14 DAY TRIAL // Calibre developer Kovid Goyal has just announced today, May 20, 2016, a new version of his outstanding ebook library management software for all supported operating systems, including GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows.
Calibre 2.57 comes approximately one month after the release of Calibre 2.56, and we were a little worried about the fact that no new Calibre version was announced during all this time. Especially since we were used to getting weekly updates of the open-source and cross-platform software everyone is using to manage their ebooks.
But the wait was worth it, as Calibre 2.57 introduces some exciting new features, such as a new driver for the BQ Cervantes 3 ebook reader, allowing owners of this device to connect it to the Calibre ebook library manager and upload books to it. Also, it looks like the "Generate cover" feature has received a new "Ornamental" cover design.
Among other interesting features implemented in Calibre 2.57, we can mention the ability for users to improve the contrast in images by using the new "Normalize" image filter added to the Edit Book feature, along with the option to modify images to look like oil paintings, also through a new filter added to the Edit Book component.
ImageMagick dependency removed
To make Calibre much lighter when it is installed on one of the supported operating systems, the developer had to remove the ImageMagick dependency, a widely used media library to manage images. Other than that, a new keyboard shortcut (Alt+O) will allow Calibre users to access the "OK" button in the "Add from ISBN" dialog.
Download Calibre 2.57 for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems right now via our website, and don't hesitate to check out the appended changelog for details on the changes implemented in the new version, as several annoying bugs reported by users since Calibre 2.56 have been addressed.
Update: Calibre 2.57.1 has been released in the same day as a very small hotfix to version 2.57.0, patching a regression that didn't allow users to conver ODT (Open Document Format) files.