In Kaldus, there are two types of eBook devices. The first is the reader. As the name implies, it will allow you to read eBooks offered by a number of sources. An eBook tablet will allow you to write on supported formats, and the ability to create your own content with a stylus. The content can remain in displaying your handwritten notes, or converted into text if the PC can read your handwriting. All eBook devices must have the following requirements. This will apply for either readers, or tablets. The requirements are:
- Access to the Kaldan National Library
- Bluetooth support for listening
- micro-SDXC card slot for content
- Support for an klib.ka email address
- Wifi-5 Support
- Support for the major formats including
- epub
- klib (edit and read)
- Unprotected .mobi
- mp3 audio
- txt
- USB-C for charging and synching
Access to National Library
The Kaldan National Library can be visited for hard bound books, but they will also support a massive digital library that will be available to the user of a ebook device. This will allow the user to not ever have to visit the library to borrow physical books. The National Library will intend on purchasing the number of eBooks that they have in physical book capacity. The eBook reader will recognize that this is a borrowed book, and will relinquish the book at the appropriate time.
Bluetooth Support
Bluetooth support will allow the user to not only enjoy reading their ebooks, but they can choose to listen to audio books, and music files as well. All audio content must be in the .mp3 format to not have to worry about licensing rights by using a proprietary audio format.
Micro-SDXC card slot
The ebook device is not much of a device if it can’t download and store ebooks. This is where the micro-SD card slot comes in. The 1GB mentioned above is exclusively for the device’s OS. The owner will need to acquire a micro-SD card for their device. It will take about 1,000 books to equal 1GB. Considering that the smallest I seen micro-SD cards as is 32GB, this will be more than sufficient to meet the needs of the owner. The excess capacity can be used for .mp3 files that they will be able to listen to when using earphones.
Support for the klib.ka email address
All ebook devices supporting the .klib file must also support the klib.ka email address. Each supported device will have a unique 20 digit number. This will be the UID of the klib.ka address. This allows the author to be properly compensated for their work. If the device is no longer functional, then the device must be marked as expired. This will disable the 20 digit number, and allow the owner of the books to move the .klib files to another device. More information can be found on another page.
Synching support
Wifi is required for connection the device to the LAN. With that said, it is easy to send someone an ebook by sending it to their ebook address. However, one could also use the wifi access to trade files between devices, and offer a quick and efficient means of moving files. Wifi can also transfer handwritten notes to the computer for easier processing. The user can also connect the device to a computer with the K-Library app installed on their device. USB-C is used for synching, and charging.
Media Support
The ebook device is intended to provide for a number of formats for reading. These formats will be the standard for ebooks, and other document files. There will also be support for .mp3 files since a micro-SD card can store so many books before even getting 10% full. By using the device to also listen to music, then device becomes more functional, and more used by the owner.
.klib files will be the standard for Kaldus. There will be a program that would allow an author to convert their .epub, or .odt files to .klib files. The .klib file will be what is issued to educational systems, and the preferred format for the Kaldan National Library. .klib files can be written on with a tablet, and stylus. .klib files can have borrowing limits. For example, I can allow someone to borrow my .klib ebook for 2 weeks. For those 2 weeks, I can’t access that book until the person I lent the book to releases it, or the 2 weeks had expired. Once the expiration date has arrived, the .klib file will be marked as relinquished. If I wrote any notes in the .klib file, then the person I lent the ebook to will see those notes.
The program that can convert text documents to .klib will be free, and available on Kal-OS, Linux, MacOS, and Windows. By supporting all of the major OSes, it would incentivize the author to create in .klib files, and those can be sent to anyone with a supported device. As mentioned above, support for the klib.ka email address will allow the author to just send the file to UID@klib.ka.