iPad What library software do you use?

AlexBell · 09-01-2011, 06:32 PM

Full disclosure: One of my hobbies is to prepare ebooks by hand, mostly for the MobileRead Library but also on occasion for others. And I recently bought an iPad to try to ensure that ebooks I prepare work well on an iPad.

Given that there are different library softwares I'd like to know which are the most widely used - that is, which ones I should work on first to make sure that the ebooks I prepare work for most people.

ilovejedd · 09-01-2011, 06:43 PM

I'm not sure if you can even sideload your own books to the iOS Kindle app. I use either Stanza or Kobo on iOS.

soondai · 09-01-2011, 10:36 PM

You can side load mobis to the kindle app (though I suspect OP is building ePubs).

I usually read on either Kindle or Bluefire.

AlexBell · 09-01-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soondai

You can side load mobis to the kindle app (though I suspect OP is building ePubs).

I usually read on either Kindle or Bluefire.

Yes, I start with ePubs and then make a mobi version with calibre. But I'm currently having a lot of problems making the ePub versions - which work perfectly well on my Sony - work as expected on the iPad/iBooks.

The very enthusiastic salesperson where I got the iPad told me that she doesn't use iBooks; she loads all her ebooks with the Kindle App and then converts. But I didn't know enough to ask how she did it.

rcuadro · 09-02-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

The very enthusiastic salesperson where I got the iPad told me that she doesn't use iBooks; she loads all her ebooks with the Kindle App and then converts. But I didn't know enough to ask how she did it.

She does not know what she is talking about then. You cannot side load an ePub into the Kindle app and the Kindle app sure as hell does not convert anything

I purchase all my books from Amazon so I use the Kindle app... the books I side load I use Calibre to send them to iTunes to read them in iBooks.

There are other reader apps out there but the combo of Calibre and iTunes/iBooks is too convinient to pass up

AlexBell · 09-03-2011, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

She does not know what she is talking about then. You cannot side load an ePub into the Kindle app and the Kindle app sure as hell does not convert anything

I purchase all my books from Amazon so I use the Kindle app... the books I side load I use Calibre to send them to iTunes to read them in iBooks.

Sorry, I should have been more clear; if I understood her properly she downloads her books through the Kindle app, then uses calibre to convert them.

I seem to remember that she uses uBooks to read them.

rcuadro · 09-03-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Sorry, I should have been more clear; if I understood her properly she downloads her books through the Kindle app, then uses calibre to convert them.

I seem to remember that she uses uBooks to read them.

It seems counterproductive. Download using the Kindle app, removing the DRM, then converting to ePub (I assume), and then sideloading them into uBooks...

I would really be interested to know how she gets them from her iPad to the computer since I don't believe that to be possible

Aladyleyna · 09-03-2011, 06:57 AM

For me, it would be Bluefire and Overdrive. Bluefire because I like the formatting, how each page appears, and the page flipping animation. Overdrive because I can borrow library ebooks and read them using it.

Razi · 09-05-2011, 06:20 AM

Stanza+Calibre= unbeatable. What will I do when Stanza is dead?

rcuadro · 09-05-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razi

Stanza+Calibre= unbeatable. What will I do when Stanza is dead?

Perhaps iBooks lol

Harmon · 09-06-2011, 02:42 PM

[Deleted by me because I realized I'd not responded to the question asked, but to the question I thought was being asked. Which it wasn't. And I don't know how to delete entire posts, though I probably should do it more often. Improved opinion below.]

Harmon · 09-06-2011, 03:01 PM

I rarely use iBooks. I'm generally more comfortable using one of my EBRs for reading books, in part because they are more portable, in part because I find myself getting distracted when I'm reading books on my iPad.

If I do read a book on my iPad, it's more likely to be in the Kindle App simply because that's available to me wirelessly across the iPad, my iPhone, & my K3. So I'm reading a single book across the three devices.

