best reading app for me - sideloaded books only

[peaceridge]

#burnafterreading sorry for interrupting your thread. Mantano has just released an update, so you might try it. I also like Pocketbook and FBReader - I think they all will do what you need, just check out their free versions and see which one you like most.

#hleo12 maybe you can give #burnafterreading some more choices. We should start a new thread just for Pocketbook reader - I don't know how to move our discussion to one - do you? Also, Mantano did send me an email saying they are updating. I'll check it out and give them a last chance.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by hleo12

It just irks me that an ebook reader app doesn't have a normal bookmark function...

The most minimal effort I've managed so far in Pocketbook is:

• Make sure 'Bookmark' is one of your context menu items (one-off task).
  Settings - Context menu - Sort context menu items.
• Long-press on the page you want to bookmark. You can highlight some text if you want it to show in the bookmark list - or not if you prefer.
• The context menu will pop-up - tap Bookmark icon (speech-bubble-with-plus-sign)
• Note screen pops up, but if you don't want to add one, just use your device Back button until you're back at the book text.
• To see the Bookmark list: Tap screen, tap TOC button in top bar, tap Bookmarks button in top bar (right of TOC button).

[jackie_w]

... or, if you're used to tapping the top right corner to add a bookmark, you could configure the tap zone for top right corner, e.g. single tap for 'New Bookmark' and swipe right for 'Show Bookmarks'.

Alternatively you could set up 2 gestures for 'New Bookmark' and 'Show Bookmarks'.

Loads of permutations for tinkerers

[hleo12]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

#hleo12 maybe you can give #burnafterreading some more choices. We should start a new thread just for Pocketbook reader - I don't know how to move our discussion to one - do you? Also, Mantano did send me an email saying they are updating. I'll check it out and give them a last chance.

I think the OP would really benefit from an eReader app + Calibre Companion combo. It fits all of his criterias.

Calibre Companion would store the sideloaded library with all the Metadata from Calibre. That includes the series and shelves so it's easy to find books.

And as for the eReader app, it pains me to say this, but the friendliest app out there is still Moon+. As long as the book is properly coded and follows all epub rules, it should be fine.

I've tried Cool Reader but, on my opinion, it's customizability is its downfall for new users that just want to read.

FBReader is nice, but I find it too plain and not enough options.

CC + eReader app is really the best way to go.

Not many eReaders out there can read, and correctly display the Metadata from an ePub file.

If the OP is going with this route, then the only reader that should be avoided is Aldiko. It automatically imports the ePub file into its own directory and there seem to be no setting to turn this function off.


And as for transferring the convo into a new thread, a passing admin might be able to do that.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by hleo12

I think the OP would really benefit from an eReader app + Calibre Companion combo. It fits all of his criterias.

Calibre Companion would store the sideloaded library with all the Metadata from Calibre. That includes the series and shelves so it's easy to find books.

And as for the eReader app, it pains me to say this, but the friendliest app out there is still Moon+. As long as the book is properly coded and follows all epub rules, it should be fine.

I've tried Cool Reader but, on my opinion, it's customizability is its downfall for new users that just want to read.

FBReader is nice, but I find it too plain and not enough options.

CC + eReader app is really the best way to go.

Not many eReaders out there can read, and correctly display the Metadata from an ePub file.

If the OP is going with this route, then the only reader that should be avoided is Aldiko. It automatically imports the ePub file into its own directory and there seem to be no setting to turn this function off.


And as for transferring the convo into a new thread, a passing admin might be able to do that.

CC + an ereader app is also best because all ereader apps have problems at one point or another so it's best to separate your organization app from your reading app. It also allows you to use one app for mobi and a different one for epub. CC will open your ebook with whatever app you choose, but some are not good to use this way. Aldiko for instance creates another copy of your ebook and there's no way to stop it from doing this.

So just use CC to organize your books and use CC to open your books. I keep coming back to Moon+ for epub reading.

[peaceridge]

I agree with all you said. However, burnafterreading said they wanted only readers that allow sideloaded books. CC doesn't play well with side loaded books, it wants a wifi connection. I've tried it with side loaded, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it takes a really long time to find them on the ereader itself.

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

CC + an ereader app is also best because all ereader apps have problems at one point or another so it's best to separate your organization app from your reading app. It also allows you to use one app for mobi and a different one for epub. CC will open your ebook with whatever app you choose, but some are not good to use this way. Aldiko for instance creates another copy of your ebook and there's no way to stop it from doing this.

So just use CC to organize your books and use CC to open your books. I keep coming back to Moon+ for epub reading.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I agree with all you said. However, burnafterreading said they wanted only readers that allow sideloaded books. CC doesn't play well with side loaded books, it wants a wifi connection. I've tried it with side loaded, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it takes a really long time to find them on the ereader itself.

