06-14-2013, 03:44 PM | #1 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
Best Android Reading App for an 86 year old
I'm looking for suggestions for Android reading apps that would be beginner friendly for my 86 year old father. He just wants to be able to read his bible and some westerns in larger font and save the weight of carrying so many books around. I chose a tablet over an e-ink reader so he can look at all his photos from our recent vacation and listen to episodes of Car Talk. My step-sister and her 6 year old son would appreciate being able to use the tablet as well.
I only read on my e-ink Kindles, so I'm clueless about tablet reading apps. I tried the Kindle app for Android and I don't really care for it. Not enough options (which I would set before sending the tablet to him) and I think it would be hard for him to navigate. I would like navigation icons to be visible at all times. I would also like the option to tap to turn pages instead of swiping, more fonts and font sizes. I live California and he lives in East Texas. I would be able add the same app to my Android tablet or phone to walk him through any problems. I will convert his books to ePub if necessary. Thanks for any and all suggestions. Edit: I guess I should add, I purchased a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for him not a Kindle Fire. Last edited by daffy4u; 06-14-2013 at 03:49 PM. |
06-14-2013, 03:49 PM | #2 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 73,976
Karma: 128903378
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
I suggest trying Bluefire Reader. I do use it on my iPhone. There is a version for Android.
|
Advert | |
|
06-14-2013, 04:09 PM | #3 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
Thanks! Downloading now but from the screen shots, it doesn't look like navigation icons stay on the screen. I'll give a try and poke around the settings.
|
06-14-2013, 04:20 PM | #4 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 73,976
Karma: 128903378
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
|
06-14-2013, 04:29 PM | #5 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
Yeah, I'm trying it right now. One thing I have a problem with is changing the background color. Bluefire uses a color picker which is hard to use (for me anyway). I just want a sepia background. I do like the tap for navigation.
Trying Aldiko and Moon Reader as well. |
Advert | |
|
06-14-2013, 04:33 PM | #6 | |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
I've looked at and used a lot of Android reading apps for reviews at Dear Author and I can't think of any at all that leave the icons on screen at all times. Pretty much every app now a days is set up to bring up the icons/menus when you tap the center of the screen.
Quote:
Do you want something tied to a store? DRM support? As far as customization Mantano and Moon+ are probably the most customizable, but some people I know find them too customizable. Aldiko's not bad nor is BlueFire, but not quite as much customization (which may or may not be a good thing). |
|
06-14-2013, 04:44 PM | #7 | ||||
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I'll probably load them all and let my Father choose the one he likes the best but more suggestions are welcome. |
||||
06-14-2013, 04:49 PM | #8 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 73,976
Karma: 128903378
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Just an aside. Bluefire is based on Adobe Mobile Reader SDK (aka ADE).
|
06-14-2013, 05:05 PM | #9 | ||
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Quote:
Quote:
As far as tapping on the Kindle app, there is no setting you can both tap and swipe to turn at all times. The Kindle app's really not bad as long as you don't want much customization, but if you want to customize much of anything it's not the app for you. Last edited by AnemicOak; 06-14-2013 at 05:10 PM. |
||
06-14-2013, 05:15 PM | #10 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
You are absolutely right! I don't know what drugs my thumbs were taking 'cause 2 days ago I could only swipe. The tapping works on both my and my Father's tablet just fine.
|
06-16-2013, 08:35 AM | #11 | |
Fanatic
Posts: 550
Karma: 1020204
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab 2 (Android)
|
Quote:
|
|
06-16-2013, 09:42 PM | #12 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
Posts: 1,894
Karma: 8086979
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
|
I've been trying out a number of readers and I think that Cool Reader is my preferred one now on my Nooks. I like the large number of font sizes that are available, and the amount of fonts. I like that I was able to customize my background color to a very pale green-grey color that is easier on my eyes than stark white. I like the one-tap switch to night mode. It also has controls that will stay on screen so they are easy to access. It allows for a great deal of customization, but you should be able to walk him through it because there will only be a few things to adjust for him.
|
06-16-2013, 11:32 PM | #13 |
I'm Super Kindle-icious
Posts: 6,734
Karma: 2434103
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia
Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis
|
Thank you citac for suggesting Cool Reader and Xanthe as well for your review of the app.
I did load it on my tablet and it has more control options than I would have guessed. It does indeed allow the navigation (& settings) bar to remain on screen in a location of choice. I knew Cool Reader was being used on some e-ink devices (even the Kindle) but didn't know there was an Android app for it. It's a little clunky looking but it's equally as serviceable as it's slicker competition. I like that it is an open source project that seems to be a labor of love by one person (from looking at the responses to bug tickets). Has anyone figured out a way to change the TTS voice. I'm including a lot of Zane Grey westerns and they might sound better with a male voice if my father chooses to use that function (I've never read any of Grey's books, so I may be way off the mark ). I've been downloading YouTube videos if they were available for the apps I'm putting on his tablet (the videos will be on the tablet as well). I think he'll see the pattern that most of the book apps work basically the same. He just has to play to find the one he is most comfortable with. Thanks again for the Cool Reader suggestion. |
06-17-2013, 12:20 AM | #14 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
Posts: 1,894
Karma: 8086979
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
|
You're welcome.
Query "TTS voices" in Google Play and you should get a bunch of apps regarding voices and TTS programs. There should be a control in his tablet's Settings function that will let you choose which voice program to use if you install another one. Cool Reader allows you to install a choice of dictionaries. I am using ColorDict: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...=search_result It also allows the installation of sub-dictionary programs - thesaurus, spelling, irregular words, Spanish/English, German/English, Chinese/English, Japanese/English, various Bible dictionaries, etc. |
06-17-2013, 12:23 AM | #15 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
Posts: 1,894
Karma: 8086979
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
|
You might want to put one of the Librevox programs on his tablet - free audiobooks of public domain titles. I'm wondering if any of the Zane Grey books might already be there.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Syncing reading positions between kobo touch and the android app | thefoodgeek | Kobo Reader | 1 | 10-19-2012 09:13 AM |
[Android App] Beta version: Android app to connect as a device to calibre using wifi | chaley | Devices | 116 | 08-27-2012 12:42 PM |
Can you do this with an Android reading app yet? | surrealmind | Android Devices | 4 | 08-11-2012 12:14 AM |
PRS-T1 Synchronize reading between PRS-T1 and some android app? | gonzule | Sony Reader | 7 | 07-11-2012 04:18 PM |
Android app for reading web articles with Kindle (app and device) | fivefilters | Android Devices | 0 | 07-02-2011 09:29 PM |