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Old 05-20-2012, 04:06 PM   #4
bobcdy
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Join Date: May 2009
Device: bebook; prs-950; nook simple touch; HTC Jetstream tablet
Update on ereaders for Nook STR

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcdy View Post
I found that Aldiko is excellent for reading epubs, and Kindle/FBreader/Cool Reader are adequate for Mobi. My conclusion is that the rooted NST is a very suitable reader for epubs and other ebook formats.Bob
The above quote is from my android ereader app review on 5-08-2012. After using a rooted NST for almost two weeks, I ran across another android ereader - Mantano Reader. I'm using the free version, and found it is superior to Aldiko for epubs, and also does a wonderful job with pdf files.

Aldiko was giving me some trouble with the small caps font that I normally use in my epubs; some of the letters didn't show. This was especially the 'f' 'F' letters, and usually at least one additional letter occurring after the 'F' so that 'First' showed as 'rst', the 'S' also gave problems. I had no trouble with this small caps font using ADE on my compuer and on my Bebook One. Same problem occurred with the Nook native ereader. Changing the small caps font solved the problem but caused me to look for another reader app.

I tested Mantano Reader with several of my epubs that had numerous fairly complex formatting such as small caps, italics, tables, and hanging paragraphs; and included a file consisting of numerous large pdf illustrations. It rendered everything excellently (except see below). Has options for horizontal orientation that is ideal for large horizontal plate images, and a setting to fit the image either vertically or horizontally; does epubs flawlessly; works with folders (has its own file explorer to search sd card folders), night setting, ability to change user downloaded fonts (although only one at a time, and so if there are italics, and the chosen font is regular, then the italics show in the default font) - everything I wanted in an ereader. Very impressive app!

Unfortunately, Mantano Reader still had a problem with the small caps font described above. For example 'twenty-five feet' showed as 'twen - ve feet'. I downloaded the offending font to the Mantano fonts folder, but this did not help (fonts in the folder can be chosen for the body text). Choosing the offending small caps font for the body text allows finding exactly what letters don't show, but I found this is complex and not easily interpreted. The problem is not caused by the e-reader apps because all I've tested have the same difficulty. Apparently, the Nook, or its android system, doesn't like that font, and I have no idea if the problem will occur on other e-book readers. My Sony PRS-950, in addition to BeBook One and computer ADE, had no difficulty with the font. I'll use a different font on new epubs.

Later today: apparently the problem resides in the fact that the ttf small caps font had originated from an otf font. I converted the otf, removed many glyphs, and renamed the font (with the author's permission). Today I reconverted the otf font to ttf but did not remove any glyphs, and there was no problem with letter visibility. Removal of glyphs destroys the otf tables and perhaps this causes problems with android that apparently has no trouble with otf conversions as long as the tables are intact. A similar problem was encountered on the Kindle with converted fonts as discussed on a font editing forum.

Last edited by bobcdy; 05-26-2012 at 12:32 AM.
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