[App] Readability App

rhhd · Apr 8, 2012

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.readability

This app would be perfect on the NST: It allows to mark a website on your PC browser for later reading, and the website will get sent to the app automatically.

The great thing about this is that only the text will be sent, every useless content of the website will be stripped. The text then gets displayed in the app using pretty nice typography etc.

Really great, unfortunately it does not work on my NST. Clicking the app icon makes the screen flash, but then nothing happens. On the Google Play site it says it needs 2.1, so it should work, but nope.

I contacted the authors of the program, and actually got a response, but it consisted of one word: "Sorry". No idea whether that means they will fix it...

Any ideas?

marspeople · Apr 9, 2012

Hi, when the app was released I faced this problem too. I managed to fix the crash by hacking it with apktool and now it works. However, the UI is severely broken (mostly text color equals to the background, can't read anything) so the XML files need tweaking. As I didn't like the app much and ended up uninstalling anyway. I can send the apk if someone is willing to try.

I really think the NST is missing a good app for reading webpages later. Since the Readability API (also maybe other similar services) is public, it is feasible to write a new app for this.

rhhd · Apr 9, 2012

Yes there are also Readitlater and Instapaper, but they don't seem to be as good:

They do not have Firefox plugins (only bookmarklets), the Android app is not so nice typography-wise, and also I am not sure whether they are completely free.

On my Android smartphone I really like Readbility.

marspeople · Apr 9, 2012

I found an alternative Readability client for android, ReadIt, but the latest version was somewhat broken, probably because Readability changed its layout recently. Good thing is this app is open source, so I could fix its behavior and now it works properly (it's basic, but quite nice app). I also added NST keys support.

Modified source is here: https://github.com/marspeople/ReadIt

rhhd · Apr 9, 2012

Wow, awesome, thanks!

It does not have background sync so you have to remember to sync your articles before you get out of Wifi range. But the reading module is great.

There seems to be a bug with the Archives section: I can not read all articles in there. Some load correctly, others throw you back to the start screen of the app.

marspeople · Apr 9, 2012

Yeah, there may be some bugs since the developer stopped working on it. I could reproduce this one you mentioned and it is also here: https://github.com/fahimk/ReadIt/issues/3

But is open source, maybe I will try to fix it later.

Renate · Apr 9, 2012

It would be nice not to have to screw around with the key bindings of every program.
It's better to fix it in the Nook, where the problem actually is.
Moreover, there will be some other programs where we can't easily change the bindings.

Keycode 92 = KEYCODE_PAGE_UP (Android) = "LEFT_NEXTPAGE" (Nook Reader.apk)
Keycode 93 = KEYCODE_PAGE_DOWN (Android) = "LEFT_PREVPAGE" (Nook Reader.apk)

If you just set any of the four hard keys in TWL4030_Keypad.kl that you want to do a page down/next page to
"LEFT_PREVPAGE" everything will work out fine.
Likewise, set any of the four hard keys that you want to do page up/previous page to "LEFT_NEXTPAGE".
You have to then switch the preference in Settings / Reader to the right image.

When you are all done, a Page Down is a Page Down is a Page Down.

marspeople · Apr 9, 2012

Renate NST said:
It would be nice not to have to screw around with the key bindings of every program.
It's better to fix it in the Nook, where the problem actually is.
Moreover, there will be some other programs where we can't easily change the bindings.

Keycode 92 = KEYCODE_PAGE_UP (Android) = "LEFT_NEXTPAGE" (Nook Reader.apk)
Keycode 93 = KEYCODE_PAGE_DOWN (Android) = "LEFT_PREVPAGE" (Nook Reader.apk)

If you just set any of the four hard keys in TWL4030_Keypad.kl that you want to do a page down/next page to
"LEFT_PREVPAGE" everything will work out fine.
Likewise, set any of the four hard keys that you want to do page up/previous page to "LEFT_NEXTPAGE".
You have to then switch the preference in Settings / Reader to the right image.

When you are all done, a Page Down is a Page Down is a Page Down.

I don't understand. Are you saying that editing TWL4030_Keypad.kl you can make any app (including Opera) perform page down/up without modification? I see that my TWL4030_Keypad.kl ends with:

Code:

key 407 RIGHT_NEXTPAGE WAKE_DROPPED
key 412 LEFT_NEXTPAGE WAKE_DROPPED
key 139 LEFT_PREVPAGE WAKE_DROPPED
key 158 RIGHT_PREVPAGE WAKE_DROPPED

I guess these lines were added by NookTouchTools. But most apps will not respond to these keys (except some framework elements such as ListView), unless you modify the source code. What am I missing here?

Renate · Apr 9, 2012

In the stock Nook, the four hard keys generate four scan codes.
Using /system/usr/keylayout/TWL4030_Keypad.kl these four scan codes are mapped into four key codes.
In /system/app/Reader.apk these four keycodes are mapped into two operations: next and previous page.

There is no reason at all to use four keycodes.
The standard keycode for KEYCODE_PAGE_UP is 92.
The standard keycode for KEYCODE_PAGE_DOWN is 93.

Assign the hard keys how you want them.
If you want two up buttons and two down, do it that way.
If you want down, up, menu, back, do that.

