Book-related apps

Catlady · 09-07-2013, 08:50 PM

I recently got my first Android device--a smartphone--and though the screen is rather small for reading, I'd like to install something to allow me to read e-books.

I know there are apps for Kindle and Nook, but I want something that would just allow me to read a non-DRM epub book, not something I need to authorize and all that hassle. I don't want to buy books or access them online; I just want to be able to have a few non-DRM epubs on the device for those times when I have nothing else to read.

Aldiko seems to have good reviews, but I'd appreciate any comments on that one or other suggestions for an appropriate app. Thanks.

cortman · 09-07-2013, 09:02 PM

I use Mantano reader; well worth dropping the $ for the full version because I hate ads, but there is a great free version as well.
Just chekcing out Alkido recently- it looks very polished.
FBReader and CoolReader, while I've seen them recommended here, I must say I dislike.

speakingtohe · 09-07-2013, 09:25 PM

I like Aldiko the best. The free version has a lot of features we are used to in ereaders, I have tried quite a few and this one is pretty easy to use and supports collections fairly easily.

Helen

AnemicOak · 09-07-2013, 11:03 PM

Depends on the features you want, but Moon+, Mantanto or Aldiko would be good ones to check out. There are tons of reading apps for Android, but those are three out the more popular ones.

fjtorres · 09-07-2013, 11:22 PM

Coolreader, Overdrive, and Bluefire are worth a look.
I favor Coolreader overall.

Catlady · 09-07-2013, 11:41 PM

Thanks for the suggestions; it really helps to have some recommendations when there are so many apps to choose from.

As to features I want--not much, just the ability to display a side-loaded non-DRM epub and keep my place in the book. Anything else doesn't matter much, and I'd probably be just as happy without, especially since I don't expect to use it much because of the small screen size.

Thanks again.

Istvan diVega · 09-08-2013, 12:29 AM

Moon+ and FBReader have been my go-to readers for a couple of years. I like Moon+ for tweakability and FBReader for its serene simplicity. Coolreader is also a nice app. I've tried Aldiko and Mantano as well, but found them inferior to the former three.

Catlady · 09-08-2013, 01:15 AM

I downloaded the Aldiko free version, and it seems like it will be fine, though I might try a couple of others for comparison.

I only looked at the sample book they included, but I was surprised that it didn't appear half bad on the small screen; it seemed quite readable. So I may end up using this more than I thought--thereby reducing the weight of my handbag!

Thanks again to everyone!

Istvan diVega · 09-08-2013, 02:24 AM

I use my Xperia Arc S a lot for reading and find its 4.3" screen pretty good. I wouldn't use it at home, but for use in cafés and on park benches it's excellent.

Mivo · 09-08-2013, 03:08 AM

There is a similar thread down in the Android section that may have additional suggestions.

I use Moon+ Pro and Calibre Companion for e-books related stuff on my Nexus 7. I tried a couple other readers, but Moon+ Pro had all features I wanted and worked well, so I stopped my search there (it was also 50% off at the time).

Ripplinger · 09-08-2013, 03:30 AM

Although I'd use my phone in a dire emergency only, I wanted a decent app too and I recently went through trying all of the above and then some. I finally settled on FBReader as my favorite. I had a few issues with Moon+ (and as seldom as I'd ever use it, I just couldn't justify paying for a reader app). I liked Aldiko, but it kept running in the background for no reason. FBReader has been perfect... it only starts when I start it for actual reading and it does everything perfectly for reading, and it's free.

Blossom · 09-08-2013, 03:38 AM

I've tried them all and Mantano is in the only one that will read external style sheets correctly. It also has collections so you can nicely organize your library and for a small yearly fee it also syncs your books to each device if you want that option.

Terisa de morgan · 09-08-2013, 04:09 AM

I have a problem with Mantano. I haven't been able that it recognizes my series (it's OK in calibre, Kobo and Calibre Companion)

Blossom · 09-08-2013, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

I have a problem with Mantano. I haven't been able that it recognizes my series (it's OK in calibre, Kobo and Calibre Companion)

What do you mean by series?

Terisa de morgan · 09-08-2013, 04:19 AM

"Cynster", "Harmony", "Arcane Society"... the book series.

