Applications for e-books on the Android operating system. Part 5. Cloud storage and players
In this last part of the article about e-book applications on the Android operating system, two topics will be considered: Cloud storage and Audio players .
Bonus: a list of free libraries with OPDS catalogs .
Cloud storage has gained well-deserved popularity among users of both mobile devices and "real" computers.
They allow you to organize access to your data from various, and even heterogeneous devices; organize data sharing; and also to some extent “forget” about backing up the data contained therein. Unless the user himself inadvertently removes them (or an attacker who gained access to them; but this is a completely different story).
Many cloud storages also work successfully on e-books under the Android OS equipped with Wi-Fi wireless connection.
Nevertheless, in the process of testing cloud storage applications, we also experienced a light collective shock. It turned out that Google’s cloud storage application doesn’t want to be installed on e-books running on the operating system from Google itself! Storage from Microsoft - no problem, from Amazon and Yandex - no problem, but from Google - no way!
Now let's get down to business, i.e. directly to the materials of today's (5th) part of the article.
The following data is indicated in the application description:
The applications were tested on ONYX BOOX e-books with the operating system Android 4.4 and Android 6.0 (depending on the requirements of the game).
1. Yandex.Disk - unlimited for photos and videos
2. Cloud Mail.ru: Make room for new photos
3. Microsoft OneDrive
4. Dropbox
5. Amazon Drive
6. pCloud Free Cloud Storage
7. MEGA
8. MediaFire
# 1 Application name: Yandex.Disk - unlimited for photos and videos
Developer: Yandex
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
The free volume as of 2019 is 10 GB, but for “old” users of Yandex services there can be up to 25 GB.
Slower loading of office file formats has been noticed.
Screenshots:
# 2 Application Name: Cloud Mail.ru: Free up space for new photos
Developer: Mail.Ru Group
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
The free volume as of 2019 is 8 GB, but for “old” users of Mail.ru services there can be up to 25 GB.
When installing the application, it may require the inclusion or installation of Google services, but without them everything works.
Screenshots:
# 3 Application Name: Microsoft OneDrive
Developer: Microsoft Corporation
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
Screenshots:
# 4 Application Name: Dropbox
Developer: Dropbox, Inc.
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.4
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 2 GB.
In a free account, you can only connect up to 3 devices.
Screenshots:
# 5 Application Name: Amazon Drive
Developer: Amazon Mobile LLC
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.2
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Simple cloud storage with an English interface. Allows sharing file links.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
Screenshots:
# 6 Application Name: pCloud Free Cloud Storage
Developer: pCloud LTD
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
The traffic limit for free access is 50 GB per month, on paid tariffs - from 500 GB. You can purchase access for 99 years.
Sometimes when you enter a folder, it shows a blank screen instead of a list of files. In this case, it helps to click on the “+” (Add) button, and then cancel the action.
Screenshots:
# 7 Application Name: MEGA
Developer: Mega Ltd
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with encrypted file storage. If the key is lost, recovery is not possible.
Free volume as of 2019 is 15 GB. Due to various bonuses, an increase of up to 50 GB is possible, but it does not last forever.
There is a restriction on traffic, the value of which is not specified for a free account; for the cheapest paid tariff is 1 TB per month.
It is possible to share links to files.
Screenshots:
# 8 Application Name: MediaFire
Developer: MediaFire
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.1
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Simple cloud storage with English interface. There is no PC version.
Free volume as of 2019 is 10 GB.
Screenshots:
The topic of audio players for e-books turned out to be complex in terms of both hardware and software compatibility; and there were even problems with the color scheme and the presence of built-in animation in the application (animation in electronic books with their inertial screens will not be a decoration at all).
In terms of hardware compatibility for applications, you must either have a built-in audio channel, or the ability to connect wireless headphones via Bluetooth. Both one and the other are found in a relatively small number of e-book models; but if such models exist, then a review of such applications will be quite appropriate.
1. AIMP
2. Player by folder
3. Musicolet Music Player
4.mMusic Mini Audio Player
Next is a list of applications in a list order.
# 1 Application Name: AIMP
Developer: Artem Izmaylov
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: To listen to an audio file, you must open it from the player menu (create a playlist); Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
# 2 Application Name: Folder Player
Developer: Er @ ser Inc.
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 2.2
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: If the player started in a "dark" theme, it is better to immediately switch to "light" (button with "Sun").
Some elements will remain dark, but you can use it.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the player menu; Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
# 3 Application Name: mMusic Mini Audio Player
Developer: Stanislav Bokach
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: The player consists of 3 screens: the current composition, file manager and playlist. Swipe left / right to switch between screens.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the file manager of the player; Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
# 4 . Application Name: Musicolet Music Player
Developer: Krosbits
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.1
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Russian is not supported everywhere.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the menu of the audio player; opening from the file manager of the electronic book may not work.
