While I remain sceptical until I see it in my own hands, others have already asked the question if the iPhone could also serve as an e-book reader:

What's significant about iTunes and pdfs is that you're talking about a general-purpose content distribution network with a device that gets its volume from markets like music, photos, and video, that are well ahead of books as first class digital objects. I just don't see how any book-specific device has that much of a chance.

http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/01/the_iphone_as_a.html

Setting aside the comfort issues, the iPhone could either kill the nascent e-reader business or take it to new levels. We’ve been saying just about forever that the problem with dedicated e-reader is the fact that the consumer isn’t seeking a device that does only one thing. With its “smart” orientation features, the iPhone could usher in the mass market e-book era.

http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2007/01/10/2258/

What do you think? Will the iPhone stand a chance against the Sony Reader & Co?

A dedicated device will always see more use as a reader. But the iPhone will get some use as an occasional reader in situations where one is waiting for an appointment. The same situations as where my phone serves as a music reader instead of my iPod. If it is possible with the iPhone to rotate the display and resize text, like with the Sony, I will use one.

A dedicated device will always see more use as a reader. But the iPhone will get some use as an occasional reader in situations where one is waiting for an appointment. The same situations as where my phone serves as a music reader instead of my iPod. If it is possible with the iPhone to rotate the display and resize text, like with the Sony, I will use one.

Rotating the display is one of those cool features on the iPhone (no button, just rotate the display itself). I guess they should support most standard format too: PDF, TXT, RTF etc... so text resizing should be possible too.

I wouldn't read books on something else than e-ink, but I guess some people would, so yes, e-books could sell quite well on the iPhone.

Looks like PDF.... But NO DOC Excell.

3.5 even a stretch one is not that frendly on text. I use the A2 with a 4" to read and even the Dell PDA but compared to the Sony's is like night and day.

Full disclosure: I am a Mac guy.

I used to use a PDA constantly, mostly for reading with some offline browsing. Since I picked up a dedicated reader (eBookwise), I hardly use my PDA, and could almost stop carrying it. It would be nice to buy a smartphone to do the few things I still use it for, and maybe turn my offline browsing into online browsing. Not sure if it will be the iPhone (I am a bit disappointed with some of Apple's choices) or something by Nokia, the N800 or the rumored E90.

Still, I have to agree with yvan, there will be times it is more convenient to carry just my phone, and I could very well use it to read on occasion. Though I think I would probably be reading webfiction rather than a purchased (or public domain), downdloaded ebook.

Jack

My main concern with the iPhone: non-removable (http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/top-five-reasons-why-the-iphone-sucks-228100.php) battery, and total talk time is only 5 hours. Dunno how long a single charge would last without recharge.

It's a closed system. That means no 3rd party apps can be installed. Which means no ebook reading software - Notes, with it's 4kb file limit just ain't gonna cut it.

So no. The iPhone won't be my next reading device.

Saw some where that the final bill after subscribing to the needed services is some where around 2k for one year.

I uses a pay as you go.

I agree its a zero as a reader.

Ah, but the iPod Touch is being opened to 3rd party apps and an ebook reader (many in fact) will among the apps!

Ah, but the iPod Touch is being opened to 3rd party apps and an ebook reader (many in fact) will among the apps!

Here is one of the reason I went with the sony reader...

I have a Cowon A2 PMP with a drop dead outstanding 4" screen.. rez of 480 x 272... All features are great except one and not its fault.. Yep reading text... Too small and too much scrolling.

http://nightwing.smugmug.com/photos/113258093-S.jpg

And other shots...

http://nightwing.smugmug.com/gallery/2179134#113258093

The problem is two fold... A the LCD designed itself and the small limited screen. The touch has even a smaller screen.. More rez I think but just dont think it will hold up...

It like reading a book on a pda... Good if nothing else but would not if you had something else...

Actually I have an iPhone and have used available hacks to allow third party applications to run on it. I have installed the ereader, details here:
http://www.modmyiphone.com/nativeapps/books/

Supports text and html files.

The screen is small but works quite well for reading. Easier on the eyes when you invert the colors, i.e. white text on a black background. I find it easiest to scroll through the pages by scrolling the screen up with my finger. Very nice to have an ultraportable reader.