09-07-2013, 08:50 PM	#1
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Book-related apps I recently got my first Android device--a smartphone--and though the screen is rather small for reading, I'd like to install something to allow me to read e-books. I know there are apps for Kindle and Nook, but I want something that would just allow me to read a non-DRM epub book, not something I need to authorize and all that hassle. I don't want to buy books or access them online; I just want to be able to have a few non-DRM epubs on the device for those times when I have nothing else to read. Aldiko seems to have good reviews, but I'd appreciate any comments on that one or other suggestions for an appropriate app. Thanks.

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09-07-2013, 09:02 PM	#2
cortman Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 1025658 Join Date: Jun 2013 Device: Kobo Glo, Kindle 3 3g, Nook HD+, Nexus 4 (Mantano)	I use Mantano reader; well worth dropping the $ for the full version because I hate ads, but there is a great free version as well. Just chekcing out Alkido recently- it looks very polished. FBReader and CoolReader, while I've seen them recommended here, I must say I dislike.

09-07-2013, 09:25 PM	#3
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I like Aldiko the best. The free version has a lot of features we are used to in ereaders, I have tried quite a few and this one is pretty easy to use and supports collections fairly easily. Helen

09-07-2013, 11:03 PM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Depends on the features you want, but Moon+, Mantanto or Aldiko would be good ones to check out. There are tons of reading apps for Android, but those are three out the more popular ones.

09-07-2013, 11:22 PM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Coolreader, Overdrive, and Bluefire are worth a look. I favor Coolreader overall.

09-07-2013, 11:41 PM	#6
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Thanks for the suggestions; it really helps to have some recommendations when there are so many apps to choose from. As to features I want--not much, just the ability to display a side-loaded non-DRM epub and keep my place in the book. Anything else doesn't matter much, and I'd probably be just as happy without, especially since I don't expect to use it much because of the small screen size. Thanks again.

09-08-2013, 12:29 AM	#7
Istvan diVega Inharmonious Posts: 416 Karma: 2157616 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Sony PRS-950, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1	Moon+ and FBReader have been my go-to readers for a couple of years. I like Moon+ for tweakability and FBReader for its serene simplicity. Coolreader is also a nice app. I've tried Aldiko and Mantano as well, but found them inferior to the former three.

09-08-2013, 01:15 AM	#8
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I downloaded the Aldiko free version, and it seems like it will be fine, though I might try a couple of others for comparison. I only looked at the sample book they included, but I was surprised that it didn't appear half bad on the small screen; it seemed quite readable. So I may end up using this more than I thought--thereby reducing the weight of my handbag! Thanks again to everyone!

09-08-2013, 02:24 AM	#9
Istvan diVega Inharmonious Posts: 416 Karma: 2157616 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Sony PRS-950, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1	I use my Xperia Arc S a lot for reading and find its 4.3" screen pretty good. I wouldn't use it at home, but for use in cafés and on park benches it's excellent.

09-08-2013, 03:08 AM	#10
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	There is a similar thread down in the Android section that may have additional suggestions. I use Moon+ Pro and Calibre Companion for e-books related stuff on my Nexus 7. I tried a couple other readers, but Moon+ Pro had all features I wanted and worked well, so I stopped my search there (it was also 50% off at the time).

09-08-2013, 03:30 AM	#11
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Although I'd use my phone in a dire emergency only, I wanted a decent app too and I recently went through trying all of the above and then some. I finally settled on FBReader as my favorite. I had a few issues with Moon+ (and as seldom as I'd ever use it, I just couldn't justify paying for a reader app). I liked Aldiko, but it kept running in the background for no reason. FBReader has been perfect... it only starts when I start it for actual reading and it does everything perfectly for reading, and it's free.

09-08-2013, 03:38 AM	#12
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I've tried them all and Mantano is in the only one that will read external style sheets correctly. It also has collections so you can nicely organize your library and for a small yearly fee it also syncs your books to each device if you want that option.

09-08-2013, 04:09 AM	#13
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,233 Karma: 11768331 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	I have a problem with Mantano. I haven't been able that it recognizes my series (it's OK in calibre, Kobo and Calibre Companion)

09-08-2013, 04:19 AM	#15
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,233 Karma: 11768331 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	"Cynster", "Harmony", "Arcane Society"... the book series.