PocketBook InkPad Eo - note taking device with 10,3 Kaleido 3

[ab78727]

Originally Posted by Rémi Ozene

@ab78727
5) I listened the following video on YouTube ("Ghostscript - Convert PDF to black and white using https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtEvCWJX5qw&t=56s
) which proposes the following script to transform a color PDF file into black and white using Ghostscript:
gs \
-sDEVICE=pdfwrite \
-sColorConversionStrategy=Gray \
-dProcessColorModel=/DeviceGray \
-dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
-dNOPAUSE \
-dBATCH \
-dPDFSETTINGS=/default \
-sOutputFile=output.pdf \
input.pdf

Since you seem to know how to use Ghostscript, could you or another kind soul explain to me, from A to Z, how to use it with Google Colab ( https://colab.research.google.com/ ), in order to create a notebook there, (without having to install Python on my computer), the goal being to obtain, as a result, a lightening of PDF files with dark backgrounds from Archive.org. ? What exact set of commands do I need to write in order for this script to run, for example, if my file is called dickens.pdf?

I tried the following on colab.research.google.com and it seemed to retrieve the file and run gs on it (I just gave it some basic arguments and not the ones that you had specified):

!apt-get install ghostscript
import requests

urlpfx = "https://archive.org/download/"
name = input("Enter a name: ")
outname = input("Enter output file name: ")
url = f"{urlpfx}/{name}"
print(f"retrieving {url}")
response = requests.get(url)
print(response)

if response.status_code == 200:
  with open(f"{outname}.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(response.content)
  !gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -o {outname}_new.pdf {outname}.pdf
  print(f"File '{outname}_new.pdf' created successfully.")
else:
  print(f"Failed to download the file. Status code: {response.status_code}")

if you'd prefer, I can share the colab notebook link directly with you. The method of use is to pass in the last part of the archive.org url (e.g. for "https://archive.org/download/{title}/{pdfname}.pdf", enter "{title}/{pdfname}") as "name" and then the desired output file name as the second prompt. The script downloads the file from archive.org and if successful, run gs on it with the specified arguments. The resulting output file is created as "{outputname}_new.pdf" in the "content" directory. I hope this helps.

[el.Barto]

The Android-System-Settings can be accessed easier:

Go to "Settings" and select "Application management".

Go to "All apps".

There you'll find a "Seetings"-App with a coloured Logo.

When opened select "Open" in the upper left.

Voila! These are the Android-System-Settings.

[ab78727]

Originally Posted by el.Barto

The Android-System-Settings can be accessed easier:

Go to "Settings" and select "Application management".

Go to "All apps".

There you'll find a "Seetings"-App with a coloured Logo.

When opened select "Open" in the upper left.

Voila! These are the Android-System-Settings.

Thank you - I confirmed that that worked very well. I'm happy that I no longer have to 'keep alive' the real Settings app by checking the task manager and switching to it periodically.

[ab78727]

Originally Posted by Rémi Ozene

@ab78727
1) The Pocketbook Cloud, on the Pocketbook Eo, can be found by going to «Reader», then top left, clicking on the arrow, back, where you'll find the library, including «My books», then go to Cloud. To put books in the Cloud, simply select a book and send it to the Cloud, which is marked by a logo representing a cloud
...
3) After the 2 firmware updates in mid-June, there's another one today, 19/07.

4) To set a password for the lock screen, go to Android settings, as explained above, then to «*secure*», and after on «*screen lock*»
...

Thank you. I can confirm that the PB cloud login now works as expected and that I also got the firmware update.

FWIW, I was able to rsync my existing ebooks to the device via Termux - this is what I like about Android i.e. the ability to use tools that I am used to without many constraints.

[thomaswilliamdav]

Just received my Pocketbook EO yesterday after supper. I had ordered it Tuesday morning whole in dialysis (I usually take a 12,9 iPad Pro in, but wanted an ereader device). I prdered from Amazon.ca and it took 82 hours to arrive from the moment I clicked ‘pay’.