Still, I find myself wanting to buy a dedicated eReader. The screen is small for long reading sessions, and while very clear, the back lit display does cause some extra eye strain. I am getting closer to allowing myself to spend the $300 for the Sony PRS505. Likely I will not hold out much longer.

I'm about to take the plunge on a 505, upgrading from a Librie. The iPhone screen is remarkable in that text in .pdf's is clearly readable. I think it has something to do with font anti-aliasing, which should be possible on the Sony. Oh, and an out-of-the-box iPhone can read .pdf's, but you either have to set up a website to serve them to yourself, or email them to your phone.

You can store PDFs directly on your iphone or ipod touch now but the device have to be jailbroken.

Reading ebooks in landscape mode while listening to mp3s is great.

A couple of screenshots from my ipod touch are attached. Both files are PDFs, the one on the left is an ebook displayed in portrait mode, and the one on the right is a comic displayed in portrait mode (it's just an example, I don't really read that stuff...ahem).

I pondered about buying a Sony ebooks reader but -IMHO- it depends on how many gadgets you want to carry with you.

Cheers,

If you want a secondary book reader, a PDA is - IMHO - a far better choice than an iPhone. With both Palm and Pocket PC devices one has a choice of a wide variety of book reading software which gives you access to all the popular formats, both DRM and DRM-free. I am very happily using MobiPocket Reader on my HTC Smartphone.

None of these devices compete with a dedicated bookreader, but that's not their purpose, of course. Their value is to let you read for 10 minutes in an odd moment during the day; a device that you'll always have on you.

If you want a secondary book reader, a PDA is - IMHO - a far better choice than an iPhone. With both Palm and Pocket PC devices one has a choice of a wide variety of book reading software which gives you access to all the popular formats, both DRM and DRM-free. I am very happily using MobiPocket Reader on my HTC Smartphone. :) you do realize that an HTC smartphone is the same thing the iPhone is?
a pda+phone combo. one of those things you most probably will ALWAYS have on you.
unless you want to point to the fact that the "standard-apps" like mobipocket, ms reader and eReader are not (yet?) available for the iPhone, and you're only able to read non-DRM books.
in this case you are right ... you'd have to crack those protected ebooks to convert to HTML and read on the iPhone.

i'd take the plunge, most of the books i read are unprotected and available in multiple formats. the only thing i would be hesitant to do would be to use the installer for the iPhone since it voids the warranty.
something you'd want to last for at least a year on a completely new product ... who knows what kind of bugs will show up after a few months of use.

unless you want to point to the fact that the "standard-apps" like mobipocket, ms reader and eReader are not (yet?) available for the iPhone, and you're only able to read non-DRM books.

Yes, that was exactly the point I was making. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the iPhone can only read PDF documents? It strikes me that for this type of use, the open architecture of a Palm or Pocket PC device is far better suited to the task than the "closed" iPhone. I know that the iPhone is very good at what it does do, but you're rather "out of luck" if you want to do something different.

As I listed in my post above, the iphone book app can also be used to read text, or html formatted ebooks.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the iPhone can only read PDF documents?

It supports HTML and text files with this application (in addition to Safari):
http://code.google.com/p/iphoneebooks/

Cheers,

Can that application be installed "legitimately" on the iPhone - ie with Apple's blessing? I was under the impression that if you installed 3rd party apps onto the iPhone you risked Apple doing unpleasant things to it when they did a software update?

I just rather object to devices where the manufacturer tries to do everything in their power to "lock it down". That's why I prefer the "open" systems like Palms and PPCs.

Nope. However, the device can be restored to its original/before jailbreaking state with ease and without Apple knowing if you installed 3rd party application on it or not.

With the recent SDK announcement, I think Apple is giving in to the market pressure and won't bug 3rd party developers as much. Smart move in light of the expected competitive pressure from the new open source Nokia devices.

But if the iPhone is dead in the water and you cannot restore it, then you cannot send it in for warranty repair.

