What is the most popular application for reading books online?

KristinaAguilar · 08-07-2020, 05:49 AM

Hello! Congrats!
I just joined the community, first I hope to post here as an introduction.
Currently, I am looking to download the add-on app for reading books, do you have any good suggestions?

pdurrant · 08-07-2020, 06:11 AM

what platform? (Linux, Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android?)

KristinaAguilar · 08-08-2020, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

what platform? (Linux, Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android?)

Thank you, I use an Android device

haydnfan · 08-08-2020, 07:49 AM

Are you going to sideload books or purchase directly and read through the app?

tomsem · 08-08-2020, 09:59 AM

What do you mean by ‘reading online’? Using a web browser?

Quoth · 08-08-2020, 02:13 PM

Reading a file ON the device is offline. If you can turn off WiFi/3G and read, then it's never an "online" reading. There are loads of Android applications. I've tried dozens. I use Lithium for epub (I convert anything not epub and not a PDF to epub) and use Kodi for PDFs, but PDFs need a 10" screen minimum typically.

Reading actually Online without any downloading (i.e. WiFi, Broadband or Mobile connection must be active) uses a browser. Always.

pdurrant · 08-08-2020, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinaAguilar

Hello! Congrats!
I just joined the community, first I hope to post here as an introduction.
Currently, I am looking to download the add-on app for reading books, do you have any good suggestions?

If you buy books from Amazon, the Kindle app for Android is reasonable.

SeaBookGuy · 08-08-2020, 05:59 PM

I am partial to Aldiko for non-Amazon items.

cfrizz · 08-09-2020, 10:10 AM

I have used Aldiko, but I'm now using Moon+Reader Pro.

Sirtel · 08-09-2020, 10:34 AM

I've always used the Kindle app on my phone, even for non-Amazon books. It respects my hand-edited css and books look best with it, imho. In the past I've tried Moon Reader Pro and FB Reader, but they aren't as satisfying for me personally. They're better, though, if you don't edit your ebooks and want the app to adjust things like margins, line-spacing etc for you.

DNSB · 08-09-2020, 01:52 PM

I don't read ebooks using my Android tablet that often but I've been using the Pocketbook app lately. The main reason is that it respects embedded styles without having to jump through hoops and it seems to have the best support of the varioius Android apps that I've tried for rules embedded in stylesheet so my epubs looks very close to what I see using ADE 4.5 or a Readium based epub3 renderer on Linux.

I realize that some people want the disregard the embedded styles rendering that quite a few Android apps seem to use as their default but I prefer seeing the book displayed as intended by the author/publisher or for annoyingly formatted ebooks as modified by me.

kacir · 08-09-2020, 03:06 PM

It depends on your device, your tastes, preferences, ...

I personally prefer to fine-tune the presentation of the book on the device screen - background, font color, font choice, font size (some programs have large jumps between sizes), space between lines, justification, border width, first line indentation for new paragraphs, ...
I also like to customize user interface - turning page by tapping left and right side of screen, turning page back by tapping the top of the screen or using gesture.
I also want to see recently read books (with percentage of how much of the book I have finished), I want to browse books on the device in a reasonable manner from the app, have access to table of contents, way to follow links AND return back (for footnotes and suchlike) ...

So ... at the moment my favourite is Alreader, Coolreader, Moon+ reader, Koreader, ...
Alreader is also well suited for reading on an e-ink screen so that puts it on the first place.

Other people like simpler apps with fewer choices and have different priorities - support for their library borrowing system, or access to Kindle books with synchronization with their other devices.

There are numerous apps available and they are usually relatively small programs, so you can install half a dozen and try them out one by one to see which one you you like the most.

JSWolf · 08-09-2020, 03:10 PM

The most popular program for reading eBooks online is a web browser. My guess is Microsoft Edge is the most used.

Aldiko and Moon+ are not used for reading eBooks online.

Quoth · 08-10-2020, 12:49 PM

Edge can't read other than HTML online:
1) The current version doesn't have an ereader now
2) When it did, it was fake Online, like a PDF plugin. Actual ebooks and PDFs, even if viewed in a browser are actually being downloaded on a temporary basis.

Actual eBooks or PDF can only be really read by download (though it might not be obvious), anything else is really HTML.

So if it's a real ebook or PDF, then download it and read with any suitable application to taste. No need to stay connected.

Also nothing reads Excel, Word etc "Online". Google Docs and similar allow a download export of a real document, the actual online version is being done by HTML, javascript, CSS etc from an interactive server.

Deskisamess · 08-10-2020, 12:59 PM

I wonder if browser reading is the most used. Except to check out how it works, I've never read a book in the browser.

I use the Kindle app the most, especially since they added a scroll option. When using my iPhone to read, being able to scroll instead of a page turn works better for me, especially with a larger font.

I've tried other apps, and use the Apple Books app at times, but it is seriously lacking in features and options. I don't use my iDevices to read enough to really learn and appreciate the other reading apps. Some of the ones I have tried seemed too difficult to access menus and settings, and were not nearly as intuitive as the Kindle app. I can't give examples as I've not used any of them recently and don't have them on my phone.

I have used the Overdrive app a few times for library books not available in Kindle format. It doesn't happen often enough for me to give a real opinion, aside from the fact it only let me read on one device, which I didn't care for.

