Kobo should purchase Calibre

tnforpaul45 · 11-08-2014, 10:02 PM

Just had a crazy thought, please excuse if this has been discussed before.

I think Calibre, obviously the iTunes of the ebook world, is a jewel just sitting out there under the noses of Amazon and Kobo. I know that Kobo has desktop software already, but what an incredible halo effect could be experienced if they purchased Calibre and kept Goyal on as its head of development. Searches in "Get books" could load the Kobo store first, but you could use Kobo's software then to manage all your ebooks and eReaders.

And what a great buy-line: "Already have a Kindle? Converting your eBooks over to your new Kobo is as simple as a click with Calibre by Kobo."

I think its a no-brainer. Any thoughts?

robko · 11-08-2014, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnforpaul45

And what a great buy-line: "Already have a Kindle? Converting your eBooks over to your new Kobo is as simple as a click with Calibre by Kobo."

That tagline won't work well. There are a lot of countries where DRM removal is illegal even if it's just to format shift the content for your own use

tnforpaul45 · 11-08-2014, 10:21 PM

Good point. Unfortunate, but true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

That tagline won't work well. There are a lot of countries where DRM removal is illegal even if it's just to format shift the content for your own use

Ripplinger · 11-08-2014, 11:24 PM

Personally I would absolutely hate to see Calibre owned by Kobo, or by any one ereader system. This is the same Kobo that introduces more bugs each firmware while older bugs linger on. It would be the end of the great piece of software we've all come to rely on to manage our libraries and deal with the shortcomings of firmware across all readers, not just Kobo.

I'm going to have nightmares now about Calibre in the hands of the Kobo developers...

Edit: I will add though that I don't think there's even a sliver of a chance of this ever happening... Kovid wouldn't do that to the reading community, especially after all the time he's put into making Calibre the excellent program that it is and updating it weekly.

darryl · 11-08-2014, 11:53 PM

Don't lose any sleep over it. Calibre uses the GPL. Even if future versions were to somehow become closed source, the existing code remains open source and available to the community. Having said that, it would indeed be a tragedy to lose the developers to Kobo or anyone else. Kovid and the others working on Calibre and on Calibre Companion have done the whole community an enormous favour with this software.

MacEachaidh · 11-09-2014, 01:30 AM

My own spin on this is that I don't much like Calibre, and personally don't want to use it, so I'd be unhappy if it became a required part of using a Kobo.

I have no criticism of Calibre, and certainly don't wish to stop or hinder anyone else from using it, but I don't like it, and don't wish to be forced to use it. So if Kobo were to buy the app, I would *hope* it would remain optional. (Though, in the nature of development by small teams, I know that doesn't happen; they'd have to husband resources by forcing everyone down the one path.)

I bought my Kobo to handle the parsing and display of books I put on it. The rest, I'd rather handle myself.

eschwartz · 11-09-2014, 03:32 AM

If it were likely that any device maker would want to buy and incorporate calibre... that would imply a level of intelligence such that calibre would never have been necessary.

(This was Kovid's response to my tongue-in-cheek remark that they should take a leaf out of his book regarding recent footnotes support (speaking of which,

!))

And I agree Kovid would never do it. Sometimes you can tell, a developer has too much pride in his work to sell out to the monoliths.

Jellby · 11-09-2014, 03:50 AM

Calibre is GPL, nothing (as far as I know) prevents Kobo from copying it, changing the name to "Kalibre" if they wish, distributing it with their readers (or selling it) and advertising it, as long as they provide access to the source code.

John F · 11-09-2014, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnforpaul45

Just had a crazy thought, please excuse if this has been discussed before.

I think Calibre, obviously the iTunes of the ebook world, is a jewel just sitting out there under the noses of Amazon and Kobo. I know that Kobo has desktop software already, but what an incredible halo effect could be experienced if they purchased Calibre and kept Goyal on as its head of development. Searches in "Get books" could load the Kobo store first, but you could use Kobo's software then to manage all your ebooks and eReaders.

And what a great buy-line: "Already have a Kindle? Converting your eBooks over to your new Kobo is as simple as a click with Calibre by Kobo."

I think its a no-brainer. Any thoughts?

I think it would be great. Kobo could fight for a legal precedent for it being OK to strip DRM for ebooks for personal format shifting.

Canuck_in_Japan · 11-09-2014, 08:19 AM

Kobo would probably immediately remove the ability to strip the DRM of its books. Kobo maybe should purchase Calibre but I pray that they never do. Getting extremely smart people like Kovid to develop for them on the other hand would be a brilliant idea.

Josieb1 · 11-09-2014, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnforpaul45

Just had a crazy thought, please excuse if this has been discussed before.

I think Calibre, obviously the iTunes of the ebook world, is a jewel just sitting out there under the noses of Amazon and Kobo. I know that Kobo has desktop software already, but what an incredible halo effect could be experienced if they purchased Calibre and kept Goyal on as its head of development. Searches in "Get books" could load the Kobo store first, but you could use Kobo's software then to manage all your ebooks and eReaders.

And what a great buy-line: "Already have a Kindle? Converting your eBooks over to your new Kobo is as simple as a click with Calibre by Kobo."

