E-readers
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Hello there,
I`m a recently new user of trisquel and I must say it is a great piece of software, first because it RESPECTS-YOUR-FREEDOM!!!, and furthermore because is works really nice.
I have a question regarding RYF devices & Software. I wonder, Is there a RYF e-book reader that works with open source software as well? I don't want to buy an Amason Kindle...
Thanks for the support!
P.S: When is Trisquel 7 going to be officially released? What are the most expected features of it?
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I read this recently. It looks like the FSF is getting involved with doing exactly this. Sorry you will not be able to buy it tomorrow.
fsf.org/bulletin/2014/spring/help-us-make-tablets-and-ebook-readers-respect-your-freedom
"If we're going to have hardware that respects our freedom, we have to demand it -- both with our voices and our pocketbooks. We've shown that when enough of us get together, we can actually make free devices a reality.
We'll launch specific crowdfunding campaigns for the tablet and ebook reader once we have plans in place, but we need your support now to get to that place."
As for Trisquel 7, we don't know when it will be out. It seems the lead developer, Rubén Rodríguez (quidam), has just attended a conference where he made a speech laying out the roadmap for 7. Nobody has seen the speech yet.
Wow I really missed that development. Great to see FSF take on a big task like this.
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Pretty cool, huh? I would love to have an e-reader. I've been avoiding them because I don't want to contribute to any potential kakotopia on the horizon.
A bookstore employee at a major retailer recently asked me if I wanted to buy one of their readers, which were on sale. I told her that I only wanted devices that "respect the user's freedom and ownership". I tried to explain as well as I could but I'm not sure she really got it. Oh well, planting seeds can be awkward at first. I'll bet she remembers me when these ideas come to the forefront, though.
I'm thinking our community needs to create our own generic embedded project board (more powerful than Arduino) which can be employed in many of these type of things and will result in many possible RYF devices in the future.
Absolutely, while Raspberry Pi looked promising it sadly hasn't delivered a fully Free enviroment. People are intrested in the potential but freedom is still risked in the name of progress.
eBooks are very cool, I used to buy tons on iPad (past shames :D ) but unfortunately it is not possible to find a reader that is powered by Free software. The idea of a totally free reader is something that needs to happen. I mean if something as complex as Trisquel can be made Free then an eReader just feels like it would be so much simpler and a very realistic goal.
A possible starting point could actually to use the Rockbox OS instead of a GNU/Linux system, while designed for audio it does have low enough system demands that it could easily be fitted into an eBook situation. It's kernel is simple as anything but it doesn't need to be complex in any major way.
Also keep spreading the word, yes it might seem pointless at times and yes it can come off as a little bit crazy - heck I used to think the Free software movement was a little to extreme but eventually that little itch, the little pebble of intrigue in my shoe grew into a rock of intrigue and then something really big. Eventually it won me over and now everything I use (expect for my phone/work laptop – blast!) is freedom respecting.
One can acquire a Galaxy Tab 2 (7 or 10.1), install Replicant 4.2 on it and get one of the e-book readers in the free software repository F-Droid.
For more information:
- http://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab270P31xxInstallation
- http://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab2101P51xxInstallation
- https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=book&fdid=org.coolreader
- https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=book&fdid=org.geometerplus.zlibrary.ui.android
- https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=book&fdid=net.nightwhistler.pageturner
I have a galaxy tab 10.1. It can run on replicant without non free software. Unfortunately, if you want WiFi or Bluetooth, you will have to install non free firmware. Other issues with the tablet are that the cameras and GPS don't work, and graphics is slow (and without 3d acceleration of course). All of the sensors work though, and audio works.
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I've only held a tablet once so let me show my ignorance: Do they have usb ports? The website I looked at about the 10.1 didn't seem to indicate any.
However, I can't imagine it doesn't have something to connect to another computer for syncing and such.
If they do, I could probably use my ThinkPenguin USB wireless device.
Samsung tablets have their own proprietary connector, with an adapter to
USB. It won't work with the ThinkPenguin wifi device: it needs 300 mA
of current (or more?), while the tablet provides only 100 mA (200 mA
with custom kernel). Maybe it would with a powered USB hub (unportable)
and appropriate software changes to have the driver and free firmware
for it.
Some people use old Hanlin v3 ebook readers which work with OpenInkpot
without nonfree software. Now the hardware is not available and the
project stopped development. I don't know how hard it would be to
replace all software used on a newer eink reader, no one does it.
Here's a sad kinda related recent story of a free hardware KDE tablet.
Why the Vivaldi tablet never came to market https://lwn.net/Articles/606100/
(LWN.net is an excellent source of free software news btw.)
I wish the developers of the Vivaldi and the Improv project would have
been more honest and cooperative when it came to the freedom aspects
of their devices.
In January I asked them whether Improv works with a fully free
operating systems and what components won't work. They didn't want
give a clear answer and basicaly scolded my for asking.
This isn't the way you develop a freedom friendly device. Why should I
give my support to such projects? The didn't seemed concerned with
people who value freedom, so should have we been more supportive and
helped them succeed?
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