MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Comics, iTunes, and 2-way sync

Rob_E · 08-09-2010, 01:26 PM

I may have to give CloudReader a try. I spent some more time with both ComicZeal and ComicBookLover. As stand alone readers, I'd say ComicZeal "wins" although there are a few UI issues that I prefer in ComicBookLover. For instance, I like how the CBL ap stops the motion of the page once you hit the edge of the screen, whereas CZ is "spongy" and lets you move the edge of the image away from the edge of the screen and then has it bounce back into place. CBL shows you individual files by default, whereas CZ shows you series by default. Theoretically starting with an issue list means that you could go right to the issue you want without needing an additional click, but it seems like you quickly get an unmanageable list, and it's easier to have it default to a series/collection-based view like CZ does. And I continue to be annoyed by the fact that CBL requires extra steps to determine where you are in a given book or if you've even read it. This is readily available information in CZ and is, in my mind, the primary way that CZ trumps CBL.

BUT, because CBL is an extension of its (Mac-based) desktop application, there remains the ability to manage all of the file data on the desktop and have that information transfer over to the mobile application. To me, this is a killer feature, and it means that I'll probably continue to use the CBL ap for the moment. If I could transfer .cbr/.cbz files from the Comic Book Lover desktop program into the ComicZeal transfer program while keeping the CBL metadata, I probably would do that instead. But as it stands, I have to re-enter information into ComicZeal that I already put into the CBL, so, in spite of UI preferences, I think I'm sticking with CBL until a better, more integrated solution comes along.

I'll still have to see how Cloudreader looks. I'd like to compare it to ComicBookLover because they're both free. Based on my experience so far, I think CBL is a perfectly capable, free comic reader, but not quite as functional as the for-pay ComicZeal. But, when combined with the ComicBookLover desktop application, CBL jumps into the lead. I'm guessing Cloudreader also lacks this desktop integration, so it'll be interesting to see how it stacks up to the other two applications in a stand-alone capacity.

08-09-2010, 01:26 PM	#6
Rob_E Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 154004 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: iPod Touch/iPad	I may have to give CloudReader a try. I spent some more time with both ComicZeal and ComicBookLover. As stand alone readers, I'd say ComicZeal "wins" although there are a few UI issues that I prefer in ComicBookLover. For instance, I like how the CBL ap stops the motion of the page once you hit the edge of the screen, whereas CZ is "spongy" and lets you move the edge of the image away from the edge of the screen and then has it bounce back into place. CBL shows you individual files by default, whereas CZ shows you series by default. Theoretically starting with an issue list means that you could go right to the issue you want without needing an additional click, but it seems like you quickly get an unmanageable list, and it's easier to have it default to a series/collection-based view like CZ does. And I continue to be annoyed by the fact that CBL requires extra steps to determine where you are in a given book or if you've even read it. This is readily available information in CZ and is, in my mind, the primary way that CZ trumps CBL. BUT, because CBL is an extension of its (Mac-based) desktop application, there remains the ability to manage all of the file data on the desktop and have that information transfer over to the mobile application. To me, this is a killer feature, and it means that I'll probably continue to use the CBL ap for the moment. If I could transfer .cbr/.cbz files from the Comic Book Lover desktop program into the ComicZeal transfer program while keeping the CBL metadata, I probably would do that instead. But as it stands, I have to re-enter information into ComicZeal that I already put into the CBL, so, in spite of UI preferences, I think I'm sticking with CBL until a better, more integrated solution comes along. I'll still have to see how Cloudreader looks. I'd like to compare it to ComicBookLover because they're both free. Based on my experience so far, I think CBL is a perfectly capable, free comic reader, but not quite as functional as the for-pay ComicZeal. But, when combined with the ComicBookLover desktop application, CBL jumps into the lead. I'm guessing Cloudreader also lacks this desktop integration, so it'll be interesting to see how it stacks up to the other two applications in a stand-alone capacity.