Yes, that was exactly the point I was making. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the iPhone can only read PDF documents? It strikes me that for this type of use, the open architecture of a Palm or Pocket PC device is far better suited to the task than the "closed" iPhone. I know that the iPhone is very good at what it does do, but you're rather "out of luck" if you want to do something different. that is my biggest gripe with the iPhone, but since the SDK will be out soon, i expect there to be a whole lot of apps for the iPhone in no time.

and maybe then mobipocket will realize that the apple platform (iPhone as well as the "full" osX) is to be taken seriously and will work on a mac version of their desktop reader and organizer.

oh, PDF files do not require that book.app program, you can read them natively on the iPhone. at least that's what steve jobs mentioned when he initially presented the iPhone to the world.

oh, PDF files do not require that book.app program, you can read them natively on the iPhone. at least that's what steve jobs mentioned when he initially presented the iPhone to the world.

I may be mistaken, but I believe that the iPhone can only read PDFs "online", rather than locally stored files.

I may be mistaken, but I believe that the iPhone can only read PDFs "online", rather than locally stored files.

It can read them offline but the trick it to get them installed on the unit in the first place. Some folks are emailing them as attachments to their phone so that they can read them offline. There are now some hacks available to get them transferred over since the iPod touch couldn't use the email trick.

Dale

Thanks Dale. It seems almost as though Apple are actively trying to prevent you from using an iPhone for this kind of thing. I think I'll stick with my Windows Mobile Smartphone for the foreseeable future!

Thanks Dale. It seems almost as though Apple are actively trying to prevent you from using an iPhone for this kind of thing. I think I'll stick with my Windows Mobile Smartphone for the foreseeable future!

Agreed. They have visibly refrained from every possibility to install text on any device, with the exception of Apple Notes' crippled iteration. Your phone looks a pretty good device!

At the moment it's got to be a great big 'maybe'. All the basics are there - a pdf reader, Safari and access to the webkit rendering engine, as well as the pdfs in iTunes. The final piece of the jigsaw - an easy way to get documents on to the machine other than by downloading online or emailing to yourself or hacking the machine - doesn't seem to be there yet (because of security issues?). I'm sure the elements will come together but wouldn't bet any money on when.

Just wanted to update this thread with the information that with the iPhone 2.0 Software update, free to all rev 1 iPhone users and comes standard on the iPhone 3G (its a $20 upgrade for previous iPod Touch owners) that eBooks are now available for the iPhone from the iTunes App Store. Both individual eBooks and eReader.com's eReader App which gives you access to your bookshelves on either eReader.com or FictionWise.com. I'm reading Truman Capote's In Cold Blood on the iPhone and its great. You can change the font (3 choices) and the font size and read in landscape mode or portrait mode if you want. The iPhone/iPod Touch makes a great eBook reader device.

Those last two sentences I cut and pasted from another post I made on this forum, I just didn't see the need to try to say them in a different way.

just another update, for jailbroken iphones, you can transfer files directly to the phone via ssh/scp, but you do need a jailbroken iphone. Nowadays there are quite a few native ebook readers available for the iphone, inlcuding a hack to allow safari to view them as well. I think my main annoyance on the iphone is the mount of scrolling neccessary for large A4 pdfs. Otherwise reading text only books are rather pleasant, especially as you can listen to music on the iphone whilst reading. Having said that Im still looking for a larger dedicated ebook device for home use, hanlin v3 still a strong contender...

I love my iPhone but it just doesn't work for me as a primary e-book reader because it's not comfortable for long reads, and the battery doesn't last long enough anyway - the new iPhone 3G battery dies faster than the old one. It's been my experience that short short stories and comics are great on the iPhone, but for longer reads I much prefer the Sony Reader.

I went to a SonyStyle store yesterday and checked out the Sony eReader. Its a great device, but just like the Kindle it costs way too much. If it were $50 then I'd get one.

I went to a SonyStyle store yesterday and checked out the Sony eReader. Its a great device, but just like the Kindle it costs way too much. If it were $50 then I'd get one.

How much did you spend on your TV, as a matter of interest? $1000? More?

Don't know about you, but I spend far more time reading than I do watching TV. $300-400 for a good reading device seems like a bargain to me.

