How to turn an ePub/InteractivePDF/Docx file into a standalone eBook APP?

[danrojest]

Hello, could anyone help...

How to turn an ePub/Interactive PDF/Docx eBook file into a Standalone eBook App, which does not need external eBook readers such as iBook/Google Play/Kindle/PDF, and still have several reading functions (page turning, search, link & return to previous view, font/size change, highlight/bookmark/comment)?

Thanks!

[Dr. Drib]

Moved out of General Discussion and into the Epub Forum.

Don
(Moderator)

[Freeshadow]

1. take ePub/InteractivePDF/Docx file
2. find android app programmer
3. give ePub/InteractivePDF/Docx file to android app programmer
4. wait
5. get app
6. give money to programmer

Repeat procedure with iOS app programmer

[dwig]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

1. take ePub/InteractivePDF/Docx file
2. find android app programmer
3. give ePub/InteractivePDF/Docx file to android app programmer
4. wait
5. get app
6. give money to programmer

Repeat procedure with iOS app programmer

... and repeat for Windows, macOS, & Linix. Then do it all again, this time with little or no new revenue, to create updates as each OS updates and breaks the older apps. You'll also need to be ready to field the complaints that there is no way to access your product with a dedicated ereader.

The main point is that the app will be OS specific and separate apps will need to be created, tested, and periodically updated for each and every OS. This is the main reason why this type of thing is not commonly done.

[AnemicOak]

You'll also need to pay for developer accounts with Google (for Android) and Apple (for iOS and macOS if you did that as well) to be able to upload and sell apps in their stores. Not sure of the costs for that, but I think it's like $35 for Google and $100 for Apple (& I think you need a Mac to upload for Apple).

[Freeshadow]

dwig: my main point actually was: not everything can be done by pushing the automagic button.

[BetterRed]

FWIW - a colleague uses the UNITY Pro Game development platform to build what we refer to Information Delivery Agents - much of which starts life as text, video, audio etc. She has developed 5-6 IDA variants over the last several months, and we ship content updates every day.

The IDA's are shipped for all the usual suspects, plus gaming consoles and as I saw the other day Cardboard, and on Hololens early next year, assuming M$ fulfils it's promise and the TPTB don't snaffle them.

No they're not books as such but they are sexy enough to keep the users away from SocMed sites for a few minutes a day whilst we tell them what they need to know.

BR

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Moved out of General Discussion and into the Epub Forum.

Don
(Moderator)

This doesn't belong in the ePub forum. It actually belongs in the forum for the device that the app is wanted for.

[DaleDe]

There are some mentioned in our wiki. Kotobee comes to mind. Apps for Android, iOS, Windows phone, Windows, Mac OS X, and Chromebook can be created if desired.

Dale

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Kotobee comes to mind. Apps for Android, iOS, Windows phone, Windows, Mac OS X, and Chromebook can be created if desired.

That tool only generates its own flavor of epub3, which fails epubcheck and only works with the Kotobee app.

IMHO, BetterRed's Information Delivery Agents idea would be the best solution.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

That tool only generates its own flavor of epub3, which fails epubcheck and only works with the Kotobee app.

IMHO, BetterRed's Information Delivery Agents idea would be the best solution.

Actually the OP was wanting an executable. This app can create an executable on a wide variety of platforms. It needs no outside app.

Dale

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Actually the OP was wanting an executable. This app can create an executable on a wide variety of platforms. It needs no outside app.

I stand corrected. I tested an older version that didn't have this feature. Thanks to its user-friendly point and click features, Kotobee might be a good solution for users with limited technical skills.

BTW, the app it generates appears to be a custom flash player with embedded multimedia files.

[pluma]

I don't think you need a high level of technical expertise. I googled a little bit and it should be fairly straighforward to turn html into a stand alone app with Android SDK, not to mention the millions of guides out there.

I remember many of the apps when android first came out were stand alone web sites, from wikipedia etc. Which I found somewhat disppointing because I was expecting fancy content with sophisticated interaction etc.

LMAO@kotobee $300

[Kotobee]

Ayman from Kotobee here. I happened to bump into this thread, so thought of contributing to clarify few things. Firstly, the days of Flash are over, and the apps we generate are not a custom flash player. Our apps are based entirely on HTML5 technology. You'll be able to create an app for different platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) and have it appear consistently across all.

LMAO@kotobee $300

Pluma, this is for creating SCORM ebooks, that integrate with LMS systems (Moodle, Blackboard) and report all kind of interactions that happens inside the ebook. It's a Premium License as mentioned, and only targeted for academic institutes.