Hello all!
Recently I've started using two seperate Android devices to read books
using FBReaderJ for Android, a NookColor, and my phone, a Sprint EVO
3D. Very quickly, I ran into a problem. I read the same books on both
devices, so I ended up spending a lot of time looking for my place
whenever I switched devices (I used the NC at home, and my phone
everywhere else).
I imagine that this must be a problem quite a few people are having,
or will be having as android devices become more popular.
So, I wrote an android app to synchronize my place in each book
between the two devices.
App Name: FBSync
Current Version: v1.0.26
Revision History:
1.0.26 - Removed Auto-Sync feature (hopefully just temporarily. I want to get this working, but the FBReader API just doesn't provide enough functionality to get it working smoothly). Removed syncing of "recent" books (It caused more trouble than it was worth, sorry, you will have to manually open your book if you changed books on another device). Added a "Sync" item to the FBReader menu that pulls up FBSync.
1.0.24 - Updated Dropbox support to use latest Dropbox API. Fixed Auto-Sync feature to properly sync new book positions (broken due to a change in FBReader). Due to limitations in FBReader, the Auto-Sync feature is still rather rough.
1.0.23 - Added a Dropbox support for your book position data, an Auto-Sync feature that makes use of the FBReader API, and (in theory) the program has been translated into Russian (thanks Dmitry!). If you have set up your own synchronization server, you will need to update the PHP files to the files in the attached sync.zip
1.0.19 - Fixed another bug that affected Honeycomb devices. Confirmed working on an Acer Iconia A500.
1.0.18 - Fixed a bug that affected Honeycomb devices (I hope!)
1.0.17 - Added "Alternate Sync URL" functionality for those people who want to set up their own sync server instead of using mine. See below for more instructions.
Requirements:
1) Root. Your devices must be rooted. This application only uses
root for two things. First, it uses root to get access to the
FBReaderJ books database, and second, it uses root to kill the
FBReaderJ process before it syncs the data (it has to kill the process
to force FBReader to reload the database).
2) FBReaderJ must be installed on the device (you will be prompted to
install it if you haven't already when you load my app)
3) You must have already opened FBReaderJ at least once, and viewed
it's library (Menu button, "Library"). This creates the databases
that my application needs.
Download:
An older version is available on Google Play, but the latest version can always be found at the bottom of this post.
Instructions for Use:
As of v1.0.23, you have the option of either syncing book positions to my web server, or to Dropbox. If you choose to use Dropbox, it will create a single file on your Dropbox account (under \FBSync) that contains the book position data.
If you desire to sync the book positions to my web server, you can also enable a new, experimental "Auto-Sync" feature that syncs your position whenever you open or close FBReader (or a book in FBReader). This functionality only works when using my web server, it does not currently work with Dropbox.
The auto-sync feature make use of FBReader's API and makes FBSync work as a plug-in for FBReader. Unfortunately the API does not contain all of the features needed to completely remove the root requirement for FBSync.
If you are going to use my web server to sync:
After you install it, go into the settings (blue icon, or menu/
settings), and enter an email (doesn't have to be an email, any unique
string will work) and numeric pin # (this isn't secure, so don't use a
pin you care about). The email/pin is just to uniquely identify you.
You should use the same email/pin on each device.
On the same screen, you can choose to sync the actual book files to Dropbox. Since your Dropbox account is used, only your account can access the books, if
you choose to sync them. It only uploads/downloads the books when it
needs them, so it may take a while the first time you sync, but after
that it shouldn't take more than a minute MAX (my typical sync times
for 90 books is about 5-10 seconds)
Click the middle, orange icon, to begin the sync process.
If this is the first time you've synced since selecting the "Enable Dropbox" setting, you will be prompted to allow FBSync access to your dropbox account.
The sync process first uploads, then downloads. It only updates the book's "place" on the web (or Dropbox) if it's farther ahead than the web's "place" for the book.
If you are using the Auto-Sync function, the above statement is not true. It always saves the exact position of your book upon closure of FbReader or closing the book.
Miscellaneous Info:
This program is still in beta. I have used and tested it extensively,
but I'm not liable if you manage to break it somehow. Since it does
alter the data in FBReader's databases (it does not, and never will,
alter the database structures), it is possible, but very unlikely,
that it could lose your book's places. I would suggest that you back
up FBReaderJ using something like Titanium Backup before you start
using FBSync, just to be on the safe side.