I think its a no-brainer. Any thoughts?

Please don't give me nightmares

doubleshuffle · 11-09-2014, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Please don't give me nightmares

Phogg · 11-09-2014, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Please don't give me nightmares

BWAAHAAhaaahaaha...

[Image violates posting guidelines for size - MODERATOR]

In a window on Kobo desktop, GPL K'thalibre awaits conversions...

PeterT · 11-09-2014, 09:50 AM

It's safe to say that Kobo have at some point used calibre for some purpose. See https://github.com/kobolabs/calibre

46jimbo · 11-09-2014, 09:51 AM

By the way, I hope you all send a donation to Calibre now and then.

11-08-2014, 10:02 PM	#1
tnforpaul45 Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 1196756 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kobo Glo, Kindle DX	Kobo should purchase Calibre Just had a crazy thought, please excuse if this has been discussed before. I think Calibre, obviously the iTunes of the ebook world, is a jewel just sitting out there under the noses of Amazon and Kobo. I know that Kobo has desktop software already, but what an incredible halo effect could be experienced if they purchased Calibre and kept Goyal on as its head of development. Searches in "Get books" could load the Kobo store first, but you could use Kobo's software then to manage all your ebooks and eReaders. And what a great buy-line: "Already have a Kindle? Converting your eBooks over to your new Kobo is as simple as a click with Calibre by Kobo." I think its a no-brainer. Any thoughts?

11-08-2014, 11:24 PM	#4
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Personally I would absolutely hate to see Calibre owned by Kobo, or by any one ereader system. This is the same Kobo that introduces more bugs each firmware while older bugs linger on. It would be the end of the great piece of software we've all come to rely on to manage our libraries and deal with the shortcomings of firmware across all readers, not just Kobo. I'm going to have nightmares now about Calibre in the hands of the Kobo developers... Edit: I will add though that I don't think there's even a sliver of a chance of this ever happening... Kovid wouldn't do that to the reading community, especially after all the time he's put into making Calibre the excellent program that it is and updating it weekly. Last edited by Ripplinger; 11-09-2014 at 12:42 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do you own the books your purchase on kobo?	DaveCanRead	Kobo Reader	19	02-18-2014 01:24 PM
Aura HD So I want to purchase a Kobo Aura HD...	Mennogreg	Kobo Reader	33	12-09-2013 10:34 PM
Kobo Announces eReaders Available for Purchase on Kobo.com in Canada and US	markemark	News	1	04-02-2013 01:46 PM
$25 gift card w. purchase of Kobo Touch or Kobo Vox at Frys	sufue	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	0	07-15-2012 10:39 AM
24 HR Kobo.com code 20% next purchase	bookratt	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	3	12-01-2010 08:27 PM

11-08-2014, 11:53 PM	#5
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	Don't lose any sleep over it. Calibre uses the GPL. Even if future versions were to somehow become closed source, the existing code remains open source and available to the community. Having said that, it would indeed be a tragedy to lose the developers to Kobo or anyone else. Kovid and the others working on Calibre and on Calibre Companion have done the whole community an enormous favour with this software.

11-09-2014, 01:30 AM	#6
MacEachaidh Browser Posts: 745 Karma: 578294 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura HD	My own spin on this is that I don't much like Calibre, and personally don't want to use it, so I'd be unhappy if it became a required part of using a Kobo. I have no criticism of Calibre, and certainly don't wish to stop or hinder anyone else from using it, but I don't like it, and don't wish to be forced to use it. So if Kobo were to buy the app, I would hope it would remain optional. (Though, in the nature of development by small teams, I know that doesn't happen; they'd have to husband resources by forcing everyone down the one path.) I bought my Kobo to handle the parsing and display of books I put on it. The rest, I'd rather handle myself.

11-09-2014, 03:32 AM	#7
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)	If it were likely that any device maker would want to buy and incorporate calibre... that would imply a level of intelligence such that calibre would never have been necessary. (This was Kovid's response to my tongue-in-cheek remark that they should take a leaf out of his book regarding recent footnotes support (speaking of which, !)) And I agree Kovid would never do it. Sometimes you can tell, a developer has too much pride in his work to sell out to the monoliths.

11-09-2014, 03:50 AM	#8
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Calibre is GPL, nothing (as far as I know) prevents Kobo from copying it, changing the name to "Kalibre" if they wish, distributing it with their readers (or selling it) and advertising it, as long as they provide access to the source code.

11-09-2014, 08:19 AM	#10
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,475 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	Kobo would probably immediately remove the ability to strip the DRM of its books. Kobo maybe should purchase Calibre but I pray that they never do. Getting extremely smart people like Kovid to develop for them on the other hand would be a brilliant idea.

11-09-2014, 09:50 AM	#14
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,172 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	It's safe to say that Kobo have at some point used calibre for some purpose. See https://github.com/kobolabs/calibre

11-09-2014, 09:51 AM	#15
46jimbo Zealot Posts: 130 Karma: 143194 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, CANADA Device: Kobo Touch + Kobo Aura	By the way, I hope you all send a donation to Calibre now and then.

Advert

Advert