iPod How is the Ipod Touch as an Ebook reader? - Page 3

wayrad · 03-24-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworkzombie

@wayrad surely something like this is all you need? Perhaps we are talking about different things? You do not need anything special, ebooks are so small that it will not take long to transfer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Linksys-Wireless...#ht_500wt_1182

As I said, I'm on dialup. There's no way to plug that device into a phone line, and no modem capability. AFAIK the only readily available options in this situation are a Wiflyer or an ad hoc connection. (Well, there's the MiFi, but for that kind of monthly fees I could get broadband AND dialup for travelling. )

clockworkzombie · 03-25-2010, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayrad

As I said, I'm on dialup. There's no way to plug that device into a phone line, and no modem capability. AFAIK the only readily available options in this situation are a Wiflyer or an ad hoc connection. (Well, there's the MiFi, but for that kind of monthly fees I could get broadband AND dialup for travelling. )

Ok, a slight misunderstanding I think, if you set up the access point and connect your computer to it with an ethernet cable (assuming your computer has ethernet) you should be able to talk to your touch wirelessly when it connects wirelessly to the network.

As this is not a modem you would still have internet access with your dial up account. I would do this for the wireless connection to load books to your touch.

Obviously if you eventually wanted to upgrade to DSL you would buy an integrated device I was trying to find a low cost solution for a single purpose. The device at auction is a good brand and you may be able to find a no name brand device even cheaper.

Edit

Or a family member or friend may have something they do not want and give it to you.

Berylmary · 03-25-2010, 06:51 AM

I love reading on my iPod Touch but have two problems.

First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM. I have downloaded a lot of free books and am enjoying reading some of the old classics, Dickens, Jane Austen etc. Manybooks.net allows downloading in many formats then Calibre - Stanza to iPod is easy and quick.

Second, I find the search facility for books on iTunes difficult, it seems to treat e-books and audio as the same and I have been unable to find anything to interest me. I can quickly find books I would like to read on W H Smith and Waterstones websites but they are DRM protected so I read them on my Cybook Opus which is almost pocket size.

I like detective stories which are a bit old fashioned but not old enough to be out of copyright eg. early P D James. Is there a source for them which can be read on an iPod?

Bremen Cole · 03-25-2010, 07:03 AM

Amazon has these.... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ames&sprefix=P . I don't know how old they are, but perhaps one or two are what you are looking for....

You can read Amazon DRM books with the Kindle App, and Barnes and Noble DRM books with the Barnes and Noble App. There may be others, I don't worry about it because I remove DRM from my purchases.....

wayrad · 03-25-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworkzombie

Ok, a slight misunderstanding I think, if you set up the access point and connect your computer to it with an ethernet cable (assuming your computer has ethernet) you should be able to talk to your touch wirelessly when it connects wirelessly to the network.

That device is meant to plug into an Ethernet broadband connection (which I don't have) and give wireless access to the Internet, I believe. It sounds like you think it would act like a wirelss card for a computer without built-in wireless, and allow setting up an ad hoc connection between the computer and other devices, unless I'm missing something. Mine has a wireless card already, but have you ever tried doing ad hoc on Windows XP? I just finished getting things back to normal after the last attempt. At least it no longer goes and swipes the neighbor's wifi when I open Firefox...

But I never managed to get either of my current mobile devices to see the computer, much less transfer any files.

PS. I understand (at least I think I do, from my reading here) that Calibre will run a server and allow books to be sent to the Touch once the ad hoc connection is established, but that isn't at all trivial.
PPS. I've got a splint on one finger at the moment, sorry for typos.

leebase · 03-25-2010, 09:15 AM

[QUOTE=Berylmary;844108]First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM./QUOTE]

Could you be more specific? Amazon DRM'd books can be read via the Kindle app. B&N books can be read by their app. What source of DRM'd books are you having trouble with?

Also, you don't need to use iTunes to get books on the iPod Touch. With the kindle app, or Stanza, I order books and get the delivered wirelessly to my device. I also use Calibre to wirelessly transfer books to my iPod Touch.

Lee

wayrad · 03-25-2010, 09:40 AM

Clockworkzombie, I think I'm understanding this a bit better now. So it's possible to set up a wireless network using a wireless access point without any direct Internet connection, and without using an ad hoc connection? Is any software required?

Sorry for the confusion, I'm new to this.

clockworkzombie · 03-25-2010, 05:06 PM

@ wayrad
That is what should happen. The router will deliver the required network addresses to your computer and the iPod touch. Your computer can connect with an ethernet cable and the touch can use wireless.