The synchronized book position data is currently hosted on my personal web server, or your Dropbox account (as of v1.0.23). Your book files are only stored on your Dropbox account.
UPDATE: As of v1.0.17, I added the ability to define your own "Sync Server". Here's how to use it:
In the Settings (Menu, Settings), there is a new option "Alternate Sync URL" where you can enter your own URL. Leave it blank if you want to use my server.
If you want to use your own, you will need the file attached to this post. I wouldn't recommend trying to set up your own server unless you are pretty comfortable with web servers, php, and mySql.
Sync.zip contains a .SQL script, and several .PHP files that are required to set up your own sync server.
The primary thing that you need to set up your own Sync server is a HTTP Web server that supports mySql and PHP.
On your server, create a new mySql database (name doesn't matter, just make sure there's a user attached to it that has insert/update/delete rights), then run the sql code in the sync.sql to create the two tables that are needed.
Edit the common.php file and replace the '' values in this block:
Code:
$dbhost = 'localhost';
$dbuser = ''; // Fill out the database user name here
$dbpass = ''; // Fill out the database user password here
$dbname = ''; // Fill out the database name here
with the correct values for your server. $dbhost can probably remain 'localhost'.
Then create a directory on your web server that is accessible from your devices, and put the 5 PHP files into it.
Launch FBSync, hit Menu, Settings, click the "Alternate Sync URL", and type in the URL that points to the directory you put those PHP files in (ex; http://sync.splitmatrix.net/alternate_sync ). You must start it with http://, and it should not end in a /.
After you enter the URL, save out of it, back out to the main FBSync window, and click the Sync button. If you set up everything correctly, it should sync to your server now instead of mine.
Please let me know of any issues you find, or any improvements you
want.
Thanks,
Scott
6/27/2012 Edit - Updated Sync.zip to remove some buggy code from addbook.php
Hi Scott,
I only have 1 device right now, so no need for sync, but I would be interested in how you can read your BN books with FBRreader. I have installed FBReader, but don't know how to read the books with it.
Also, I installed the dolphin web browser and clicked on a few epub links but nothing happens, is there a way to get it to bring up those files in FBRreader?
droidly said:
Hi Scott,
I only have 1 device right now, so no need for sync, but I would be interested in how you can read your BN books with FBRreader. I have installed FBReader, but don't know how to read the books with it.
Also, I installed the dolphin web browser and clicked on a few epub links but nothing happens, is there a way to get it to bring up those files in FBRreader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't actually purchased any books from B&N, but assuming the books you purchased are DRM free, you should be able to just move them into the \sdcard\books directory, and they should appear in the FbReader library. I believe, by default, the B&N books go into the internal storage, in the B&N Downloads\Books directory. Use a file manager like estrong's, astro's, or root explorer to copy them.
Via your web browser, save the epub books to \sdcard\books (or move them there after they download), and they'll show up. I don't believe that you can associate any book reader with epub files, I don't think android supports that. You have to open the book with the app, not the app with the book.
Scott
I use FBReader on multiple devices and would be extremely interested in such an app!
Thanks for your interest in my syncing app.
One pretty major requirement for this app is that your devices have to be rooted. Android doesn't like one app accessing another app's data, so the only way I could do it was to use root privileges.
It's still in beta, but you can download a copy of it at:
http://sync.splitmatrix.net/apk/fbsync.apk
Currently v1.0.9.
After you install it, go into the settings (blue icon, or menu/settings), and enter an email (doesn't have to be an email, any unique string will work) and numeric pin # (this isn't secure, so don't use a pin you care about). The email/pin is just to uniquely identify you. You should use the same email/pin on each device.
On the same screen, you can choose to sync the actual book files as well as their positions. It only uploads/downloads the books when it needs them, so it may take a while the first time you sync, but after that it shouldn't take more than a minute MAX, my typical sync times for 90 books is about 5-10 seconds.
Obviously you should have Fbreader already installed, and you need to have ran it, and gone into the library (menu/library) at least once (this creates the fbreader app database).
