iPad Barnes and Noble iPad specific app released

[stustaff]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/27/b...e-go-hands-on/

"eReader is actually quite flexible -- you can customize the page, text, highlight, and link colors any which way you want (we made some hideous combinations), and there are some nice presets themes as well, ranging from "The Printed Page" to an inverted setting called "Night Light." You can also set books to display using the publisher's settings, and there are the usual line spacing and justification options as well."

[Robotech_Master]

Unfortunately, it appears there's no way to transfer pre-existing eReader content purchased from eReader or Fictionwise, or created yourself, to this new higher-resolution iPad reader (the way you could in the iPhone version).

FAIL.

[dhiru]

is there any way to read epubs downloaded from calibre on B&N Reader?

thanks

[The Old Man]

Originally Posted by Robotech_Master

Unfortunately, it appears there's no way to transfer pre-existing eReader content purchased from eReader or Fictionwise, or created yourself, to this new higher-resolution iPad reader (the way you could in the iPhone version).

FAIL.

However it is a pretty nice reader with access to the B&N store (unfortunately) through Safari with a huge selection of books, a few magazines and a few more newspapers. It has a dictionary, highlite, note and links to Google or Wikipedia. All in all, not too bad.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by The Old Man

However it is a pretty nice reader with access to the B&N store (unfortunately) through Safari with a huge selection of books, a few magazines and a few more newspapers. It has a dictionary, highlite, note and links to Google or Wikipedia. All in all, not too bad.

Looks like they put a lot of effort into it, which is promising. I want a quicker way to adjust brightness, without messing with "recipes." Easy sideloading would be a huge plus.

It's good to see that B&N is pushing ahead with apps for other companies' devices. I hope they add more and more.

[DixieGal]

I got it and tried it out. It has pros and cons.

The library view is fine with nice crisp pics. However, I can't figure out how to delete some of my older B&N books. Or some of the pre-loads, such as Laura Bush's book.

It lets you make themes of text and background of every color in the rainbow.

I very much dislike the landscape view. It is 2 tiny columns with a large empty space between. But I like the portrait mode. It is easy to use zero margins. All of the formatting is easy, as a matter of fact.

Overall, I like it and the ability to tap into the vast B&N bookstore.

[DixieGal]

Oops, duplicate post.

[Rique]

Originally Posted by Robotech_Master

... it appears there's no way to transfer pre-existing eReader content purchased from eReader or Fictionwise, or created yourself, to this new higher-resolution iPad reader (the way you could in the iPhone version).

FAIL.

I keep looking for alternatives to iBooks, Kindle and Kobo - so I checked this out. I didn't have the issue you described - books downloaded from the Mac application (I used Sam Landstrom's free book "Metagame" as my test case) were added to my library. Books in my library could be accessed from the iPad.

There does not seem to be any syncing up of bookmarks or highlighting, though - but it sure looks as if an existing library could be accessed from the iPad. Could it be that older library formats don't work? Could the software or library be updated to fix the issue? Probably I don't understand the issue you are describing.

I wouldn't call this version 1.0 a "FAIL".

I have not tried (because I do not use it) Fictionwise.

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I want a quicker way to adjust brightness, without messing with "recipes." Easy sideloading would be a huge plus.

Maggie, could not agree more! Sideloading and in-book brightness control would make the app much improved.

I am not too surprised at the lack of sideloading (no one else has it, afaik - save for iBooks, of course - and the PDF specific reader apps).

The lack of an in-book brightness control is a big gap in desired functionality. I can't see how they missed that use case - sure hope we see it soon with a free update.

Addressing that weakness with "themes" is not an acceptable solution at all, imho.

Originally Posted by DixieGal

... I can't figure out how to delete some of my older B&N books. Or some of the pre-loads, such as Laura Bush's book.

I very much dislike the landscape view. It is 2 tiny columns with a large empty space between. But I like the portrait mode. It is easy to use zero margins. All of the formatting is easy, as a matter of fact.

Overall, I like it and the ability to tap into the vast B&N bookstore.

DixieGal, deleting the books has to happen in the library, which you access from Safari (I deleted books on my Mac's browser, confirmed they were gone later within the app - have not tried deleting books on the iPad Safari browser).

... and I like both views. I agree portrait is nicer. And I appreciate the margin control. And the access to B&N's library!

Originally Posted by The Old Man

However it is a pretty nice reader with access to the B&N store (unfortunately) through Safari with a huge selection of books, a few magazines and a few more newspapers. It has a dictionary, highlite, note and links to Google or Wikipedia. All in all, not too bad.

Agreed!

In-book brightness control, side-loading (access through the iTunes "App" tab - or in-browser uploads to the library would be ideal), in-app access to the store (similar to iBooks) would make this a rather nice reader app.

-- Riq

[JimKal]

Thank you all for the information about the B&N app for iPad. I've been waiting for it. I have already downloaded it and agree with much of what you all point out. For me, using Safari on iPad or my iMac isn't a problem, I don't mind choosing a theme either, but I do find myself constantly changing the brightness control when I'm using the Kindle app depending on the ambient lighting condition. For Kindle, I've pretty much settled on Sepia as easiest on my particular eyes. I hope they add an in app brightness control to the B&N app soon.

[Maggie Leung]

I suggest that those of us who want changes to the B&N app (such as a separate brightness setting) let the developers know. I called customer service for the best contact info and they said to fill out feedback here, and they will forward as needed:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/help/c...?cds2Pid=20703

[JimKal]

Great job Maggie. I'll do it right now!

[flumbo]

Originally Posted by Rique

DixieGal, deleting the books has to happen in the library, which you access from Safari (I deleted books on my Mac's browser, confirmed they were gone later within the app - have not tried deleting books on the iPad Safari browser).

To delete a book in the iPad application, open it, press the "i"/information icon and then press the "Delete from Ipad" button.

[flumbo]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I very much dislike the landscape view. It is 2 tiny columns with a large empty space between.

I wonder if two column mode is a book-specific thing. I've tried four books in landscape-- just one column here. I don't like the one column landscape view. Just like the kindle app, one column is just too wide in landscape mode.

[Rique]

Originally Posted by flumbo

To delete a book in the iPad application, open it, press the "i"/information icon and then press the "Delete from Ipad" button.

Flumbo, thanks for that!

But is there a way to delete it from the library so it does not clutter up your library view? (which is what I inferred that DixieGal wanted from her post). What you suggest just removes it from iPad memory, not the library - if you check your library, the book is still there.

-- Riq

[JSWolf]

The biggest flaw/issue/bug with the iPad B&N app is that when you use your own custom theme/font, al the styles in the eBook such as italics and bold no longer show up. So you have to use the publisher setting and then you get simulated bold and italic. That is pretty annoying. There's no reason for this at all.

I did send a message to customer service. We'll see how long it takes B&N to fix this issue.