epub Trouble

Majorix · 03-05-2013, 01:22 PM

Since I have lots of .epubs from my older reader I feel too lazy to convert them all to .mobi or something.

I have looked around on google and all pages were about Calibre and converting using it, but I am already aware how you can use it!

Question should be simple, is there a way to read epubs on my Paperwhite (5.3.3) without converting?

pidgeon92 · 03-05-2013, 01:35 PM

Calibre will convert them as it adds them to your PW. No need to do any manual conversion.

To answer your question specifically, no, the PW cannot read ePubs without converting.

HarryT · 03-05-2013, 01:57 PM

... Unless you install alternate firmware.

But honestly, converting with Calibre is so easy that there's no point. I'm a little puzzled, though; did you not know that the Kindle wouldn't read ePub files when you bought it?

Majorix · 03-05-2013, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the quick replies!

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Calibre will convert them as it adds them to your PW. No need to do any manual conversion.

To answer your question specifically, no, the PW cannot read ePubs without converting.

Yeah, I am aware that Calibre does an automatical conversion. But it is a waste of time and sometimes the format is not the same as it was with the original book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... Unless you install alternate firmware.

But honestly, converting with Calibre is so easy that there's no point. I'm a little puzzled, though; did you not know that the Kindle wouldn't read ePub files when you bought it?

I did know Kindle couldn't read epubs, but the Kindle was the only decent reader I could buy here...

So should I install an alternate firmware? Where can I get more information about that?

HarryT · 03-05-2013, 03:23 PM

Personally I think you'd be crazy to install alternate firmware

. The Kindle's own formats work very well, and Calibre transparently converts ePub to KF8. I've converted literally hundreds of books without problems.

But if you want to find out more, search for "Duokan" in the "Dev Corner" sub-forum of this forum. That's the firmware which can read ePub.

hawhill · 03-05-2013, 03:44 PM

There are other ones (KPV - still experimental - , HackedUpReader/Coolreader,...) - they use the CoolReader engine, which works but is rather limited. Info is also in the dev corner. Those are not so intrusive as the Duokan installation which messes a bit intransparently with the start-up process.

Given the results, I also suggest to use Calibre, especially when we are talking about lots of documents. The result is typically much better than with the alternate firmware/reading software, more features are retained.

Kolenka · 03-05-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Personally I think you'd be crazy to install alternate firmware

. The Kindle's own formats work very well, and Calibre transparently converts ePub to KF8. I've converted literally hundreds of books without problems.

I think the key is in bold there. Convert it to AZW3/KF8, not Mobi. KF8 is much closer to ePub in terms of rendering and features. Mobi is quite old, and because of that, will not render the same as ePub.

I don't convert my ePubs to Mobi.

jgaiser · 03-05-2013, 06:11 PM

I don't understand why you're opposed to converting to azw3? The results are comparable to epub and the effort to find a *decent* alternate firmware and work the ins and outs of getting it installed doesn't seem to be worth it.

pidgeon92 · 03-05-2013, 07:14 PM

I'm not sure how much time is wasted by having calibre convert on upload. It only takes a few seconds of time, and zero additional mouseclicks.

Shopaholic · 03-05-2013, 08:22 PM

Can you guys indulge a slight hijack please? When converting from epub to AZ3 how do you keep the cover images? When I convert from epub to mobi the cover images stay but not when I convert to AZ3.

The answer may be of use to the OP, so any suggestions?

jgaiser · 03-05-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shopaholic

Can you guys indulge a slight hijack please? When converting from epub to AZ3 how do you keep the cover images? When I convert from epub to mobi the cover images stay but not when I convert to AZ3.

The answer may be of use to the OP, so any suggestions?

Interesting. I've never lost a cover image converting from epub to azw3 and since I got the paperwhite, I've converted a lot of epubs.

twobob · 03-05-2013, 09:05 PM

I use https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=170436 for epub.

requires Jailbreak.

However... PW 5.3.3? I think I got that right can not be retroactively JB IIRC

Shopaholic · 03-05-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Interesting. I've never lost a cover image converting from epub to azw3 and since I got the paperwhite, I've converted a lot of epubs.

