Is there a decent ebook reader for PB out there? other than kobo?
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Is there a decent ebook reader for PB out there? other than kobo?
Good question. I expect a Kindle app for Playbook will skip in here before long.
i would be happy if there wasw a way to convert epub to kobo library.
also a good pdf reader would be nice.
or even better, an app that opens both epub and pdf, with advanced functions like bookmarking and zoom ;-)
In an earlier thread, someone here posted an email response from Amazon suggesting that the Kindle for Playbook app would be released by the end of May.
Not sure why Kobo gets no love. I have used about every single ereader since 1998 (on Palm devices, on WinMo devices, and now BB, using both BN eReader AND the Kindle app), and I think Kobo is just fine for what it is.
Why you all be hatin' on Kobo...? :)
I've been a Kindle reader for some time now and the Kobo PB app simply doesn't measure up for me, certainly not compared to reading on the Kindle itself, and not even in comparison to Kindle for PC. Amazon's success in broadening its platforms suggests that when they get around to it, Kindle for Playbook might be the choice. But other than that, you are probably right about Kobo. Its just that if I am going to e-read, I will haul out the Kindle instead of the Kobo on PB. The Kindle has suffered from neglect since the release of the Playbook, though.
Google books works on the PB...sort of. Some of the books I've purchased seem to have problems going forward in the pages, but I've reported it to google and they say they're investigating it.
the main issue is that you cant 'sideload' you own books. the only books it will read are ones you download from them.
Again, as I've pointed it out before, I'm currently using Ibisreader. It's a web based epub reader that will load whole chapters as one webpage. Works in portrait and landscape.
Another one is Bookworm. Both of them are getting updates all the time.
Biggest problems with both is that once you upload them, you can't edit names or such, and there's no folder structure for series, although bookworm is said to be coming out with a tag sorting field, which will be user based.
Personally, I like the way ibisreader looks.
I enjoy KOBO as well. The issue is the KOBO app for itouch/ipad/iphone is very much richer in features than the PB app and you can side load existing epubs into the iOS Kobo apps. As Kobo was the main partner with RIM for the PB ereader it should have had a least the same feature set if not more.
And just to add insult, the Kobo App updated on the iPad yesterday and is even better.
Shame on Kobo for continuing to ingnore their app on PB and to RIM for allowing it to happen.
Simply, NOT for PB:
1) The native Kobo app pre-installed on PB only allows loading flies from Kobo.
2) You can not load iPub files that you previously purchased. You can NOT install your own pdf>ePub files.
3) There are very few freeware files currently available for Kobo PB .. even though there are many thousand free wares available from sources like
Project Gutenberg - free ebooks online download
4) There is lack of functionality on PB Kobo that is available on dedicated Kobo readers and iPads, for example,
>> go to page
>> bookmarks
I don't necessary know what you are saying here.
The iDevice app does or doesn't allow sideloading?
The iDevice app does allow sideloading.
In iTunes epubs put into the book section can be seen with iBook. Under apps in iTunes these is a spot to select Kobo and place epubs as files so Kobo can use them in the app on the iDevice.
The PB has a book folder but epubs placed in the folder cannot be seen by the Kobo app.
There has to be a different directory within the file system where kobo stores epubs- i tried looking around using file:/// in the browser but could not locate it.
I'm sure if we can locate it and figure out a way to drop an epub within, it should work..
Cause I have over 100 books on Kindle! Same reason I hate ereader.com who doesn't have an app for iPad or PB. I have even MORE books on them and can't access them anymore!:mad:
I'm hating kobo for two reasons. 1) the margins are not configurable. And they're HUGE. 2) the bookmark syncing is painful/fiddly/not reliable at best. That's a major headache for me. I like to pick up whatever device I have handy...the playbook, my bold 9780, or my ipod touch and pick up my book wherever I left off. This is seamless and easy with the kindle apps. It's buggy and unreliable with kobo. 9/10 times the kobo app reports the book as "new" and unread.
Anyhow, that's why I'm hatin' on kobo.
Thanks, that's what I thought but I appreciate the clarification. Although iBooks was made available last year, 4-5 years after original iOS.
I agree with the problems with Kobo. Has anyone tried using html books? There's an app on the store that allows you to open webpages offline.
So just to be clear, ATM there is still no app for the PB which allows you to read epub files that you side load onto the device correct?
As far as I found so far, there is no app for that. I'm hoping amazon.com will bring their kindle app to playbook very soon.
Have you tried Book Reader? It loads any ebook and it works great. Its only $0.99
At least it was in January.
I Love my KOBO on my PB. i don't need it to sync across multiple devices as i carry my playbook everywhere, why do i need it on another device?
someone said it doesn't have bookmarks - clearly they haven't tapped the top right corner and discovered the dog-ear feature
people complain about the lack of free books KOBO offer, but im yet to find something someone's offering free that KOBO doesn't have, Guttenberg project was mentioned, well ive read all the Sherlock Holmes books, for free, on KOBO, courtesy of Guttenburg.
No, you cant sideload books, that is a minor annoyance, but anything I have on my Sony Reader i have already read, and should i wish to read again, will read again on that. I can understand people who would like this feature, but its not a nessesity. when you switched from real books to kindle you didnt moan the kindle didnt have all your paperbacks on it, so when you switch to KOBO why moan it hasnt got your kindle books?
Over all. KOBO reader for PB has been great, i love it, i have enjoyed it far more than kindle for iPad.
"No, you cant sideload books, that is a minor annoyance..."
Someone on CrackBerry posted recently that you can import your own content (epubs) into the sideloaded android Kobo app. I tried and it's true. My native Kobo has sat mostly unused and I'm now quite enjoying the sideloaded version. The only catch is that the epubs have to be in the downloads folder on the android side of your playbook.
Sideloading Kindle is as good as you're gonna get for now. It's not hard to do and worth it IMO.
I have GO Book, Moon+Reader, Book Reader, Kobo Books, and Amazon Kindle all installed on my PB and you can sideload epub files on all of them but Kindle after removing ePub DRM for the file you want to load.
Well, Kindle canNOT read epub. But it can read sideloaded prc/mobi formatted books once drm has been removed.
I thought I had read that Kobo Android did not work. What version of Android Kobo works and do you have a link?