Feb 6 2011

Best Mobile Reading Apps

By Jane • Dear Jane • • Tags: , , , ,

Last week I gave a round up of the reading apps for desktop systems but many of the readers use mobile devices to read and with the upcoming sale of the iPhone for Verizon and the numerous Android smartphones and tablets that are either for sale or hitting the market, mobile apps are becoming increasingly popular. I have the most familiarity with iThing apps but we have had a great couple of summaries about Android reading apps as well.

IThing apps (iPhone/iTouch/iPad, OS4+)

  • Bluefire.   This is the app you will want to use if you download ebooks from your library.   It is the one app (other than Txtr which I don’t recommend) that supports encrypted ePubs and PDFs purchased nearly everywhere, including BN as well as non encrypted epubs sideloaded or downloaded and opened via the web or email. It is buggy with jailbroken iPhones.
  • Borders . The Borders app is basically an earlier generation version of the Kobo app (Borders apps are done by Kobo), it works, but has even fewer features than Kobo.   Read only encrypted epubs purchased through Borders.   There is no way to add your own content to this app.
  • Books a Million.   I have not personally tested this app.   It purportedly works with encrypted epub books using Adobe DRM encryption and you can sideload encrypted ePubs from library or purchased from others retailers as well as unencrypted ePubs.
  • Google.   At this time, you can read encrypted epubs purchased only at Google eBooks.   No sideloading allowed at this time.
  • iBooks. Encrypted epubs and PDFS purchased from the iBookstore and non encrypted epubs and PDFs sideloaded or via email.
  • Kindle Encrypted Kindle (azw and tpz) formats purchased from Kindle store as well as non encrypted mobi sideloaded or downloaded and opened via the web or email.
  • Overdrive.   Overdrive has recently updated their app to allow folks to read DRM'd ePub's from Overdrive sources, including Public Libraries.   Another feature of this app is to download MP3 audiobook titles from the public library.   You access the library from within the App itself, which is pretty neat.   This is optimized for iPhone/iThing only. iPad version would be fine for the audiobooks but not for reading.
  • nook.   DRM’ed ebooks purchased from the BN ebookstore.   No personal content via sideloading is allowed at this time.
  • Stanza.   Supports encrypted epubs, ereader, PDF format. Can annotate and share thoughts via email, facebook, twitter.
  • Goodreader Non encrypted PDF. Can annotate and add books via the web.

There are others but I think these are the best of the bunch. PDFs look great on the iPad and not so great on the smaller devices. I, personally, use Kinde, Stanza and Goodreader.   Here are some other links and tutorials that may   be of help:

Android

  • Aldiko. This is one of the first reading apps to come out for Android and it shows in its refinement. Aldiko 2 is out and adds support for DRM'd ePubs and PDF's and also library books.
  • Borders. The Borders app is basically an earlier generation version of the Kobo app (Borders apps are done by Kobo), it works, but has even fewer features than Kobo.   Read only encrypted epubs purchased through Borders.   There is no way to add your own content to this app.
  • Google. Read encrypted epubs purchased only at Google eBooks.   No sideloading allowed at this time.
  • Kindle. Encrypted Kindle books purchased from Amazon and DRM Free Mobipocket files (.prc/.mobi) can be sideloaded into this app by adding them to your devices Kindle folder, they will then show up on your home screen.
  • Kobo.   Encrypted epubs purchased around the ‘net including at the Kobo store but NOT BN ebooks.   DRM Free ePub files can be added to this app by using the "Import' menu option, the app will search your device (it will also find any DRM'd ePub's) and there are checkboxes to select what books to add.)
  • Overdrive.   Overdrive has recently updated their app to allow folks to read DRM'd ePub's from Overdrive sources, including Public Libraries.   Another feature of this app is to download MP3 audiobook titles from the public library (and I'd suppose OD retailers), it would be even better if it also allowed for WMA audiobooks which a lot of popular titles are.
  • Nook Encrypted epubs purchased around the ‘net including at the nook store.     DRM Free ePub files can be sideloaded into this app by adding them to your devices Nook/MyDocuments folder.   They will then show up under My Documents on the main screen.   The titles Brian sideloaded did not display their covers.
  • Sony.   This is a fairly new app

For a more indepth look at the Android apps, you can read this wonderful piece by Brian.

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By • Dear Jane • 19 • Tags: , , , ,