Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone Now the Biggest eBook Reader?

Now I use stanza and I think it's a great program. As a librarian, I think it's the best implementation of ebook reading thus far.

However, wouldn't a better representation of it's popularity be it's incidence rate? (How many times it's been downloaded.) Or how many books have been downloaded?

I'm working on researching the usability and effects of storing library materials on a central library server. Something where users can log in with their library card to view materials that would normally be accessed via a physical library. Think NetLibrary, but with a better UI (PDF file/reader).
 
Auctor said:
People who compare E-Ink with the iPhone, or Palm, or any other miniature LCD screen, just don't get it.
Click to expand...

I do get it--I've seen a kindle--but I still compare:

A laptop is a better way to read email than an iPhone.

A meeting in person is a better way to converse than an iPhone.

A Kindle is a better way to read a book than an iPhone.

A movie theater is a better way to watch a movie than an iPhone.

A Wii is a better way to play a game than an iPhone.

And yet, people frequently give up those ideal choices and use an iPhone instead, because it gives you everything in your pocket, in a way none of the ideal options do. And the ideal options are the worst POSSIBLE option if you've left them at home and have nothing!

iPhones and dedicated e-readers can both have a long and happy life, but they WILL be compared, because people choose between them every day.
 
the new Sony reader has back light. The size is perfect for book + light weight. I am very close to buy one.
 
It would be much more interesting to find out how many people actually USE Stanza. I tried it and IMHO it sucks big time.

That said, these numbers definitely show that there IS a market. Just doesn't prove the iPhone has it cornered.
 
I actually really like Stanza

I've finished several full length books on my iPhone. I was surprised to find that it read like a book. It seemed to disappear in my hands just like a good book should as I immerse myself in the story. I love that it has a ton of adjustable settings (I changed the text to white on black, which is easier on the eyes and my battery). They also made good improvements to the ability to add books and search them lately.

Another point: if you aren't using it with the desktop client, you can't really get full functionality. It really opens up the books you can get! (Though most of mine have still come through the free iPhone catalog.)
I've played with the kindle, but I like my all-in-one device, I thought the kindle was a bit ungainly (if pretty).
 
over at macnn they have some leaked pics (via another site) of the kindle 2. rounder, buttons changed, etc. flash drive instead of removable SD slot.

i was going to get my wife a kindle for her birthday next month, but now i may wait until the second version comes out, which is probably sometime in early 2009. i've thought about getting her a touch instead, but i do think the kindle is a much better ebook device, no matter what people think about stanza...
 
I just downloaded Stanza and am going to give it a try.

I would prefer to have one device for everything (iPhone), including reading, but have been intrigued by the Kindle for a while. I've been holding out for version 2 of the Kindle, before trying it out. Any rumors about that? Does anyone think an upgrade to the Kindle is likely by Xmas this year? :confused:
 
robynthegeek said:
Another point: if you aren't using it with the desktop client, you can't really get full functionality. It really opens up the books you can get! (Though most of mine have still come through the free iPhone catalog.)
I've played with the kindle, but I like my all-in-one device, I thought the kindle was a bit ungainly (if pretty).
Click to expand...

Is there a "getting started" guide to the desktop client? I installed it, but all I see is a menu bar and no other visible interface.
 
Just another point, but the Stanza desktop is free as a beta at the moment but will cost money eventually...
 
Phatpat said:
The PRS-700 does annotations. Too bad it's still Windows only though.
Click to expand...
Is it really Windows-only? :confused:

Its predecessor, the PRS-500 is also labeled as being Windows-only as far as I know. However, it mounts as a plain USB mass storage device and allows easy drag & drop of files to the device. Besides, there are eBook library programs and converters for the Mac. Personally, I would probably never do any serious reading on my iPhone. It's just more strain on the eyes and I cannot read as fast, as "well" and with the same concentrated as I am used too. This goes for any (!) backlit device.
midnightvii said:
the new Sony reader has back light.
Click to expand...
Who says it's going to be backlit?

On Sony's site for the PRS700BC it says: "A built-in LED reading light gives you the ability to read at night or other low-light situations without bothering others around you."
 
Thumbs Up For Stanza

I've been using Stanza for a couple of weeks and I find it far better than eReader.

With eReader getting content that I had on my mac onto the phone involved uploading it to eReader or setting up a webserver. Stanza on the other hand was as simple as opening it on my mac and choosing the option to copy it to my iPhone from the iPhone app.

Stanza lets you amend the author/title on the inside the iPhone app so the book displays in the author/title list correctly, which eReader couldn't.

Finally it supports a lot of different formats (pdf,lit,epub etc). IIRC eReader only supports pub.

Great little app IMO.
 
Re: Stanza

I use Stanza all the time. I was able to move all of my .lit and .pdf files from my HP iPaq to the iPhone because unlike other apps, Stanza can read .lit format. I don't know why anyone would download a program and not use it, seems kind of idiotic to me.

I turn down the backlighting to slightly less than 50% and I don't get eye fatigue. I also don't sit there and read for 5 hours, I take short breaks. Also, I use an external battery when I'm on the road and don't have any battery issues. Sure, it's not as big as Kindle, but neither is the price.

