Best phone for reading

odoketa · 12-17-2008, 08:33 PM

Hi,

I'm thinking of upgrading my phone, and I'd like to get one that's good for reading. Right now I do most of my reading on my HTC PPC 6800 (the 'mogul' from Sprint), and it's pretty good - the scroll wheel on the top left makes me happy, as does the front thumb pad. Does anyone know if any of the new phones (preferably with a bigger screen/higher resolution screen) are any good? I know there's a lot of enthusiasm for e-ink here, but it's just too bulky for me (and not back (side, front) lit, for the most part). Plus, I love having a book with me at all times.

Some I've been eyeing are the Samsung phones, the touch (HTC Touch or Touch Pro), the UTStarcom XV6800, and maybe the full screen blackberry ('storm', is it?).

Thanks for any help / suggestions!

HarryT · 12-18-2008, 04:40 AM

A Windows Smartphone will give you by far the widest range of reading applications, and will allow you to read ANY eBook format. The issue for me, though, has always been that I want a larger screen for reading on than I want to carry around as a phone.

I have an HTC Touch on which I run MobiPocket Reader. It's fine for occasional reading, but I don't think I'd want to use it as my primary book reader.

Laine · 12-18-2008, 05:46 AM

I have eReader on my HTC Touch Diamond and my HTC Touch Pro. The screens are small but very, very clear.
I don't mind them as I normally read on my ppcs. And with small multifocal glasses I don't like moving my head aroundto read a page.
However, the battery would be a big concern for me if I was going to do much reading and make many phone calls.
I did read a few novels on the Diamond but that's just my back up phone and I rarely make calls on it.
I think it's great for when you don't have room to carry a lot of stuff and want to be able to read where ever you go. But it would probably be good to have a car charger available.

Laine

Elsi · 12-18-2008, 01:49 PM

My hubby bought me a reconditioned Blackberry 8700C. We picked this one because it does *NOT* have a camera. I visit customer sites where cameras are forbidden, and while I'm willing to give up my camera, I'm not willing to give up my phone and connectivity. So far, we haven't purchased the data plan from the phone company, so I can't browse the internet or get e-mail. But I *can* read books on it.

I downloaded the MobiPocket software for the Blackberry somewhat as an experiment to see how it would be to read a book on it. The font on the Blackberry is very clear and it's much easier to read on it than I had anticipated. And, I have found it's easy to sneak in some "stealth reading" on the Blackberry when I'm in situations where pulling out my Kindle or Sony reader would not be accepted. People are so used to seeing others looking at their Blackberry and they just think you're looking at a text message or e-mail notice. Me, I'm reading a SF book!

I only keep one book on it and a time since I'm not sure how much memory I can tie up with books. When I've finished reading a book, I delete it and add another.

DDHarriman · 12-18-2008, 06:52 PM

A Pocketpc phone edition phone would be the nest solution.

You already have one so you are in correct path, just get one of those with the biggest screen you are comfortable with.

One thing people keep on forgetting is that you will get all the eBook readers software and they all will let you read DRM files if you want.

tompe · 12-18-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A Windows Smartphone will give you by far the widest range of reading applications, and will allow you to read ANY eBook format. The issue for me, though, has always been that I want a larger screen for reading on than I want to carry around as a phone.

I looked around for readers available for S60 phones and I found support for eReader, MobiPocket, iSilo and so on. So what format is supported on a Windows phone but not on an S60 phone?

tompe · 12-18-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

I downloaded the MobiPocket software for the Blackberry somewhat as an experiment to see how it would be to read a book on it. The font on the Blackberry is very clear and it's much easier to read on it than I had anticipated. And, I have found it's easy to sneak in some "stealth reading" on the Blackberry when I'm in situations where pulling out my Kindle or Sony reader would not be accepted. People are so used to seeing others looking at their Blackberry and they just think you're looking at a text message or e-mail notice. Me, I'm reading a SF book!

I experimented reading book on my Nokia N85 and was suprised how readable it was. And as you say, perfect for stealth reading at boring meetings.

DaleDe · 12-18-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I looked around for readers available for S60 phones and I found support for eReader, MobiPocket, iSilo and so on. So what format is supported on a Windows phone but not on an S60 phone?

LIT for sure. You can check the list in the wiki.

Dale

Steven Lyle Jordan · 12-18-2008, 09:17 PM

I would recommend NOT going with an LG Dare. It is running Java, and I don't know of an e-book reader coded for Brew.

(Glad I didn't get it for reading!...)

delphidb96 · 12-18-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odoketa

Hi,

I'm thinking of upgrading my phone, and I'd like to get one that's good for reading. Right now I do most of my reading on my HTC PPC 6800 (the 'mogul' from Sprint), and it's pretty good - the scroll wheel on the top left makes me happy, as does the front thumb pad. Does anyone know if any of the new phones (preferably with a bigger screen/higher resolution screen) are any good? I know there's a lot of enthusiasm for e-ink here, but it's just too bulky for me (and not back (side, front) lit, for the most part). Plus, I love having a book with me at all times.

Some I've been eyeing are the Samsung phones, the touch (HTC Touch or Touch Pro), the UTStarcom XV6800, and maybe the full screen blackberry ('storm', is it?).

Thanks for any help / suggestions!

Really, any phone with a 3.5" (Measured along the diagonal.) screen or larger would be suitable for reading.

However, the question strongly pulls up a paraphrase in my mind - silly rabbit, phone are for talking!

Derek

odoketa · 12-19-2008, 03:16 PM

First off, thanks for all the comments! As I get closer to making the switch, I'm going to be coming back to them for guidance.