I”ll have a lot more to say about it when I’m more familiar with the device, but a few cursory comments.

-Quite a struggle for an hour or so because I’ve primarily used Macs for 40 years, other than forced Windows use when at work, but after rereading the PDF manual I’d already downloaded on an iPad Pro it started to make sense.

-Downloading nd installing KorReader was a snap; searching with the built in browserfor github and then downloading and click installing the apk file. So now I have pocketbook reader, Xreader and KorReader to choose and learn from without having yet to buy another app.

-Getting books onto it has proved somewhat of a struggle; though I’m sure that will become easier. I have nothing but….Macs (but I do have Parallels installed and Wimdows 11 arm64 under that). Thought I would be able to install good ole trusty Calibre and just use that - but no, some kimd of funky error. I’ll post that tomorrow when it’s not 4:30 am. I’m sure someone will know what I’m not doing.

-Also could not figure out how to be able to email books to the reader, deriving a pbsync email address (getting the email address was a no go so far), but I did manage to use 2 methods to transfer books to the device.


1) Installing Google Drive on my Mac and the ereader and going from Mac > Google Drove > ereader

2) Using wifi transfer and sending readables to http://196.something:58888 from a Mac > ereader

These alone would make me happy since I’ve got some large colour comics (The Walking Dead) which would probably make my email server choke.

Also can’t get the ereader to show up as a removavble drive on my Mac(s) desktops. Connects via USB-C and charges, but I don’t know which Android file transfer spp I need to i stall or where to download from. Also a small and not unsolvable problem.

It arrived 88% charged, so I was able to start using/learning right away. Getting google play store to work was easy-peasy and I’m pleased with how smooth the page turn refreshes are; much nicer than the Kobo Elipsa I currently have.

Will experiment with it more tomorrow during dialysis and as long as the Canadian footnall game tomorrow night isn’t too interesting, I’ll start obsessively posting.


Thanks to all who have posted before, and specifically in this thread.


Tom

[el.Barto]

I don't think the EO has a pbsync email-adress.

For syncing files from iPad to Windows, Linux or Android I use LANDdrop. They also provide a version for macOS. Works fine for me!

[thomaswilliamdav]

Originally Posted by el.Barto

I don't think the EO has a pbsync email-adress.

For syncing files from iPad to Windows, Linux or Android I use LANDdrop. They also provide a version for macOS. Works fine for me!

Thank you muchly. While in dialysis today, I took an iPad Pro and the Eo and was looking at common problems where the EO would not show up.

I found an application from github called OpenMTP; but will certainly give LANDdrop a try as well. I had to run the application in legacy mode , but all of a sudden the books (and comics too) just started showing up.

Really like Calibre, but what works, works. I knew that audiobooks worked (I test played the Sherlock Holmes novel), but was very happy to find that Apple Music worked.

Thanks for LANDdrop.

Tom

[nhedgehog]

If problems with Apple devices and USB mass storage mode appear it is allways useful to try to put an USB hub between the devices. Sometimes that solves the problem.
For the wireless options there is an Android app called TotalCommander which supports plugins. We have several plugins for it that support Online storage and other useful things. Have a look here:
https://www.ghisler.com/androidplugins/googleplay/

[thomaswilliamdav]

For those who come after me and have troubles getting books installed on the Pocketbook EO - part of my problem was my lack of familiarity with Android. I had a Samsung S20 Ultra that I didn’t like and gave to my sister. I do have a Chromebook, but it is ised solely as a Chess server for an auto piece detecting eboard. And of course I didn’t read any manuals.

Step by step I did;

1) Unbox the EO and hit the power button. It was at 88% power and it asked to connect to a wifi network. I gave it my credentials, it connected and then detected, downloaded and installed an update.

2) I used the built in browser and searched for ‘github koreader’ (without the quote marks

3) I downloaded the koreader-android-arm64-v2024.07.apk to the ereader and installed it.

