Droid :) - Page 3

Lemurion · 03-12-2010, 12:58 PM

In my continuing efforts to use the Droid for reading, I've moved on to comics: I know it's not quite the same - but it is reading nonetheless.

The two applications I've spent the most time with are Robot Comics' Droid Comics Viewer or ACV and one called Vintage Comic Droid.

ACV is a CBZ reader for the Android platform (it reads CBR as well but it's buggy and slow, so I would recommend sticking with CBZ). It's a free app, which is nice, and Robot Comics provides free and paid content in the Android Market. The viewer itself works well; I was able to load a 170MB CBZ file without problem. It also remembers where you are in a comic, which is helpful when you need to exit the application.

It has a bare bones front end, but is very customizable. You can adjust the controls and the Droid's high resolution screen makes comics surprisingly readable even at a very small size.

The one annoyance I've found is that sometimes pages take a while to load.

It's a very good app if you already have a comic collection in CBZ (you can get some here).

The next app I tried was Vintage Comic Droid.

Once again, this is a free app in the Android Market (ad-supported). Installation was a bit of a pain, as the app required me to download two additional graphics files from within the app before it would do anything, and I kept having server issues. However, once it was done I was quite pleased with the result.

What I really like about this app is that it includes free download access to approximately 3,000 public domain comics. If you like old comics, this is the app for you. There is a download limit, I seem to get about 10 downloads per day, but that's not bad.

The library interface is great, looking like a bookshelf full of comic boxes.

Unfortunately, the reading interface isn't quite as good as that in ACV. among other things, it's much less customizable. Also, if you use the touch screen for navigation, it pulls up a control overlay which I find distracting. Luckily one can use the d-pad to navigate if you have the keyboard open: down arrow to scroll down (helpful if you're in landscape mode) and center button to page forward. Please note, this is not documented in the app.

Downloaded comics are stored as .bin files in a hidden folder in your SD card, and are not viewable from most Android file managers. You can see them if you mount the SD card on your computer, and since they are stored in sub-folders by title it's easy enough to manage them that way. This is handy as they can be fairly big files and I have not been able to find a way to delete them from within the application.

Still, I do like the application a lot, and it's very stable.

=X= · 03-12-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

.....
So now I just read on my phone pretty much exclusively; which brings me to the point. I’d like to see a six inch or larger dedicated reader that will automatically stay in sync with my phone. I know the technology exists, but I have not seen anyone implement it.

Are you listening Amazon? Sony? Apple? (oh yeah, you guys only do iPhone. What was I thinking)

The amazon Kindle does just that. Any Kindle app--Kindle, Kindle 4 PC, Kindle 4 BB, Kindle 4 iPhone) will keep your books synced. The only disadvantage is that it only syncs books bought from amazon.

I've used it myself and it is great. Having it automatically sync the Kindle 4 PC, Kindle, and my Kindle 4BB is very nice.

=X=

mgrunk · 03-21-2010, 06:56 PM

I just got a Droid last week for my business. I sold my Sony 505 because I just can't deal w/ having 2 devices. The text is extremely sharp on the Droid so even my old eyes can see it. I don't have hours to read, so it's sufficient.

I'm still on a quest for a book reader program for the Droid that I like. Aldiko has a great interface for smashworld but I dislike the odd flash when you page to a new chapter. I miss the kindle app I had on the Ipod Touch since I could buy / download instantly.

So, I'm still looking for a site that I can buy new books and download directly to the phone - I'm hoping for a .pub solution for DRM. But I don't think one exists yet.

Lemurion · 03-21-2010, 09:56 PM

The only DRM app for the Droid that I've seen is Ereader - and that doesn't currently support ePub.

Otherwise I find that I'm using Aldiko more and more as I think it's the best overall reader program for the Droid. I haven't used my Sony much since I got the Droid, either - but I think that will change especially since I often find myself using the Droid to amuse my seven year-old daughter.

03-21-2010, 06:56 PM	#33
mgrunk Zealot Posts: 130 Karma: 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: metro Atlanta, GA Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I just got a Droid last week for my business. I sold my Sony 505 because I just can't deal w/ having 2 devices. The text is extremely sharp on the Droid so even my old eyes can see it. I don't have hours to read, so it's sufficient. I'm still on a quest for a book reader program for the Droid that I like. Aldiko has a great interface for smashworld but I dislike the odd flash when you page to a new chapter. I miss the kindle app I had on the Ipod Touch since I could buy / download instantly. So, I'm still looking for a site that I can buy new books and download directly to the phone - I'm hoping for a .pub solution for DRM. But I don't think one exists yet. Last edited by mgrunk; 03-21-2010 at 07:14 PM.

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03-12-2010, 12:58 PM	#31
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	In my continuing efforts to use the Droid for reading, I've moved on to comics: I know it's not quite the same - but it is reading nonetheless. The two applications I've spent the most time with are Robot Comics' Droid Comics Viewer or ACV and one called Vintage Comic Droid. ACV is a CBZ reader for the Android platform (it reads CBR as well but it's buggy and slow, so I would recommend sticking with CBZ). It's a free app, which is nice, and Robot Comics provides free and paid content in the Android Market. The viewer itself works well; I was able to load a 170MB CBZ file without problem. It also remembers where you are in a comic, which is helpful when you need to exit the application. It has a bare bones front end, but is very customizable. You can adjust the controls and the Droid's high resolution screen makes comics surprisingly readable even at a very small size. The one annoyance I've found is that sometimes pages take a while to load. It's a very good app if you already have a comic collection in CBZ (you can get some here). The next app I tried was Vintage Comic Droid. Once again, this is a free app in the Android Market (ad-supported). Installation was a bit of a pain, as the app required me to download two additional graphics files from within the app before it would do anything, and I kept having server issues. However, once it was done I was quite pleased with the result. What I really like about this app is that it includes free download access to approximately 3,000 public domain comics. If you like old comics, this is the app for you. There is a download limit, I seem to get about 10 downloads per day, but that's not bad. The library interface is great, looking like a bookshelf full of comic boxes. Unfortunately, the reading interface isn't quite as good as that in ACV. among other things, it's much less customizable. Also, if you use the touch screen for navigation, it pulls up a control overlay which I find distracting. Luckily one can use the d-pad to navigate if you have the keyboard open: down arrow to scroll down (helpful if you're in landscape mode) and center button to page forward. Please note, this is not documented in the app. Downloaded comics are stored as .bin files in a hidden folder in your SD card, and are not viewable from most Android file managers. You can see them if you mount the SD card on your computer, and since they are stored in sub-folders by title it's easy enough to manage them that way. This is handy as they can be fairly big files and I have not been able to find a way to delete them from within the application. Still, I do like the application a lot, and it's very stable.

03-21-2010, 09:56 PM	#34
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	The only DRM app for the Droid that I've seen is Ereader - and that doesn't currently support ePub. Otherwise I find that I'm using Aldiko more and more as I think it's the best overall reader program for the Droid. I haven't used my Sony much since I got the Droid, either - but I think that will change especially since I often find myself using the Droid to amuse my seven year-old daughter.

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