I took sideloaded to mean books added to the device not thru the store they were bought at, but loaded manually. You're right that CC is meant to be used thru wifi. That's the only way metadata gets synced.

[burnafterreading]

hmm, ok, a few options, thanks! i've been absent from the site for a while, but popped back in.

so, i installed (but haven't had time to use) Moon+, though i ended up going with the paid pro version since it was only $3 or so.

i'll look at CC, but yeah if i need to have a wifi connection available each time i launch the app, then that's a no-go. if i'm at home then it's obviously available but if i'm out somewhere, i don't want to hunt for a hotspot or turn on my phone's tethering JUST to use a book that's already on the device. it would seem so retarded that i'd delete the app on the spot

[jackie_w]

CC only needs Wi-Fi when you want to transfer books from your calibre library to your Android device, not when you're actually reading a book.

[hleo12]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I agree with all you said. However, burnafterreading said they wanted only readers that allow sideloaded books. CC doesn't play well with side loaded books, it wants a wifi connection. I've tried it with side loaded, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it takes a really long time to find them on the ereader itself.

You won't need your wifi to look at your books or read when using CC.

As mentioned above, you only need to be connected to a wifi network when you're transferring books from your computer using Calibre to your phone.

Once that's done, the books will be on your device and won't need wifi anymore.

Im just curious, what are doing doing when it is asking you to connect to a wifi network? 'Cause I haven't encountered that prompt while using CC.

[hleo12]

Originally Posted by burnafterreading

hmm, ok, a few options, thanks! i've been absent from the site for a while, but popped back in.

so, i installed (but haven't had time to use) Moon+, though i ended up going with the paid pro version since it was only $3 or so.

i'll look at CC, but yeah if i need to have a wifi connection available each time i launch the app, then that's a no-go. if i'm at home then it's obviously available but if i'm out somewhere, i don't want to hunt for a hotspot or turn on my phone's tethering JUST to use a book that's already on the device. it would seem so retarded that i'd delete the app on the spot

Just to clarify you won't need wifi to open books when using CC. Try the free version first.

[Willsum]

Do you know any readers with dictionary for android?

[hleo12]

Originally Posted by Willsum

Do you know any readers with dictionary for android?

Moon+ uses a 3rd party app that you have to install to access the dictionary within the app. It's called ColorDict. Mantano can also use ColorDict.

I haven't really tried many eReader apps. It's a shame Pocketbook doesn't have a dictionary.

[RbnJrg]

Originally Posted by hleo12

Another problem that I'm having right now is that Pocketbook seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to fonts.

This has been driving me insane for the past few hours. No matter what font I choose it never changes.

PocketBook manages fonts in an obscure way. What you must do in order your books use the fonts of your choise is the following:

1. First at all, copy the .ttf fonts you want to use in the folder /mnt/sdcard/.pocketbook/fonts

2. Open Pocketbook, load an ebook and tap in the center of the screen in order you can see the top menu bar.

3. Tap in the "Options" icon (the gear on the right top).

4. In the "Formating" section, select the option "Other".

5. Tap in the "Font List" option.

6. Now will appear a list with all the fonts you can use. Select the font of your choise AND DRAG IT TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. This is very important because of that way Pocketbook knows your priorities regarding fonts (of course, the font also must have the "check mark" in the box on the left).

7. Do the same with any others fonts you want to use.

8. Also you have to define what kind of font is (serif, sans-serif, monospaced). To do that, press about 2 seconds (or tap) on the name of the font in the list. After that, a new dialog will appear where you can set the font style. Accept all and return to menu "Options/Other".

9. If you are using the last version of Pocketbook, then you don't need to do anything more here. Otherwise you'll need to indicate the folder where you stored your fonts by tapping in "User Resources" (path to user resources). In order to see this option you must enable the option "Show all settings").

10. That's all. Return to your ebook, select the option "Prefer serif fonts" (or "Prefer sans-serif fonts" according to your wishes). Very probably you won't see any change CLOSE your ebook and re-open it! Now you'll see the font of your choice.

I hope all this can help you in order to use your fonts under PocketBook.

Regards
Rubén

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by hleo12

I haven't really tried many eReader apps. It's a shame Pocketbook doesn't have a dictionary.

It's one of Pocketbook's semi-hidden features, but it does exist
Settings - Context menu - Translation program
If you've already got the ColorDict app installed it will appear in the list for selection.

You also need to make sure 'Translate' is one of the visible items in your pop-up Context menu.
Settings - Context menu - Sort context menu items

Then, when you want to look up a word from a book: long-press the word and pick the 'Translate' icon from the pop-up context menu.