Click the middle, orange icon, to begin the sync process. It first uploads, then downloads. It only updates the book's "place" on the web if it's farther ahead than the web's "place" for the book.
Please let me know of any issues you find, or any improvements you want.
Thanks,
Scott
Cool
I just tested and it does work as stated. One question though, where is it uploading the data too?
Personal website, sync.splitmatrix.net. if the app takes off, i'll figure out something more secure and permanent.
Scott
Interesting. I'll try it out. Thank you!
One thing to think about however, especially if you open this up to general usage, is that by uploading/downloading the book file itself rather than just the current read-to position, you could potentially run into copyright issues. There is reason to believe that this could fall under Fair Use, but past rulings on similar commercial services for other media have been inconclusive. That may be a can of worms you don't want to open.
I am not a lawyer, but I do play one on web forums.
One thing I would try would be saving it on Google's servers through IMAP or something like SMS Backup does. Then no need to have to pay for a server. Don't know if it is at all possible but just thought I would see how you liked it.
RoboRay said:
Interesting. I'll try it out. Thank you!
One thing to think about however, especially if you open this up to general usage, is that by uploading/downloading the book file itself rather than just the current read-to position, you could potentially run into copyright issues. There is reason to believe that this could fall under Fair Use, but past rulings on similar commercial services for other media have been inconclusive. That may be a can of worms you don't want to open.
I am not a lawyer, but I do play one on web forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is something I'm aware of. Not sure what I'm going to do about it yet. That's why it's a setting
Scott
qwerty017 said:
One thing I would try would be saving it on Google's servers through IMAP or something like SMS Backup does. Then no need to have to pay for a server. Don't know if it is at all possible but just thought I would see how you liked it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The server it's currently on is hosted by a friend of mine for free, so I'm not concerned about it at the moment. If thousands of people end up using this, then obviously I'll have to make some changes.
Scott
I wonder if there's a way to store and retrieve the sync data with each user's Dropbox or something...
RoboRay said:
I wonder if there's a way to store and retrieve the sync data with each user's Dropbox or something...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd imagine that there is a way to do this, since programs like Titanium Backup support a dropbox interface.
If enough people think this would be a good feature to add, I can definitely look into it.
Scott
I'm just thinking that using each person's Dropbox would get you off the hook for not only server space and bandwidth, but also any potential copyright liability for book copies made by users synchronizing their files.
Valid points. I'll do some digging and see what it will take to implement the dropbox API in this app..
Thanks,
Scott
Edit: Updated first post with useful information - added download link.
Updated to v1.0.10 to fix a problem when used with the latest FBReader beta. Same URL as before:
Edit: Download the app off the market
Thanks,
Scott
This is a great app this is the missing link in fbreader. I hope you continue to support and enhance it.
Now that my archos tablet is rooted i can really enjoy it. I used to read my books on my phone and occasionally I still do.
Thx for the great work.
This looks like a dang good app. Since getting my nc i've quit using my evo for reading. This sync will bring joy back to my bathroom bbreaks at work!
Thanks for your kind words!
Since the last time I posted to this thread, I've added a dropbox interface to the program, and posted it to the Market (for Free of course!), so if you've downloaded the APK from the web, please re-install it from the market for the latest and greatest version.
Thanks again,
Scott
Oh, great! I'm checking out the Dropbox syncing now.
Edit: Works great!
If I may make another suggestion, you should post about your app at the MobileRead forum. I think you'll pick up a lot of users there.
Also, I know that the Android version of FBReader is different from the PC versions, but syncing with the Linux and Windows versions would be the icing on the cake. MobileRead might be a good place to find others wanting to help develop that capability
I have tried a gmarks(Google Bookmarks) app and the app named Pocket(formerly read it later), but niether quite fufill my need for syncing web page URLs to the cloud. The Android side of things works sufficent for the most part, but fall short on the Firefox add on side. For example gmarks has tag support so when I view my list, I can organize by categories rather then a long list of URLs. This would be ideal but the two most popular gmarks add ons for Firefox are broken or partially broken. Pocket works great on Android and Firefox, but lacks tags for organizing by a categorey. so I end up with a long list of URLs simply sorted by the time I add them.
