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ReadKinetic: Free Local-First Speed Reader for Your Books

Hacker News •
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Show HN: ReadKinetic is a free, local-first speed reader designed for your own books. It lets you import PDFs, ePubs, and other formats and adjust reading speed on the fly, keeping all data on your device for privacy.

The app uses a simpleassaq‑based interface, with a built‑in progress tracker and optional word‑frequency highlighting. You can tweak the display to suit your eye, set daily reading goals, and export stats without leaving the app.

Users appreciate that ReadKinetic is lightweight and offline‑first, which means it works even on low‑end hardware or with limited connectivity. The built‑in import wizard supports drag‑and‑drop and command‑line shortcuts, making it easy to add new titles to your library.

The Hacker News discussion highlights a few tweaks: adding support for EPUB metadata, improving the sync of reading positions, and exploring a potential open‑source release. With 13 points and 4 comments, the community is eager to see it grow into a robust reading companion.