Best Smartphone for eBook reading? - Page 2

readit · 02-21-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthony_barker

Screen size is a bit small compared with the 4'+ devices.

However:

1) Fbreader and Dorian both work well for ebooks - the keys on the side work well as a rocker (next)..
2) Pdf reader is better than the one for android (also evince)
3) Garnet VM - palm emulator allows you to run 97% of your old palm apps
4) 800 x 480 resolution screen
5) Full Operating System - not a crippled iOS or Android dalvik vm

I've tried various iphones - 3g/3gs/4 and android phones
Only iphone 4 comes close or may be a bit better (you have kindle app).

Android pdf readers suck. Fbreaderj isn't as good as fbreader on linux or ibooks...

- Actually they used to - the one that ships with htc android 2.1 works very well..
Basically it seems all the phones are ok - you just probably want a 4.3 -6" screen

Cheers

Thanks for the hint - an Interesting mix: Linux on Nokia! (thought there's always symbian)

Linux OS means absolute freedom in app-choice!

There is also the N800, which selss cheap sometimes...

peegee · 02-22-2011, 06:30 AM

Watch out, some of these posts are pretty old and the android smartphone market moves fast. The new phones like google nexus/htc desire have fantastic screens. The adobe reader on android is also very good, with a reflow that really works well for text based pdfs.

kennyc · 02-26-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtriever

Droid X works for me, plus they're on sale since the new 4G phones are coming out shortly.

This. All the others are too small.

jbcohen · 03-01-2011, 03:19 PM

Does your office issue you a blackberry or other smart phone? Mine does I use the one the office issues me, it does the job very well its a Tour 9630 and does very well.

JerseyBiker · 03-17-2011, 11:13 PM

I recently purchased a HTC Incredible. My first smartphone. Using the Nook app I can sync it with my Nook on B&N so that whatever page I'm on in a book, It's on the phone. It comes in handy to kill time reading when I'm waiting somewhere. But for me the screen is too small to use all the time.

~eddie

RainingLemur · 03-18-2011, 11:06 AM

HTC Evo, or the HTC Thunderbolt. I'd like the Droid X more if it weren't made by Motorola (hate the Motoblur interface). I haven't had a good experience with the Motorola handsets since their StarTAC phones some years ago.

kennyc · 03-18-2011, 11:09 AM

I hate the motoblur as well, but the DroidX screen is big enough to read from (not always the best at web browsing) but it seems small now compared to my Xoom.

wodin · 03-18-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

HTC EVO!

Why, you ask ... 4.3" screen! It gives you about half the screen size in terms of characters per page as a Kindle or Sony.

Update,

While my EVO (or any phone with a 4.3" screen) worked well for me, the 5" Dell Streak would probably be even better; I played with one at a trade show and it was nice but my carrier doesn't support it.

Since I got my 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab I find myself using it exclusively for reading. It doesn’t support cellular voice, so I end up carrying both the EVO and SGT, but the good news is that I CAN. The SGT fits nicely in my front trousers pocket where one of the 10” tablets (iPad and Moto Xoom so far) would not.

kennyc · 03-18-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Update,

While my EVO (or any phone with a 4.3" screen) worked well for me, the 5" Dell Streak would probably be even better; I played with one at a trade show and it was nice but my carrier doesn't support it.

Since I got my 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab I find myself using it exclusively for reading. It doesn’t support cellular voice, so I end up carrying both the EVO and SGT, but the good news is that I CAN. The SGT fits nicely in my front trousers pocket where one of the 10” tablets (iPad and Moto Xoom so far) would not.

sabredog · 03-18-2011, 10:34 PM

Before I purchased my first dedicated ereader device, I used a HP Ipaq PDA, then my first smartphone, a Samsung Omnia. Now my smartphone of choice is an iPhone 4 with the bigger screen.

I cannot read long on a backlit LCD anymore, but the iPhone would be my pick for the best smartphone. Stanza, Kobo and ibooks all work well enough.

bornmusician · 03-30-2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolandD

I use MobiPocket on my Blackberry Storm 2. I have friends that use Aldiko on Android and Palm phones and it looks really nice.

Before I got my Kindle, I used MobiPocket and the Kindle for Blackberry app on my Blackberry Torch. The screen isn't quite as big as the Storm, but it still did the job.

I couldn't read for hours on end, like I do on my Kindle, but it was nice to kill time on the commute to work.

Marseille · 05-25-2011, 08:20 PM

Tilting landscape sliders are a fairly rare breed. When I first got my TP2, I didn't think I'd like the tilting screen, I mostly just wanted the keyboard. Now I'm holding out upgrading until something with a similar tilt comes out for Android -- which may well be never. HTC made one for WP7, but nothing for Android.

The reason is that I read every night, as part of my routine. With the keyboard out and the screen tilted, it is very easy and comfortable to hold with one hand. My thumb falls right on the arrow keys and my index finger fits in the joint between screen and keyboard for stability. I used to have it set up for quick right to left switching (an upside-down portrait mode and alternate keyboard mapping) but that got harder software wise.

