Database Develop

[Q] HELP! Need eBook help

OK, maybe I'm in the wrong place but hopefully someone can help me or direct me to the right place. I have a Samsung Captivate. I downloaded FBreader app so I can read ebooks in epub format. I don't want Kindle and from reviews I read, FBreader is better than Aldiko or Laputa.
#1. Where do I go to buy ebooks (latest booksbest sellers, etc.)?
#2. How do I download them to my PC then transfer to my external SD memory card in my phone? Or/And
#3. How do I download directly from my phone to the SD card and this use the app to read?
Thanks in advance for your help, Fellow Droiders.
p.s. I DO have Kies installed. How/Can I use that for syncing ebooks from PC to phone?

When I first started learning Android, I had to experiment with a few different kinds of ebook readers. I previously had a Tilt that I loaded Incubus' Froyo on, and that was the only thing I ever read books on.
FBreader never really did quite work right for me, I ended up using the free version Wordplayer. It seems to work the fastest, has a lot of nice options, and doesn't screw up the formatting of the text. I read about 20 books on the tilt, and now that I've got a Captivate, I've read six on this device using Wordplayer.
As far as where to buy books, that's a matter of searching Google. I haven't bought any epub books myself, I've just been converting my old .lit ebooks using Calibre.

I never had any luck with FBReader I know it does not get good reviews but I have liked Aldiko that I even purchased the premium version of it. I was getting my books from Barnes and Noble in epub format but the only thing that it would play on without decrypting the files is their Nook software which is fine in its self but my other collection of books that I did not get from Barnes and Noble I import them with Aldiko. One nice thing about the nook software is that you can do it all on your phone and never have to worry about the PC as it will load the book on your phone directly
Hope this helps

[Q] Nook app / ePub file / Magazine Subscriptions

I purchased a magazine subscription from the nook store and it wouldn't show in my nook library. I called BN support and they said that it was an ePub file (not a PDF) and it seems like my device doesn't support ePub files. All other nook purchases are showing up in the library. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the app with no luck.
Does anyone know how to get ePub support on the device or a way to make this work?
Nook doesn't allow you to download and transfer the file from another device.

jdnyc said:
I purchased a magazine subscription from the nook store and it wouldn't show in my nook library. I called BN support and they said that it was an ePub file (not a PDF) and it seems like my device doesn't support ePub files. All other nook purchases are showing up in the library. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the app with no luck.
Does anyone know how to get ePub support on the device or a way to make this work?
Nook doesn't allow you to download and transfer the file from another device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the NOOK app I've noticed Epub files need to be side loaded which basically means manually copying them to the nook directory into my documents. Also, the nook gets a bit retarded at times and will crash anytime you try going into my documents, if this happens you need to go into settings -> applications -> nook and clear data

Not sure I understand what you are asking but Aldiko is a free reader that will do Epub files. It is in the market.

kirov70 said:
On the NOOK app I've noticed Epub files need to be side loaded which basically means manually copying them to the nook directory into my documents. Also, the nook gets a bit retarded at times and will crash anytime you try going into my documents, if this happens you need to go into settings -> applications -> nook and clear data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I just went back through the order process and saw that it says it is only available on nook color. Probably wouldn't work with a sideload.

Are your tablets rooted or where did you find nook reader?

I installed the nook app and subscribed to a mag and it shows and I was able to open it.

copc said:
I installed the nook app and subscribed to a mag and it shows and I was able to open it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which title? Customer service said some would/wouldn't work. Some titles will say that they are only available on nook color.

kirov70 said:
On the NOOK app I've noticed Epub files need to be side loaded which basically means manually copying them to the nook directory into my documents. Also, the nook gets a bit retarded at times and will crash anytime you try going into my documents, if this happens you need to go into settings -> applications -> nook and clear data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone know how to sideload the cover art? I have a ton of epubs sideloaded and they work great just can't get the cover art to show.

...just bumping this to see if someone can give more detail on nook magazine subscriptions on the g tab. Almost all titles say that they are exclusive to the nook/nook color. My attempts have not been successful.
Please let me know the titles you have tried and how you got them to work. The step by step would be a useful reference for others considering the g tab as well.
Thanks!

epub files are just easier dealt with in fbreader. Available in market.
Not as flashy as Nook, but much more user-friendly.

jdnyc said:
...just bumping this to see if someone can give more detail on nook magazine subscriptions on the g tab. Almost all titles say that they are exclusive to the nook/nook color. My attempts have not been successful.
Please let me know the titles you have tried and how you got them to work. The step by step would be a useful reference for others considering the g tab as well.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Readers Hub with Zinio to read magazines. Go to Zinio.com and sign up and purchase subscriptions to the magazines you want and you can read them on your gTab.
Here is where you can get the apk files for these apps.
click here

