Subnostr

There is a #marketNeed for a way to #sync #reading progress between #e-ink #e-readers and #mobile apps (why not add computers into the mix too?) combined with good usability and ability to 100% own and control your #ebooks. Also one they doesn't rely solely on proprietary, corporate-owned cloud services like #GoogleCloud or #DropBox.

As a user, I should be able to pick up where I left off reading no matter which hardware I am using or last used. I should be able to host all of the needed services (as far as storage goes) myself. I should own my #books and be able to have them in any of the popular formats like epub, mobile, or PDF. I should NOT have to go through pain and suffering to do this (*eyes koreader*).

#Kindle let's you sync but you do not own the #books

#Kobo will not let you sync unless you buy the books from them (and do you own them or just renting it from them like on kindle?)

#Readera and other #ereaders apps I've found: no ereader support. Relies on google cloud.

#Calibre: can't really sync progress.

#Koreader: HORRIBLE usability. Pretty much useless (at least on Android can't see 90% of my epubs (which I exported with calibre)

Are you a #softwareDeveloper or #appDevelpoer will solve this #problem? Please do. Because if you don't, I might eventually)

#e-books #software #app #idea #appIdea #mobileApp #crossPlatform

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Discussion

TerrestrialOrigin 10mo ago

nostr:nprofile1qqs06gywary09qmcp2249ztwfq3ue8wxhl2yyp3c39thzp55plvj0sgprdmhxue69uhhg6r9vehhyetnwshxummnw3erztnrdakj7qguwaehxw309a6xsetrd96xzer9dshxummnw3erztnrdakj7rjgp95 , I know you guys are working on some ebook related Nostr thing. Can it, potentially, solve this? Let's say e-ink reader and the mobile apps let you log in with Nostr and subscribe to the same relays. As you read, special events are generated with your reading progress in a particular book. Cross-platform sync achieved!

Silberengel 10mo ago

Yeah, sure. We're going to first save your reading spot in the browser cache (just have to keep track of which event you're looking at), which we need in case you take breaks or jump back-n-forth from the landing page to the book.

Example of a book (this is a bunch of events, not ePUB, tho). We just want to export to ePUB, not read as ePUB.

https://next-alexandria.gitcitadel.eu/publication?d=the-accidental-caregiver%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-guide-by-winn-merwin-v-1

TerrestrialOrigin 10mo ago

Yeah, I would think save in browser cache first and then sync periodically via nostr events. Maybe publish an event either every X minutes of if the user closes our of the app.

And this doesn't have to ne for books published on Nostr. Got to be mindful of copyright and not screw the authors over. But if you highlight something and make that public it could send that out as a quote.

The app could even end the quote with something like an Amazon affiliate link to jelp fund the app.