If you acquire a good brand like linksys or netgear and the like you should not need special software to make it work actually you would have to find something unusual that would require software to work, some of the cheaper chinese stuff is like that but they always have windows drivers anyway also the Apple wireless routers use special software.

The router is usually configured with a web browser, you can type the router IP address into your browser like it was a web address. 207.46.170.123 is the IP address for Microsoft and is the same as typing http://microsoft.com .

Copy and paste the numbers into your browser and you will see what I mean every address you type into a web browser has a corresponding set of numbers.

As I said earlier see if a friend or colleague has one they are not using anymore they may just give it to you. I have one not being used anymore for example.

Edit

As you have a wireless card in your pc you can of course connect with that instead of an ethernet cable.

wayrad · 03-25-2010, 08:01 PM

Clockworkzombie, thanks, that really helped sort out my confusion. Sounds like an inexpensive access point is indeed what I need.

Berylmary · 03-26-2010, 07:08 AM

[QUOTE=leebase;844262]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berylmary

First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM./QUOTE]

Could you be more specific? Amazon DRM'd books can be read via the Kindle app. B&N books can be read by their app. What source of DRM'd books are you having trouble with?

Also, you don't need to use iTunes to get books on the iPod Touch. With the kindle app, or Stanza, I order books and get the delivered wirelessly to my device. I also use Calibre to wirelessly transfer books to my iPod Touch.

Lee

All the books I am having trouble with were bought from W H Smith or Waterstones. I put the books into Calibre and I can see the list on my iPod through Stanza but it says it can't load them because of DRM.

I will try Amazon. I didn't know you could order books via Stanza. I will try that. Thank you for your help.

Berylmary · 03-27-2010, 07:25 AM

[QUOTE=leebase;844262]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berylmary

First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM./QUOTE]

Could you be more specific? Amazon DRM'd books can be read via the Kindle app. B&N books can be read by their app. What source of DRM'd books are you having trouble with?

Also, you don't need to use iTunes to get books on the iPod Touch. With the kindle app, or Stanza, I order books and get the delivered wirelessly to my device. I also use Calibre to wirelessly transfer books to my iPod Touch.

Lee

Have now bought a book from Amazon and am reading it on the iPod via the Kindle app. Thank you

Berylmary · 03-27-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Amazon has these.... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ames&sprefix=P . I don't know how old they are, but perhaps one or two are what you are looking for....

You can read Amazon DRM books with the Kindle App, and Barnes and Noble DRM books with the Barnes and Noble App. There may be others, I don't worry about it because I remove DRM from my purchases.....

Thank you, your url link has just what I was looking for.

clockworkzombie · 03-28-2010, 04:11 AM

@Wayrad
I gave my mother my iPod touch today and the wireless router I was not using. I set it up then connected it with an ethernet cable to her computer and the touch connected wirelessly.

I downloaded Stanza to the touch and copied the books from her Calibre library to it.

I think she will have a great deal of fun with it.

wayrad · 03-28-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworkzombie

@Wayrad
I gave my mother my iPod touch today and the wireless router I was not using. I set it up then connected it with an ethernet cable to her computer and the touch connected wirelessly.

I downloaded Stanza to the touch and copied the books from her Calibre library to it.

I think she will have a great deal of fun with it.

I'm checking around for a cheap router or access point also - Newegg is selling refurb WAP54G's, but a wireless router would be handy if I ever did get broadband. I gather they have an access point built in?

The user reviews on inexpensive access points and wireless routers tend to be a bit scary...

Jack Tingle · 03-28-2010, 11:54 AM

Wayrad:

I have a ... let's see ... Netgear WGR614 wireless-G router ... I bought cheap at bj's in a bubble pack. I had no problems setting it up, and no problems in over a year, other than an occasional reset (pull out the power cable, count to 30, plug it back in).

I followed the Netgear setup instructions, and after one false start, it worked fine. This is one of those "just do it" kind of things.

On the subject of an iPod Touch, I get tempted by them periodically, but their interoperability with a diverse environment is just too poor. My home and work computer environments have a lot of different needs, so I use a WM 6.5 smartphone that can do a lot of different things well. The Touch is an insecure consumer device, and can't really PIM sync with a secure business network very well. That's a dealbreaker for me. The lack of a flash memory card interface of some kind is also bad for me.

I have no problem reading from a PDA screen, although the 2.8" screen on my smartphone is at the lower limit of tolerable. I use my older 3.5" screen PDA for reading in dim light, mostly. In a year or so, my next phone will have a bigger screen, assuming MS doesn't screw up too badly on WM 7.

