[GUI Plugin] Copy book covers as Standby images (Sony/Kindle/Nook)

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by quisvir

Great plugin, jackie_w!

Thank you

Originally Posted by quisvir

First of all, a feature like this would need the plugin and PRS+ to work together.

First let me say that your approach may be technically feasible by a 'proper' developer. Sadly I am not one, my tech skills are rather limited

However, there is a basic problem here in that I think some of your suggestions would require the code to be incorporated into full Calibre and by someone with the great ability of chaley, the Sony guru (not yours truly) In addition, Kovid has made it clear that he is not likely to ever add features to Calibre itself that rely on jailbreaking/hacking one's device.

If there ever was a proper collaboration between Calibre and PRS+ then I think it would be a matter for the two 'owners', not an amateur go-between.

Sorry I can't be more positive, but I am open to suggestions for new features if they are within my limits Failing that, maybe the next generation of readers will have some better on-board features. Someone said the current Kobo already does this but I've never seen one myself.

[cybmole]

a more basic issue is the knock-on effect this would have on non-hacked sony readers i.e. those NOT running PRS+

there would I think have to be 2 version of the plug-in, one for normal SONy's - placing the images where they are urrently located to be used a cyclic screensavers,; and a special PRS+ version as per your draft spec above.

I've no idea of the ratio of normal sony users to PRS+ users, I somehow doubt there's be sufficient enthusiasm for maintaining this as it would need ongoing co-ordination between at least 3 developers - 1. jackie for plug=in, 2. Kovid for calibre + 3. whoever for PRS+

It would be simpler to make the whole thing a PRS+ stand-alone feature: extract cover art from books on reader, use as screen saver i.e. do exactly what Kobo firmware already does. OR dare I say buy a Kobo if this is a must have feature!

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by cybmole

It would be simpler to make the whole thing a PRS+ stand-alone feature: extract cover art from books on reader, use as screen saver i.e. do exactly what Kobo firmware already does.

I had reason to contact kartu, the PRS+ owner, when figuring out how to support the PRS-600-with-PRS+ in the latest release of the plugin. I didn't get the impression the Kobo-like option was high on the list of current priorities. He did suggest that the existing PRS600 screensavers option would also be added to the PRSx50 version of PRS+ at some point. I tried to allow for that scenario in the current version of the plugin (v1.4), but by the looks of it, he hasn't added it yet. Still, plans can change.

[quisvir]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

However, there is a basic problem here in that I think some of your suggestions would require the code to be incorporated into full Calibre and by someone with the great ability of chaley, the Sony guru (not yours truly) In addition, Kovid has made it clear that he is not likely to ever add features to Calibre itself that rely on jailbreaking/hacking one's device.

Thank you for the quick reply, jackie_w. I completely understand the difficulties involved in making this work. However, if it's possible to make the plugin put the covers into images/covers/ using the books' filenames, nothing more would be needed for a basic solution. And it would not have to be integrated into Calibre itself (although putting the covers into a folder under new filenames would not, imho, mean committing a Calibre feature to hacked devices: any Sony can use the folder, and it causes less clutter than a long list of covers between other images).

If there is a possibility of making this work, I would also be willing to help out with programming (though I'm a novice) or beta testing. For me, making such things work is part of the fun of owning a gadget like an e-reader. So I won't be switching my Sony for a Kobo, but thanks (cybmole) for the suggestion

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by quisvir

...if it's possible to make the plugin put the covers into images/covers/ using the books' filenames, nothing more would be needed for a basic solution.

I believe I covered my reasons for not wanting to use book filenames in an earlier post (a few pages back) - basically I don't want to deal with non-ascii filenames and the various issues of filename length. I also don't really understand what extra benefits it would give. If you view the images in "thumbnail mode" there is very little room for author/title, it would be truncated, and anyway you can read this info from the thumbnail itself on many covers.

