Readers' Apps

[Lily]

This is a general question, but feel free to name your favorite readers' apps.

What are the aspects of a reading app you enjoy? I don't just mean being able to read stuff. The ability to connect with the store you brought from? Or is that more of an annoyance than a benefit? Just an example.

All aspects of a readers' apps. Pros and cons. Benefits and pet peeves. Gimme your worsse and best.

[Chris]

Judging by the overwhelming response, methinks there's not a lot of folks using reading apps. Surely that's not true.

I, for one, haven't tried many. I use the Kindle app on my phone, but that's more from my laziness to look for and try something new. Maybe I'll pick up some new ideas if anyone replies.

[Lily]

Chris wrote: "Judging by the overwhelming response, methinks there's not a lot of folks using reading apps. Surely that's not true.

I, for one, haven't tried many. I use the Kindle app on my phone, but that's..."

Yeah, I'm surprised by the lack of response when I know for a fact we tons of members who are iPhonians. Maybe they're busy, I don't know.

For myself, I don't have a mobile device, I have a netbook, which somewhere between a laptop and a phone. I use Kindle for PC and Callibre, mobi and epub, respectively.

It's a bit of a pain. I have to go to websites, buy, then load either program and hunt for an ebook.

[G.G.]

Kindle for mobi and PDFs, iBook for ePubs.

While I use the kindle app more often because I mostly get my books from Amazon, if I get them from Smashwords or directly from the author, I choose ePub because iBook is so much better than kindle app. You can hiligh, write notes and email these notes if needed.

[Lily]

iBook, interesting, I hadn't considered that.

[Chris]

The idea of buying a book on a site, then having to go into the device and type/search/hunt around to upload it would be a major turn off for me.

I guess that's why I'm still using the Kindle app. I don't worry about highlighting or bookmarking or note taking or really do anything other than read. (Granted the Kindle app can do most of that, except for maybe notes. I've never tried.)

For me, it's just all about the convenience of buying on Amazon and having it show up on my phone.

[Mike]

Neither had I and I might check that out. The note facility on Kindle readers is not briliant.

For the moment I am going to stick with my very basic Kindle, as it's not backlit and is easy on the eyes. But there's a rumour we will see tablets and phones with screens that can toggle to an e-paper display. I'd feel a lot happier about reading on a tablet or phone then.

[Lily]

That's odd. I could easily create ebook using generic e-ink for all devices, I assumed it would show up regardless of the device.

Or, are e-paper and e-ink not the same thing?

[Mike]

I guess e-paper is when the screen isn't lit - it displays in a different way, and is much more like really reading paper.

[Lily]

Mike wrote: "I guess e-paper is when the screen isn't lit - it displays in a different way, and is much more like really reading paper."

I see. Well, no I don't lol I assume then it's completely dependent on the device. That's unfortunate.

[Mike]

The book itself is just a MOBI file like any other - but a basic Kindle's pretty much a one-trick pony, though in theory you could browse online (I wouldn't bother trying!). So if that type of display ever becomes available on a proper tablet, I'll be happy.

[Lily]

Mike wrote: "The book itself is just a MOBI file like any other - but a basic Kindle's pretty much a one-trick pony, though in theory you could browse online (I wouldn't bother trying!). So if that type of disp..."

Agreed.

[Jenn]

I have an iPhone but hate it and won't use any reading apps on it. Now my iPad is great. I have a kindle and a nook but on my iPad I use the kindle app, the nook app and iBooks app. So I can be reading one book on my kindle and then read a different book on my kindle app.