Windows 8 epub3 reader?

Greg_E · 12-11-2012, 09:58 PM

Looking for an epub3 reader that works in the new UI (formerly Metro) for windows 8. I have a new to me Acer w500 that I upgraded to Win8 Pro ($40) and now I want to find a reader for epub3 so I can experiment with creating this "new" form of interactive publication. I also want it for reading epub and maybe mobi books that I have on my Android tablet.

Why I don't want a desktop application - Because they don't respond to touch the same way that the apps for the new UI respond. I bought the w500 for the specific purpose of getting to grips with win8 since I decided I would never be happy learning the ins and outs without having touch support (tried it on a regular desktop computer). For what it is worth, I'm coming to grips pretty well now that I have touch and I really do like the speed over the stock win7 this tablet came with.

Greg_E · 12-12-2012, 09:28 PM

And the single rating on it is pretty low so I haven't tried it on my Android tablet.

exscentric · 12-14-2012, 10:30 PM

You might get surprised - disappointed, which ever. I downloaded the metro version of Kindle and it only holds 48 or so books before it refuses to download more. It is very iffy on whether it will run on my rig as well. About 50% of the time it would not start.

I downloaded the win 7 and installed it from desktop and it runs fine.

Greg_E · 12-15-2012, 02:42 PM

I only have a single Kindle book right now, most of my reading is PDF and a couple of epub or .doc converted to epub and most of that is still being done on my android tablet.

here is the funny thing -

I have an Acer Iconia a500 Android tablet and a new to me Acer Iconia w500 tablet. Using Aldiko to read PDF on the a500 and the "metro" version of Acrobat reader on the w500... The text is more readable on the a500 than on the w500 and I don't know why. they used the exact same display panel for both (same size and same resolution). I know it will take a while to get the few applications that I need onto the "metro" win8 tablet, but I would not have thought there would be display issues when reading documents. Hoping that the ereader writers will catch up soon so I can ditch the a500, there are a couple things that I've wanted to do that the a500 will not do well enough which helps push me to buying the w500 and win8 upgrade. One of those was the ability to run a real office suite, nit the low end stuff available for Android, and google docs is not always accessible since you need to be connected to use it for the things I wanted to do.

HowGozit · 01-13-2013, 03:43 AM

I'm using Freda as an ePub reader on my Win 8 tablet (Lenovo Twist) - and so far I am not really thrilled with it. Seems to work OK.. but... The long (16:9) screen doesn't really work in portrait mode - nor am I enthralled with the display of pages or fonts.

Kobo is supposed to read ePub3 - but lots of luck getting it to read sideloaded books.. I haven't figured out how yet. Microsoft aren't too keen on you digging into the Windows apps folder and have locked it down pretty hard.

Greg_E · 01-13-2013, 11:50 PM

Freda kept crashing on me so it is gone, haven't played with Kobo yet. And yes the data storage area for the new UI seems to be well hidden and protected, need to step around that sometime in the future when it matters. There are a couple that run in desktop mode but they lack full touch support.

jhoff80 · 01-28-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowGozit

I'm using Freda as an ePub reader on my Win 8 tablet (Lenovo Twist) - and so far I am not really thrilled with it. Seems to work OK.. but... The long (16:9) screen doesn't really work in portrait mode - nor am I enthralled with the display of pages or fonts.

Kobo is supposed to read ePub3 - but lots of luck getting it to read sideloaded books.. I haven't figured out how yet. Microsoft aren't too keen on you digging into the Windows apps folder and have locked it down pretty hard.

The font rendering is horrible on Freda. I'm using Book Bazaar Reader at the moment, and I greatly prefer that, though it's not perfect either.

Anyway, you should be able to pretty easily get into the WindowsApps folder (found at C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\) if you change the permissions on it. Of course, make sure you have a backup first, because you can screw things up pretty majorly that way.

Anyway, that's just the program executable. For their data folders you want %localappdata%\Packages\. That is, for example, where the Nook app (which is also really buggy, in my experience) stores its epub files.

xendula · 01-28-2013, 06:08 PM

Not sure, but the EPUBreader plugin or Firefox may or may not support ePub3. I wrote to Michael, the dev, to find out.

I also found an ePub 3 validator add-on for FF that you may want to try. Not sure if it's any good.

Hmm, on second thought, I just got my Ativ 700 today, not sure if FF works in metro UI, as I haven't had much time to test yet.

hapmas77 · 01-29-2013, 03:03 AM

I'm also looking for ePub reader for Windows 8.
So far I am using overdrive media console. In my opinion, it has better format than the other apps.

