Any Scribd or Oyster users? Good or bad?

[blondiel]

I have a Kobo mini and want to know if anyone's tried using Scribd with the (now included) Pocket app? It's supposed to save online articles offline right to the Kobo. It seems like it would be a good cheat to get Scribd onto my e-ink reader, but I'm afraid to dish out the money if it's not going to work smoothly.
I really want to subscribe to scribd, but the fact that I can't easily connect it to my e-reader/offline is a deal-breaker. I can't read on back-lit screens without getting a major headache, and I mostly read on the subway where there's no internet, so I can't use their mobile site. Maybe pocket will be the fix I need? Has anyone tried it yet? Thoughts?

[tvleavitt]

I'm an ecstatically happy Scribd subscriber. I've barely glanced at my Kindle book collection since I started using it, and even my print racing has dropped considerably. Do all my other reading on backlit screens anyway (since the 1980s), so not bothered at all. Selection is eclectic, but more than deep enough to be satisfying. Substitution effect in full force... 30% of a very large set choices for 5% of the cost is a no brainer.

[DuckieTigger]

Is it possible to tryout the reading apps for scribd or oyster without having to sign up for the service? For the purpose of testing the reading experience that is.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Is it possible to tryout the reading apps for scribd or oyster without having to sign up for the service? For the purpose of testing the reading experience that is.

With both services you can browse their libraries without an account. Scribd will also let you view samples on their website. Their FAQs imply that you can also install their apps and read samples without an account. I guess try it and see is the best advice.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

With both services you can browse their libraries without an account. Scribd will also let you view samples on their website. Their FAQs imply that you can also install their apps and read samples without an account. I guess try it and see is the best advice.

Thank you, will try. The webpages really push to make you sign up first before finding out more ahead of time. Without google I would not have found even the browse library without account.

Edit: scribd can read samples, but display options are severly limited. Oyster unfortunately won't let you see their display options without trial. Guess I pass for now - even turning pages in scribd was a chore. Content unfortunately is not everything for reading experience.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I can only speak to the iOS versions. They are pretty similar to most reading apps. A few font selections -serif and sans serif. A few background options like night mode and sepia. Scribd books are right justified, and Oyster books are not. It's probably a personal preference which one people like better. Neither have margin nor line spacing options. They have bookmarks, notes, highlights, dictionary. Information syncs between your different devices so you can pick up reading where you left off. You can set-up your account so you have a bookshelf with what you're reading and another list of books you want to read. Oyster also has a shelf for books marked as read and a favorites list.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Here are images of what Oyster's interface looks like. I like that they have more fonts options including textured background. They also have a reading time prediction like Kindle. I also like that you change pages by either side taps or vertical scrolling.
https://www.oysterbooks.com/features
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oyst...672803850?mt=8

Here are some links for Scribd. One extra feature they have compared to Oyster is a search within a book.
http://support.scribd.com/entries/63...on-Scribd-com-
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scri...542557212?mt=8

[DuckieTigger]

Thank you for the extra information. I think I will pass on either app for now. Happy for now with the reading experience on my PW. The books I can't get in Kindle Unlimited I want will have to be either bought or borrowed from the library.

[jessicalynn]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I can only speak to the iOS versions. They are pretty similar to most reading apps. A few font selections -serif and sans serif. A few background options like night mode and sepia. Scribd books are right justified, and Oyster books are not. It's probably a personal preference which one people like better. Neither have margin nor line spacing options. They have bookmarks, notes, highlights, dictionary. Information syncs between your different devices so you can pick up reading where you left off. You can set-up your account so you have a bookshelf with what you're reading and another list of books you want to read. Oyster also has a shelf for books marked as read and a favorites list.

I've tried out both apps on my iPad and I think the biggest and most annoying difference between Scribd/Oyster and other reading apps like the kindle reading app is what happens when you turn the device sideways. On the Kindle app, the text splits into two columns, which I think is easier to read. Neither the Scribd nor the Oyster app has this functionality.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by jessicalynn

I've tried out both apps on my iPad and I think the biggest and most annoying difference between Scribd/Oyster and other reading apps like the kindle reading app is what happens when you turn the device sideways. On the Kindle app, the text splits into two columns, which I think is easier to read. Neither the Scribd nor the Oyster app has this functionality.

I agree. I prefer 2-column landscape mode too on my full-size iPad. However I mostly read on my iPad Mini. There are several popular reading apps that don't offer this option. For example it is my biggest complaint about Bluefire, and they don't seem inclined to add it. Certainly Scribd and Oyster do not have all the features of the Kindle app, but they are slowly continuing to add more.

[rracoon01]

I just used the Calibre Overdrive Plug-In to search Scribd for over 800 books in my Calibre library just to see what their coverage would be in genres that I like (I'm a very eclectic reader). Of the 800 books I only found 28 of them in Scribd and of the 28 only 8 were not readily available in either my public library or FReading. Not a very good hit rate. Will try the same with Oyster when the plug-in support for that sight is available. Similar hit rate for Kindle Unlimited.

Probably won't even try out Scribd as I see no point in getting involved with their limited e-reader capability. If I can't get or convert books into the Epub format for the most flexible general use, their offerings, limited as they are, are not worth the effort or certainly the money.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by rracoon01

I just used the Calibre Overdrive Plug-In to search Scribd for over 800 books in my Calibre library just to see what their coverage would be in genres that I like (I'm a very eclectic reader). Of the 800 books I only found 28 of them in Scribd and of the 28 only 8 were not readily available in either my public library or FReading. Not a very good hit rate. Will try the same with Oyster when the plug-in support for that sight is available. Similar hit rate for Kindle Unlimited.

Probably won't even try out Scribd as I see no point in getting involved with their limited e-reader capability. If I can't get or convert books into the Epub format for the most flexible general use, their offerings, limited as they are, are not worth the effort or certainly the money.

I am a very eclectic reader and find that the variety of the subscription service is what appeals to me so much. I especially like how each book has related books and other recommendations that allow me to find books I never would have located on my own. I would recommend that you browse the scribd and oyster libraries for free on their websites.
https://www.oysterbooks.com/library

[Justy]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

I agree. I prefer 2-column landscape mode too on my full-size iPad. However I mostly read on my iPad Mini. There are several popular reading apps that don't offer this option. For example it is my biggest complaint about Bluefire, and they don't seem inclined to add it. Certainly Scribd and Oyster do not have all the features of the Kindle app, but they are slowly continuing to add more.

I was very happy last month when Scribd added the 2 column option for tablets. They are continuing to add publishers and features, I've been pretty happy with them so far. The only downside is that I can't read the books on my eInk reader, only on my phone or tablet.

[jhowell]

I tried free trials for both services. I didn't like that they both rely on their own proprietary apps for reading. Oyster's reader appears to be more flexible and their system seems better for book discovery.

Scribd's reader is OK for novels, but I ran in to problems trying to read science and reference books using it. I found that the special characters used in equations were occasionally substituted with incorrect ones and that some tables were incorrectly formatted and links to some footnotes were non-functional. I wouldn't rely on it for anything important. I haven't tested Oyster enough to know if it has similar problems.

I checked both Oyster and Scribd against a large list of books of interest to me, old and new, mostly in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Of those I found 16% books in both services. I also found an additional 5% in Oyster, but not Scribd; and 3% in Scribd, but not Oyster. Most of those books are also available through public library lending services.

[SCION]

I trialed both. Decided to stay with Oyster because I find it more visually appealing. I do dislike all of the wasted space in the reader app (on my iPad Air). There is no landscape mode (I prefer two column) and no margin adjustment. Thinking of getting an iPad Mini to increase my enjoyment.