Π applications for e-books on the Android operating system, the reasons why not every application for the Android system will work correctly on e-books with the same operating system were stated.
It was this sad fact that prompted us to test a lot of applications and choose those that will work on the "readers" (albeit with limitations).
Briefly, the reasons for the difficulties in the operation of applications on "readers" are as follows:
- "Readers" have a black and white screen; the display of color in applications should not be fundamentally important;
- Reader screens are also quite slow to update, so applications should not show rapidly changing content;
- Applications should not be paid, because. e-books do not have a Google Play store; necessary to install paid applications (but paid content in the application is not excluded!);
- Applications must be fundamentally compatible with "readers" even if all three of the previous conditions are met.
In the first part of the material, the results of testing were given. with links to workable versions of APK installation files.
This (second) part will present the results of testing two categories of applications related to the actual process of reading books: ΠΈ (i.e. not pre-installed on sold e-books).
As a result of testing applications, their common problem was revealed: in their vast majority they are not optimized for e-books in terms of image contrast.
As a rule, they provide measures to limit excessive image contrast on smartphones and tablets. Usually, for this purpose, the background of the text is made not absolutely white, but slightly darkened (gray, yellowish, with imitation of the pages of an old book, etc.); and the letters in the text are not completely black, but dark gray.
But in e-readers, there is no need to limit the contrast, as their screens already have a lower contrast compared to smartphones and tablets. Additional restriction of contrast can lead to its lack.
In this regard, users are recommended in those applications where it is possible to adjust the background color and symbols (letters), set the background as light as possible, and the color of the letters as black as possible (or vice versa - for fans of the "inverse" picture).
Applications were tested on ONYX BOOX e-readers with Android versions 4.4 and 6.0. Before installing the application, the user needs to make sure that the application is compatible with the version of Android under which his e-book is running.
The application description contains the following information:
- name (exactly as it appears in the Google Play store; even if it contains spelling or stylistic errors);
- developer (sometimes applications with the same name can be released by different developers);
- purpose of the application;
- required version of Android;
- link to the finished APK file, tested in MacCenter;
- a link to this application in the Google Play store (for a more detailed acquaintance with the application and reviews; you cannot download the APK installation file there);
- link to download the APK installation file of the application from an alternative source (if any);
- a note indicating possible features of the application;
- some screenshots of the running application.
Now - the actual information about the tested applications.
bookstores
Application List:
1. LitRes - Read books online
2. LitRes - Read for free
3. LitRes - Listen to audiobooks online
4. Amazon Kindle
5. Home library
6. The best books of Russian classic writers for free
7. MyBook - library and books
8. Litnet - Electronic books
9. Bookmate - read books easily
10. Wattpad - Where Stories Live
11. Free books, self-published
12. Parallel translation of books
13. Parallel books, fairy tales, topics in English
App Descriptions:
#1. Application name: LitRes - Read books online
Developer: Liters
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: At startup, it asks to install or update Google services, but it works without it.
There are free books (mostly classics).
Downloading books doesn't always work on the first try.
The built-in "reader" does not have a very contrasting look (the background is not quite white, the letters are not quite black).
Screenshots:
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#2. Application name: LitRes - Read for free
Developer: Liters
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: At startup, it asks to install or update Google services, but it works without it.
Books are indeed free; and "payment" for books is made by viewing ads.
The built-in "reader" does not have a very contrasting look (the background is not quite white, the letters are not quite black).
Occasionally, the device may reboot spontaneously.
Screenshots:
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#3. Application name: LitRes - Listen to audiobooks online
Developer: Liters
Destination: Audiobook Book Store
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: At startup, it asks to install or update Google services, but it works without it.
You can listen on e-books with an audio channel or on wireless headphones (if there is a Bluetooth device with the ability to pair with headphones, you need to check in each case separately).
Screenshots:
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#4. Application name: Amazon Kindle
Developer: Amazon Mobile LLC
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: English-language interface, but, nevertheless, there are books in Russian (including free ones).
The geometry of the application is not quite optimized for readers, but you can use it.
Screenshots:
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#5. Application name: Home library
Developer: SkyHorseApps
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: You can set a contrast theme in the settings.
There are free books (mostly classics).
Screenshots:
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#6. Application name: The best books of Russian classic writers for free
Developer: DuoSoft
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=5.0
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: When Wi-Fi is connected - intrusive advertising; without connecting, it leaves an empty space in place of the advertisement.
