MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - How to read e-books on (almost) any phone

mogui · 09-27-2007, 12:19 PM

I downloaded Tequilacat. It is a PC application. You can bring text files into it and tell it to "build" them into ".jar" files. You have control over some things. You can specify the name of the midlet, and the books title in your list of java applications on your phone. What you get from Tequilacat is a jar file that you can load into your phone.

I discovered it was necessary to make sure there weren't paragraph marks at the end of each line in the original text file. Then the jar file came out quite readable on the phone. Let me emphasize. There is no e-reader app running on the phone. Tequilacat packages your book into an executable java file that runs like a program and allows you to view the text and scroll through it.

Did it work well? Sort of. If I want to read a text all the way through it is just fine. But any attempt I made to use bookmarks, then suspend the program, and later resume, ended in an application error or in exiting the text. I will use it, certainly. It shows me what is possible with my phone. But it needs work. To be fair, the problem may lie in my phone and not in Tequilacat.

Before I talk about Wattpad, I must relate how I got java applications installed on my phone. I have a Motorola V186. I downloaded P2Ktools. When you unzip p2ktools you will find a directory of drivers, among other things. Then when you plug your V186 into your PC via the USB cable, Windows will prompt you to install 4 or 5 drivers, one at a time. It should be pointed at the aforementioned drivers directory.

When the drivers have been installed, unplug the phone and bring up p2ktools. Then plug in your phone to the USB cable. My phone was powered down. Soon the p2ktools app will tell you at the bottom of the screen that you are connected and what type phone you have. Then you can select areas of the phone (such as the filesystem, java apps, etc.) that you wish to view, refresh them, and you are in business. This app will allow you to install java apps such as games and Tequilacat formatted ebooks.

Wattpad was a disappointment for me. I like the idea of a reader. I like the idea of downloading preformatted ebooks to the reader on my phone. But Wattpad wouldn't let me install the books on my phone from my PC! It required me to install them directly to my phone from the internet. I don't use my phone for internet because the screen is just too small to be useful. As far as I could tell, Wattpad had only that one limitation. But then, I didn't get to read anything with it. Maybe Wattpat is great if you are connected.

09-27-2007, 12:19 PM	#7
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Tequilacat vs Wattpad I downloaded Tequilacat. It is a PC application. You can bring text files into it and tell it to "build" them into ".jar" files. You have control over some things. You can specify the name of the midlet, and the books title in your list of java applications on your phone. What you get from Tequilacat is a jar file that you can load into your phone. I discovered it was necessary to make sure there weren't paragraph marks at the end of each line in the original text file. Then the jar file came out quite readable on the phone. Let me emphasize. There is no e-reader app running on the phone. Tequilacat packages your book into an executable java file that runs like a program and allows you to view the text and scroll through it. Did it work well? Sort of. If I want to read a text all the way through it is just fine. But any attempt I made to use bookmarks, then suspend the program, and later resume, ended in an application error or in exiting the text. I will use it, certainly. It shows me what is possible with my phone. But it needs work. To be fair, the problem may lie in my phone and not in Tequilacat. Before I talk about Wattpad, I must relate how I got java applications installed on my phone. I have a Motorola V186. I downloaded P2Ktools. When you unzip p2ktools you will find a directory of drivers, among other things. Then when you plug your V186 into your PC via the USB cable, Windows will prompt you to install 4 or 5 drivers, one at a time. It should be pointed at the aforementioned drivers directory. When the drivers have been installed, unplug the phone and bring up p2ktools. Then plug in your phone to the USB cable. My phone was powered down. Soon the p2ktools app will tell you at the bottom of the screen that you are connected and what type phone you have. Then you can select areas of the phone (such as the filesystem, java apps, etc.) that you wish to view, refresh them, and you are in business. This app will allow you to install java apps such as games and Tequilacat formatted ebooks. Wattpad was a disappointment for me. I like the idea of a reader. I like the idea of downloading preformatted ebooks to the reader on my phone. But Wattpad wouldn't let me install the books on my phone from my PC! It required me to install them directly to my phone from the internet. I don't use my phone for internet because the screen is just too small to be useful. As far as I could tell, Wattpad had only that one limitation. But then, I didn't get to read anything with it. Maybe Wattpat is great if you are connected.