ePub reader recommendations

soondai · 10-09-2014, 11:49 AM

Hi. I just picked up an iPad4 from the Wally World sale. Have not read on an iPad for several years as my 1 has been used just for videos and stuff for the kiddo.

From what I've sorta gathered thru osmosis around here the last few years it looks like Marvin is the hands-down choice now that Stanza is gone.

I do see though that Marvin costs 4 dollars and still requires in app purchases for "themes." Also the reviews on the latest version are pretty rough, but I assume they'll fix those issues shortly.

Does Marvin let you control colors without the theme pack? I really just need one good set up for day and also a "night" setting?

I don't really object to throwing down 8 or 9 bucks if it's all that it's cracked up to be. Are there any other good and cheaper readers out there?

I don't really need Calibre integration and a lot of fancy stuff (not that I object). I'll probably just load 4 or 5 books at a time (drm free epubs).

Thanks for any help.

ps
One more question. Is Goodreader still king of the PDF apps?

Jessica Lares · 10-09-2014, 05:20 PM

The themes are just for the main library area. You can customize the reading experience itself however you want with just the basic purchase.

And yeah, GoodReader is still king for PDFs.

soondai · 10-09-2014, 07:16 PM

cool. Thanks for the info. I bought it.

JSWolf · 10-09-2014, 07:58 PM

Marvin is a good one for reading DRM free ePub.

tomsem · 10-10-2014, 01:25 AM

If you also play on Android, and need to sync between, or want ePub3 support, there are some choices:
Google Play Books (no DRM support, but also includes read-in-browser)
Txtr (supports Adobe DRM)
Bluefire (supports Adobe DRM, Dropbox)
Mantano Reader may join this group but so far the iOS version does not work with their cloud service. It supports Adobe DRM and OPDS.

If you convert your epub to Kindle format, you can use the Kindle app.

tsolignani · 10-10-2014, 08:11 AM

For PDF, I prefer Readdle PDF expert.

goreadread · 10-23-2014, 04:13 AM

I've tried many readers in the App Store. I highly recommend BookMaster. It makes e-reading much more pleasant and it has many advanced features that you don't find in other readers. For example, BookMaster itself can be turned into an OPDS server to share books in your library.

Cesca · 11-09-2014, 05:07 PM

I agree. Bookmaster is great. It's also very customizable as far as fonts and backgrounds colours go, even more than Marvin. There's a free version to try, which allows one book in the library, then a $3.99 version that is unlimited.

kyteflyer · 11-09-2014, 07:04 PM

Sorry, guys (or is it guy, a 1 post and 2 post to tout a particular reader?) i had a look at Bookmaster and it is in no way a competitor to the likes of Marvin, or many other free ebook readers. Big fail there.

Jane12 · 11-10-2014, 12:22 AM

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by Bookmaster. Been using it more than Marvin lately. YMMV

kyteflyer · 11-10-2014, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane12

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by Bookmaster. Been using it more than Marvin lately. YMMV

Really??? I thought it was awful. OH well.

Jane12 · 11-10-2014, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

Really???

Yes

I rather like the "Classic Book" option and I find Bookmaster has all the options I need in terms of adjusting font size, line height, margins, page themes, etc., just like Marvin. I also like that the brightness setting isn't global -- i.e., when you change the brightness in Marvin, it changes it for your entire device, not just the Marvin app. This drives me a little nuts. If you adjust the brightness in Bookmaster (as well as in Bluefire Reader, Mantano and Stanza), it only affects the one app, not your entire device.

What I like about Marvin that Bookmaster doesn't have is the ability to adjust page-warmth by swiping up/down with two fingers. I also like Marvin's ability to adjust brightness with a swipe, but Bookmaster's slider method is okay, too.

What I find missing from both Marvin and Bookmaster is Adobe-style page numbers instead of percentages. I know the Adobe-style page numbers are somewhat arbitrary, but they give an indication of the size of a book, not just where you are in the book. In other words, if you're on page 50 of a 100 page book, you know you've only got 50 pages to go; but if you're on page 500 of a 1,000-page book, you've still got a lot of reading before you finish. In Bookmaster and Marvin, you have no way of telling this since both just tell you you're 50% through.

@goreadread and @cesca -- I'm guessing you might be connected to the Bookmaster developer? If so, do you know if there's an iPhone version in the works and whether there's any chance Adobe-style page numbers might be added in the future? Thanks!

Cesca · 11-10-2014, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane12

@goreadread and @cesca -- I'm guessing you might be connected to the Bookmaster developer? If so, do you know if there's an iPhone version in the works and whether there's any chance Adobe-style page numbers might be added in the future? Thanks!