Screenshots:
There are a lot of libraries on the Internet, including free ones.
But the libraries supporting the connection of OPDS directories in reading applications are few. And even then, many of them were blocked in the territory of the Russian Federation for posting illegal content.
What survived (6 directories were found) is presented below along with brief characteristics.
Just in case, let me remind you that when connecting directories in reading applications, you need to register the full path to them, and not just the site address.
1.http : //dimonvideo.ru/lib.xml
Comment:
Well-structured catalog, a large number of books; but mostly little-known authors.
2.http: //www.zone4iphone.ru/catalog.php
Comment:
A well-structured catalog, a large number of books, mainly "classical" and little-known authors.
3.http : //coollib.net/opds
Comment:
Catalog categories are too large, which can make searching difficult. A large number of books are available, including translated and in foreign languages. A lot of samizdat.
4.http : //fw.in/opds
Comment:
Mostly fantasy books. Structuring, as such, is absent - everything is stacked in one folder.
5. http://m.gutenberg.org/ebooks/?format=opds
Comment:
Basically, books in which copyright has passed into the “public domain”. There are very few books in Russian.
6.http: //fb.litlib.net
Comment:
Normal structuring, a large selection of books. A lot of samizdat.
Downloading books can "slow down", be patient.
Screenshot with all the libraries listed above connected in the OReader application:
So our big article in five parts about applications that can be installed on e-books running on Android OS has ended.
What conclusion can be drawn from the published list?
A modern “advanced” e-book for Android with a touch screen is not just a “reader”, but a multifunctional device; which, despite the existing technical limitations, is still capable of performing many more functions, in addition to reading texts.
Thank you all for your attention!
Bonus: a list of free libraries with OPDS catalogs .
Summary of the previous four parts of the article
In the first part , we examined in detail the reasons why it turned out to be necessary to conduct mass testing of applications for their suitability for installation on electronic books, as well as a list of tested Office applications .
In the second part of the article, the following two groups of applications were considered: Bookstores and Alternative applications for reading books .
In the 3rd part of the article, two more groups of applications are considered: Alternative dictionaries and Notes, diaries, planners
In the 4th part of the article, only one, but a large group of applications was considered: Games .
In the second part of the article, the following two groups of applications were considered: Bookstores and Alternative applications for reading books .
In the 3rd part of the article, two more groups of applications are considered: Alternative dictionaries and Notes, diaries, planners
In the 4th part of the article, only one, but a large group of applications was considered: Games .
Cloud storage has gained well-deserved popularity among users of both mobile devices and "real" computers.
They allow you to organize access to your data from various, and even heterogeneous devices; organize data sharing; and also to some extent “forget” about backing up the data contained therein. Unless the user himself inadvertently removes them (or an attacker who gained access to them; but this is a completely different story).
Many cloud storages also work successfully on e-books under the Android OS equipped with Wi-Fi wireless connection.
Nevertheless, in the process of testing cloud storage applications, we also experienced a light collective shock. It turned out that Google’s cloud storage application doesn’t want to be installed on e-books running on the operating system from Google itself! Storage from Microsoft - no problem, from Amazon and Yandex - no problem, but from Google - no way!
Now let's get down to business, i.e. directly to the materials of today's (5th) part of the article.
The following data is indicated in the application description:
- name (exactly as indicated on the Google Play store; even if it contains spelling or stylistic errors);
- developer (sometimes applications with the same name may be released by different developers);
- application purpose
- Required Android version
- Link to the finished APK installation file, verified at the MacCenter;
- a link to this application in the Google Play store (for a more detailed review of the application and reviews; you cannot download the APK file there);
- a link to download the installation file for the APK of the application from an alternative source (if any);
- A note indicating the possible features of the application;
- some screenshots of a running application.
The applications were tested on ONYX BOOX e-books with the operating system Android 4.4 and Android 6.0 (depending on the requirements of the game).
Cloud Storage
1. Yandex.Disk - unlimited for photos and videos
2. Cloud Mail.ru: Make room for new photos
3. Microsoft OneDrive
4. Dropbox
5. Amazon Drive
6. pCloud Free Cloud Storage
7. MEGA
8. MediaFire
# 1 Application name: Yandex.Disk - unlimited for photos and videos
Developer: Yandex
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
The free volume as of 2019 is 10 GB, but for “old” users of Yandex services there can be up to 25 GB.
Slower loading of office file formats has been noticed.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
# 2 Application Name: Cloud Mail.ru: Free up space for new photos
Developer: Mail.Ru Group
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
The free volume as of 2019 is 8 GB, but for “old” users of Mail.ru services there can be up to 25 GB.
When installing the application, it may require the inclusion or installation of Google services, but without them everything works.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |
# 3 Application Name: Microsoft OneDrive
Developer: Microsoft Corporation
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |
# 4 Application Name: Dropbox
Developer: Dropbox, Inc.