Using a different directory on the Sonys would have been less of a problem if I'd done it in the original release. I picked /database/media/images because I was pretty sure everyone would already have that directory and release v1 only had a single image so a separate directory didn't seem necessary. The issue now would be the migration. It's not insurmountable but can you explain what is the benefit? When viewing images on the Sony you only get to sort by Date or Title, not by folder. Currently, if you sort by Title they'll all be together under 'c'. If you sort by Date any batch of covers would also be sorted together.

Originally Posted by quisvir

And it would not have to be integrated into Calibre itself...

To do the synching you originally spoke of I believe it would need to be part of the Sony-synching (and Kindle-synching etc...) which is already done within full Calibre. It wouldn't make sense to duplicate it in a plugin even if I had the necessary skills, which I don't.

Originally Posted by quisvir

If there is a possibility of making this work, I would also be willing to help out with programming

If you want to try to move the plugin up a gear feel free to experiment - it is open-source after all - and all the code is in the zip file

[quisvir]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I believe I covered my reasons for not wanting to use book filenames in an earlier post (a few pages back) - basically I don't want to deal with non-ascii filenames and the various issues of filename length.

You're right, I forgot about those potential issues (did read the posts btw, just have a bad memory). My point about not having to commit Calibre to hacked devices had more to do with 'regular' users being able to use the functionality too. But it's true that the only, rather small, benefit for them would be the ability to manage the images folder a little bit easier (when using a PC that is, not the reader).

In all, I have to agree that it now looks like a lot of work for a small feature. Maybe I'll try and do some coding over the summer months, but I'm going to put the idea aside for now. Anyway, thanks for the replies, and keep up the good work

[beachboybogart]

jackie_w, thanks. No, I don't want to know that the Sony can do it while the Kindle can't, but as they say in Mexico, ni modo. In any case, interesting to read the follow-up post, but I think you already agreed with my own answer. I'll try it tomorrow: no point in downloading a new image every time; just put all the cover images in the folder but leave only the in-use cover with the correct file extension; change that file extension as needed.

[jackie_w]

• Maintenance release only, issued on advice from Calibre Developers.
  • It has been necessary to accommodate planned changes to the main Calibre program, due to be phased in starting with next release.
  • Changes in v1.4.1 are minimal - so no change to features or functionality (sorry!)
• Will work on all versions of Calibre, from v0.7.53 onwards, so can be installed immediately.

If there are any problems after upgrade, please post here.

Regards, Jackie

[Vaesse]

I just stumbled across your nifty plugin and while my poor Kindle doesn't do all I would like it to in this regard (I also would love it to either let me select the screensaver on device or automatically select the "right" cover for the book I last read), this takes it one more step closer.

In answer to a question I didn't see anyone answer, I personally have almost 300 books on my Kindle, can certainly imagine going into the low thousands, and would love to be able to have covers of all the books on the Kindle as screensavers (as per your quick count, I often power off my Kindle MANY times a day, since I read in short bursts when I can, so I cycle through the screensavers faster). I understand your limit of 99 for avoiding accidental mistakes in adding way too many covers, but here's an idea... make that a max of 99 PER synch. Then I could add all my covers 99 at a time (no clearing).

Secondarily, let me also raise my hand in request of an automatic "add cover when adding new book" option. Of course, for that to work, I'd have to have the higher limit...

Forgot to mention: I'm abundantly willing to Beta test on my jailbroken Kindle 3, though I can't guarantee any promptness as I'm a stay-at-home mom and sometimes my schedule is very free and sometimes out of the blue it gets ridiculous!

[jackie_w]

Hi, Vaesse, I'm glad you find it useful

Originally Posted by Vaesse

I just stumbled across your nifty plugin and while my poor Kindle doesn't do all I would like it to in this regard (I also would love it to either let me select the screensaver on device or automatically select the "right" cover for the book I last read), this takes it one more step closer.

Yes. I'm afraid those extras need to be handled at the Kindle end, either by Amazon firmware upgrade or a talented jailbreak hacker.

Originally Posted by Vaesse

In answer to a question I didn't see anyone answer, I personally have almost 300 books on my Kindle, can certainly imagine going into the low thousands, and would love to be able to have covers of all the books on the Kindle as screensavers (as per your quick count, I often power off my Kindle MANY times a day, since I read in short bursts when I can, so I cycle through the screensavers faster). I understand your limit of 99 for avoiding accidental mistakes in adding way too many covers, but here's an idea... make that a max of 99 PER synch. Then I could add all my covers 99 at a time (no clearing).

