Recommendations for E-Readers that Will Work with Faithlife Books?

I'm considering a move to another e-reader rather than my Amazon Kindle to provide greater flexibility in e-formats and merchants from which I can purchase e-books. What recommendations would you offer? I realize I could go with a tablet, but I'd rather have the increased readability of an e-reader if possible.

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JT (alabama24)

There are some Android “eInk“ tablet devices which are essentiallay a tablet with an eInk screen. In terms of Logos, you could run the mobile apps. However: these are typically spendy and possibly quick to go out of date.

If you do not buy one of those, there are no advantages (Logos wise) to switch from your kindle. I believe the paperwhite is the sweet spot. While you can’t use the mobile apps or have logos notes/highlights, you can manually send Logos resources to your Kindle. It will be no easier on a non-kindle eInk reader.

Joe McCune (Faithlife)

you can manually send Logos resources to your Kindle

If you are referring to the Send to Kindle Feature, that was retired some time ago.

Jan Krohn

I disagree. E-reader devices used to run on outdated Android 4.x or lower, and were crazy expensive in the past. However, the situation changed radically end of last year, when many new devices were released in a lower price range starting from about $200, and running on up to date Android versions. Many newly released devices now run Android 8.x.

FL seems to support Android versions for about four years after initial release, so that the Logos app should be supported on Android 8.x until around the end of 2021. However, end of support doesn't mean the app stops working. It will just not receive new updates and features, and some resources that are released after the end of support can't be downloaded. I kept using my Android 2.3 reader until FL finally killed it through the TLS update last year (5 years after the official end of support).

I bought the Likebook Mars about a year ago, and paid $230 for it. It runs Android 6.0, so I expect FL to drop support by middle of next year, if not earlier. The device has more processing power and better hardware specs than a similarly priced Kindle, but looks "cheaper" on the outside. I was able to install many of the apps of the various ebook vendors, including Kindle, Google Books and Nook. Kindle even has an e-ink optimized app. The only app that doesn't work is Kobo. Books from the various free portals (Bookfi, Gutenberg, archive.org) can all be opened on the preinstalled reading app. I was surprised to find that Kindle usually is on the more expensive side when comparing prices for individual ebooks. They do have the biggest selection though.

The native Logos app does have a couple of advantages compared to the "export to Kindle" function. The most significant one is the cross-referencing of Scripture and other works (especially church fathers). Exported books don't have active hyperlinks. The other advantage is the availability of audio books and audio versions of courses. I also tried to run course videos, which doesn't work properly.

Right now I would no longer recommend the Likebook Mars because of the impending end of support for Android 6.0, but Likebook has other models with newer Android versions.

Jan Krohn

If you are referring to the Send to Kindle Feature, that was retired some time ago.

I suspect he was referring to the "print/export" function on the desktop Logos application, and manually sending the files to Kindle.

JT (alabama24)

If you are referring to the Send to Kindle Feature, that was retired some time ago.

...that would be automatically sending to Kindle, not manually. [:)]

JT (alabama24)

the situation changed radically end of last year, when many new devices were released in a lower price range starting from about $200

I haven't seen these. Do you have any links to US stores?

Jan Krohn

I haven't seen these. Do you have any links to US stores?

Ironically, Amazon... [:S]

https://www.amazon.com/Likebook-Reader-7-8300ppi-Touchscreen-Audible/dp/B07H4GF6HD

Edit: this thread might have more store links. https://community.logos.com/forums/t/168597.aspx

Beloved Amodeo

Many newly released devices now run Android 8.x.

Jan,

What I haven't seen is e-ink devices that run anything other than Android 6.0. Have you? Oh, and like JT I am interested in the US market.

Jan Krohn

What I haven't seen is e-ink devices that run anything other than Android 6.0. Have you? Oh, and like JT I am interested in the US market.

I had some news articles in my Google feed lately, but only glanced at them. Here's what I'm able to find now:

Likebook Alita will get Android 8.0 next month. Price tag is a bit hefty. https://goodereader.com/blog/product/boyue-likebook-alita

Jan Krohn

Found an official statement from Likebook. The Likebook Mars is also supposed to get Android 8.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3860011&postcount=18