I'm just a new member who tried Bookmaster after reading about it in this forum. I have no connection to the developer. I just like the app. I had no idea commenting on an app would imply I was a shill for the company.

kyteflyer · 11-10-2014, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cesca

I'm just a new member who tried Bookmaster after reading about it in this forum. I have no connection to the developer. I just like the app. I had no idea commenting on an app would imply I was a shill for the company.

I must apologise for my earlier remark, and I am glad you came back to post again.

I just didn't like it much, and tbh am still using Stanza. Like Jane, I drtest how Marvin changes brightness for the device rather than the app. When I discovered that Stanza still works in iOS8, I started using it again. I'm on a 5S, and have mitigated top and bottom black bars by having a black background with light text, regardless of time of day

eschwartz · 11-10-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane12

What I find missing from both Marvin and Bookmaster is Adobe-style page numbers instead of percentages. I know the Adobe-style page numbers are somewhat arbitrary, but they give an indication of the size of a book, not just where you are in the book. In other words, if you're on page 50 of a 100 page book, you know you've only got 50 pages to go; but if you're on page 500 of a 1,000-page book, you've still got a lot of reading before you finish. In Bookmaster and Marvin, you have no way of telling this since both just tell you you're 50% through.

What about something like Time Left to Read?

Perhaps kguil doesn't want to lie about page numbers that don't really exist.

10-09-2014, 11:49 AM	#1
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	ePub reader recommendations Hi. I just picked up an iPad4 from the Wally World sale. Have not read on an iPad for several years as my 1 has been used just for videos and stuff for the kiddo. From what I've sorta gathered thru osmosis around here the last few years it looks like Marvin is the hands-down choice now that Stanza is gone. I do see though that Marvin costs 4 dollars and still requires in app purchases for "themes." Also the reviews on the latest version are pretty rough, but I assume they'll fix those issues shortly. Does Marvin let you control colors without the theme pack? I really just need one good set up for day and also a "night" setting? I don't really object to throwing down 8 or 9 bucks if it's all that it's cracked up to be. Are there any other good and cheaper readers out there? I don't really need Calibre integration and a lot of fancy stuff (not that I object). I'll probably just load 4 or 5 books at a time (drm free epubs). Thanks for any help. ps One more question. Is Goodreader still king of the PDF apps?

11-09-2014, 05:07 PM	#8
Cesca Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 1106620 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Home of the Maple Leaf Device: Kobos, iPads, Sonys	Bookmaster I agree. Bookmaster is great. It's also very customizable as far as fonts and backgrounds colours go, even more than Marvin. There's a free version to try, which allows one book in the library, then a $3.99 version that is unlimited.

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10-09-2014, 05:20 PM	#2
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	The themes are just for the main library area. You can customize the reading experience itself however you want with just the basic purchase. And yeah, GoodReader is still king for PDFs.

10-09-2014, 07:16 PM	#3
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	cool. Thanks for the info. I bought it.

10-09-2014, 07:58 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,708 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Marvin is a good one for reading DRM free ePub.

10-10-2014, 01:25 AM	#5
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,934 Karma: 27060151 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	If you also play on Android, and need to sync between, or want ePub3 support, there are some choices: Google Play Books (no DRM support, but also includes read-in-browser) Txtr (supports Adobe DRM) Bluefire (supports Adobe DRM, Dropbox) Mantano Reader may join this group but so far the iOS version does not work with their cloud service. It supports Adobe DRM and OPDS. If you convert your epub to Kindle format, you can use the Kindle app.

10-10-2014, 08:11 AM	#6
tsolignani Zealot Posts: 117 Karma: 38608 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vignola, Modena, Italy Device: iPad	For PDF, I prefer Readdle PDF expert.

10-23-2014, 04:13 AM	#7
goreadread Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2014 Device: iPad	I've tried many readers in the App Store. I highly recommend BookMaster. It makes e-reading much more pleasant and it has many advanced features that you don't find in other readers. For example, BookMaster itself can be turned into an OPDS server to share books in your library.

11-09-2014, 07:04 PM	#9
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,844 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	Sorry, guys (or is it guy, a 1 post and 2 post to tout a particular reader?) i had a look at Bookmaster and it is in no way a competitor to the likes of Marvin, or many other free ebook readers. Big fail there.

11-10-2014, 12:22 AM	#10
Jane12 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 1706300 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: iDevices	I'm actually pleasantly surprised by Bookmaster. Been using it more than Marvin lately. YMMV

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