iOS 26: Are various ebook reader apps compatible with it?

[John F]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Can you point me to more info on Shubook? I looked them up, but they don't give details I need as to how the app works. Does it show page numbers and total pages in book? Does it allow tap on either right or left to page forward and swipe to tap back?

There have been no updates for it for years. I very seldom read on my phone, so I am not picky.

No page numbers while reading. Tap in the middle to bring up menus, and progress can be picked. Progress shows "page x/y" where a page is a screen in the current chapter. I don't see any options for swiping vs tapping; they both work.

I believe I have the free app and I've had it for at least 10 years.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Marvin was totally unusable for me under 26. The books open, but can't get past the first page.

I ended up buying another ipad that was on 18 and am not updating until Apple has an update that fixes the problem or I find another ereader that I like just as much as Marvin. I understand a new ereader is in the works and have high hopes for it.

It's not Apple's problem. It's Marvin's problem because it abandonware.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not Apple's problem. It's Marvin's problem because it abandonware.

I understand that it is Marvin's problem, but I hope a future Apple update might make it usable again. Yes, it is abandonware, but so far, there is not another app comparable. Mapleread SE almost has it, but is missing page numbers at the bottom and book title at the top.

[The Old Man]

I use MapleRead CE. It shows the book title at the top of the page and page numbers (not original but numbered as of settings) at the bottom.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by The Old Man

I use MapleRead CE. It shows the book title at the top of the page and page numbers (not original but numbered as of settings) at the bottom.

Wonder why SE doesn't show that, I thought it was the more "expensive" one.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Wonder why SE doesn't show that, I thought it was the more "expensive" one.

Even weirder, they do show up on my ipad 11", but not on my ipad mini. Both have all the settings the same and are on the same version 6.2.2!

[UrsiD3]

The new Flexible Windowing is probably what's tripping up these older apps. If an app wasn't built for responsive resizing, it just gives up. For the apps that aren't scrolling right, sometimes forcing them into 'Full Screen' mode (and turning off Stage Manager if you have it on) can trick them into behaving, but it's definitely a clunky workaround.

[GeniusJ]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Can you point me to more info on Shubook? I looked them up, but they don't give details I need as to how the app works. Does it show page numbers and total pages in book? Does it allow tap on either right or left to page forward and swipe to tap back?

Just curious, have you tried Maple or FBreader? Because they both do those things. FBreader in particular is very customizable, and MapleRead is the most stable that I've seen.

I, too, mourned Marvin for a time but the above two readers were good replacements.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by GeniusJ

Just curious, have you tried Maple or FBreader? Because they both do those things. FBreader in particular is very customizable, and MapleRead is the most stable that I've seen.

I, too, mourned Marvin for a time but the above two readers were good replacements.

Yes, I keep my books on MapleRead Se and send them to Marvin. My main complaint about MapleRead is their fonts. I can't get it to accept my favorite font. If I every give up Marvin, I'll use MapleRead. I've tried FBreader in the past and didn't like it. I don't remember why, but I may give it another try.

[GeniusJ]

MapleRead supports custom fonts! https://www.maplepop.com/web/mr/help.php#pc_upload_font

So does FBreader in a similar manner.

If all else fails, I also use an iOS/iPadOS app called iFont that lets me load any font onto the Apple device as a system font. And voila, I have Bookerly and Charis SIL available to my ereaders that way.

[GeniusJ]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I understand that it is Marvin's problem, but I hope a future Apple update might make it usable again. Yes, it is abandonware, but so far, there is not another app comparable. Mapleread SE almost has it, but is missing page numbers at the bottom and book title at the top.

Are you sure about that? Because I have it configured to show both of these things. When was the last time you looked at it?

This screenshot is from my new iPad Mini running SE.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by GeniusJ

MapleRead supports custom fonts! https://www.maplepop.com/web/mr/help.php#pc_upload_font

So does FBreader in a similar manner.

If all else fails, I also use an iOS/iPadOS app called iFont that lets me load any font onto the Apple device as a system font. And voila, I have Bookerly and Charis SIL available to my ereaders that way.

Thanks, I'll try iFont. I've spent a lot of time trying to get MapleRead to accept Volkhov on my Ipad (following their instructions over and over) and no joy, so I finally gave up. I'll see if iFont can fix it.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by GeniusJ

Are you sure about that? Because I have it configured to show both of these things. When was the last time you looked at it?

This screenshot is from my new iPad Mini running SE.

I finely figured out what I was doing wrong. Unfortunately, on the mini seeing the header and page numbers takes up a lot of space below the header and first line of text, and after the last line of text above the page numbers, so it's not really usable. I read landscape, if I read portrait it would be much better, but I find I can read faster in landscape. Works perfect on the ipad 11".

[GeniusJ]

Maybe take another look at FBreader. You can get very granular about spacing in the headers and text layouts. It requires a bit of tweaking to get it juuuuust right, but it might work for you.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Thanks, I'll try iFont. I've spent a lot of time trying to get MapleRead to accept Volkhov on my Ipad (following their instructions over and over) and no joy, so I finally gave up. I'll see if iFont can fix it.

ifont installed fine, got Volkhov fine, but I can't find a way to get MapleRead to accept it. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but I just can't see it.