I read more than just books on my E Ink tablet with this clever workaround

File formats, integrations, and other things to consider

Make sure you know what your device actually supports

One of the most important things to consider when you're trying to read with your E Ink tablet is what file types your device can actually open and read. You're not going to read something your tablet can't open and if you haven't purchased an E Ink device yet, you shouldn't invest in one that can work with the file formats you use most. If you looked into this information before you bought your tablet, you might already know what your device can do. If not, here's what file formats the most popular devices support:

• reMarkable: PDF, EPUB, SVG (exporting only)
• Supernote: PDF, EPUB, DOC / DOCX, TXT, PNG, JPG, WEBP, CBZ, FB2, XPS, MOBI (through Kindle app)
• Kindle: AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOC / DOCX, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, AAX (Audible Audiobooks)
• Kobo: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePUB, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR, DRM-protect MP3 (Kobo Audiobooks)

It's also worth considering any official integration your device might offer. Devices like the or Kobo Libra Colour used to offer integration with the Mozilla-run read-it-later service Pocket, and now offer a similar integration with Instapaper. Using the service on a Kobo device is as simple as linking your Instapaper account. Once it's set up, articles and webpages you save with the Instapaper extension or mobile app will automatically appear on your Kobo with E Ink-friendly formatting.

Supernote, reMarkable and Kindle don't offer equally straightforward integrations, but Instapaper does have a way to periodically send collections of articles to your Kindle via its dedicated email address. Supernote tablets like the Manta and Nomad allow for sideloading Android apps, which could let you create a similar experience to what you'd get on a Kobo just by manually adding a read-it-later app like Readwise Reader or Instapaper. Supernote users maintain a list of Android apps that work best on the company's devices that's worth perusing if you want to go that route. For everyone else, there are a couple of different official ways to get files on your device.

How to get articles and files on your reMarkable

Your best options are a browser extension or a companion app

For the simplest way to get an article or file on your device, the best way is going to be to use existing companion apps or extensions created by your device maker. In the case of reMarkable, that's the reMarkable app for macOS, Windows, Android, or iOS, and the Read on reMarkable extension for Chrome and Chromium browsers.

You can download the reMarkable app from the App Store, Play Store, or directly from reMarkable's website if you need a version of the app for desktop operating systems. Once you've downloaded the app, you'll need to connect it to the reMarkable account you made when you first set up your device.

For example, for macOS and Windows:

1. Login to your account on my.remarkable.com in your web browser of choice.
2. Click on Devices and apps in the sidebar menu.
3. Click on Desktop app and then Download, if you haven't already downloaded it.
4. Open the app and click Log in.
5. Copy the verification code the app pulls up in your browser into the app and click Pair the app.

Your app should now be in sync with your device and able to move files back and forth. The process is similar for the mobile reMarkable app, and you can do it all on your phone if you know your my.remarkable.com username and password. Once you're connected, adding an EPUB or PDF is as simple as dragging it into the app or sharing the file with the mobile reMarkable app from your phone or tablet.

That works fine for files and documents you already have access to, but if you want to send articles directly from your browser to your reMarkable tablet, you'll want to install the Chrome extension. The Read on reMarkable extension is available in the Chrome Web Store and has to be connected to your account in the same way the apps are. From the Chrome Web Store:

1. Click on Add to Chrome.
2. Read through the Terms and Conditions and click on Accept.
3. Click Get one-time code.
4. Log in to my.remarkable.com if you're not already logged in.
5. Copy the code, go back to your previous tab and paste it in.
6. Click Connect.

The extension should now be installed in your browser. Now, anytime you want to save an article or webpage you just have to click the "rM" icon in the top-right corner of your browser's menu bar, whatever webpage you're looking at will be sent as an adjustable text file (an EPUB, specifically) that you can read on your device.