I went hunting for a place that would let me search out phones with certain attributes (like a 3.5 inch screen). I didn't find exactly that, but I did find Phone Arena's advanced search, which is not bad. I figure a high res screen probably means a big screen (mostly).

tompe · 12-19-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

LIT for sure. You can check the list in the wiki.

Ah, since nobody think it is an disadvantage for an E-ink reader not to handle lit format I did not think about this obvious answer. eReader, all palm format and Mobipocket are supported on Symbian OS at least.

DDHarriman · 12-19-2008, 07:43 PM

As say above: pocketpc phones support all the DRM formats and lots of other more!

tompe · 12-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

As say above: pocketpc phones support all the DRM formats and lots of other more!

Really. It supports Sony's DRM format? I did not know that.

My point was that the difference in supported formats seems pretty irrelevant.

Laine · 12-20-2008, 12:09 AM

I figure a high res screen probably means a big screen (mostly).

No, not really. My husband's HTC Tytan Tilt has a bigger screen than my HTC Touch Diamond or HTC Touch Pro but the resolution on the latter is better.
Most screens seem to have a display of 240 x 320 pixels. the Diamond and Pro are 480 x 640 and you can see the difference.

I buy PDA Essentials magazine (U.K.) and got the figures from there.

The Toshiba G910 has 480 x 800 but I've neve seen one. There are very few really high res screens on phones or pdas.

That's why I bought the HP 212 although I already had a good pda. I missed the higher res of my broken HP 4700.

12-17-2008, 08:33 PM	#1
odoketa Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: PPC6800	Best phone for reading Hi, I'm thinking of upgrading my phone, and I'd like to get one that's good for reading. Right now I do most of my reading on my HTC PPC 6800 (the 'mogul' from Sprint), and it's pretty good - the scroll wheel on the top left makes me happy, as does the front thumb pad. Does anyone know if any of the new phones (preferably with a bigger screen/higher resolution screen) are any good? I know there's a lot of enthusiasm for e-ink here, but it's just too bulky for me (and not back (side, front) lit, for the most part). Plus, I love having a book with me at all times. Some I've been eyeing are the Samsung phones, the touch (HTC Touch or Touch Pro), the UTStarcom XV6800, and maybe the full screen blackberry ('storm', is it?). Thanks for any help / suggestions!

12-19-2008, 03:16 PM	#11
odoketa Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: PPC6800	update on the search First off, thanks for all the comments! As I get closer to making the switch, I'm going to be coming back to them for guidance. I went hunting for a place that would let me search out phones with certain attributes (like a 3.5 inch screen). I didn't find exactly that, but I did find Phone Arena's advanced search, which is not bad. I figure a high res screen probably means a big screen (mostly).

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12-18-2008, 04:40 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	A Windows Smartphone will give you by far the widest range of reading applications, and will allow you to read ANY eBook format. The issue for me, though, has always been that I want a larger screen for reading on than I want to carry around as a phone. I have an HTC Touch on which I run MobiPocket Reader. It's fine for occasional reading, but I don't think I'd want to use it as my primary book reader.

12-18-2008, 05:46 AM	#3
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I have eReader on my HTC Touch Diamond and my HTC Touch Pro. The screens are small but very, very clear. I don't mind them as I normally read on my ppcs. And with small multifocal glasses I don't like moving my head aroundto read a page. However, the battery would be a big concern for me if I was going to do much reading and make many phone calls. I did read a few novels on the Diamond but that's just my back up phone and I rarely make calls on it. I think it's great for when you don't have room to carry a lot of stuff and want to be able to read where ever you go. But it would probably be good to have a car charger available. Laine

12-18-2008, 01:49 PM	#4
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	My hubby bought me a reconditioned Blackberry 8700C. We picked this one because it does NOT have a camera. I visit customer sites where cameras are forbidden, and while I'm willing to give up my camera, I'm not willing to give up my phone and connectivity. So far, we haven't purchased the data plan from the phone company, so I can't browse the internet or get e-mail. But I can read books on it. I downloaded the MobiPocket software for the Blackberry somewhat as an experiment to see how it would be to read a book on it. The font on the Blackberry is very clear and it's much easier to read on it than I had anticipated. And, I have found it's easy to sneak in some "stealth reading" on the Blackberry when I'm in situations where pulling out my Kindle or Sony reader would not be accepted. People are so used to seeing others looking at their Blackberry and they just think you're looking at a text message or e-mail notice. Me, I'm reading a SF book! I only keep one book on it and a time since I'm not sure how much memory I can tie up with books. When I've finished reading a book, I delete it and add another.

12-18-2008, 06:52 PM	#5
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	A Pocketpc phone edition phone would be the nest solution. You already have one so you are in correct path, just get one of those with the biggest screen you are comfortable with. One thing people keep on forgetting is that you will get all the eBook readers software and they all will let you read DRM files if you want.

12-18-2008, 09:17 PM	#9
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I would recommend NOT going with an LG Dare. It is running Java, and I don't know of an e-book reader coded for Brew. (Glad I didn't get it for reading!...)

12-19-2008, 07:43 PM	#13
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	As say above: pocketpc phones support all the DRM formats and lots of other more!

12-20-2008, 12:09 AM	#15
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I figure a high res screen probably means a big screen (mostly). No, not really. My husband's HTC Tytan Tilt has a bigger screen than my HTC Touch Diamond or HTC Touch Pro but the resolution on the latter is better. Most screens seem to have a display of 240 x 320 pixels. the Diamond and Pro are 480 x 640 and you can see the difference. I buy PDA Essentials magazine (U.K.) and got the figures from there. The Toshiba G910 has 480 x 800 but I've neve seen one. There are very few really high res screens on phones or pdas. That's why I bought the HP 212 although I already had a good pda. I missed the higher res of my broken HP 4700.