, 09:26 PM	#15
StudentTuWien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Wien Device: Kindle	Thank you for all your input! I don't know what you mean by Homework project, but yes it is for a course we take this term. I would love to make an Android App, but the course administration said no, because we have a fixed set of technologies we have to use. And regarding the legal stuff, our application will only allow to search for books in the public domain. The project got already accepted, but thanks you for your suggestions Froide.

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