As workaround, I also use bluestacks to run android applications in my iconia W510 and use aldiko and mantano as alternative.

xendula · 01-29-2013, 08:44 AM

Mantano supports Ivona TTS and ADE, so thanks for the bluestacks tip.

Jack Tingle · 02-10-2013, 10:51 AM

The three applications noted previously, Overdrive, Freda and Book Bazaar are the three I have currently kept loaded. The rest of the ones I tried, I junked. I vaguely favor Overdrive, but not by much.

That said, I tend to drop to the desktop and use either fbreader or Cool Reader instead. There isn't currently a real winner, IMO. Good luck.

I don't know if any of those yet support ePub3. I'm not sure I've run across an ePub3 in the wild.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

Jim Chapman · 02-12-2013, 04:28 AM

Just to avoid any misunderstanding (given the title of this thread): Freda is not an EPUB3 reader. It is only compatible with EPUB2 format. That said, I think the same is true of most other ereader programs. Also, it seems that most publishers are taking some care to ensure their EPUB3 books are backward-compatible - i.e. though supporting EPUB3 features, they are also work on reading systems that only understand EPUB2 format.

I doubt that Freda will ever extend to include all EPUB3 features (I expect I'll add some subset of the new navigation features and the new structural elements, but I really doubt that I'll be handling <audio>, <video> and <canvas> any time soon - and as for javascript ... forget it!).

For those who are interested, I will post occasional updates about the Freda development roadmap on the forum, here (that talks about the Windows Phone version of Freda, but in fact there is now only one development roadmap; the code-lines are merging).

lukeintas · 02-18-2014, 03:41 PM

The Readium extension for the Chrome browser is an ePub 3 reader, but isn't a touch interface app and doesn't have any annotation features.

fekhner · 02-20-2014, 08:39 AM

The Calibre viewer has now added touch support and can do some (limited) epub3 if I remember correctly.

For my set-up, see
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...94#post2768694

Otherwise, none of the dedicated epub3 readers that I have been playing with could do as well as readium, at least not for math formulas.

Tex2002ans · 02-20-2014, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeintas

The Readium extension for the Chrome browser is an ePub 3 reader, but isn't a touch interface app and doesn't have any annotation features.

Readium and AZARDI are the only EPUB3 compatible readers I know. Here is a link to AZARDI:

http://azardi.infogridpacific.com/azardi-download.html

12-11-2012, 09:58 PM	#1
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	Windows 8 epub3 reader? Looking for an epub3 reader that works in the new UI (formerly Metro) for windows 8. I have a new to me Acer w500 that I upgraded to Win8 Pro ($40) and now I want to find a reader for epub3 so I can experiment with creating this "new" form of interactive publication. I also want it for reading epub and maybe mobi books that I have on my Android tablet. Why I don't want a desktop application - Because they don't respond to touch the same way that the apps for the new UI respond. I bought the w500 for the specific purpose of getting to grips with win8 since I decided I would never be happy learning the ins and outs without having touch support (tried it on a regular desktop computer). For what it is worth, I'm coming to grips pretty well now that I have touch and I really do like the speed over the stock win7 this tablet came with.

01-28-2013, 06:08 PM	#8
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	Not sure, but the EPUBreader plugin or Firefox may or may not support ePub3. I wrote to Michael, the dev, to find out. I also found an ePub 3 validator add-on for FF that you may want to try. Not sure if it's any good. Hmm, on second thought, I just got my Ativ 700 today, not sure if FF works in metro UI, as I haven't had much time to test yet. Last edited by xendula; 01-28-2013 at 06:11 PM.

02-12-2013, 04:28 AM	#12
Jim Chapman Addict Posts: 309 Karma: 2025434 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Lumia 950 Phone	Freda not an EPUB3 reader Just to avoid any misunderstanding (given the title of this thread): Freda is not an EPUB3 reader. It is only compatible with EPUB2 format. That said, I think the same is true of most other ereader programs. Also, it seems that most publishers are taking some care to ensure their EPUB3 books are backward-compatible - i.e. though supporting EPUB3 features, they are also work on reading systems that only understand EPUB2 format. I doubt that Freda will ever extend to include all EPUB3 features (I expect I'll add some subset of the new navigation features and the new structural elements, but I really doubt that I'll be handling <audio>, <video> and <canvas> any time soon - and as for javascript ... forget it!). For those who are interested, I will post occasional updates about the Freda development roadmap on the forum, here (that talks about the Windows Phone version of Freda, but in fact there is now only one development roadmap; the code-lines are merging). Last edited by Jim Chapman; 02-12-2013 at 04:31 AM.

