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
Hey everyone,
I've been googling for many hours. I've been to many shady places. But I've come up empty handed.
I'm basically looking for an app, that can provide syncronisation between a folder on my device, and a folder on <insert cloud storage here>.
I'm personally trying to migrate away from Dropbox, of which I've been a heavy user for many years. But in the light of the recent NSA gate, I thought I'd take a look what else is out there. I've chosen MEGA, as they provide (on paper) the security I like, and enough storage for my cloud-storage-needs.
I've been using Dropbox to automatically store the images I've taken with my phone camera and I take a backup of my texts every night at 2pm, which is also, automagically, uploaded to Dropbox. The official MEGA app takes care of the first, but the latter is taken care of within the backup app itself. It can be disabled, though.
I've looked for sync apps, but neither those or apps like Helium doesn't support MEGA.
So dear XDA,
Is there hope for me?
ownCloud provides universal access to your files via the web, your computer or your mobile devices — wherever you are.
It also provides a platform to easily view & sync your contacts, calendars and bookmarks across all your devices and enables basic editing right on the web.
http://owncloud.org/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.owncloud.android&hl=pt_BR
FreakSense: Online Privacy Shield is able, once downloaded and installed on our Android smartphones or tablet, to scan and do a search on all the applications installed on the device that we have access to our online profiles. The search can be carried out to discover the applications that have access to our data from Facebook, Yahoo !, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Instagram and Flickr. These are the main ones, but you can add other online services.
Online Privacy Shield also will catalog the software used on the PC
What might seem strange is that it should be listed not only the applications that you have currently installed on your device, but also applications that have also uninstalled a long time or you have installed on your PC. But what assures us that not Online Privacy Shield does just what he fights for? I mean, who assures us that it does not store our data?
The answer lies in the fact that, in addition to being specified in the description on the Play Store, whenever we want to scan an online service, we have to re-enter again our data.
cloudyjohn said:
FreakSense: Online Privacy Shield is able, once downloaded and installed on our Android smartphones or tablet, to scan and do a search on all the applications installed on the device that we have access to our online profiles. The search can be carried out to discover the applications that have access to our data from Facebook, Yahoo !, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Instagram and Flickr. These are the main ones, but you can add other online services.
Online Privacy Shield also will catalog the software used on the PC
What might seem strange is that it should be listed not only the applications that you have currently installed on your device, but also applications that have also uninstalled a long time or you have installed on your PC. But what assures us that not Online Privacy Shield does just what he fights for? I mean, who assures us that it does not store our data?
The answer lies in the fact that, in addition to being specified in the description on the Play Store, whenever we want to scan an online service, we have to re-enter again our data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know about this app before. Doesn't seem that useful to me frankly. I'd rather restrict access to my info than simply be told who has already acessed it. Furthermore, it is not open source. That is usually a no-no for security/privacy apps as you then have to hope the developers aren't lying about any claims they make.
Have a look at OpenPDroid or even CM11 in-built Privacy Guard or AppOps for some examples of tools that restrict what apps can do/access on your device.
Incidentally, having to re-enter your online credentials isn't evidence of anything. The app may still transmit your data and credentials to external servers without your knowledge or permission anyway and the need to re-enter the credentials just ensures that it always has up-to-date credentials in case you changed your passphrase/password for instance. An open source app that you can build yourself removes any doubt.
I see that my Gear S is set to automatically backup periodically. When this happens, it significantly drains my battery. is there a way to either disable this backup process or have the Gear S only backup when plugged in?
more questions on back-up & restore
on a semi-related issue - if i buy a new Samsung phone and paired that to my Gear S, (or vice versa), where are all my contacts, diary entries, apps and other stuff?
yeah I understand they get wiped - but is there anyway to save then somewhere - using Kies?? - the sim card ??, a memory card??