Around $150. Its a 20" CRT that I got like 10 years ago. I watch most of my TV on my computer monitor that was only like $300. I get your point but I've always had a smartphone to read my eBooks on. First my Treo and now my iPhone so spending for a separate reader just never made sense to me.

How much did you spend on your TV, as a matter of interest? $1000? More?

Don't know about you, but I spend far more time reading than I do watching TV. $300-400 for a good reading device seems like a bargain to me.
Actually, he spent all his money on a seriously overpriced iPhone.

I'm in Roxbury JSWolf, you may want to watch it.

How long would the battery last on an iPod touch for ebook reading if wi-fi is off and the backlight turned way down?

I'm used to recharging my Clies and Palm every day--and don't ever read more than a few hours in a given day...

Of course, there's little reason to change from a PDA that still does so much so well--and still ahead of the iPhone/IPTs in many aspects.

But, put a decent camera and speaker on the iPod Touch, and I'd probably buy one immediately.

How long would the battery last on an iPod touch for ebook reading if wi-fi is off and the backlight turned way down?

I'm used to recharging my Clies and Palm every day--and don't ever read more than a few hours in a given day...

Of course, there's little reason to change from a PDA that still does so much so well--and still ahead of the iPhone/IPTs in many aspects.

But, put a decent camera and speaker on the iPod Touch, and I'd probably buy one immediately.
I read on a Tapwave Zodiac 2, which is a Palm OS unit running OS 5.21. It has a 320x480 screen, 128MB of RAM, and two SD slots, among other things.

Screen brightness is the big variable in battery life. I keep the screen brightness dialed down to about 10% (which is comfortable for reading indoors), and turn the backlight off entirely to read out of doors. I charge it every night. I have yet to have it run out on me in the middle of use, unless something happened to jam it on in my bag and I didn't notice.

With the available software I have installed, I can read converted HTML, Mobipocket, eReader, PDF, Word, RTF, and plain text documents. I have about 3,500 ebooks on it all told, spread over two 2GB SD cards, and occupying about 1.7GB of storage. The only real issue is remembering which content is in which format.

Serving as an ebook viewer is about half of the Zodiac's purpose in life. The other half is a mixture of PIM functions, reference library (in formats other than ebook), MP3 player, photo and video viewer, word processing and spreadsheet editing, programming platform, and games device. (With an SD Wifi card, I can also go on line, but usually don't.)

I have no interest in a smartphone, so the iPhone is out for me, and the Touch, while a lovely device in many ways, can't do all of the things I do with the Zodiac. (I have no interest in a built in camera, either. I already have a small digital camera that meets my needs.)

eInk devices are lovely, but the only one with a fraction of the capabilities I currently have is the iLiad, at a price about four times what I paid for the Zodiac.

Personally, I'm staying put.
______
Dennis

I read on a Tapwave Zodiac 2, which is a Palm OS unit running OS 5.21. It has a 320x480 screen, 128MB of RAM, and two SD slots, among other things. ...


Hi Denis,

I know exactly where your coming from, having a Palm T3 - I used to do just about everything on it - it was only the failing blue-tooth and battery, and my personal wish to carry less around with me that I went for the iphone (and because the pda market is bottoming out in the uk). but then over 5 years of very productive use is good going for my palm, and i was seriously considering the treo, but after using an itouch fell in love with the iphone. I would say its been an uphill battle getting it to match the palm, but Im slowly getting there.

The main annoyance is to get anything productive on the iphone is that you have to 'jailbreak' it, and even more annoying is you need an apple to do any programming for the iphone, to rub salt into your wound you need a fairly recent apple as well, even my really old g3 updated to its max (os x 10.1) isnt good enough has to be 10.3+ Saying that it has great potential, you can run mysql, sqllite (databases), web server (cut down apache), ssh etc tie that in with a very sexy interface, plus the obvious phone functions and you've got a very handy device. For those of you not into modding, the offical App store is starting to churn out good useful stuff (not quite as good as jailbroken apps, but getting there). Retiring the palm was an incredibly hard thing to do for me, but the iphone while not quite there, is slowly getting there.