08-07-2020, 05:49 AM	#1
KristinaAguilar Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 105788 Join Date: Aug 2020 Device: yes	What is the most popular application for reading books online? Hello! Congrats! I just joined the community, first I hope to post here as an introduction. Currently, I am looking to download the add-on app for reading books, do you have any good suggestions?

08-10-2020, 12:49 PM	#14
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,615 Karma: 103503445 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Edge can't read other than HTML online: 1) The current version doesn't have an ereader now 2) When it did, it was fake Online, like a PDF plugin. Actual ebooks and PDFs, even if viewed in a browser are actually being downloaded on a temporary basis. Actual eBooks or PDF can only be really read by download (though it might not be obvious), anything else is really HTML. So if it's a real ebook or PDF, then download it and read with any suitable application to taste. No need to stay connected. Also nothing reads Excel, Word etc "Online". Google Docs and similar allow a download export of a real document, the actual online version is being done by HTML, javascript, CSS etc from an interactive server. Last edited by Quoth; 08-10-2020 at 12:52 PM. Reason: Also

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08-07-2020, 06:11 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,559 Karma: 315000002 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	what platform? (Linux, Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android?)

08-08-2020, 07:49 AM	#4
haydnfan Guru Posts: 650 Karma: 5632364 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle PW 4, Oasis 2	Are you going to sideload books or purchase directly and read through the app?

08-08-2020, 09:59 AM	#5
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,893 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	What do you mean by ‘reading online’? Using a web browser?

08-08-2020, 02:13 PM	#6
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,615 Karma: 103503445 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Reading a file ON the device is offline. If you can turn off WiFi/3G and read, then it's never an "online" reading. There are loads of Android applications. I've tried dozens. I use Lithium for epub (I convert anything not epub and not a PDF to epub) and use Kodi for PDFs, but PDFs need a 10" screen minimum typically. Reading actually Online without any downloading (i.e. WiFi, Broadband or Mobile connection must be active) uses a browser. Always.

08-08-2020, 05:59 PM	#8
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I am partial to Aldiko for non-Amazon items.

08-09-2020, 10:10 AM	#9
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,561 Karma: 36389706 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I have used Aldiko, but I'm now using Moon+Reader Pro.

08-09-2020, 10:34 AM	#10
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,018 Karma: 237059052 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I've always used the Kindle app on my phone, even for non-Amazon books. It respects my hand-edited css and books look best with it, imho. In the past I've tried Moon Reader Pro and FB Reader, but they aren't as satisfying for me personally. They're better, though, if you don't edit your ebooks and want the app to adjust things like margins, line-spacing etc for you.

08-09-2020, 01:52 PM	#11
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 44,343 Karma: 165617033 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I don't read ebooks using my Android tablet that often but I've been using the Pocketbook app lately. The main reason is that it respects embedded styles without having to jump through hoops and it seems to have the best support of the varioius Android apps that I've tried for rules embedded in stylesheet so my epubs looks very close to what I see using ADE 4.5 or a Readium based epub3 renderer on Linux. I realize that some people want the disregard the embedded styles rendering that quite a few Android apps seem to use as their default but I prefer seeing the book displayed as intended by the author/publisher or for annoyingly formatted ebooks as modified by me.

08-09-2020, 03:06 PM	#12
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,462 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	It depends on your device, your tastes, preferences, ... I personally prefer to fine-tune the presentation of the book on the device screen - background, font color, font choice, font size (some programs have large jumps between sizes), space between lines, justification, border width, first line indentation for new paragraphs, ... I also like to customize user interface - turning page by tapping left and right side of screen, turning page back by tapping the top of the screen or using gesture. I also want to see recently read books (with percentage of how much of the book I have finished), I want to browse books on the device in a reasonable manner from the app, have access to table of contents, way to follow links AND return back (for footnotes and suchlike) ... So ... at the moment my favourite is Alreader, Coolreader, Moon+ reader, Koreader, ... Alreader is also well suited for reading on an e-ink screen so that puts it on the first place. Other people like simpler apps with fewer choices and have different priorities - support for their library borrowing system, or access to Kindle books with synchronization with their other devices. There are numerous apps available and they are usually relatively small programs, so you can install half a dozen and try them out one by one to see which one you you like the most.

08-09-2020, 03:10 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,877 Karma: 143095300 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The most popular program for reading eBooks online is a web browser. My guess is Microsoft Edge is the most used. Aldiko and Moon+ are not used for reading eBooks online.

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08-10-2020, 12:59 PM	#15
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,740 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	I wonder if browser reading is the most used. Except to check out how it works, I've never read a book in the browser. I use the Kindle app the most, especially since they added a scroll option. When using my iPhone to read, being able to scroll instead of a page turn works better for me, especially with a larger font. I've tried other apps, and use the Apple Books app at times, but it is seriously lacking in features and options. I don't use my iDevices to read enough to really learn and appreciate the other reading apps. Some of the ones I have tried seemed too difficult to access menus and settings, and were not nearly as intuitive as the Kindle app. I can't give examples as I've not used any of them recently and don't have them on my phone. I have used the Overdrive app a few times for library books not available in Kindle format. It doesn't happen often enough for me to give a real opinion, aside from the fact it only let me read on one device, which I didn't care for.