Screenshots:
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#7. Application name: MyBook - library and books
Developer: Mybook
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: The bookstore operates on a subscription model.
That is, books are not sold "by the piece", but the entire library at once for the subscription period.
Attention! Subscription can be renewed automatically with automatic debiting of funds!
Screenshots:
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#8. Application name: Litnet - Electronic books
Developer: litnet
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: The application is focused on online reading of free books by novice authors.
The built-in "reader" does not allow you to set a completely white background.
Screenshots:
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#9. Application name: Bookmate - read books easily
Developer: bookmates
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=5.0
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: The store works on a subscription system.
Attention! Subscriptions can be automatically renewed.
There are free books (mostly classics).
Screenshots:
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#10. Application name: Wattpad - Where Stories Live
Developer: wattpad.com
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Contains free books with free access, as well as books by emerging authors.
The built-in "reader" does not have a very contrasting look (the letters are not quite black).
Screenshots:
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#11. Application name: Free books, self-published
Developer: Surgebook
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Online reading of free books by emerging authors.
The built-in "reader" has a poor set of settings, does not know how to hide the Android status bar.
Screenshots:
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#12. Application name: Parallel translation of books
Developer: CourseX
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: An application to help learn a foreign language.
There are free books (mostly classics).
Sometimes it is difficult to call an interlinear translation, since the icon for calling it is small in size.
Screenshots:
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#13. Application name: Parallel books, fairy tales, topics in English
Developer: Adamant Mobile
Purpose: Bookstore
Required Android version: >=4.0.3
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Intended to help English learners.
There are free books (mostly classics).
Screenshots:
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Next up is the next category of apps, alternative reading apps.
As a rule, native built-in e-book applications work well and are certainly adapted for them; but in some cases, the user may be interested in other applications for reading because of their features.
Alternative apps for reading books
1. Cool Reader
2. FBReader
3. Moon + Reader
4. ReadEra - book reader fb2, pdf, docx
5. eBoox: Book Reader fb2 epub
6. AlReader - reader / reader of books
The following is detailed information about the listed applications:
#1. Application name: Cool Reader
Developer: Vadim lopatin
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to an alternative APK source - no, because. in the app stores, there are versions that are not adapted for installation on e-books.
Note: the application is optimized for readers and has branched settings.
Supported formats: fb2, epub (DRM-free), txt, doc, rtf, html, chm, tcr, pdb, prc, mobi (DRM-free), pml.
Does not support two-finger touchscreen font size change.
Screenshots:
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#2. Application name: FBReader
Developer: FBReader.ORG Limited
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Supports ePub, fb2, mobi, rtf, html, plain text, etc. To support some formats (PDF, DjVu), you need to install plugins.
Does not support two-finger touchscreen font size change.
Screenshots:
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#3. Application name: Moon + Reader
Developer: Moon +
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Supports TXT, HTML, EPUB, PDF, MOBI, FB2, UMD, CHM, CBR, CBZ, RAR, ZIP.
To work with the application, you must immediately set it to the βOutdoor (Pure White)β color scheme and set the desired paging mode (the mode without settings is vertical scrolling).
Does not support two-finger touchscreen font size change.
Screenshots:
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#4. Application name: ReadEra - book reader fb2, pdf, docx
Developer: READERA LLC
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Works with EPUB, FB2, PDF, DJVU, MOBI, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, CHM formats.
On readers with Android 4 it freezes, with Android 6 it works fine.
To work with the application, you must immediately set it to the "Day" color scheme and full screen mode.
Does not support two-finger touchscreen font size change.
Screenshots:
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#5. Application name: eBoox: Book Reader fb2 epub
Developer: MobiPups+
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.0
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Supports fb2, epub, mobi, etc.
On readers with side buttons, to control paging with these buttons, you need to set βFlipping with volume buttonsβ in the control settings.
The image is pale, lacks contrast.
Does not support two-finger touchscreen font size change.
Screenshots:
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#6. Application name: AlReader - reader / reader of books
Developer: Alan neerland
Purpose: Application for reading e-books
Required Android version: >=4.1
Link to ready
Link to application in
Link to
Note: Supports all book formats except PDF and DjVu.
Some settings items do not work correctly (the text is not visible, see screenshots).
Very close to OReader, if there is an OReader application on the e-book, the installation does not make sense.
Supports change the font size with two fingers on the touch screen.
Screenshots:
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To be continued!
Source: habr.com