I had to play around with it a bit but I finally managed to get them. I don't know if it was something I did or a fluke but they're there. Deleted Mobi copies from the reader, transfered az3 to reader. At first the books didn't even show up in Collections view at all let alone their covers. Very weird!

I found the book when I searched or sorted by title, recent but without the cover. I put them in various collections but they still didn't show up period even though the book count in the collection increased by one. I did a restart and there the books were with the proper covers.

Full moon somewhere?? lol

hawhill · 03-06-2013, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobob

However... PW 5.3.3? I think I got that right can not be retroactively JB IIRC

It can be retroactively downgraded, then jailbreaked, then upgraded again.
But it's a big step to go to alternative software on the Kindle, a much smaller one to just convert the documents. Plus, alternative software probably isn't an option when you really want a lot of EPUB features. Converting to AZW3 is the best option at least for that.

Dr. Drib · 03-06-2013, 09:01 AM

Moderator Notice

Back to topic, please.

03-05-2013, 01:22 PM	#1
Majorix Giant Hobbit Posts: 49 Karma: 487552 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Turkey Device: Kobo: Clara, Mini, Aura HD, Aura 2, Kindle: Paperwhite 1, DX 1	epub Trouble Since I have lots of .epubs from my older reader I feel too lazy to convert them all to .mobi or something. I have looked around on google and all pages were about Calibre and converting using it, but I am already aware how you can use it! Question should be simple, is there a way to read epubs on my Paperwhite (5.3.3) without converting?

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03-05-2013, 01:35 PM	#2
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Calibre will convert them as it adds them to your PW. No need to do any manual conversion. To answer your question specifically, no, the PW cannot read ePubs without converting.

03-05-2013, 01:57 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	... Unless you install alternate firmware. But honestly, converting with Calibre is so easy that there's no point. I'm a little puzzled, though; did you not know that the Kindle wouldn't read ePub files when you bought it?

03-05-2013, 03:23 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Personally I think you'd be crazy to install alternate firmware . The Kindle's own formats work very well, and Calibre transparently converts ePub to KF8. I've converted literally hundreds of books without problems. But if you want to find out more, search for "Duokan" in the "Dev Corner" sub-forum of this forum. That's the firmware which can read ePub.

03-05-2013, 03:44 PM	#6
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	There are other ones (KPV - still experimental - , HackedUpReader/Coolreader,...) - they use the CoolReader engine, which works but is rather limited. Info is also in the dev corner. Those are not so intrusive as the Duokan installation which messes a bit intransparently with the start-up process. Given the results, I also suggest to use Calibre, especially when we are talking about lots of documents. The result is typically much better than with the alternate firmware/reading software, more features are retained.

03-05-2013, 06:11 PM	#8
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	I don't understand why you're opposed to converting to azw3? The results are comparable to epub and the effort to find a decent alternate firmware and work the ins and outs of getting it installed doesn't seem to be worth it.

03-05-2013, 07:14 PM	#9
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I'm not sure how much time is wasted by having calibre convert on upload. It only takes a few seconds of time, and zero additional mouseclicks.

03-05-2013, 08:22 PM	#10
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Can you guys indulge a slight hijack please? When converting from epub to AZ3 how do you keep the cover images? When I convert from epub to mobi the cover images stay but not when I convert to AZ3. The answer may be of use to the OP, so any suggestions?

03-05-2013, 09:05 PM	#12
twobob ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°){ʇlnɐɟ ƃǝs}Týr Posts: 6,586 Karma: 6299991 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: uti gratia usura (Yao ying da ying; Mo ying da yieng) Device: PW-WIFI\|K5-3G+WIFI\| K4\|K3-3G\|DXG\|K2\| Rooted Nook Touch	I use https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=170436 for epub. requires Jailbreak. However... PW 5.3.3? I think I got that right can not be retroactively JB IIRC

03-06-2013, 09:01 AM	#15
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Moderator Notice Back to topic, please.

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