Force closes with the standard Zinio apk.
Use the fixed version for the GTab.

jdnyc said:
I purchased a magazine subscription from the nook store and it wouldn't show in my nook library. I called BN support and they said that it was an ePub file (not a PDF) and it seems like my device doesn't support ePub files. All other nook purchases are showing up in the library. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the app with no luck.
Does anyone know how to get ePub support on the device or a way to make this work?
Nook doesn't allow you to download and transfer the file from another device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(5 months later...) The nook app has been updated to support magazine and newspaper subscriptions as well as user ePub files.

Yeah, works great for me! I'm loving being able to read magazines on this color display as apposed to the terrible magazine support on the standard Nook. A few bugs, but mostly going without a hitch.

Overdrive and checking out books from local library

Hi folks
So I am running a rooted Nook Color (thank you Autonooter!)
I have installed Overdrive both via the Android Market and also via the local library site in case there was a weird version issue. When I click to download an epub book from my library the browser instead of invoking Overdrive to download the book displays the URN information for the book download. There seems to be no way to get books downloaded. I tried making the default browser the Nook one vs using Dolphin HD but the same occurs.
I installed the same config on my Droid X and Overdrive kicked in and downloaded the book.
Anyone else tried checking out books via their library and had any success. I wonder if this is an issue due to rooting but wanted to get some feedback before resorting to going all the way back to stock (I just got this thing configured how I wanted it too!)
Thanks for any insight!
Chris
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App

I am a heavy overdrive user for both epub books and audio books.
I can download epub books to my android phone just fine, but i have to download the books to my nook via Adobe digital editions on my laptop.
They show up under My Files in the NC library.
Make sure to register your adobe de onlineon your PC and on your NC.
Please post if you need further help.

It Works...
The text stuff that you see is the text of the associated ascm file in Overdrive. Do the following:
I am using the following method on a rooted NC and using either Aldiko or Overdrive Media Console with no probs whatsoever. I use these because I like to read my epubs in landscape mode and for some totally inexplicable reason the BN reader can't do this!
You must have Astro File Manager installed (free in the Market). Astro allows you to add new file extensions by the following preferences:
Astro settings>Data>Edit File Extensions>New
Extension Name: epub (no period)
MIME Type: application
Subtype: epub
Then Save
Now when you double-click on the ebook file it will ask for whatever reading program you want to use to read, i.e., the reading app that is on your Nook Color. If you have Desktop Visualizer installed (also free in the Market) you can even make a shortcut for your book on your [rooted] Home Screen, e.g., I am using Zeam launcher for my home screen.

That sounded promising but it looks like I am just getting the URN/URL for the eBook and not the actual file downloading so the association does not seem to work. I currently have the default browser set rather than Dolphin but both behaved in the same manner.
Any other ideas? Am I missing something else.
Thanks for the response I'm really looking forward to getting this working!
EDIT: I also rebooted afterwards in case it needed a fresh boot for the new extension
Chris
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App

In the text/ address that I see when clicking download the book I saw application/epub+zip so I tried editing the epub extension via Astaro to try that vs just application/epub
Did not make a difference. Agh!
I wish I could cut and paste the screen/text to better show what I am getting.
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App

chrismoo said:
That sounded promising but it looks like I am just getting the URN/URL for the eBook and not the actual file downloading so the association does not seem to work. I currently have the default browser set rather than Dolphin but both behaved in the same manner.
Any other ideas? Am I missing something else.
Thanks for the response I'm really looking forward to getting this working!
EDIT: I also rebooted afterwards in case it needed a fresh boot for the new extension
Chris
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the browser (I use Dolphin) go to "More>Save Page or Save" and save the text - then click on it w/Astro. You want to save the actual text, not the URL

IYep, that worked for me. The only hang up left for me is the fact that books downloaded directly to the NC can't be read with the book's reading app. It does not recognize the drm like it does if they are sideloaded from a PC running adobe digital editions. Can that be corrected?

Ok got the epub files working but via adding another extension type of ascm so that this kicked in the Overdrive application. I then tried to download a drm'd PDF file as the other book I wanted happened to be in this format- this one fails as Overdrive says it cannot open/read the PDF file format.
Man this seems to be a very haphazzard way to get at content - I am a PC tech so wonder what chance Joe Public stands!!
Thanks for the extensions pointer that's got me almost there!
Sent from my LogicPD Zoom2 using XDA App

Can somebody please help me with setting up overdrive to associate with ACSM files? I installed Astro File Manager, but what do I choose for subtype and type?
I still can't het my library books to work with overdrive. I have overdrive installed. I have it authorized for Adobe Digital Editions. When I go download a book from my local library, I get a text file in my browser. I have saved it, and it has extension acsm, but I can't seem to be able to do anything with it.
Please help!
Thanks!