For apps besides Reader.apk you will be generating normal page up/page down keys.
Reader.apk fortunately does not require modification, simply set the preference as above to get the sense of up/down correct.

I have my Nook set up like this and paging works fine on OI File Manager, AndChat, K-9 Mail.

Code:

# Layout file for Nook Touch hardware buttons

key 412  LEFT_NEXTPAGE   # Upper left
key 407  LEFT_PREVPAGE   # Upper right
key 139  BACK            # Lower left
key 158  MENU            # Lower right

This is what I have for Upper left = Page up, Upper right = Page down, Lower left = Back, Lower right = Menu.
(Yes, the names in the file are "backwards" from what you would think.)

Note: Opera is ignorant. It doesn't do anything for page up/page down keys.
This has been noted and complained about bitterly on the internet.

marspeople · Apr 9, 2012

Ok, but just to clarify, since your settings seems to be equivalent to mine (regarding page up/down), I guess your system cannot perform paging by keys in stock ReadIt app because it doesn't implement actions for KEYCODE_PAGE_UP and KEYCODE_PAGE_DOWN (I think several apps don't), right?

Renate · Apr 9, 2012

KEYCODE_PAGE_UP & KEYCODE_PAGE_DOWN appeared in API level 9. (We're at 7)

Later devices use these codes.
The only real control over which codes you can use is the question of which names can be parsed in a KL file.
I haven't gotten around to extending that yet.

The codes go up to 210 right now, but if you want to send a 666 to your app there is no problem with that.

Code:

# input keyevent 666

It comes through loud and clear.

rhhd · Oct 11, 2012

hi marspeople,

thanks again for your modded readIt app which I use almost daily.

I have the following problem all the time: After having sent a new article to ReadIt, when I open it for the first time, the reader does not display the beginning of the article, but some part in the middle.

I suspect that the reason is, that the app remembers where you were in an article, but that it only stores this info relative to something like "article no. 5". now if you delete article number 5 and upload another article, probably the old saved position will be applied to the new article.

Do you think you could fix this without too much effort?

mikeytime · Nov 26, 2012

thanks for the mod, marspeople.

I find that it doesn't scroll a full screen at a time, is this normal?

Up/down swipes are sometimes interpreted incorrectly but that's no big deal.

I can't duplicate rhhd's problem.

UK-bought NSTGL on 1.2.0 + TFU ROM UPGRADE PACK ALPHA 3

bentwand · Dec 27, 2012

marspeople said:
I found an alternative Readability client for android, ReadIt, but the latest version was somewhat broken, probably because Readability changed its layout recently. Good thing is this app is open source, so I could fix its behavior and now it works properly (it's basic, but quite nice app). I also added NST keys support.

Modified source is here: https://github.com/marspeople/ReadIt

Is this safe - when I wanted to connect to readability.com I got the message that Fahim karim wanted to acess my readability acount?

bingen · Mar 20, 2013

not checked the code yet, but I supose yes, is safe. the cuestion is related to the Readability API access. The author of the app uses his API key to access your Readability account, therefore, permision is needed.

(I know the thead is oldie, but I was searching fir exactly this. Thanks!)

emarsh · Mar 20, 2013

bingen said:
not checked the code yet, but I supose yes, is safe. the cuestion is related to the Readability API access. The author of the app uses his API key to access your Readability account, therefore, permision is needed.

(I know the thead is oldie, but I was searching fir exactly this. Thanks!)

I had installed this last year and it worked no problem. I unrooted and rerooted with NookManager (original root was with TouchNooter), and now I can't authorize. I don't know if it's related to the type of root or not. When I go to authorize, it sends me to the browser, where I log in, and it gives me a code, but next time I go to ReadIT, it still wants me to Authorize. Anyone else have this problem?

coolius · May 3, 2013

Just to let you guys know, I'm using ReadItLater which is the old Pocket app. Works great on the NST.

sheetalc · May 9, 2013

coolius said:
Just to let you guys know, I'm using ReadItLater which is the old Pocket app. Works great on the NST.

How do you get the old readitlater app? And does it do auto-sync of articles from pocket cloud? Thats all I want. mark on browser at work and have it ready on my nook to be read on my way home.

coolius · May 13, 2013

sheetalc said:
How do you get the old readitlater app? And does it do auto-sync of articles from pocket cloud? Thats all I want. mark on browser at work and have it ready on my nook to be read on my way home.

I found it using the searchmarket app on the Nook. Direct link here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.free

And yes it syncs with pocket no problem although push-sync is not supported on 2.1 so you have to sync at set intervals or on open.

phil001 · May 22, 2013

coolius said:
I found it using the searchmarket app on the Nook. Direct link here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.free

And yes it syncs with pocket no problem although push-sync is not supported on 2.1 so you have to sync at set intervals or on open.

hi is that link correct?
i get
"We're sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server."

is it the same as
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideashower.readitlater.pro
?
thanks

[App] Readability App

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Attachments

Senior Member

Senior Member

Recognized Contributor / Inactive Recognized Dev

Attachments

Senior Member

Recognized Contributor / Inactive Recognized Dev

Senior Member

Recognized Contributor / Inactive Recognized Dev

Senior Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Top Liked Posts