Currently I’m using Google Play books and there are few things I’m used to and can’t live without:
- turning pages by volume keys
- cloud syncing (doesn’t have to be their cloud, but implementing some cloud services would be nice, bonus points for S3 compatible)
- searching text in the book
- supports epub
I want to switch to something open source because I’m often using my S-Pen to turn pages and I’d like my book reader to support it too. I’m fine with contributing the code myself (as I’ve done for the comic book reader app I’m using), but if there already is one, it would save me some work.
KOreader is the best
I use Librera FD, pretty good tbh.
I have no idea why you would use a pen to turn pages???
But I agree with /u/thequantumcog that KOreader is very good. Except IDK if it has any cloud facilities, as I don’t use cloud much myself.
After I found KOreader I read ALL my books on my phone. To switch pages I just tape left or right side, but it can also use volume.
The setting to open at the page you were reading last is a bit hard to find IMO, you should probably be prepared to use a moment to learn the interface. But then it works very well with many nice features IMO.KOreader is available on playstore and F-droid and for Linux https://koreader.rocks/
Another KOReader recommendation here. I typically use it on an eink device but also have it on my phone and it works well.
Looks like for syncing there’s a plugin:
I have no idea why you would use a pen to turn pages???
Because the pen can be held in the other hand which can be anywhere - you turn the page with a click of a button. And the pen doesn’t have to be anywhere near the screen. After a few hours of reading you can feel the difference between having your hand in a natural position and forcing it in a position to be able to turn the pages.
Ah OK I thought you used it on the screen, which made little sense to me. But that’s pretty cool. 😎 AFAIK KOreader allows you to customize input for turning pages, so I think you can do it, but I haven’t tried.
KOreader is very customizable.
There’s Librera FD, on F-droid. It’s the open source version of Librera on the google play store. I believe it strips out the google api/cloud stuff, but its db /reading status/etc are all easily synced via Nextcloud (which is what I do). The only real negative I’ve found with it is that it’s search for text in books is slow compared to more popular reading apps like Moon+ Reader.
I believe librera and koreader are really the only names in the game atm
Booky mcbookface is my go to. It’s an old app and could really use some TLC, but it’s a very good app.
While it’s not an eReader, Alexandria in F-Droid is amazing. It allows you to download books from LibGen as well as convert the books into a different format if needed for whatever eReader you select. Definitely a nice app to pair with your new eReader!