I was hoping some one here can recomend an Android App for syncing URLs to the cloud that also has a supported/working Firefox Add on, and it must support tags. Preferably, function similar to Pocket, on Firefox would be nice. What I mean by this is I simply click a button and a small list appears and I do not have to even browse to the companies website to browse my bookmarks. However, I could live with a button that will simply launch the providers website if it comes down to it.
Xplorer4x4 said:
I have tried a gmarks(Google Bookmarks) app and the app named Pocket(formerly read it later), but niether quite fufill my need for syncing web page URLs to the cloud. The Android side of things works sufficent for the most part, but fall short on the Firefox add on side. For example gmarks has tag support so when I view my list, I can organize by categories rather then a long list of URLs. This would be ideal but the two most popular gmarks add ons for Firefox are broken or partially broken. Pocket works great on Android and Firefox, but lacks tags for organizing by a categorey. so I end up with a long list of URLs simply sorted by the time I add them.
I was hoping some one here can recomend an Android App for syncing URLs to the cloud that also has a supported/working Firefox Add on, and it must support tags. Preferably, function similar to Pocket, on Firefox would be nice. What I mean by this is I simply click a button and a small list appears and I do not have to even browse to the companies website to browse my bookmarks. However, I could live with a button that will simply launch the providers website if it comes down to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've tested XMarks or CMarks ?
Well Cmarks does not offer Firefox integration form the looks of it, and I use xmarks for my firefox bookmarks already. Xmarks is great but for this case it is more then what I want and does not offer any sort of label system. The reason I say it is more then what I want is it does not function at all like Pocket or Gmarks type apps. I do nto want these book marks to actually sync in to my browsers bookmarks because the URLs I am bookmarking are only for short term use.
1st things 1st - My device: Verizon S4 Root/Safestrap/Eclipse/Titanium Pro
Is there a way to not allow this to be done without uninstalling the TweetCaster app? I checked in the app's settings and I don't see any way to stop or not allow updates. I do have Google Play's settings at "Do not auto-update apps" - would this be sufficient? Or may Twitter go behind everyone's back and do this independently through their app and bypass Google Play? I do not want Twitter to be able to identify what apps I have or otherwise have access to my S4 to "target ads" to me.
Please note I Do Not have the Twitter app, I have TweetCaster (if it's different than the Twitter app? I don't know?) I heard facebook was doing this same BS & people deleted the app (I Do Not use FB) and am looking for a way to not allow Twitter to do this (if there is a way to). Thanks (I don't believe the last line below)
>>From Wired.com, Nov 26th<<
Twitter Plans to Peek at Your Apps to Serve You Targeted Ads
Twitter will soon identify the other apps on your phone in an effort to personalize your experience on its service—i.e. serve you targeted ads.
The company discusses the move on its website, and according to the news site Re/code, this sort of tracking will begin with a new version of its iPhone app, set to roll out on Wednesday. A new Android version that works in much the same way will roll out over the next week.
Now a public company, Twitter is exploring many different ways to boost its revenue, and one method is through better targeted ads. The company already has some personal information about those using its service—what they type into their Twitter profiles and the tweets they post—but now, it wants more. “To help build a more personal Twitter experience for you, we are collecting and occasionally updating the list of apps installed on your mobile device so we can deliver tailored content that you might be interested in,” the company says.
In this way, it’s following the lead of Facebook and Google and so many others that seek to target ads. The difference is that Twitter doesn’t have access to nearly as much personal data as Facebook, which inherently encourages users to provide information about themselves, or Google, which operates a wide range of services atop its own mobile OS. So Twitter is reaching out into other parts of the phone, something that is easy to do. The Apple/Google mobile OSes provide ready access to information like this & many apps take advantage of this—some going much further than others.
Twitter says it will point users to its new data policy, via an in-app notification, before it starts collecting any personal information. But the new update is opt-out, which means that in order for the company to stop gathering data on your account, you must explicitly turn this data collection off. But few users are likely to do so.
Source
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/twitter-targeted-ads/?mbid=social_twitter
Lane W. said:
1st things 1st - My device: Verizon S4 Root/Safestrap/Eclipse/Titanium Pro
Is there a way to not allow this to be done without uninstalling the TweetCaster app? I checked in the app's settings and I don't see any way to stop or not allow updates. I do have Google Play's settings at "Do not auto-update apps" - would this be sufficient? Or may Twitter go behind everyone's back and do this independently through their app and bypass Google Play? I do not want Twitter to be able to identify what apps I have or otherwise have access to my S4 to "target ads" to me.
