E-book reading on the iPod

Brian · 11-13-2005, 07:52 AM

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has an article on using the new 5th generation iPod as an e-book reader using the iPod's built-in Notes feature. The article points out that the size limit of text-only Notes has increased from 4k to 8k, and Apple offers a convenient Clipboard-to-Note AppleScript to Mac OS X users that copies text from the clipboard to the Notes folder on the iPod. Here's another convenient feature for e-book reading: By pressing the "Menu" key while reading a long note, the iPod will return to that point the next time you open that note.

With the new iPod's larger 2.5" color screen and the Note feature for reading text, is the iPod turning into a viable e-book reading platform?

Read the full article here

Colin Dunstan · 11-14-2005, 08:59 AM

I'd say this is nice to impress friends, but not really usable. At least not unless your eyes are sharp enough to cut bread.

Which begs the question... what is your minimum screen size/screen resolution for reading e-books? Mine is 320x320 with at least 3".

radleyp · 11-14-2005, 12:25 PM

I just weighed in over at the site. What a terrible idea! When will this nonsense of cramming multiple functions onto ill-suited devices stop? The screen size issue is serious enough, but consider navigation: how are you going to use a wheel to go from page to page? Just try it with one hand, and see how far you get, not to mention a recent posting somewhere that states that circular motion with one hand is unnatural and harmful. Enough! Philippe Radley

peppermint_tea · 09-08-2009, 01:44 PM

Yuck. I can't imagine reading a book on an iPod. I used to have a sidekick that I tried to read books on. It was awful! I couldn't read more than a few "screens" at a time.

I do LOVE reading books on the iPhone tho. Stanza and eReader are my favorite apps. I don't think anything smaller than that would be usable.

lisgielen · 10-10-2009, 03:03 PM

I started e-reading on my Nokia, using Mobipocket. Still do at night, because my Nokia allows me to read in the dark. My Irex isn`t suitable for bed-reading without waking my partner :-) Suppose it works as well on Ipod and Iphone...

ColdSun · 10-10-2009, 04:26 PM

Too small for a suitable ebook reader. In fact, my eyes are pretty good and I still won't go below 4.3" screen size. My ideal is 7.0" due to also reading a lot of comics too.

lisgielen · 10-16-2009, 04:44 AM

Where do you find these comics? Are they for free? And useable on iRex as wel? (Mobipocket format, e.g.)

Terisa de morgan · 10-16-2009, 04:54 AM

Iphone touch is nice for me if we talk about novels, but no comics,

ColdSun · 10-16-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisgielen

Where do you find these comics? Are they for free? And useable on iRex as wel? (Mobipocket format, e.g.)

Comics often come in CBR or CBZ comic library format (which is really just RAR or ZIP). You can scan your own comics to JPGs and then zip or rar them up and change the file extension manually. Also, many comic book companies now offer e-comics that you can purchase and download as well. There are also many non-licensed manga and anime comics out there that are perfectly legal to read.

HarryO53 · 03-12-2010, 10:43 AM

iPod Touch makes a great reader! Ordered the iPad today. Be interesting to see what Amazon has come up with as a competitor to iBooks. That was announced yesterday!

11-13-2005, 07:52 AM	#1
Brian MobileRead Editor Posts: 447 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts Device: Treo 700p, Zodiac2	E-book reading on the iPod The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has an article on using the new 5th generation iPod as an e-book reader using the iPod's built-in Notes feature. The article points out that the size limit of text-only Notes has increased from 4k to 8k, and Apple offers a convenient Clipboard-to-Note AppleScript to Mac OS X users that copies text from the clipboard to the Notes folder on the iPod. Here's another convenient feature for e-book reading: By pressing the "Menu" key while reading a long note, the iPod will return to that point the next time you open that note. With the new iPod's larger 2.5" color screen and the Note feature for reading text, is the iPod turning into a viable e-book reading platform? Read the full article here

10-16-2009, 04:44 AM	#7
lisgielen Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Belgium Device: nokia 6760slide, irex iliad, (nokia 3250)	Comics Where do you find these comics? Are they for free? And useable on iRex as wel? (Mobipocket format, e.g.)

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11-14-2005, 08:59 AM	#2
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	I'd say this is nice to impress friends, but not really usable. At least not unless your eyes are sharp enough to cut bread. Which begs the question... what is your minimum screen size/screen resolution for reading e-books? Mine is 320x320 with at least 3".

11-14-2005, 12:25 PM	#3
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	I just weighed in over at the site. What a terrible idea! When will this nonsense of cramming multiple functions onto ill-suited devices stop? The screen size issue is serious enough, but consider navigation: how are you going to use a wheel to go from page to page? Just try it with one hand, and see how far you get, not to mention a recent posting somewhere that states that circular motion with one hand is unnatural and harmful. Enough! Philippe Radley

09-08-2009, 01:44 PM	#4
peppermint_tea Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony Reader 700	Yuck. I can't imagine reading a book on an iPod. I used to have a sidekick that I tried to read books on. It was awful! I couldn't read more than a few "screens" at a time. I do LOVE reading books on the iPhone tho. Stanza and eReader are my favorite apps. I don't think anything smaller than that would be usable.

10-10-2009, 03:03 PM	#5
lisgielen Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Belgium Device: nokia 6760slide, irex iliad, (nokia 3250)	I started e-reading on my Nokia, using Mobipocket. Still do at night, because my Nokia allows me to read in the dark. My Irex isn`t suitable for bed-reading without waking my partner :-) Suppose it works as well on Ipod and Iphone...

10-10-2009, 04:26 PM	#6
ColdSun Developer/Device Reviews Posts: 591 Karma: 22183 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: Sony Xperia Tablet Z, Kindle Paperwhite 2, Lenovo Yoga 8, IPad 3	Too small for a suitable ebook reader. In fact, my eyes are pretty good and I still won't go below 4.3" screen size. My ideal is 7.0" due to also reading a lot of comics too.

10-16-2009, 04:54 AM	#8
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,628 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	Iphone touch is nice for me if we talk about novels, but no comics,

03-12-2010, 10:43 AM	#10
HarryO53 Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: iPod Touch	iPod Touch makes a great reader! Ordered the iPad today. Be interesting to see what Amazon has come up with as a competitor to iBooks. That was announced yesterday!

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