4) On my Macbook Air I launched Calibre, clicked on the Connect/share tab and selected start content server. I selected this option again and wrote down the IP address and port number.

5) On the Pocketbook EO I opened Koreader and tapped the top center of the screen (basically right in the big koreader heading), tapped the gear icon, tapped Calibre and tapped connect.

6) Tapped the top center of the screen again, tapped the search magnifying glass and selected OPDS catalog at the bottom. A bunch of libraries were offered but not Calibre. Easy-peasy

7) I tapped the big plus sign in the upper left corner of the EO screen and entered Calibre as the Catalog name and 192.168.0.12:8080/opds as the catalog URL and saved it.

8) Calibre then showed up as a library entry and I was able to access all of my ebooks that were on my Macbook Air and being able to search by whatever criteria listed. downloading was then straightforward tapping on a title and tapping download.


At some point in my fumbling around I was offered a chance to set a download location for material download via this method and I’ve just got them in the root(?) folder of Koreader on the EO (works for me).

A big help was a Youtube video by. Stefan Svartling (channel name) called How to transfer ebooks wirelessly to your Kobo eReader or other eReaders - two different methods!

So, Calibre/Koreader for wireless transfer and OpenMTP for USB-C to Mac transfers.


Hope this helps anyone or for me when I forget and have to reinstall everything.

Tom

[thomaswilliamdav]

I just tried pairing/using a bluetooth keyboard; the Satechi Slim X3, normally used on my clamshell MacBook Air and it works. I only tried it on the built in browser and Youtube application and it works fine.

Once bluetooth was enabled I pressed the appropriate keyboard button and it showed up in the bluetooth device list and paired ok.

Tom

[el.Barto]

Have any of you already connected the Inkpad Eo via Miracast?

I would like to use it with a projector instead of a flipchart for my presentations.

I can easily connect the Inkpad Eo to my LG TV, which has Miracast integrated.

The projectors I use do not have Miracast integrated. That's why I've already bought two HDMI dongles (Anycast and TVPeCee). I was able to establish a connection with the TVPeCee immediately after setting it up. Not again after that. The Anycast is displayed in the Inkpad Eo, but a connection is simply not established :-(

Smartphone and laptop connect to both the TV and both HDMI dongles via Miracast without any problems.

I am at a loss.

[Rémi Ozene]

Originally Posted by ab78727

I tried the following on colab.research.google.com and it seemed to retrieve the file and run gs on it (I just gave it some basic arguments and not the ones that you had specified)

I asked CHATGPT to make me a script on Google Colab using Ghostscript to lighten the background of a PDF image file with a dark background from archive.org. The execution of the script took nearly 30 minutes, for a file of 600 pages and 30 megas. Here is the Chatgpt script (notebook with format ipynb), for a file named "myfile.pdf":

# Étape 1 : Install Ghostscript
!apt-get install -y ghostscript

# Étape 2 : Check for the presence of the file named "myfile.pdf"
import os

input_file = "/content/ myfile.pdf" # Input file name
output_file = "/content/output_lightened.pdf" # Output file name

if not os.path.exists(input_file):
raise FileNotFoundError(
"The file 'myfile.pdf' was not found in the /content directory. "
"Please upload your file with this name."
)

# Step 3: Apply Ghostscript to lighten the background
print("Processing the file with Ghostscript...")
gs_command = f"""
gs \
-sDEVICE=pdfwrite \
-dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
-dPDFSETTINGS=/default \
-dNOPAUSE \
-dBATCH \
-dColorConversionStrategy=/Gray \
-dProcessColorModel=/DeviceGray \
-sOutputFile={output_file} \
{input_file}
"""

# Run the Ghostscript command
os.system(gs_command)

# Step 4: Check if the output file has been generated
if not os.path.exists(output_file):
raise FileNotFoundError("The processed file has not been generated. Check the input and processing parameters.")

print("The treatment is complete. File processed : output_lightened.pdf")

# Step 5: Download the processed file
from google.colab import files
print("Download the clarified file...")
files.download(output_file)