[Archived] Marvin ePub reader for iPad

[Philantrop]

Originally Posted by maxjens

Kguil, in my use of Marvin i noticed that i mostly navigate between my library and the book i am currently reading. This now takes several steps, book - home screen - library - home - book.

If you go from book to home you do that screen flip. Could you perhaps add a button to flip between book and library and back. Or introduce a swipe that does the same.

I, too, think this is a great idea, Kris.

[larsF]

Marvin is a great App for reading, the best by far.

One thing I would like to mention: The german iOS app "Thalia eReading" manages to display the text even a little sharper (on non-retina devices) than Marvin - the letters look a bit like embossed text (only works with In-App purchases).

https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/thal...350742971?mt=8

Nevertheless the Thalia app lacks all the other wonderful features of Marvin.



If Marvin managed to display text like the "Thalia eReading" app, it would be absolutely outstanding!

______________
Lars

[Faterson]

Originally Posted by larsF

manages to display the text even a little sharper (on non-retina devices) than Marvin

Sorry, but the issue there definitely lies in the device you use, not in Marvin. Judging by 2013 standards, non-Retina devices are simply outdated. Yes, it's bad of Apple to release a device (iPad Mini) with an obsolete screen as late as in the fall of 2012, but that's what happened. I can't wait to buy an iPad Mini; it would suit me perfectly, as a secondary tablet; but I've held off buying it precisely because its screen is not up to today's standards, as you are observing yourself now. I assure you that on my Retina-display iPad 3, the fonts in Marvin couldn't possibly be crisper!

While I applaud Kris for supporting old-generation devices such as iPad 1 (I still own one of them and use it daily), iPad 2 and iPad Mini, and I hope he will continue supporting them, if I were Kris, I wouldn't lose any sleep over fonts not being crisp enough when displayed on old-generation screens. The fonts aren't crisp enough, because the screens on those "legacy" devices are no longer good enough -- it's as simple as that.

[kguil]

maxjens, Philantrop - wouldn't you achieve the same thing if you open the book from the library (If you're expecting to do a lot of library-to-book flipping)? In the upcoming version you will be able to create a reading list in your library. That way you wouldn't need to browse a long selection of books to pick your next or current read).

larsF - Glad you like it. What you are describing almost certainly has to do with the fonts they're using. I had a look at Thalia and they seem to be using Adobe's Minion Pro and Myriad Pro fonts. I can't add them to Marvin (due to licensing issues). However, in a future version you'll be able to side load your own fonts.

[maxjens]

Originally Posted by kguil

maxjens, Philantrop - wouldn't you achieve the same thing if you open the book from the library (If you're expecting to do a lot of library-to-book flipping)? In the upcoming version you will be able to create a reading list in your library. That way you wouldn't need to browse a long selection of books to pick your next or current read).

If i open a book from the library, then i cannot go back easily to the library.i have to go back to home and then to library. So if i am looking for a book to read it can take up to 4 or 5 tries before i think yes this is the book. I would love a way to quickly switch back from my book to the library.

[humler]

Originally Posted by kguil

maxjens, Philantrop - wouldn't you achieve the same thing if you open the book from the library (If you're expecting to do a lot of library-to-book flipping)? In the upcoming version you will be able to create a reading list in your library. That way you wouldn't need to browse a long selection of books to pick your next or current read).

larsF - Glad you like it. What you are describing almost certainly has to do with the fonts they're using. I had a look at Thalia and they seem to be using Adobe's Minion Pro and Myriad Pro fonts. I can't add them to Marvin (due to licensing issues). However, in a future version you'll be able to side load your own fonts.

I've got an iPad Mini. My reading experience is great. Faterson is right, the screen is not the best one out there but to me still very readable and the form factor is great. As kris has said in iPad Mini the font choice it's crucial. Gentium by SIL is by far the crispiest font using Marvin in iPad Mini. Gentium Book would be a great add-on too.

[Philantrop]

Originally Posted by kguil

maxjens, Philantrop - wouldn't you achieve the same thing if you open the book from the library (If you're expecting to do a lot of library-to-book flipping)?

Kris, cf. my email. That would, indeed, fix the issue for me and, I think, maxjens, too.

[larsF]

Originally Posted by kguil

larsF - Glad you like it. What you are describing almost certainly has to do with the fonts they're using. I had a look at Thalia and they seem to be using Adobe's Minion Pro and Myriad Pro fonts. I can't add them to Marvin (due to licensing issues). However, in a future version you'll be able to side load your own fonts.

Thanks, Kris. To me Euphemia is currently the best Font. When Using the Thalia app I prefer Verdana Or Trebuchet MS. The option to side load own Fonts sounds good!

[kguil]

maxjens, Marvins behaviour should be:
- If you open a book from the home screen and go back you'll go back to the home screen.
- If you open a book from the library and go back you'll go back to the library.

Isn't this what you're seeing?

Right now, there is an annoyance where if you go back to the library, Marvin takes you back to the top of the list rather than remembering your vertical position. This is fixed in the upcoming version.

[kguil]

humler, yes, Gentium book is quite lovely. Soon you'll be able to add it in Marvin.

[humler]

Originally Posted by kguil

humler, yes, Gentium book is quite lovely. Soon you'll be able to add it in Marvin.

Great. Thanks, Kris. I am in love with Marvin!

[maxjens]

Originally Posted by kguil

maxjens, Marvins behaviour should be:
- If you open a book from the home screen and go back you'll go back to the home screen.
- If you open a book from the library and go back you'll go back to the library.

Isn't this what you're seeing?

Right now, there is an annoyance where if you go back to the library, Marvin takes you back to the top of the list rather than remembering your vertical position. This is fixed in the upcoming version.

True, that is what happens. In the situation that no book is opened, the only way back is through the homescreen.

[kguil]

Hi maxjens, I'm not following. If no book is opened, go back from where to where?

[Turtle91]

Hey Kris,
I've noticed a little bug...wasn't sure if someone mentioned it already or if there was somewhere else to post it...

When you increase the paragraph indent it shifts headers <h1-6> to the right as well. This results in chapter titles etc. being off center unless you have paragraph indent set to zero.

<p>s and <div>s that are styled as "text-align:center" remain positioned properly in the center - it is only the <h1-6> tags that get moved.

This happens in portrait and landscape; 1,2 or auto columns.

Versions: Marvin 1.3, ipad2 iOS 6.1.3

I hope that helps!

Cheers,

[kguil]

Thanks Turtle. I'll look into it. Although I won't have time to fix this for 1.4 (the very next release), I'll schedule a fix for the following version.