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.4
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 2 GB.
In a free account, you can only connect up to 3 devices.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
# 5 Application Name: Amazon Drive
Developer: Amazon Mobile LLC
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.2
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Simple cloud storage with an English interface. Allows sharing file links.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
# 6 Application Name: pCloud Free Cloud Storage
Developer: pCloud LTD
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with support for sharing and other functions.
Free volume as of 2019 is 5 GB.
The traffic limit for free access is 50 GB per month, on paid tariffs - from 500 GB. You can purchase access for 99 years.
Sometimes when you enter a folder, it shows a blank screen instead of a list of files. In this case, it helps to click on the “+” (Add) button, and then cancel the action.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
# 7 Application Name: MEGA
Developer: Mega Ltd
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 5.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Cloud storage with encrypted file storage. If the key is lost, recovery is not possible.
Free volume as of 2019 is 15 GB. Due to various bonuses, an increase of up to 50 GB is possible, but it does not last forever.
There is a restriction on traffic, the value of which is not specified for a free account; for the cheapest paid tariff is 1 TB per month.
It is possible to share links to files.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
# 8 Application Name: MediaFire
Developer: MediaFire
Purpose: Cloud storage for all types of files.
Required Android Version:> = 4.1
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Simple cloud storage with English interface. There is no PC version.
Free volume as of 2019 is 10 GB.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |
Players
The topic of audio players for e-books turned out to be complex in terms of both hardware and software compatibility; and there were even problems with the color scheme and the presence of built-in animation in the application (animation in electronic books with their inertial screens will not be a decoration at all).
In terms of hardware compatibility for applications, you must either have a built-in audio channel, or the ability to connect wireless headphones via Bluetooth. Both one and the other are found in a relatively small number of e-book models; but if such models exist, then a review of such applications will be quite appropriate.
1. AIMP
2. Player by folder
3. Musicolet Music Player
4.mMusic Mini Audio Player
Next is a list of applications in a list order.
# 1 Application Name: AIMP
Developer: Artem Izmaylov
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: To listen to an audio file, you must open it from the player menu (create a playlist); Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |
# 2 Application Name: Folder Player
Developer: Er @ ser Inc.
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 2.2
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: If the player started in a "dark" theme, it is better to immediately switch to "light" (button with "Sun").
Some elements will remain dark, but you can use it.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the player menu; Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
 |  |
# 3 Application Name: mMusic Mini Audio Player
Developer: Stanislav Bokach
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.0
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: The player consists of 3 screens: the current composition, file manager and playlist. Swipe left / right to switch between screens.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the file manager of the player; Opening an e-book from the file manager may not work.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |
# 4 . Application Name: Musicolet Music Player
Developer: Krosbits
Appointment: Audio player.
Required Android Version:> = 4.1
Link to the finished APK file
Link to the app on Google Play
Alternative APK Link
Note: Russian is not supported everywhere.
To listen to the audio file, you must open it from the menu of the audio player; opening from the file manager of the electronic book may not work.
Screenshots:
 |  |  |  |
List of Free Libraries with OPDS Catalogs
There are a lot of libraries on the Internet, including free ones.
But the libraries supporting the connection of OPDS directories in reading applications are few. And even then, many of them were blocked in the territory of the Russian Federation for posting illegal content.
What survived (6 directories were found) is presented below along with brief characteristics.
Just in case, let me remind you that when connecting directories in reading applications, you need to register the full path to them, and not just the site address.
1.http : //dimonvideo.ru/lib.xml
Comment:
Well-structured catalog, a large number of books; but mostly little-known authors.
2.http: //www.zone4iphone.ru/catalog.php
Comment:
A well-structured catalog, a large number of books, mainly "classical" and little-known authors.
3.http : //coollib.net/opds
Comment:
Catalog categories are too large, which can make searching difficult. A large number of books are available, including translated and in foreign languages. A lot of samizdat.
4.http : //fw.in/opds
Comment:
Mostly fantasy books. Structuring, as such, is absent - everything is stacked in one folder.
5. http://m.gutenberg.org/ebooks/?format=opds
Comment:
Basically, books in which copyright has passed into the “public domain”. There are very few books in Russian.
6.http: //fb.litlib.net
Comment:
Normal structuring, a large selection of books. A lot of samizdat.
Downloading books can "slow down", be patient.
Screenshot with all the libraries listed above connected in the OReader application:
So our big article in five parts about applications that can be installed on e-books running on Android OS has ended.
What conclusion can be drawn from the published list?
A modern “advanced” e-book for Android with a touch screen is not just a “reader”, but a multifunctional device; which, despite the existing technical limitations, is still capable of performing many more functions, in addition to reading texts.
Thank you all for your attention!
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