What devices are we talking about?
>> Enable Whispersync for Kindle Books Easily pick up where you left off in Kindle books. Access notes and highlights regardless of which device you're using -- source
I use FBreader on android/chrome and it syncs books, notes/quotes (which it calls bookmarks) and positions across devices via Google Drive.
You can use the Amazon Kindle Windows app. Our you can use the free FBReader:
If the book is in Mobi or ePub format and you need it in a different format, try this program: http://calibre-ebook.com/
I had a friend with an old Microsoft eBook reader that only used the LIT format and Calibre converted Kindle books into LIT format or PDF or anything else.
I use FBreader (with great satisfaction) to read e-books on a ten year old LG tablet running Android 4.4.2. According to the FBreader website, this e-book reader is compatible with Android even starting from version 1.5, with updates starting from version 4.1 and higher.
FBreader can read ePub, kindle (mobipocket) fb2, rtf, html, microsoft doc, rtf, plain text (and also PDF with a plugin) formats. I use it with ePub books and it's fine.
This is an example, but I guess there are also several other e-book readers that can be installed on an Android 5.1. I chose FBreader because I prefer it.
So I would say that you can certainly use your tablet to read books.
I use Voice Dream Reader (iOS) and Legere Reader (Android) [both with Sharon voice and both apps not free] for epub reading. I've loved it; the tech has gotten really good.
Saving your post to check out:
FBReader (Favorite Book Reader) https://fbreader.org/
'@Voice Aloud Reader'
Book Reader on FDroid is good - a light stripped down reader based on FBreader (which is also good).
I also have a Sony ebook reader that is only managed by Calibre (wifi is off). Works perfectly.
There is an app for Linux apparently, although I haven't tried it yet. Not sure which distro you use, but they have a deb package for it here. If you happen to use Manjaro or Arch, like me, it's also available on the Arch User Respository. I'm actually going to check it out now. Hoping it will sync between Android and Linux!
I'm not sure I understand the question. I said I'd prefer a reader app, that I don't need a new one because one already works for me, then you ask me if I know what an ebook reader is?
I've used a number of ebook readers, my favorite being FBReader. Many of the ebook reader apps have catalog support, the most popular of is OPDS.
Once you link your reader app to a catalog, then you can search that catalog from within the app, browse it by author/title/tags, etc, and sync any books down to your app.
One exception is the Kindle App and their physical readers, as they only talk to Amazon's catalog. For those, you have to download the book in a proper format and copy it over, or have that proper format emailed to a kindle specific address to get added to your Kindle library.
Can you download any public domain eBooks? Try Gutenberg Australia, they have classics such as The Great Gatsby for download. If it's an Android phone, I recommend FBReader for EPUB books.
FBReader allows you to make notes (or bookmarks). These are editable and saved and synced across Android versions. The Mac FBReader app is in beta and does not yet sync the bookmarks (although the option is already placed in the Preferences) and they state that bookmarks syncing will be coming soon... https://fbreader.org/macos I don't know anything about the Windows version. So if you are on Windows, you may wait for another redditor to chime in (but see below)
If you want to use the most complete version, you can always run the Android app in an emulator (on the Mac, you can use Bluestacks or Nox) and these will enable bookmarks and they will sync on both BOOX and your Mac/PC.
Define "open and goes the distance"
I have several low end budget tablets whose function it to be eBook viewers. They have 7" color screens with adequate resolutian for book viewing, and have external microSD card for content storage.
I view books using the open source FBReader for Android (https://fbreader.org/android) program as viewer software. It gets the nod because it's multi-format. It views ePub, Mobi, FB2 and several other formats native, and handles PDF, DjVu, and CBR/CBZ files via plugins. While I prefer ePub and convert to it if possible, I mostly don't have to care what format an eBook is in, and don't have to maintain multiple programs to read the different formats.
FBReader doesn't handle titles with DRM, but I don't get stuff encumbered with DRM and don't care.
I specifically passed on devices with eInk screens be cause too much of what I view requires color support and eInk is monochrome.
If your phone is a smartphone consider FBReader instead of a kindle. It can read ebook files and has far more options than the kindle app. I use it for loads of guttenberg and out of copyright files.
Outside of Calibre and the Chrome extension, Lucidor and FBReader might work for you. There are options available, just use the one you like best.
I'm actually a fan of FBReader on Android. MoonReader looks great, but I opted for open source.
I've been waiting for the iOS version to drop. Supposed to come by the end of the summer... still hoping it will drop any day it'll probably be right up your alley.
This syncing of Amazon only works when you use their apps which use Amazon servers as backup and synchronizing space. So what do you want to do?
Using kindle software and use your own server instead of Amazon? I don't use kindle.. the software will probably save bookmarks in a specific folder. You would need a script that would be syncinc this folder between the device and your server.
Using any kind of software... there is a OpenSource eBook reader called FBreader which can synchronize bookmarks and reading positions between different devices see here
But... this syncing software relis on Google yet. Other cloud storages will be added soon. You could help developing it and add an option to use a custom storage. That is the nearest solution I know of
i have no clue how you got kindle to open a PDF but this may help:
Calibre e-book management will convert formats for you and can be used as a reader (pdf to anything is harder than mobi to epub)
FB Reader is super awesome for any book reading. there are so many options you can always set your settings just right.
if you want to use adobe to read your books then check out how to adjust your read settings here
if you have any other questions just ask. :)
I have used fbreader as my primary ebook reader (in Android, MeeGo and now SailfishOS, various phones and tablets) for a few years. It works great. There are also versions for desktop OSes, but I tend to read in Calibre instead there (also free software). Fbreader is GPL and supports "ePub, fb2, mobi, rtf, html, plain text, and a lot of other formats".