You may be thinking about investing in a new eReader, especially if your Kindle is one of the older models that are no longer supported by Amazon. Before you spend money on a new device, it’s worth considering installing KOReader on your old Kindle. I put KOReader on my jailbroken Kindle 4, and it can do a lot that even a new Kindle can’t do.
Native support for more formats
KOReader can open EPUB natively
One of the biggest benefits of using KOReader on your Kindle is that it has native support for far more file formats than the stock Amazon software. A new Kindle only has native support for AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, and PRC.
In comparison, KOReader can open PDF, EPUB, DJVU, MOBI, CBZ, CBT, DOCX, RTF, HTML, TXT, XPS, FB2, PDB, CHM, and MD files. This means you can use KOReader to read comic book formats and EPUB files, which is one of the most popular eBook formats. While you can use EPUB files with a Kindle, they need to be converted first, using Send to Kindle or software such as Calibre.
- Storage
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16GB
- Screen Size
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6-inches
Even in the budget department, the Amazon Kindle is a stellar value, from its light and compact design, to its adjustable front light and 6-inch display.
PDF Reflow makes PDFs work on a small screen
Turn your PDF into a book
While a Kindle can open PDF files, if you’ve ever tried to read a complex PDF on a Kindle, you’ll know how horrific the experience is. In full-screen, the text is often too small to read, so you end up having to zoom in on a section at a time, and then scroll the screen around to try to follow the text.
KOReader makes life so much easier. There is a host of tools that make viewing PDFs easier, such as an option to display one column at a time. The most useful tool is PDF Reflow.
This feature reflows supported PDF files to make them easier to read on a small screen, adjusting the layout so the content better fits the width of your display. It won’t work perfectly with every PDF, especially complex layouts, but it can make many documents feel much more like reading a regular eBook.
Typography control that leaves Kindle in the shade
Change everything about how your text looks
If you don’t like the default text used on your Kindle, you have the option to change things such as the font family, font size, boldness, margins, alignment, and spacing.
KOReader gives you even more control. You can change things including text contrast, kerning, word expansion, font hinting, separate top and bottom margins, image scaling, and more. KOReader also allows many reading settings to be stored on a per-book basis, so tweaks you make for one book don’t have to affect the rest of your library.
Wireless library access via OPDS and Calibre
No more emailing files to your Kindle
If you’re using a standard Kindle, you can add books to your Kindle wirelessly in a number of ways. You can purchase and download books from the Kindle Store, provided your Kindle is still supported, and you can use the Send to Kindle web interface or a dedicated Send to Kindle email address to send books to your Kindle.
With KOReader, you can use the Open Publication Distribution System (OPDS) to transfer books to your device. An OPDS catalog lets KOReader browse a library of eBooks over the network. You can open the catalog, see the list of books, and download the one you want to read.
You can run a Calibre server on your local network to host your entire eBook collection, and KOReader can access the entire catalog using OPDS. You can then download any book from your library to your Kindle, without having to send the files through Amazon’s servers.
The reading stats that actually matter
See more of your reading history
It’s always nice to know how much of your current book you have left and how long it will take to finish. Your Kindle can display useful stats such as percentage read, time left in chapter, and time left in book.
KOReader gives you even more options. There’s an on-device reading statistics dashboard so you can see key information in one location. There’s also a calendar view that can show you your reading activity by date, and you can view stats for specific time periods.
Custom screensavers
You’re not limited to book covers
E-Ink displays can show images for a long time using very little battery. The problem is that Kindle’s screensavers are fairly limited by default. Depending on your device and whether it has ads, you’re usually stuck with Kindle’s pre-installed images, sponsored lock-screen content, or the book cover art for your current book.
With KOReader, you can use your own images as screensavers as long as they’re in JPG or PNG format. This means that when your Kindle isn’t in use, it can act as an E-Ink photo frame.
You’re not contributing to e-waste
Your old Kindle still has plenty of life
Perhaps the best reason to use KOReader on your old Kindle is that it means that you don’t need to buy a new one. I’m using KOReader on my Kindle 4, which is more than a decade old, and I don’t see any reason to upgrade any time soon; KOReader has more features and options than the stock Kindle ever did.
It also means I don’t throw away a perfectly usable device. In a disposable world, it’s good to be able to use a device until it finally breaks beyond repair.
If you’re thinking about a new Kindle, consider KOReader first
If your Kindle is no longer supported, you may feel like buying a new one is the only option. If your Kindle model can be jailbroken, installing KOReader is a genuine alternative and may give you an even better experience than a new Kindle can offer.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