But here's a nuance - I don't use my Kindle to read free books. I use my Sony, so I get my free books in epub format.

So IF I were to be reading a book on the iPad that I obtained from Mobileread, I'd be using iBooks.

AlexBell · 09-07-2011, 07:12 AM

Thanks, Harmon.

I think your response shows how polls don't show all the nuances. I'd never have thought of all the possibilities you mention

gwynevans · 09-07-2011, 06:45 PM

I read ePubs in Stanza but must take another look at the alternatives sometime in case it stops working with some IOS update or other...

ilovejedd · 09-08-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

I read ePubs in Stanza but must take another look at the alternatives sometime in case it stops working with some IOS update or other...

If that happens, I just won't update the firmware on my device. The only reason I'm still using an iPhone is because of Stanza. I've already found a nice alternative on Android (Mantano Reader) so if iOS 5 screws up Stanza, I'll be looking at the Nexus Prime to replace my iPhone. That said, I find the Kobo iOS app to be pretty decent.

View Poll Results: What library software to you use on your iPad
I use iBooks	22	57.89%
I use the Kindle App	16	42.11%
I use another ebook App	17	44.74%
I don't use any of the above	1	2.63%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll

09-01-2011, 06:32 PM	#1
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	What library software do you use? Full disclosure: One of my hobbies is to prepare ebooks by hand, mostly for the MobileRead Library but also on occasion for others. And I recently bought an iPad to try to ensure that ebooks I prepare work well on an iPad. Given that there are different library softwares I'd like to know which are the most widely used - that is, which ones I should work on first to make sure that the ebooks I prepare work for most people. Last edited by AlexBell; 09-01-2011 at 06:36 PM. Reason: Fixed a typo

09-06-2011, 02:42 PM	#11
Harmon King of the Bongo Drums Posts: 1,622 Karma: 5927225 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Excelsior! (Strange...)	[Deleted by me because I realized I'd not responded to the question asked, but to the question I thought was being asked. Which it wasn't. And I don't know how to delete entire posts, though I probably should do it more often. Improved opinion below.] Last edited by Harmon; 09-06-2011 at 03:04 PM.

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09-01-2011, 06:43 PM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I'm not sure if you can even sideload your own books to the iOS Kindle app. I use either Stanza or Kobo on iOS.

09-01-2011, 10:36 PM	#3
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	You can side load mobis to the kindle app (though I suspect OP is building ePubs). I usually read on either Kindle or Bluefire.

09-03-2011, 06:57 AM	#8
Aladyleyna Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 24624 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPad 1	For me, it would be Bluefire and Overdrive. Bluefire because I like the formatting, how each page appears, and the page flipping animation. Overdrive because I can borrow library ebooks and read them using it.

09-05-2011, 06:20 AM	#9
Razi Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 494242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Device: Toshiba E740, Cassiopeia, iLiad, iPad, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura HD	Stanza+Calibre= unbeatable. What will I do when Stanza is dead?

09-06-2011, 03:01 PM	#12
Harmon King of the Bongo Drums Posts: 1,622 Karma: 5927225 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Excelsior! (Strange...)	I rarely use iBooks. I'm generally more comfortable using one of my EBRs for reading books, in part because they are more portable, in part because I find myself getting distracted when I'm reading books on my iPad. If I do read a book on my iPad, it's more likely to be in the Kindle App simply because that's available to me wirelessly across the iPad, my iPhone, & my K3. So I'm reading a single book across the three devices. But here's a nuance - I don't use my Kindle to read free books. I use my Sony, so I get my free books in epub format. So IF I were to be reading a book on the iPad that I obtained from Mobileread, I'd be using iBooks.

09-07-2011, 07:12 AM	#13
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Thanks, Harmon. I think your response shows how polls don't show all the nuances. I'd never have thought of all the possibilities you mention

09-07-2011, 06:45 PM	#14
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	I read ePubs in Stanza but must take another look at the alternatives sometime in case it stops working with some IOS update or other...

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