I've put development of this plugin on hold for the time being. Partly because I'm working on another personal project but also because I'm interested to see what features this year's new ereader models might add re: screensavers. They may make this plugin redundant. But even if they don't, I may want to spend some time accommodating other changes.

I'm not really sure how great the demand for hundreds (or thousands) of covers is, as many people just want to see the covers of books they're currently reading. Another reason I kept it to 99 was because I wanted to keep older plugin versions' filenaming consistent, calibrenn.jpg, but since I added the 'delete all existing cover images' features I guess this is less important. The idea to limit each 'batch size' would be a reasonable compromise to avoid accidents.

Originally Posted by Vaesse

Secondarily, let me also raise my hand in request of an automatic "add cover when adding new book" option. Of course, for that to work, I'd have to have the higher limit...

To achieve this, I think the functionality of this plugin would need to be included in the main Calibre program. Kovid has indicated that this is unlikely for ereaders which are relying on jailbreaking or other hackery.

Originally Posted by Vaesse

Forgot to mention: I'm abundantly willing to Beta test on my jailbroken Kindle 3, though I can't guarantee any promptness as I'm a stay-at-home mom and sometimes my schedule is very free and sometimes out of the blue it gets ridiculous!

I may hold you to that if I do a new release

[Calibrefan]

@jackie_w, I'm very happy with your current plug-in but I wondered if it would be possible to add the option to choose the title-page of the current book as the standby image for the PRS-350.

I noticed it has been asked for before but that went more towards a potential PRS+ collaboration and it didn't became clear (to me at least) if this addition was possible for your plugin.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Calibrefan

@jackie_w, I'm very happy with your current plug-in but I wondered if it would be possible to add the option to choose the title-page of the current book as the standby image for the PRS-350.

I noticed it has been asked for before but that went more towards a potential PRS+ collaboration and it didn't became clear (to me at least) if this addition was possible for your plugin.

I'm afraid not, if I had the know-how I would have done it by now. It requires programming at the ereader end, not the Calibre end.

However, I hear rumours that it may be available, sooner rather than later, with a future release of PRS+. So that's something to look forward to, I may be redundant soon

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

However, I hear rumours that it may be available, sooner rather than later, with a future release of PRS+. So that's something to look forward to, I may be redundant soon

Thanks a lot for this plugin, but the rumor is now true. PRS+ now has the option (on all Sony devices) to set the standby image from the currently read book so it is time to say good bye to this plugin.

I personally installed the latest PRS+ beta on a prs-300, prs-505 and prs-950 with great success.

Again thank you for developing this plugin it served me well.

[cybmole]

Hmm - plug-in may still be relevant for sony PRS-T1 ?, at least until PRS+ is confirmed to work on the new device.

and for folk like me who just want to add some book cover images, without all the hassle & stress of having to reflash firmware & then having to master a different UI. I just re-googled the PRS+ install instructions for a PRS-650 with latest Sony firmware. & it still looks daunting. e.g. I'd apparently need to learn how to "russify"- whatever that means

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by cybmole

Hmm - plug-in may still be relevant for sony PRS-T1 ?, at least until PRS+ is confirmed to work on the new device.

It is also still relative to the other readers (Kindle and Pocketbook) that this plugin supports.

Originally Posted by cybmole

I just re-googled the PRS+ install instructions for a PRS-650 with latest Sony firmware. & it still looks daunting. e.g. I'd apparently need to learn how to "russify"- whatever that means

Whatever you looked at it wasn't close to being currently correct. Here are the complete install instructions for the 650 from inside the downloaded install zip file.

Installation:

Warning: MAKE SURE YOUR READER IS AT LEAST 75% CHARGED before starting installation!!!

1) Connect your reader to the PC
2) Double-click the setup.exe on the PC. The program will give you all necessary instructions on your PC screen.

Quick and easy.