I was perfectly happy before I got this using my Palm m500 and later my TX, but now I'm spoiled. I don't want to go back.

I'm not sure I can recommend the TP2 as a smartphone. Obsolete OS, obsolete guts... but it is a great ereader.

Tome Keeper · 06-01-2011, 08:52 AM

I have a HTC Wildfire, and I mainly use the device's mobile apps (such as Kindle for Android) and free readers such as FB reader. I use Dropbox to get the ebooks from my computer to my phone.

laurenor · 06-05-2011, 07:33 AM

Depends on your carrier and preferences. But the HTC Sensation is a solid choice; it has a big screen and high resolution. Good phone. Feels good in your hands. A good second choice is the Nexus S.

Less good (not the best phones), but with v big screens: the Samsung Infuse 4G on AT&T or Droid Charge on Verizon.

Soul_Est · 06-20-2011, 01:35 PM

You definitely can't go wrong with 4.3" or larger screen on a smartphone for reading (providing that the resolution is there). My HTC Desire HD (4.3" LCD, 480x800) is up to the task when needed.

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02-22-2011, 06:30 AM	#17
peegee Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 574 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: kindle	Watch out, some of these posts are pretty old and the android smartphone market moves fast. The new phones like google nexus/htc desire have fantastic screens. The adobe reader on android is also very good, with a reflow that really works well for text based pdfs.

03-01-2011, 03:19 PM	#19
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Does your office issue you a blackberry or other smart phone? Mine does I use the one the office issues me, it does the job very well its a Tour 9630 and does very well.

03-17-2011, 11:13 PM	#20
JerseyBiker Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 1013470 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Jersey Device: Nook Classic, Nook Glowlight, Galaxy Tab S9, Kindle Paperwhite	I recently purchased a HTC Incredible. My first smartphone. Using the Nook app I can sync it with my Nook on B&N so that whatever page I'm on in a book, It's on the phone. It comes in handy to kill time reading when I'm waiting somewhere. But for me the screen is too small to use all the time. ~eddie

03-18-2011, 11:06 AM	#21
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	HTC Evo, or the HTC Thunderbolt. I'd like the Droid X more if it weren't made by Motorola (hate the Motoblur interface). I haven't had a good experience with the Motorola handsets since their StarTAC phones some years ago.

03-18-2011, 11:09 AM	#22
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I hate the motoblur as well, but the DroidX screen is big enough to read from (not always the best at web browsing) but it seems small now compared to my Xoom.

03-18-2011, 10:34 PM	#25
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Before I purchased my first dedicated ereader device, I used a HP Ipaq PDA, then my first smartphone, a Samsung Omnia. Now my smartphone of choice is an iPhone 4 with the bigger screen. I cannot read long on a backlit LCD anymore, but the iPhone would be my pick for the best smartphone. Stanza, Kobo and ibooks all work well enough.

05-25-2011, 08:20 PM	#27
Marseille Guru Posts: 687 Karma: 5700000 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: kindle	Tilting landscape sliders are a fairly rare breed. When I first got my TP2, I didn't think I'd like the tilting screen, I mostly just wanted the keyboard. Now I'm holding out upgrading until something with a similar tilt comes out for Android -- which may well be never. HTC made one for WP7, but nothing for Android. The reason is that I read every night, as part of my routine. With the keyboard out and the screen tilted, it is very easy and comfortable to hold with one hand. My thumb falls right on the arrow keys and my index finger fits in the joint between screen and keyboard for stability. I used to have it set up for quick right to left switching (an upside-down portrait mode and alternate keyboard mapping) but that got harder software wise. I was perfectly happy before I got this using my Palm m500 and later my TX, but now I'm spoiled. I don't want to go back. I'm not sure I can recommend the TP2 as a smartphone. Obsolete OS, obsolete guts... but it is a great ereader.

06-01-2011, 08:52 AM	#28
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	I have a HTC Wildfire, and I mainly use the device's mobile apps (such as Kindle for Android) and free readers such as FB reader. I use Dropbox to get the ebooks from my computer to my phone.

06-05-2011, 07:33 AM	#29
laurenor Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Sony Reader, Kindle, Mobile Phone	Depends on your carrier and preferences. But the HTC Sensation is a solid choice; it has a big screen and high resolution. Good phone. Feels good in your hands. A good second choice is the Nexus S. Less good (not the best phones), but with v big screens: the Samsung Infuse 4G on AT&T or Droid Charge on Verizon.

06-20-2011, 01:35 PM	#30
Soul_Est Gadgetic Young Man Posts: 58 Karma: 300 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BlackBerry Z30, Sony PRS-650, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1	You definitely can't go wrong with 4.3" or larger screen on a smartphone for reading (providing that the resolution is there). My HTC Desire HD (4.3" LCD, 480x800) is up to the task when needed.