iPad Possibility to sync bookmarks through side loaded ePubs (Any iOS software?)

andsoitgoes · 04-03-2012, 02:42 AM

Just a quick question as the subject says. I want to find a way to sync a bookmark across at least iPhone and iPad without the need of purchasing the book through a specific service.

I want to have my books in one app, so if I buy a book on sale through amazon I still would rather view it somewhere else. But it means if I do that, I don't have the flexibility to keep the bookmarks synced.

Is there anything that can be done here?!? Pretty pretty pretty please tell me that someone smarter than me knows the story and has an answer.

Maybe?

Nick

ilovejedd · 04-03-2012, 10:01 AM

iBooks does syncing. Question though, why not just use the Kindle app (at least for ebooks purchased from Amazon)? From the apps I've tried, Kindle's WhisperSync seems to be the most seamless and is pretty "smart". When I used iBooks and enabled bookmark syncing on 4 different devices, I lost my furthest read place in the device I was currently using and got switched back to a previously synced bookmark from another device. That was just when I first enabled sync, though. It appears to be working fine now but I like how the Kindle app asks you if you want to continue where you left off on the device or if you want to go to the furthest read location.

andsoitgoes · 04-03-2012, 04:35 PM

I've tested and iBooks might sync, but only for iBooks purchased through the app store. Kindle from the Kindle store and Kobo from the Kobo store. This is all fine and good but I've purchased books from elsewhere and I want to find a way to sync bookmarks for non-drm items.

So the issue I'm running into doesn't relate to a problem with the software itself, but the fact that the syncing only works on the software if the book was purchased from that software's store.

I REALLY am leaning toward the Kobo reader, the social sharing is really cool and isn't matched in any other app. But the problem is the books I want are $19 on the Kindle versus $30 on the Kobo store. Is the $10 difference worth it? That's where I'm struggling. I kind of think it is.

DaleDe · 04-03-2012, 07:10 PM

You can use Calibre and iTunes to sideload content. In particular iTunes will sideload most anything for any app. You just drag the object direct to the appropriate app as displayed in iTunes. I sideload PPT slides to O2 for example.

andsoitgoes · 04-03-2012, 08:27 PM

I'm not having a problem side loading content though.

I'm having problems syncing bookmarks for content that isn't purchased through the Kindle/iBooks/Kobo stores.

For example I want to have my wife able to sync her bookmarks for the Game of Thrones 4 book set, but since I bought it on my account there's nothing that I can do.

kyteflyer · 04-04-2012, 01:53 AM

There shouldnt be any issue with syncing nonDRM stuff in iBooks. Must confess, I have not tried to do it, but given that you can load external books into iBooks, it ought to work. Now that I have said this, I'm going to have to give it a whirl. lol./

andsoitgoes · 04-04-2012, 01:55 AM

I've tried time and time again. Nothing seems to work. The bookmarks just don't sync.

kyteflyer · 04-04-2012, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

I've tried time and time again. Nothing seems to work. The bookmarks just don't sync.

You're right. I just tried it with a Gutenberg bookthat I have on ipad and iphone, and nope. a Free book downloaded from the store, yep. Oh well.

Andrew H. · 04-04-2012, 02:13 PM

You can sync non-Kindle books on a Kindle.

Here's a link: http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/27/2...kindle-ios-app

Note that Amazon calls non-Amazon books "personal documents" - you may want to google something like "syncing personal documents" if the link I posted doesn't help.

andsoitgoes · 04-04-2012, 05:27 PM

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!

That's simply amazing. Holy Moses. And using it with Calibre, it's seamless.

You rock man, thanks!!

Andrew H. · 04-06-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!

That's simply amazing. Holy Moses. And using it with Calibre, it's seamless.

You rock man, thanks!!

Cool!

tbergman · 04-07-2012, 08:18 AM

iBooks syncs bookmarks and last page read across my iPad and iPhone very well.
I do load my books, none of which come from the iBooks store, on both through iTunes and that may make a difference. If you're loading books through other means like "Open In iBooks" from a web site, I suspect it may not work.

You do, of course, need to have the "Sync Bookmarks" setting on in iBooks setup amd both devices need to be on the same Apple ID.

Tom

yegon · 04-13-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbergman

iBooks syncs bookmarks and last page read across my iPad and iPhone very well.
I do load my books, none of which come from the iBooks store, on both through iTunes and that may make a difference. If you're loading books through other means like "Open In iBooks" from a web site, I suspect it may not work.