You can customize things further if you opt to send webpages as PDFs. If you right-click on the extension and click on Read on reMarkable as PDF, you can make adjustments in your browser's Print Menu and even expand the margins on the page to get more room to take notes. It's not as elegant as reMarkable's other software features, but it works well enough if the content of what you're reading is what matters most to you.

How to get articles and files on your Supernote

The company's companion apps are your best option if you don't want to sideload anything

Supernote offers a similar setup for getting files onto its tablets as reMarkable does. You can use the free Supernote Partner app to sync files and organize what you have stored on your device. The Supernote Partner app is available to download directly from Supernote if you're running it on macOS and Windows, or from the App Store and Play Store if you want to use it on a phone or tablet.

To get it set up on mobile devices once you have the app downloaded:

1. Open the Supernote Partner app.
2. Tap on the profile picture icon in the top-right corner.
3. Tap on your avatar or profile picture.
4. Enter the mobile phone number or email associated with your Supernote account and then your password.
5. Check the boxes to agree to the User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
6. Tap Log in.

The app should now be synced up with your Supernote Manta or Nomad, and any file you add to the Supernote Partner app will appear on your device. On mobile devices, you can also share files to the Supernote Partner app directly from your phone or tablets share menu.

This setup works well if the things you want to read or view are already handy as files, but for converting webpages, you'll have to save them as PDFs first before you transfer them over. It's not nearly as convenient as some of the other devices featured in this article, which is why sideloading a reading app onto your Supernote, or using the Kindle app that's already installed might be a better option.

How to get articles and files on your Kindle

Amazon's made browser extensions and apps that you can use to move things around.

Beyond the previously mentioned Instapaper option, Amazon maintains multiple ways to get content on your Kindle beyond downloading them directly from the Kindle Store. The most direct is called Send to Kindle, but you can also use the Kindle app to ferry your content where it needs to go. Amazon makes versions for macOS, Windows, Android, and the Chrome browser, and each uses a slightly different method to get things onto your Kindle.

The Chrome extension is pretty self-explanatory. Once you've downloaded it from the Chrome Web Store, you'll have to log in with your Amazon account to enable it to send articles and webpages to your devices. With the extension connected, just clicking on the Kindle icon in your top-right browser menu will send it to all of your devices. You can also right-click on the extension to specify if you want to send it to all the Kindles attached to your account or a specific device.

The mobile apps can serve a similar function via the Android or iOS share menus. Once they're installed via the Play Store or App Store and logged in, you can share to the Kindle app from your tablet or phone's share menu to add a webpage or article to your device.

The process for adding the files with the desktop operating systems varies depending on whether you're using the Windows or macOS apps. For Windows, for example, you'll want to download the app directly from Amazon, then:

1. Double-click the executable to install it.
2. Log in to your Amazon account.
3. To send a file, right-click on it, select Send to, and then click on Send to Kindle. Alternatively, you can open the Send to Kindle Windows app and drag the file in manually.

On macOS, things are a bit different. The recommended option is downloading the Kindle app rather than a dedicated file transfer app. Once you download it and log in:

1. Click on System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, click on General.
3. Then, click on Login Items & Extensions and then scroll down to Extensions.
4. Click on the "i" next to Kindle and toggle on the Send to Kindle sharing extension.

Now, any time you right-click on a file on your computer or access the macOS share menu from any app, you can send it directly to your Kindle.

If you've got that E Ink screen you might as well use it

These screens work just as well for reading as they do for writing

E Ink tablets are slowly growing in popularity as people come around to the idea of a dedicated device without the distractions of bright screens or dozens of apps vying for your attention. Not all E Ink tablets are created equally, but all of them work best when they've been set up to fit your workflow. Sending things to read on them seems like a great use case.

If you're curious about purchasing an E Ink tablet of your own, you should read through Pocket-lint's recent coverage of the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft for a taste of a top-of-the-line reading and writing experience. Or read through a review of the Boox Tab X C, an E Ink tablet that runs Android to give you access to almost all the apps you need to read and get work done.