PDF reader, for reading Ebooks

How does one flip pages, etc. on the external pdf reader application with a remote? Does Advanced Launcher magically turn remote button presses into appropriate keyboard commands on the external app or something? (I'm on a harmony one + mac-mini/macosx, if it matters).

1st'ly; As a PC user I must say I don't see a need for a Document viewer add-on for XBMC when there are so many stand-alone programs out there which are so user friendly (and even use CEC to allow you the ability of using your TV remote). Even the lowest of programs, like Internet Explorer, let you read/scroll/zoom Documents.

2nd'ly; Documents work wonderfully on a PC media center setup with voice commands on a 46inch LED LCD, absolutely fantastic.

3rd'ly; Documents are still digital (multi)media no matter how deeply it goes against your fundamental beliefs.

4th'ly; All things must grow and expand less they stagnate and pass into the mist of the past (like the X-Box should have ages ago)

Last'ly; No matter which way I view it, I simply cannot see the sense in adding a Document viewer into xbmc when there are so many other mod's which can improve the programs overall quality

....... but I am one small voice in a tiny minority, the majority would like to see it happen, who can ague against the majority

pecospete Wrote:How does one flip pages, etc. on the external pdf reader application with a remote? Does Advanced Launcher magically turn remote button presses into appropriate keyboard commands on the external app or something? (I'm on a harmony one + mac-mini/macosx, if it matters).

You understand that those kind of configuration depend of the reader application and of the remote used. When you start an application with Advanced Launcher, the active application is not anymore XBMC, but the started application. So button and key press binding have to be done directly between the reader application and the remote. Advanced Launcher cannot manage this.

Angelscry Wrote:You understand that those kind of configuration depend of the reader application and of the remote used. When you start an application with Advanced Launcher, the active application is not anymore XBMC, but the started application. So button and key press binding have to be done directly between the reader application and the remote. Advanced Launcher cannot manage this.

That's what I suspected. This is one reason I'd much rather have xbmc handle the file rather than an external app. I suspect people that claim launching an external app is good enough to mainly control xbmc with a keyboard or mouse.

pecospete Wrote:That's what I suspected. This is one reason I'd much rather have xbmc handle the file rather than an external app. I suspect people that claim launching an external app is good enough to mainly control xbmc with a keyboard or mouse.

Ok, so they need a dedicated add-on for this. Advanced Launcher will never do that natively (too many different applications, too many remote models and too many different uses and expectations). Only solution I see with Advanced Launcher is to use an intermediate script that, before start the reader application, will map the remote keys to the reader application control (using any kind of remote mapper software).

Just for interest sake, found a real handy eBook viewer which one could possible run with Advanced Launcher.

It`s real handy, has a command line (which I haven`t played with yet),
and a great tool for Viewing/indexing/converting a vast range of eBook formats, also has portable version.
I call it my MediaCompanion/Ember-R for books (excluding the nfo side thus I didn`t put it under the supplemental thread)
But as with most supplemental tools, first test on samples, cause I accidentally
lost some books (clearing the database removed my books from HDD)

Calibre-ebook GUI & calibre-ebook Demo & Calibre Development

Quote:calibre is a free and open source e-book library management application developed by users of e-books for users of e-books. It has a cornucopia of features divided into the following main categories:

ingeon Wrote:J

Calibre-ebook GUI & calibre-ebook Demo

As a partially sighted avid reader a Calibre-xbmc addon would make my dream come true, with this functionality XBMC would truly be a 'one click app' for me. Yes reading on a TV can damage your eyes, but hell, i'm going blind and i'm not quite ready to resign myself to audiobooks. Please could someone look into this as it would greatly increase the quality of many partially sighted users (i'm sure a link back to XBMC download page could be posted on a few support websites that i frequent!!)

PS - studies show that yellow text on a black background is optimal for partially sighted people to use, so if the option to change font and background colours could be retained from calibre it'd be fantastic.

I'd love a PDF reader in XBMC... I don't have a laptop or iPad, and after sitting at a computer desk 8h a day I don't want to sit at one to read. I do however, have a tonne of photography/design eBooks, a comfy couch and a big TV.

Basic PDF reader with a few basic functions would be super handy.... 2pg view, fit width or fit height. Be good for people who get those eComics as well I'm sure.

[quote=GJones]Ok, next time you go in ask your eye doctor if you should spend hours reading a book from the TV. The doctor will look at you like you've lost your mind.
So i guess watching long subtitled movies is bad too?What ever i still want pdf reader in XBMC and so do plenty others.

(2012-02-20 05:01)slimmdiggity Wrote:  [quote=GJones]Ok, next time you go in ask your eye doctor if you should spend hours reading a book from the TV. The doctor will look at you like you've lost your mind.
So i guess watching long subtitled movies is bad too?What ever i still want pdf reader in XBMC and so do plenty others.

Long, subtitled movies have maybe 20 words on-screen at a time, in a relatively huge font. Books are a different matter entirely.