All About eBooks?

[slitchfield]

eBooks have been a part of the Psion/Nokia/Symbian scene, on and off, for 15 years now. Admittedly, it's more 'off' than 'on' at the moment, but that's absolutely no reason for you not to take a hot drink and 30 minutes to read Michael Mace's epic feature on 'The Future of Publishing: Why eBooks Failed'. He looks at the topic from every angle and in terrific depth. What I'd now like to see is for a commercial eBook platform really take off on Symbian: suggestions for current contenders welcome if you agree?

Read on in the full article.

I just think the screen size will always be too small on a phone. I could see them taking off properly on tablets though, if they get the price right.

[traskilajussi]

There is an epub add-on for Firefox and Fennec. I wish someone would do the same for the S60 browser.

[Nemoi]

I have to admit, one application I am jealous of on other platforms is the one for the amazon kindle. I would not want to completely read on my smartphone. But to be able to read the same book on a proper ebook reader, skim through some pages on the smartphone on the move and then sync them both sounds like a great comfort to me.
But for starters, any epub reader for symbian^x would be a welcome start. Also ovi store should create a book category. There are some random ones on there, (which work quite nicely) but so far nothing to reguarly check back for reading material...

[jparrot99]

I've read quite a few complete novels on a phone. The N97 screen is fine for reading a book. Always with me, and I can read in bed at night without putting the light on.

At the moment I'm using EReader: http://www.ereader.com, on my N97, which works fine. They have fairly new native S60 client. For some reason last time I tried I couldn't buy the ebooks on my phone (in Opera Mini), but in theory that is also possible. And you can definitely download direct to the phone which I like.

I'd still like an ereader with a more open format (ePub, no?). So if that becomes available I'll be the first to buy it.

[Ratkat]

I started reading eBooks on the SE P900, found it fine for reading, just the right size to hold in your hand, have fond memories of the 2004 Isle of Man TT, sitting by the side of the road waiting to for a race to start, reading Stephen King's The Talisman.

On S60 I always used Mobipocket, which was great, but sadly now unsupported on the S50v5 devices.

These day I use the Kindle App on my iPhone 3GS, its is superb, syncs with Amazon's servers, buy books easy online, either on the device or from your computer. And now they have released the Kindle for Mac application for my Mac's. Brilliant, Kindle remembers where you are in the book across different devices, which is a bonus.

Personally I think the iPhone and other mobile device are better than the dedicated eReader Device like the standalone Kindle, Sony reader etc, a lot easier to hold especially when laying in bed, or on a bus or train.

"On S60 I always used Mobipocket, which was great, but sadly now unsupported on the S50v5 devices"
it isnt too difficult to use the basic S60 Mobipocket on the N97 - there is an AAS article from 2-3 months ago which explains how to use the hardware buttons to navigate.
My favorite was Tomb Raider. I email them yearly to ask if they are doing any S60 but it always No - I think they gave up on us when it became difficult to get apps certificated.
Robin

The last should have read Tome Raider

zxreader for symbian s60v5 is the best right now currently. well supported and updated often

I agree, the integration between the Kindle iPhone app and the actual Kindle is really amazing. I can't bring myself to the platform because of its closed nature and the non-portability of the books. For all I know, my entire library may be stranded on the iPhone and Kindle, even when superior hardware has come out and passed those platforms by.

At the moment, I like Kobobooks.com. While they still do not have an S60 app, they have one for most other major devices. They also publish in the EPUB standard, which allows me to view the books on a wider range of devices and software, including the Sony reader. Alas, AFAIK, Kobo does not have the ability to sync your bookmarks between devices.

Neither solution is perfect, but I like the direction both are heading: same books on multiple platforms.

[rachaelbrian]

Well giving in my opinion regarding e books I think they are a truly helpful thing and its flexibility makes it all the more excellent to use.I really love to have a e book installed in my mobile phone because they accompany me every where I go.