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12-12-2012, 09:28 PM	#2
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	And the single rating on it is pretty low so I haven't tried it on my Android tablet.

12-14-2012, 10:30 PM	#3
exscentric Addict Posts: 379 Karma: 1033424 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: WY Device: Kindle keyboard	You might get surprised - disappointed, which ever. I downloaded the metro version of Kindle and it only holds 48 or so books before it refuses to download more. It is very iffy on whether it will run on my rig as well. About 50% of the time it would not start. I downloaded the win 7 and installed it from desktop and it runs fine.

12-15-2012, 02:42 PM	#4
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	I only have a single Kindle book right now, most of my reading is PDF and a couple of epub or .doc converted to epub and most of that is still being done on my android tablet. here is the funny thing - I have an Acer Iconia a500 Android tablet and a new to me Acer Iconia w500 tablet. Using Aldiko to read PDF on the a500 and the "metro" version of Acrobat reader on the w500... The text is more readable on the a500 than on the w500 and I don't know why. they used the exact same display panel for both (same size and same resolution). I know it will take a while to get the few applications that I need onto the "metro" win8 tablet, but I would not have thought there would be display issues when reading documents. Hoping that the ereader writers will catch up soon so I can ditch the a500, there are a couple things that I've wanted to do that the a500 will not do well enough which helps push me to buying the w500 and win8 upgrade. One of those was the ability to run a real office suite, nit the low end stuff available for Android, and google docs is not always accessible since you need to be connected to use it for the things I wanted to do.

01-13-2013, 03:43 AM	#5
HowGozit Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 2226 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS650, Kobo, Asus Tab 8, iPod Touch, Galaxy Tab, Surface Pr2	I'm using Freda as an ePub reader on my Win 8 tablet (Lenovo Twist) - and so far I am not really thrilled with it. Seems to work OK.. but... The long (16:9) screen doesn't really work in portrait mode - nor am I enthralled with the display of pages or fonts. Kobo is supposed to read ePub3 - but lots of luck getting it to read sideloaded books.. I haven't figured out how yet. Microsoft aren't too keen on you digging into the Windows apps folder and have locked it down pretty hard.

01-13-2013, 11:50 PM	#6
Greg_E Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 1180 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Acer Iconia a500, XP tablet PC	Freda kept crashing on me so it is gone, haven't played with Kobo yet. And yes the data storage area for the new UI seems to be well hidden and protected, need to step around that sometime in the future when it matters. There are a couple that run in desktop mode but they lack full touch support.

01-29-2013, 03:03 AM	#9
hapmas77 Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 691140 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Device: iPad Mini 2, Galaxy Tab S2 9.7, Kindle PW	I'm also looking for ePub reader for Windows 8. So far I am using overdrive media console. In my opinion, it has better format than the other apps. As workaround, I also use bluestacks to run android applications in my iconia W510 and use aldiko and mantano as alternative.

01-29-2013, 08:44 AM	#10
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	Mantano supports Ivona TTS and ADE, so thanks for the bluestacks tip.

02-10-2013, 10:51 AM	#11
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	The three applications noted previously, Overdrive, Freda and Book Bazaar are the three I have currently kept loaded. The rest of the ones I tried, I junked. I vaguely favor Overdrive, but not by much. That said, I tend to drop to the desktop and use either fbreader or Cool Reader instead. There isn't currently a real winner, IMO. Good luck. I don't know if any of those yet support ePub3. I'm not sure I've run across an ePub3 in the wild. Regards, Jack Tingle

02-18-2014, 03:41 PM	#13
lukeintas Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Hobart, Australia Device: iBooks	The Readium extension for the Chrome browser is an ePub 3 reader, but isn't a touch interface app and doesn't have any annotation features.

02-20-2014, 08:39 AM	#14
fekhner Addict Posts: 326 Karma: 6908 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: DRs, EE, ipad/iphone, Helix	The Calibre viewer has now added touch support and can do some (limited) epub3 if I remember correctly. For my set-up, see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...94#post2768694 Otherwise, none of the dedicated epub3 readers that I have been playing with could do as well as readium, at least not for math formulas.