Reader
From Openmoko
| Not implemented: This article or section documents one or more features that are not implemented and which may never be implemented. |
Contents |
Overview
This article defines the Reader Application, an application designed for the OpenMoko platform. This is a Native Stylus-Based application.
Use Cases
Here are some possible use cases:
- Native support of ".txt" documents with font selection and smart word wrap and capability of filtering out markup.
- Native support of ".html" documents as native file format, including javascript and CSS.
- Native support of ".html" supporting a small subset of tags, and ignoring most others.
- How much markup makes sense on a 2.8" display?
- MobileSafari shows that most markup can be meaningful on a small screen
- Optional automatic backreferencing of proper names that have not occurrred in n pages. This is very handy in 'cast of thousands' novels, and technical documents for acronyms.
- ".pdf" display capability with zoom and pan.
- Host support for the conversion of ".pdb", ".lit", ".doc" and ".rtf" to ".html" format.
- Optional storage of books on the device in a compressed format such as gzip, zip or PalmDOC[1] , with on-the-fly decompression
Layout Components
(TBD)
Application Area
Key Features:
- Send Message with reader text
- Autoscrolling with speed variation
- (Standard stuff)
Footer Area
Status Bar
(TBD)
Constraints
(TBD)
Sessions
(TBD)
Architectural Details
(TBD)
Implementation Recommendations
- FBReader works well on Linux PDAs and supports a large number of eBook formats (including HTML), although doesn't support pdf.
- Epdfview is another option.
- OpieReader has some excellent features accessible from the GUI dialogs and a good UI/workflow.
- CSpotRun[2] is a GPL application for 68k Palm OS. Basic functions can be controlled from the Palm navigation buttons; which could translate well to Neo1973 finger buttons. It has adjustable speed automatic scrolling, which gives a hands free option. Documents are converted to Palm DOC[3] format from PDF, HTML and TXT by host-based applications. It is easy to use bookmarks and chapter markings to navigate an entire novel.
- ReadThemAll[4] is another palm based reader, which has a nifty way of handling auto-scrolling.
Interactions
(TBD)
Unresolved Issues
(TBD)
Questions and Answers
Q: This should surely not be a stylus only app. Most functionality should be available using fingers. I do not want to keep a stylus in hand when reading a book. See Wishlist:Finger_based_Ebook_Reader.
Q: Why not use the Web Browser for HTML/Javascript/CSS documents, and a reader for other formats such as PDF, txt, Palm DOC[5] compressed text, ODT[6], Microsoft Word, and perhaps also non-Javascript HTML documents such as those generated by texinfo and DocBook?