Please note I Do Not have the Twitter app, I have TweetCaster (if it's different than the Twitter app? I don't know?) I heard facebook was doing this same BS & people deleted the app (I Do Not use FB) and am looking for a way to not allow Twitter to do this (if there is a way to). Thanks (I don't believe the last line below)
>>From Wired.com, Nov 26th<<
Twitter Plans to Peek at Your Apps to Serve You Targeted Ads
Twitter will soon identify the other apps on your phone in an effort to personalize your experience on its service—i.e. serve you targeted ads.
The company discusses the move on its website, and according to the news site Re/code, this sort of tracking will begin with a new version of its iPhone app, set to roll out on Wednesday. A new Android version that works in much the same way will roll out over the next week.
Now a public company, Twitter is exploring many different ways to boost its revenue, and one method is through better targeted ads. The company already has some personal information about those using its service—what they type into their Twitter profiles and the tweets they post—but now, it wants more. “To help build a more personal Twitter experience for you, we are collecting and occasionally updating the list of apps installed on your mobile device so we can deliver tailored content that you might be interested in,” the company says.
In this way, it’s following the lead of Facebook and Google and so many others that seek to target ads. The difference is that Twitter doesn’t have access to nearly as much personal data as Facebook, which inherently encourages users to provide information about themselves, or Google, which operates a wide range of services atop its own mobile OS. So Twitter is reaching out into other parts of the phone, something that is easy to do. The Apple/Google mobile OSes provide ready access to information like this & many apps take advantage of this—some going much further than others.
Twitter says it will point users to its new data policy, via an in-app notification, before it starts collecting any personal information. But the new update is opt-out, which means that in order for the company to stop gathering data on your account, you must explicitly turn this data collection off. But few users are likely to do so.
Source
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/twitter-targeted-ads/?mbid=social_twitter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Tweetcaster is a third party application just like Falcon doesn't have anything to do with the default twitter app. .Or you can just see if that option is listed their within the Tweetcaster application to opt out of it.
Recently I've come to realize I use a fair number of Google's services, in addition to Android. I think I need to diversify a bit. If there aren't any decent alternatives, I'll stick with Google for that specific app, but I'd like to explore my options. I'm particularly partial to open source software, and I wouldn't mind a developer/suite that handles a couple of these together. So far I've switched to (but still willing to accept suggestions):
Search - DuckDuckGo
Browser - Mozilla Firefox
Storage - Dropbox, Box
Now, I'm looking for:
Email-
Maps -
Calendar -
Notes -
I'm not interested in switching to any of Microsoft's services, either. Windows is enough for them.
Thank you.
I know what you mean. A bit of variation is a good thing.
Maps: I particularly like Maps.me. For browser-based, try http://www.openstreetmap.org/
Email: A great open source app is K9 Mail.
Notes: I generally take all my notes in DroidEdit(There's a free version too) and ColorNote. If you need more functionality, Evernote is an option.
Calendar: Try Cal.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
For email, I'm also looking for a free, basic service in addition to a client app.
Sorry, it looks like I originally posted this in the wrong sub-forum.
Regarding free email services, what do you have to say about:
Zoho
GMX
Mail.com
Inbox.com
Thanks.
Sorry to keep bringing this up, but how about email from:
Autistici/Inventati
Riseup
e-mail - yandex
SlowRain said:
Recently I've come to realize I use a fair number of Google's services, in addition to Android. I think I need to diversify a bit. If there aren't any decent alternatives, I'll stick with Google for that specific app, but I'd like to explore my options. I'm particularly partial to open source software, and I wouldn't mind a developer/suite that handles a couple of these together. So far I've switched to (but still willing to accept suggestions):
Search - DuckDuckGo
Browser - Mozilla Firefox
Storage - Dropbox, Box
Now, I'm looking for:
Email-
Maps -
Calendar -
Notes -
I'm not interested in switching to any of Microsoft's services, either. Windows is enough for them.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For Email try protonmail.com
Maps try Nokia's wego.here.com
Calendar I heard of "Cal"
Notes try DroidEdit or Evernote