Caveat emptor.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

03-25-2010, 05:06 PM	#38
clockworkzombie Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 11962 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Queensland Device: iPad	@ wayrad That is what should happen. The router will deliver the required network addresses to your computer and the iPod touch. Your computer can connect with an ethernet cable and the touch can use wireless. If you acquire a good brand like linksys or netgear and the like you should not need special software to make it work actually you would have to find something unusual that would require software to work, some of the cheaper chinese stuff is like that but they always have windows drivers anyway also the Apple wireless routers use special software. The router is usually configured with a web browser, you can type the router IP address into your browser like it was a web address. 207.46.170.123 is the IP address for Microsoft and is the same as typing http://microsoft.com . Copy and paste the numbers into your browser and you will see what I mean every address you type into a web browser has a corresponding set of numbers. As I said earlier see if a friend or colleague has one they are not using anymore they may just give it to you. I have one not being used anymore for example. Edit As you have a wireless card in your pc you can of course connect with that instead of an ethernet cable. Last edited by clockworkzombie; 03-25-2010 at 05:40 PM.

03-25-2010, 06:51 AM	#33
Berylmary Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Device: Cybook Opus, iPod Touch 3G, Sony PRS600, iPhone 3Gs	I love reading on my iPod Touch but have two problems. First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM. I have downloaded a lot of free books and am enjoying reading some of the old classics, Dickens, Jane Austen etc. Manybooks.net allows downloading in many formats then Calibre - Stanza to iPod is easy and quick. Second, I find the search facility for books on iTunes difficult, it seems to treat e-books and audio as the same and I have been unable to find anything to interest me. I can quickly find books I would like to read on W H Smith and Waterstones websites but they are DRM protected so I read them on my Cybook Opus which is almost pocket size. I like detective stories which are a bit old fashioned but not old enough to be out of copyright eg. early P D James. Is there a source for them which can be read on an iPod?

03-25-2010, 07:03 AM	#34
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	Amazon has these.... http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ames&sprefix=P . I don't know how old they are, but perhaps one or two are what you are looking for.... You can read Amazon DRM books with the Kindle App, and Barnes and Noble DRM books with the Barnes and Noble App. There may be others, I don't worry about it because I remove DRM from my purchases.....

03-25-2010, 09:15 AM	#36
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	[QUOTE=Berylmary;844108]First, It is not possible to put DRM protected books on the iPod and most of the books I want to read are DRM./QUOTE] Could you be more specific? Amazon DRM'd books can be read via the Kindle app. B&N books can be read by their app. What source of DRM'd books are you having trouble with? Also, you don't need to use iTunes to get books on the iPod Touch. With the kindle app, or Stanza, I order books and get the delivered wirelessly to my device. I also use Calibre to wirelessly transfer books to my iPod Touch. Lee

03-25-2010, 09:40 AM	#37
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	Clockworkzombie, I think I'm understanding this a bit better now. So it's possible to set up a wireless network using a wireless access point without any direct Internet connection, and without using an ad hoc connection? Is any software required? Sorry for the confusion, I'm new to this.

03-25-2010, 08:01 PM	#39
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	Clockworkzombie, thanks, that really helped sort out my confusion. Sounds like an inexpensive access point is indeed what I need.

03-28-2010, 04:11 AM	#43
clockworkzombie Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 11962 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Queensland Device: iPad	@Wayrad I gave my mother my iPod touch today and the wireless router I was not using. I set it up then connected it with an ethernet cable to her computer and the touch connected wirelessly. I downloaded Stanza to the touch and copied the books from her Calibre library to it. I think she will have a great deal of fun with it.

03-28-2010, 11:54 AM	#45
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	Wayrad: I have a ... let's see ... Netgear WGR614 wireless-G router ... I bought cheap at bj's in a bubble pack. I had no problems setting it up, and no problems in over a year, other than an occasional reset (pull out the power cable, count to 30, plug it back in). I followed the Netgear setup instructions, and after one false start, it worked fine. This is one of those "just do it" kind of things. On the subject of an iPod Touch, I get tempted by them periodically, but their interoperability with a diverse environment is just too poor. My home and work computer environments have a lot of different needs, so I use a WM 6.5 smartphone that can do a lot of different things well. The Touch is an insecure consumer device, and can't really PIM sync with a secure business network very well. That's a dealbreaker for me. The lack of a flash memory card interface of some kind is also bad for me. I have no problem reading from a PDA screen, although the 2.8" screen on my smartphone is at the lower limit of tolerable. I use my older 3.5" screen PDA for reading in dim light, mostly. In a year or so, my next phone will have a bigger screen, assuming MS doesn't screw up too badly on WM 7. Caveat emptor. Regards, Jack Tingle