Will it be possible to use the Zotero app for Android without a Zotero account? I don't want to share my data with Zotero. I need to be able use it locally-only, or perhaps synced via something like Syncthing.
No, the Android app is based on the Zotero API (anything else would be a huge mess, in terms of database structure). You can't and won't be able to use it without a Zotero account.
dstillman First, I wanted to say I am enjoying/pleased with the Zotero 7 desktop. I am testing Android Beta to provide greater flexibility when I am not at home or want a different change of scenery - at home or outside and do not want to walk around with a laptop or for travel.
My beef is with the current Zotero Android Beta. In Zotero 7 (FIle 1- Zetoro 7, on the left side of the screen, I can see annotations, highlights, and notes, while on the right, I can see either the info, abstract, or, most importantly, handwritten notes. In the Android version (Android image), we do not have the option to see the info and abstract notes sections (most importantly, the notes section). Could the on-screen access options on the right side of the Zotero 7 GUI be available on the Android version ( most importantly, the notes)? It does not have to be on the same side, just a button on the left to allow the option of seeing what is on the right side of the Zotero 7 desktop.
dStillman: I assume the plans include adding an item pane to the readers. Are there plans to encourage the plugin developers to adapt their plugins to work on Android or iOS?
Nice work team! Is there any chance we can get it in the F-droid store or as a straight `.apk` download? Or any plans to get it there? Not all android devices are on the Google Play store is all.
Thank you for the development oft the mobile app, with that I am considering to switch entirely to Zotero.
A few requests to small for an own thread regarding the PDF reader: - Reader should not go back to first page when switching from horizontal to vertical mode and back - An option would be great to scroll by tabbing (as mupdf), as this eases scrolling - highlighting on Android 8 (huawei mediapad) always synchs with a notification box on the botton, moving the page around and making it difficult to do multiple annotations - the annotation bar should movable to the top as it overlaps some text when in "fit" mode
I'm so excited to try Zotero for Android! Is the early access program still limited to 1,000 users? Is there anyway to be added to the beta testing group?
I'd like to echo the above post, too. I don't want to be a complainer, but I've been watching this thread for almost a year trying to get in on the beta, haha. Zotero is fantastic and I'm really really really looking forward to the Android integration!
Same here! I understand that as the beta testing has been going on for a while and as the Android app is nearing completion opening up new beta testing slots is not feasible.
But I want to state for the record that I am very eagerly waiting for the release, because Zotero is so great :)
Could you guys please release the android version for everyone. Or make an apk image available. Its a testament to the amazing work that you all have done on this that my life is incomplete without Zotero on all my devices. Thanks again!
As written in the opening message of this thread, access to the beta is limited on purpose because the developers cannot support too many users at the moment. The Android app will be available for everyone (probably as an apk as well) when the developers consider that it is ready for that.
The Zotero team generally doesn't communicate on time estimates.
Could you please advise if the opening message is the same as it has been posted (almost a year ago), or it gets updated as the progress happens? I appreciate it is difficult to estimate the ETA of the public release, but maybe there exists an online dashboard of some sorts to track things happening?
When new slots are opened for the beta, the developers write a post in this thread so that's what you should follow. This is the only source of information until the app is officially released (whenever that happens).
The last update of the android app has been some 6 weeks ago with some minor fixes (with previously much quicker updates and major fixes). Also, the reports and discussions here on the forum have slowed down. So I would assume we are quite close to release. But then again, as aborel says, the devs do not comment.
My suggestion is to improve the effectiveness of handwritten notes, because the handwirtten effect of the andriod Zotero app is unsatisfactory. For a brief way to get that effect, you can provide a third-party software interface so that the handwirtten work could be done by the third-party software.
Using Zotero’s own storage is currently the only way to keep your Zotero library between desktop and tablets, I have 2GB plan but my archive went beyond that and honestly I do not feel like spending $60/year for 6GB. Now, for desktop devices one can easily use Google Drive or Onedrive to handle pdf attachments by simply creating a symbolic link to ~/Zotero/storage, my question is: why not introducing this option (using external storage) for the tablet version as well?
Using Zotero’s own storage is currently the only way to keep your Zotero library between desktop and tablets
That's incorrect. The mobile apps support WebDAV file syncing as well.
for desktop devices one can easily use Google Drive or Onedrive to handle pdf attachments by simply creating a symbolic link to ~/Zotero/storage, my question is: why not introducing this option (using external storage) for the tablet version as well?
The desktop data directory has absolutely nothing in common with the mobile apps' internal file structures. The apps all have totally different architectures.
I think the annotations toolbar should be visible horizontally as well, either at the top or the bottom of the screen. Currently, it is only vertical, which limits the use of the whole screen for reading. When the toolbar is horizontal, you only lose one line of text, but you can zoom in to read at the desired size. Additionally, it would be great if we could have this toolbar 50% transparent.
Upgrade Storage
First, I wanted to say I am enjoying/pleased with the Zotero 7 desktop. I am testing Android Beta to provide greater flexibility when I am not at home or want a different change of scenery - at home or outside and do not want to walk around with a laptop or for travel.
My beef is with the current Zotero Android Beta. In Zotero 7 (FIle 1- Zetoro 7, on the left side of the screen, I can see annotations, highlights, and notes, while on the right, I can see either the info, abstract, or, most importantly, handwritten notes. In the Android version (Android image), we do not have the option to see the info and abstract notes sections (most importantly, the notes section). Could the on-screen access options on the right side of the Zotero 7 GUI be available on the Android version ( most importantly, the notes)? It does not have to be on the same side, just a button on the
left to allow the option of seeing what is on the right side of the Zotero 7 desktop.
Zotero 7 Screenshot - Desktop
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u13614989/1wrgp3sm792574a31n5q.jpg
Android Beta Screenshot -
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u13614989/8clm2chy17o6k1yof06r.jpg
Is there any chance we can get it in the F-droid store or as a straight `.apk` download? Or any plans to get it there?
Not all android devices are on the Google Play store is all.
A few requests to small for an own thread regarding the PDF reader:
- Reader should not go back to first page when switching from horizontal to vertical mode and back
- An option would be great to scroll by tabbing (as mupdf), as this eases scrolling
- highlighting on Android 8 (huawei mediapad) always synchs with a notification box on the botton, moving the page around and making it difficult to do multiple annotations
- the annotation bar should movable to the top as it overlaps some text when in "fit" mode
Many thanks!
But I want to state for the record that I am very eagerly waiting for the release, because Zotero is so great :)
The Zotero team generally doesn't communicate on time estimates.
I think the annotations toolbar should be visible horizontally as well, either at the top or the bottom of the screen. Currently, it is only vertical, which limits the use of the whole screen for reading. When the toolbar is horizontal, you only lose one line of text, but you can zoom in to read at the desired size.
Additionally, it would be great if we could have this toolbar 50% transparent.
Best Regards,
- Support for underline and text annotations
- PDF search
- Reader mode for PDFs
- “Download Attachments” and “Remove Downloads” options in All Items and collection context menus
- Device sleep prevention in reader
- Bug fixes
We've also opened up many more testing slots.As always, please start new threads to report any problems.