I can read text, pdbs, pdfs, although pdfs are a pain with the iphone (what with the constant zooming etc). Having said that I am still looking for a dedicated ebook reader (prob will shell out for hanlin v3 - their second version of the v3 model seems to tick all the boxes at the moment)

sood

The Zodiac sounds incredible! I've never seen one in person and it's probably been years since I googled a picture of one. I'll have to check it out-- maybe there's a decent one for sale out there.

Of course, there is some magic and some fun in a new device with a new OS... and even enjoyment getting it to work or fulfill one's needs/wants!

The Zodiac sounds incredible! I've never seen one in person and it's probably been years since I googled a picture of one. I'll have to check it out-- maybe there's a decent one for sale out there.
It's a sweet device. Tapwave was originally trying to make a device that was a handheld gaming platform as well as Palm OS PDA, so it has things like an ATI video chip with 2D acceleration and 8MB of onboard RAM, Yamaha stereo sound, and 128MB of RAM. They went belly up in July 2005, but Zodiacs are still around. My first one was purchased on eBay for about $250. My second pair came from a clearance sale by Tapwave's former authorized repair center, who had a bunch intended to be in-store demonstrators on the shelves. It was a two-fer deal: buy a re-purposed demo unit, and get another sent back on an RMA as a source of parts.

It has a few quirks, because Tapwave's engineers implemented a form of DRM to sooth games manufacturers concerned about piracy. Software that uses advanced features of the Tapwave API (mostly concerning the ATI chip) must be digitally signed to run, and is locked to the device it is installed on. I have a couple of programs not written for the Zodiac which are allergic to something it does, and refuse to run. It also has a non-standard button arrangement, and lacks the "hard buttons" of most Palm devices, so some older software written to use them is problematic.

Most Palm software runs fine. I use Launcher X for my launcher. Most of my ebooks are converted HTML read by Plucker (http://www.plkr.org), an open source offline HTML viewer for Palm devices, but I have Mobipocket, eReader, and PDF files (read by the open source PalmPDF (http://www.metaviewsoft.de/en/Software/PalmOS/Freeware/PalmPDF/index.html)) viewer, and PalmDOC, zTXT, plain ASCII text, Word doc and RTF files, read with PalmFiction (http://palmfiction.sourceforge.net), another open source product.

I got the original Zodiac when my Tungsten E was dying. The TX wasn't out yet. My specs were a 320x480 screen, more RAM, and a faster processor. Anything else was gravy. Conversations with another Zodiac owner on a Palm oriented board indicated the Zodiac would be a good choice, so I got one.

About half of its purpose in life is being an ebook reader, but it also has the PIM functions, plays MP3s and views videos, among other things. The open source Core Pocket Media Player port for Palm OS has support for the Zodiac's video, and there are extensive threads elsewhere on the best way to rip movies from DVD to play on your Zodiac. :)

The biggest wins from my viewpoint are the 320x480 screen and two SD slots. It means I can carry my entire ebook library on my device... :p

Of course, there is some magic and some fun in a new device with a new OS... and even enjoyment getting it to work or fulfill one's needs/wants!
Certainly. Getting the Zodiac where I wanted it took some doing, because some things I had done on previous devices didn't work on it, but I'm quite happy with what I have set up now.
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Dennis

How long would the battery last on an iPod touch for ebook reading if wi-fi is off and the backlight turned way down?


About 5-6 hours.

Say appreciate the detailed descrip of the Zodiac... sounds like a great device!

And thanks Harry for the battery life info. That's a good amount of time.

Just make sure if you're using an ipod touch as an ebook reader that you turn off wifi, you dont want to unnecessarily drain the battery.

I have to say, on the subject of iphone as ebook reader, it's ok but not great. A big part of that is the battery life; do too much on an iPhone in general and you'll run the battery down inside of a day. (I learned this the hard way at a rugby tournament-I took a teammate to the ER and couldn't read on my iPhone while she was in x-ray because the battery was so low it was either send/receive calls on her condition or read. Needless to say, I chose being able to update everyone.) Lesson there is don't depend on any "all purpose" device to to get you anything spectacular as far as usage goes.