You do, of course, need to have the "Sync Bookmarks" setting on in iBooks setup amd both devices need to be on the same Apple ID.

Tom

Seconded.

None of my ebooks are from the iBookstore, but all of them sync happily between iPad and iPhone. To "force" a sync, you merely exit to library and you should see the little spinning symbol in the top left of the status bar.

My only complaint is that the iPhone iBooks app is so wasteful of screen real estate, it's almost a joke

04-03-2012, 02:42 AM	#1
andsoitgoes Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Possibility to sync bookmarks through side loaded ePubs (Any iOS software?) Just a quick question as the subject says. I want to find a way to sync a bookmark across at least iPhone and iPad without the need of purchasing the book through a specific service. I want to have my books in one app, so if I buy a book on sale through amazon I still would rather view it somewhere else. But it means if I do that, I don't have the flexibility to keep the bookmarks synced. Is there anything that can be done here?!? Pretty pretty pretty please tell me that someone smarter than me knows the story and has an answer. Maybe? Nick

04-03-2012, 10:01 AM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	iBooks does syncing. Question though, why not just use the Kindle app (at least for ebooks purchased from Amazon)? From the apps I've tried, Kindle's WhisperSync seems to be the most seamless and is pretty "smart". When I used iBooks and enabled bookmark syncing on 4 different devices, I lost my furthest read place in the device I was currently using and got switched back to a previously synced bookmark from another device. That was just when I first enabled sync, though. It appears to be working fine now but I like how the Kindle app asks you if you want to continue where you left off on the device or if you want to go to the furthest read location. Last edited by ilovejedd; 04-03-2012 at 10:03 AM.

04-07-2012, 08:18 AM	#12
tbergman Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 7642 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle	iBooks syncs bookmarks and last page read across my iPad and iPhone very well. I do load my books, none of which come from the iBooks store, on both through iTunes and that may make a difference. If you're loading books through other means like "Open In iBooks" from a web site, I suspect it may not work. You do, of course, need to have the "Sync Bookmarks" setting on in iBooks setup amd both devices need to be on the same Apple ID. Tom Last edited by tbergman; 04-07-2012 at 08:21 AM.

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04-03-2012, 04:35 PM	#3
andsoitgoes Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	I've tested and iBooks might sync, but only for iBooks purchased through the app store. Kindle from the Kindle store and Kobo from the Kobo store. This is all fine and good but I've purchased books from elsewhere and I want to find a way to sync bookmarks for non-drm items. So the issue I'm running into doesn't relate to a problem with the software itself, but the fact that the syncing only works on the software if the book was purchased from that software's store. I REALLY am leaning toward the Kobo reader, the social sharing is really cool and isn't matched in any other app. But the problem is the books I want are $19 on the Kindle versus $30 on the Kobo store. Is the $10 difference worth it? That's where I'm struggling. I kind of think it is.

04-03-2012, 07:10 PM	#4
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	You can use Calibre and iTunes to sideload content. In particular iTunes will sideload most anything for any app. You just drag the object direct to the appropriate app as displayed in iTunes. I sideload PPT slides to O2 for example.

04-03-2012, 08:27 PM	#5
andsoitgoes Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	I'm not having a problem side loading content though. I'm having problems syncing bookmarks for content that isn't purchased through the Kindle/iBooks/Kobo stores. For example I want to have my wife able to sync her bookmarks for the Game of Thrones 4 book set, but since I bought it on my account there's nothing that I can do.

04-04-2012, 01:53 AM	#6
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,841 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone SE2020	There shouldnt be any issue with syncing nonDRM stuff in iBooks. Must confess, I have not tried to do it, but given that you can load external books into iBooks, it ought to work. Now that I have said this, I'm going to have to give it a whirl. lol./

04-04-2012, 01:55 AM	#7
andsoitgoes Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	I've tried time and time again. Nothing seems to work. The bookmarks just don't sync.

04-04-2012, 02:13 PM	#9
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	You can sync non-Kindle books on a Kindle. Here's a link: http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/27/2...kindle-ios-app Note that Amazon calls non-Amazon books "personal documents" - you may want to google something like "syncing personal documents" if the link I posted doesn't help.

04-04-2012, 05:27 PM	#10
andsoitgoes Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!! That's simply amazing. Holy Moses. And using it with Calibre, it's seamless. You rock man, thanks!!

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