After a few trials & errors i decided to save everything to the Samsung account, but for better or worse that doesn't seem to work like say ahem iCloud - should i "backup" to the sim & turn off if possible Gear S backup facility as the OP seems to be asking ---- but there seems to be no facility to bulk change prior entries to "save to sim" or "memory card"
Pairing the watch and the phone over BT or when further away via my samsung account via 3G does seem to be now working very well - thanks to what I've learned here - but what exactly is my samsung account - when I registered initially I was able to add the S4 as a device but not the Gear S - now I'm directed to hot deals on microwaves etc when i log in
I haven't noticed such a battery drain backing up (by BT presumably) but my use case aspirations for the Gear S does involve the hope that the liberation of one device on my wrist (+/- the host phone somewhere else) might significantly reduce my very expensive data usage - disciplining me to restrict checking emails or browsing to wifi at home or at work - so far so good ... but will the downside be having to type in my contacts diary events and re-download the apps every time I change one of the devices or I have to perform a hard reset on the watch-phone to try to overcome some glitch?
thanks
There is no way to enter new contacts on Gear S. It gets whatever your phone get. So, the question is how do you transfer your contacts between your phones. It seems to me you are still living in stone ages. If you use any of the services like GMail or Outlook.com (from MS), you should already save your contacts in one of those cloud services. So no matter what phone you are on, they are always there. I won't trust saving to Samsung account. What happens when you move to a non-Samsung phone? You can't retrieve them anymore. Samsung account only works on Samsung phones.
Seems like my backups are happening around 12 pm. I'd like to schedule them to occur at night when I have the Gear S plugged in.
Is the backup setting for the Gear S linked to another backup setting on my Galaxy Note 4?
Thanks
....I understand I can't enter contacts on the phone
....I still don't understand what my Samsung account is, whether it does save my contacts/calendars somewhere however unreliably - I don't like being "locked in" to anyone but will continue to be locked into Samsung while the Gear S continues to fulfil its promise and exceed expectations (despite the difficult learning curve, deficiencies in the implementation and support and being somewhat underwhelmed by the Galaxy user interface)
....I do still use iCloud for better or worse for personal stuff, (not sure thats relevant here) but would rather avoid Gmail (i did reactivate an old gmail account to play around with some of the services / apps on the Galaxy)
.... ditto - outlook.com - I'd rather not go back there either but would do if it is then relatively easy to sync my outlook contacts and calendar(s) (when in wifi) with the samsung Galaxy apps that sync with the Gear S via Gear Manager
I can use iCloud or my work outlook whenever I'm at my desk or on wifi (or dollar gobbling phone tethering or mobile broadband dongle)
- yes in outback Australia I am kind of living in the stone age - often away from wifi or even a phone signal, having to wait weeks/months whenever i move house / location to transfer over my broadband account, figure out what to do when i travel abroad etc
so yes i have heard of and can use these cloud based services but often not 24/7 365 days a year so I'm still having to consider the best way to get the contacts onto the "master" phone with some degree of preseverence / transferability so that they are physically there on the gear S
sorry if i've missed an obvious point / solution or overcomplicated that -- i just tried creating a new contact and the choices are save to Samsung Account Device SIM or my recently reluctantly reactivated google account
thanks
If privacy is not a big concern for you, I don't see what you don't embrace those cloud services. It is very convenient to sync multiple devices at the same time. You don't need them to be perfectly on 24/7. It only needs to be on when you first sync to your phone. The contacts will remain on your phone even if the service is down afterwards. You can sync them to your phone, tablets and PCs.
The could services allow you to store multiple phone numbers per contact as well as photo, mailing address and email address etc.
Here are pros and cons of what you have listed:
1. SIM cards: only one phone number per entry. Multiple phone numbers for the same contact requires multiple entries. Can store phone numbers only. If SIM card dies, so are all your contacts.
2. iCould: works best with Apple devices. Not so much with others (although you can find work arounds).
3. Google: works best with Android devices. But also works on other platforms like Windows and iOS. If you use Android device, you will have to sign in with a Google account anyway. So you will be synced with Google contacts regardless you use it or not.
4. Outlook: works best with Windows Phone and Windows PC. But also works on other platforms like Android and iOS. If you use Windows devices, you will have to sign in with a Microsoft account anyway and synced with the contacts.
5. Samsung: as far as I know, it only works with Samsung Android phone and Android tablets.
I often use my desktop PC to edit and input contact information and it then syncs to cloud and to the devices. Very convenient.