iPhone readers

[talaivan]

I've tried both eReader and Bookshelf on the iPhone. eReader works fine and enables you to find text, BUT you can't add your own things (that you didn't buy from them) on it, at least that's how it looks. I was able to download some books that I bought years ago from Palm to it, as they were still on my online download shelf. Bookshelf seems potentially much better. I downloaded (from my Mac) about 10 fb2 books in 30 seconds wirelessly -- very impressive. BUT Bookshelf does not allow you to search text and, as far as I can see, the TOC doesn't work. That means you have to scroll through the whole book to find, say, chapter 15. I suspect this is a limitation of the first version. Both are easy to read -- better than I would have thought. They're perhaps a bit better than a Palm with a large screen.

[Nate the great]

I'd like to hear more about Bookshelf. What other formats does it read? How much did it cost?

[talaivan]

I wrote to support and got an email back immediately from Zac Bedell, who wrote the program. He's working on new features and promises an improved version in 2 weeks or so. The program reads text, html, palm, fb2 and "other formats" and apparently works for Russian also (I haven't tried it). It only costs $9.99 and is well worth it -- I think I'll be able, finally, to get rid of my Palm (assuming there's something like DocsToGo on the iPhone).

[Nate the great]

Sounds like it's based on FBReader.

[flumbo]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Sounds like it's based on FBReader.

I think it is based on the jailbreak-only reader called books.app. Zac Bedell is the guy who made the original iphone reader.

[JSWolf]

Are you really sure eReader for the iPod Touch won't allow reading eReader eBooks that I have sitting on my computer?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by talaivan

I've tried both eReader and Bookshelf on the iPhone. eReader works fine and enables you to find text, B

How do you get the 2.0 firmware update? My son is trying to get it for his iPod Touch but he can't seem to find it.

BOb

[HarryT]

Firmware 2.0 is available for the iPhone now, but not currently for the iPod Touch. The web site says "coming soon".

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

How do you get the 2.0 firmware update? My son is trying to get it for his iPod Touch but he can't seem to find it.

BOb

Make sure your iTunes is updated to 7.7 and then with the Touch connected to the USB port, look for updates for the Touch. You will have to pay $9.95 for the 2.0 update. I updated my wife's Touch last night just as we went to bed. And now it's all updated.

[HarryT]

Warning - the update backs up all your content to your PC, does the update, then restores the content. In the case of a "full" 32GB iPod Touch like mine, the process takes something like 4h to complete (but there's no interaction, so you can just set it going and leave it). Don't start it if you know you'll need it in the next hour or so.

[Gideon]

The problem with moving stuff you have on your computer is how Apple has the file system of the iPhone locked down. There's no simple way to get around it.

That's why the Bookshelf (I believe) guy actually had to create a server program to run on your computer to allow you to move files to the iphone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Warning - the update backs up all your content to your PC, does the update, then restores the content. In the case of a "full" 32GB iPod Touch like mine, the process takes something like 4h to complete (but there's no interaction, so you can just set it going and leave it). Don't start it if you know you'll need it in the next hour or so.

Or you can do what I did. I started the update process and left it running when I went to bed, woke up and it was all done.

[HarryT]

Yes, it's a pity that Apple have removed the ability to mount as an "external" USB drive from the iPhone/Touch. That would have certainly made life a lot easier for such applications!

[Gideon]

Yeah... :sighs: as much as I love Apple they are such control freaks!

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Make sure your iTunes is updated to 7.7 and then with the Touch connected to the USB port, look for updates for the Touch. You will have to pay $9.95 for the 2.0 update. I updated my wife's Touch last night just as we went to bed. And now it's all updated.

Yes thanks. He was finally able to get it yesterday after several tries. I was using the new AIM client on it last night... very nice, except I kept hitting the wrong keys on that tiny keyboard.

I was going to try eReader on it, I do have one eReader book I bought (for my Sony stupidly). Although I don't have that credit card anymore... not sure if I know the full number. Can I just put a new CC number in the eReader store so that book will use it?

BOb