Help! Switching from Glo to Android tablet, which reading app to use?

VirgoGirl · 09-11-2021, 12:40 PM

Hi! Apologies if this has been covered, there are so many threads and posts that I'm lost.

I'm switching from my dying Kobo Glo to a new Samsung A7 tablet, but I can't figure out what the best reader app for my needs would be. I want to be able to read the book details (the summary of the book I made in Calibre's comments section) and add the same book to different collections (ie, author "Agatha Christie" and genre "Mystery"). Calibre Companion won't work thru usb connection, I'm not that keen on relying on Wifi to connect as mine is not always stable.

Again apologies if I sound like a fool or a 95 year old grandma, I'm just really overwhelmed with the choices.

Thank so much for any help you can give me!

Badcatalex · 09-11-2021, 08:26 PM

I know two good ones- FBReader and Moon+ Reader.

VirgoGirl · 09-12-2021, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badcatalex

I know two good ones- FBReader and Moon+ Reader.

I downloaded a couple of reader apps today - my tablet arrived a few days earlier than expected - and so far Moonreader Free version is the only one I saw that will show me book details such as the summary. Readera won't show me a book summary - that I can find.

Question for those that have Moonreader + Pro (I'm planning on buying it)- Can I add collections, or do I have to rely only on tags? Re-tagging in calibre is not an issue, I just wondered if there was a way I could manually add books to collections instead of relying on tags.

graatch · 09-12-2021, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

I downloaded a couple of reader apps today - my tablet arrived a few days earlier than expected - and so far Moonreader Free version is the only one I saw that will show me book details such as the summary. Readera won't show me a book summary - that I can find.

Question for those that have Moonreader + Pro (I'm planning on buying it)- Can I add collections, or do I have to rely only on tags? Re-tagging in calibre is not an issue, I just wondered if there was a way I could manually add books to collections instead of relying on tags.

You can yeah, they're called Favorites. You long-press on a book on the shelf (you can also do this from the file browser the next page over) and then tap the starred iron in the top right. (Not in image since I don't have anything selected, but that's what browsing the collections looks like.)

VirgoGirl · 09-13-2021, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graatch

You can yeah, they're called Favorites. You long-press on a book on the shelf (you can also do this from the file browser the next page over) and then tap the starred iron in the top right. (Not in image since I don't have anything selected, but that's what browsing the collections looks like.)

Thanks! I saw that in the free version, but I wasn't sure if I can create multiple selections under Favorites, all I have in the free is "default". I'd like to add stuff like "Trope ~ Country House murder" or "Author ~ Dorothy L Sayers". I know there's an author screen (YAY!), but with 4,000 plus books I like to make collections of authors I read frequently or plan to read.

Apologies for asking for help, I couldn't find a help file in the app itself.

Quoth · 09-14-2021, 11:47 AM

Lithium IMO is far better than Moonreader, which seems to too easily ignore Publisher formatting. If you really want to over-ride book settings either edit it in Calibre or install the KOReader APK from their site. Most Android devices have a setting to allow APKs from outside the Playstore.

I use Lithium on my 10" & 6" Android, Aldiko Basic on my 4.3" Android (it's Android 6.x) and KOReader on my eink based Android, Boyue Likebook Mars.

I tried dozens of Android reading apps. Most are rubbish, some can't even use embedded publisher fonts.
Belinda Borrowbox is horrible, but it's the only app that works direct with my County Library. I have Kindle, Kobo and Google Playbooks apps on Android mostly for testing. I use Aldiko Basic, Lithium or KOReader depending which gadget it is.
I use Xodo on 10" tablet for PDFs and the stock PDF reader on the 7.8" Boyue Likebook Mars.

I read the vast majority of ebooks in epub on a Kobo Libra, including Amazon Kindle titles I buy.

You don't need to put Authors in collections as any sensible reader can filter by Title or Author. Collections are only needed to group things you want together that are not the same author. Not all apps support Collections. KOReader can use the metadata file that Calibre creates.

None of the Android apps are as good at "library" features or annotation as the native Kobo ereader program built into their eink models.

09-11-2021, 12:40 PM	#1
VirgoGirl "Why is it doing that?" Posts: 322 Karma: 725344 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Black Kobo Touch & Glo, responsible for 2 PaperWhites	Help! Switching from Glo to Android tablet, which reading app to use? Hi! Apologies if this has been covered, there are so many threads and posts that I'm lost. I'm switching from my dying Kobo Glo to a new Samsung A7 tablet, but I can't figure out what the best reader app for my needs would be. I want to be able to read the book details (the summary of the book I made in Calibre's comments section) and add the same book to different collections (ie, author "Agatha Christie" and genre "Mystery"). Calibre Companion won't work thru usb connection, I'm not that keen on relying on Wifi to connect as mine is not always stable. Again apologies if I sound like a fool or a 95 year old grandma, I'm just really overwhelmed with the choices. Thank so much for any help you can give me!

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09-11-2021, 08:26 PM	#2
Badcatalex I draw. Posts: 128 Karma: 4278578 Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Midwestern US Device: K1, K4B, KPW3, KOA3, KF7 (2019)	I know two good ones- FBReader and Moon+ Reader.

09-14-2021, 11:47 AM	#6
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,154 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	Lithium IMO is far better than Moonreader, which seems to too easily ignore Publisher formatting. If you really want to over-ride book settings either edit it in Calibre or install the KOReader APK from their site. Most Android devices have a setting to allow APKs from outside the Playstore. I use Lithium on my 10" & 6" Android, Aldiko Basic on my 4.3" Android (it's Android 6.x) and KOReader on my eink based Android, Boyue Likebook Mars. I tried dozens of Android reading apps. Most are rubbish, some can't even use embedded publisher fonts. Belinda Borrowbox is horrible, but it's the only app that works direct with my County Library. I have Kindle, Kobo and Google Playbooks apps on Android mostly for testing. I use Aldiko Basic, Lithium or KOReader depending which gadget it is. I use Xodo on 10" tablet for PDFs and the stock PDF reader on the 7.8" Boyue Likebook Mars. I read the vast majority of ebooks in epub on a Kobo Libra, including Amazon Kindle titles I buy. You don't need to put Authors in collections as any sensible reader can filter by Title or Author. Collections are only needed to group things you want together that are not the same author. Not all apps support Collections. KOReader can use the metadata file that Calibre creates. None of the Android apps are as good at "library" features or annotation as the native Kobo ereader program built into their eink models.