I tried Kindle and found it lacking, not to mention exhorbitantly priced. Not being able to transfer my .lit files was a deal killer, as well as the price of the ebooks. I can go to newsgroups and get current titles for free.
 
So far, I've read complete books on my iPhone using Stanza, eReader, and BookZ... haven't bought Bookshelf yet, but might, since it links well with Webscriptions.net.

Stanza has gotten MUCH better since its first release, and I recommend it highly, but all three are perfectly adequate for extended reading. More about my experience with ebooks on the iPhone at http://www.academicvc.com/2008/09/ebooks.html
 
I like Stanza, particularly being able to revert the display to white text on black pages, but I must admit that I wish the screen bigger and the selection of recent releases were available for purchase.

I'd really like to consider a Kindle or Sony ebook reader, but not at their current prices. I guess for the meantime I'll read my books the old-fashioned way. :)
 
I've been using eReader, especially since you can link it to manybooks.net and download books directly.

Not that I read much, if hardly ever, but it is nice to have a few books on there. I have read "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "A Day In Old Athens" since getting my launch iPhone - a great feat, considering I haven't read a book that I wasn't required to since high school.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
I'd love it if we could get newer books for free... or maybe as a monthly fee sort of thing (pay $5-10 a month and get unlimited access to books... like Netflix is with movies...)

for free... maybe they could make them ad based. There would be banner advertisements and a 30 second commercial every 10 pages or so.
Click to expand...

That wouldn't work. The publishing industry just doesn't work that way. Also, ads would annoy the hell out of me while I was reading. I'd rather pay $20 for a real book. I would, on principle, pay money for ebooks but I tend not to because there are a lot of good Creative Commons licensed ones out there (by proper commercially published authors) so for the time being I have plenty of contemporary content without having to pay.

penguy said:
I agree, but at the same time, I find it unlikely that I would read a complete book on the iPhone screen. I didn't play with the Kindle settings too much, but the fonts were razor sharp. I found the page button to be too easy to tap and the delay in turning a little annoying, but, if it was less expensive, and I spent more time on a train commuting, it (the kindle) would be the way to go.
Click to expand...

I like how you can change the font and the text/background colours in Stanza. It means that when you're on a train in the middle of the day you can have black on white, but when you're in bed in the dark, you can change it to grey on black to make it easier on the eyes. Mind you, I have absolutely no problems reading off LCD (iphone or computer) screens for hours and hours on end...

Loge said:
Is there a "getting started" guide to the desktop client? I installed it, but all I see is a menu bar and no other visible interface.
Click to expand...

Drag and drop (or go file open) your ebooks (.epub or .pdf or .doc or .txt or .rtf or...) then once you have an ebook or three open, go to Tools > Enable Sharing. Then on your iPhone in Stanza go to Shared Books > Books on Macintosh and your desktop Stanza books that you have open should be there. I think it also asks to you confirm in the desktop version that you want to allow your iPhone to access it.
 
I believe and do that! it is because of its portability, widescreen and long battery life... good to be reading your favorite ebook on Que to for flight! hehehe
 
thumbs up

I'm working on researching the usability and effects of storing library materials on a central library server. Something where users can log in with their library card to view materials that would normally be accessed via a physical library. Think NetLibrary, but with a better UI (PDF file/reader).
Click to expand...

I actually think that would work.
While the current publishing system isn't set up that way, neither was the music industry when mp3 came about, and you saw what happened there.

Only catch is that a real library is free, with no ads, so maybe give that a thought.

And also believe in the power of FREE! Bookshelf might be better but this Stanza already has a chunk of the market share because its easy to get. Of course what would be best is for a company to strike it's deals with the publishers first (like Kindle did) and then offer a good free or cheap application with top content at the beginning.
 
Not just boring B&W books, now iPhone has Art too...

Not just books, there is art now too... ... Lydia Venieri, the well known Greek artist, has just released a performance of her poem. It's using the Syntazo reader, IlluminatedChronicle, that is a cross between an ebook and an audiobook. Its cool, and her art is pretty cool too.



http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=303834234

moonlight-002.jpg
 
Stanza, Bookshelf, ReaddleDocs . . .

I am new to the iPhone after a multi-year love affair with Palm. I postponed the move until there were some good ebook readers available that would also work for my library collection. I tried and discarded eReader because I prefer the Stanza interface. I also use and would recommend BookShelf and ReaddleDocs.
Why? Besides liking to have more than one book open I use them for different file formats, even though there is a lot of overlap.
Stanza gets eReader and Fictionwise formats mostly, BookShelf has mobi/prc files (from Baen ebooks mostly) and I ReaddleDocs for Office, pdf and text files.
The only thing I have found that they can't read are secure MobiPocket files that the Kindle uses. that's OK because I can usually fined them elsewhere.
As for the idea that only public domain books are available, that is not accurate. While there are many public domain books available from Project Gutenberg, you can purchase contemporary books from eReader, Fictionwise and Stanza (all now owned by Fictionwise) and Baen (for SF and Fantasy fans) and, I'm sure, many others.
While a Kindle might be nice my iPhone (and previous Palms) are always with me. . .

Outside of a dog, a book is Man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back