Any better app than Kindle?

mkelley · 12-25-2011, 07:31 PM

I use Calibre to manage my ebooks library and while I love the Kindle app for actually reading on my iPad the lack of any kind of collection or organizing facility is driving me crazy. I got my wife a Kindle Touch for Christmas (which she hates but that's a whole other story) and was impressed by the ability to add collections -- that's all the app in the iPad really needs, but I suspect they'll never add it.

So... are there any alternative readers out there that have this? Or, to put it another way, is there anything better for reading on the iPad? I definitely don't want to give up the ability to choose my font size (that's key for these old eyes) and whatever I choose has to have the ability to take what I can output from Calibre, but beyond that I really don't care as long as it can handle collections reasonably. Or at this stage are we still stuck with Kindle?

Shack70 · 12-25-2011, 07:34 PM

I have not used it but I've heard good things about BlueFire Reader. Stanza was a good one as well but I don't think it works with iOS 5.

mkelley · 12-25-2011, 07:45 PM

It doesn't appear there is any way to organize books on the BlueFire reader, but thanks for suggesting it.

I did look at Stanza and it appears to have what I want... but as you said, it's a no go for IOS5 so that's out (and it's really weird because it was updated in November and still doesn't support IOS5. Must be because Apple put the clamps on all their ebook readers to conform to the store policies).

I find it absolutely *amazing* there aren't any ebook readers out there that allow you to put your books into collections (well, ebook apps, that is). That's just such a basic function that the only thing I can think of is there has to be something broken in IOS that keeps it from being easily added (because, as a software author, it would be the FIRST thing I'd add to almost any program, no matter what else it did -- even something that made lists of grocery items. I'd have a way to organize those lists into groups).

Right now I'm using Dropbox as a way to at least handle things, but it means that every time I want to read a new book I need to import it. Not awful, but hardly handy (then again, if anyone wrote an app that was integrated with Dropbox it would be perfect, as I could use DB to organize things).

I just noticed that that November update is supposed to be FOR IOS5, so perhaps there is hope after all. Thanks for the suggestion!

Valkrider · 12-26-2011, 02:48 AM

Stanza was definitely updated and it runs fine under iOS 5.01.

pwalker8 · 12-26-2011, 06:50 PM

iBooks has pretty decent collections support, that's what I currently use. Just use calibre to convert to epub and load via iTunes.

rcuadro · 01-01-2012, 08:11 PM

I only use the Kindle app and iBooks... if the book was not bought from Amazon I use iBooks to read it. I like the sync ability on iTuned

Janet16 · 01-04-2012, 10:03 PM

I use Kindle app and iBook too. And now the Kindle seems not bad after it updated: giving iPad users access to the Kindle Fire's collection of more than 400 magazines and newspapers. You can buy individual issues or subscriptions, which will be delivered to the device when available, and I have updated not long ago.

4Foot · 01-11-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valkrider

Stanza was definitely updated and it runs fine under iOS 5.01.

Ditto, Valkrider, on the Stanza app working just fine under 5.01. I think it is only a problem if you try to UPGRADE to the Nov. Release. Best to delete the previous Ver. Of Stanza and then install the new one.

Works a treat and has great features. It does seem however that it will not be developed further.

Happy reading

4Foot

12-25-2011, 07:31 PM	#1
mkelley Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle and iPad	Any better app than Kindle? I use Calibre to manage my ebooks library and while I love the Kindle app for actually reading on my iPad the lack of any kind of collection or organizing facility is driving me crazy. I got my wife a Kindle Touch for Christmas (which she hates but that's a whole other story) and was impressed by the ability to add collections -- that's all the app in the iPad really needs, but I suspect they'll never add it. So... are there any alternative readers out there that have this? Or, to put it another way, is there anything better for reading on the iPad? I definitely don't want to give up the ability to choose my font size (that's key for these old eyes) and whatever I choose has to have the ability to take what I can output from Calibre, but beyond that I really don't care as long as it can handle collections reasonably. Or at this stage are we still stuck with Kindle?

12-25-2011, 07:45 PM	#3
mkelley Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle and iPad	It doesn't appear there is any way to organize books on the BlueFire reader, but thanks for suggesting it. I did look at Stanza and it appears to have what I want... but as you said, it's a no go for IOS5 so that's out (and it's really weird because it was updated in November and still doesn't support IOS5. Must be because Apple put the clamps on all their ebook readers to conform to the store policies). I find it absolutely amazing there aren't any ebook readers out there that allow you to put your books into collections (well, ebook apps, that is). That's just such a basic function that the only thing I can think of is there has to be something broken in IOS that keeps it from being easily added (because, as a software author, it would be the FIRST thing I'd add to almost any program, no matter what else it did -- even something that made lists of grocery items. I'd have a way to organize those lists into groups). Right now I'm using Dropbox as a way to at least handle things, but it means that every time I want to read a new book I need to import it. Not awful, but hardly handy (then again, if anyone wrote an app that was integrated with Dropbox it would be perfect, as I could use DB to organize things). I just noticed that that November update is supposed to be FOR IOS5, so perhaps there is hope after all. Thanks for the suggestion! Last edited by mkelley; 12-25-2011 at 07:47 PM. Reason: Maybe Stanza does work

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12-25-2011, 07:34 PM	#2
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	I have not used it but I've heard good things about BlueFire Reader. Stanza was a good one as well but I don't think it works with iOS 5.

12-26-2011, 02:48 AM	#4
Valkrider Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	Stanza was definitely updated and it runs fine under iOS 5.01.

12-26-2011, 06:50 PM	#5
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	iBooks has pretty decent collections support, that's what I currently use. Just use calibre to convert to epub and load via iTunes.

01-01-2012, 08:11 PM	#6
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I only use the Kindle app and iBooks... if the book was not bought from Amazon I use iBooks to read it. I like the sync ability on iTuned

01-04-2012, 10:03 PM	#7
Janet16 Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 2621116 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: iPad	I use Kindle app and iBook too. And now the Kindle seems not bad after it updated: giving iPad users access to the Kindle Fire's collection of more than 400 magazines and newspapers. You can buy individual issues or subscriptions, which will be delivered to the device when available, and I have updated not long ago.