I fixed my problem (partially). I deleted the acsm file assocation I had entered in Astro File Manager. Next time I clicked on a downloaded acsm file, Overdrive Media was launched and it worked.
The only issue now is: how come I cannot launch overdrive media from the browser (stock, or Dolphin HD), when I click on an acsm file download link?
As it stands, I have to download the acsm file (save it), and then open it in Astro.

Rent ebooks free from the public library 24/7 with overdrive

Sign up with an adobe account, have a library card and get good free ebooks and audio books anytime. Works on g tablet. Grab it from the market just search for overdrive

I second this post! If you have any problems let me know. The CEO is a good friend of mine.

I use Overdrive for my library books and love it!

Mikeg1969 said:
I use Overdrive for the library "books" but audio books will won't work with android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mikeg,
Its working here for the last three days on my tab.
Do you get errors when starting the audio?

Doesn't work for me
I'm a big Overdrive user on the PC and was excited to see it available on the Gtab, but it seems there are some issues.
The Overdrive program runs and I am able to register my Adobe ID. However:
- it only allows me to download ePub or mp3 files, as it thinks I am am Apple computer (probably due to the browser)
- every ePub file I tried either gave me a permissions error or the download hung and never finishes.
This is with the Boston Public Library Overdrive site.
Craig

billygtab said:
Mikeg,
Its working here for the last three days on my tab.
Do you get errors when starting the audio?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot seem to find any that are not in Window Media format. I have tried to download and play one of them but says does not support that format (cannot remember exactly what comes up). Just haven't found any in mp3 format that I want to listen to yet... Sorry for implying that the audio "just doesn't work" I have edited my original post. I do use and enjoy Overdrive for reading my library books, it's a great program.

Roadzero said:
Sign up with an adobe account, have a library card and get good free ebooks and audio books anytime. Works on g tablet. Grab it from the market just search for overdrive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm slightly confused here. Why do you need the Adobe ID?
My daughter was looking at this as it makes it easier for her check out books for school. Sadly all they have locally (NE PA) is audiobooks.

aaltieri said:
I'm slightly confused here. Why do you need the Adobe ID?
My daughter was looking at this as it makes it easier for her check out books for school. Sadly all they have locally (NE PA) is audiobooks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need the adobe id because epub is an adobe digital format if I am not mistaken. I guess adobe gets a cut of every file downloaded. On my public librarys site they had the audio books on the main page and you had to dig to find the ebooks.

it doesn't work. i activated it with my digital id but it doesn't open the ebook from library. need help here.

I assume you have a library account, you logged in on your library site and have downloaded the overdrive for android 2.0 apk? When you download a book, it saves it to you "overdrive" library on your device. You then open overdrive apk to select from your "library" of books and launch the reading of the book from there. Give me a step by step on how you are running it and I may be able to get some tech help from Overdrive staff. I have access to their tech support sometimes through a friend.

ok, here is what i did.
1. on my G tablet. i start overdrive.
2. tap on setting button(under the home button on the side), tap on get books.
3. choose the library (county of los angeles public library)
4. sign in with my library card number.
5. search the book (everybody's guide to small claims court).
6. add the book to my cart.
7. check out and start download.
8. a message show up says: OverDrive Media Console
This version of OverDrive Media Console does not support PDF eBook titles.

I have a question. I have registered with Adobe and have been authorized in the overdrive software settings but when I go to my library account in the ebooks that I have checked out via the libraries ebook website and try to download I get a blank white page that says error not authorized etc. Thanks for your help. I have been able to download from the free book libraries etc so I figure something is not talking between apps..ie the library/overdrive/adobe??
Update:
Contacted overdrive by email and they said to try a different browser as the stock browser that comes with the gtab out of the box does not play well with their app. Downloaded the dolphin browser and everything ran smoothly.

I haven't tried this ony my Gtab yet, but did attempt to experience it on my PC. I would have thought that my library (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh) would have been a little further than it appears that they are. I was able to find books, but it's a very paltry selection. For instance, they report having 61 books in their history section. I clicked on the list only to find that all but 11 books were unaivalable. One of the largest public library systems in the country, with a storied history only has 11 history books available to borrow?
When I was at the library and saw the ad for this service, I talked to the librarian about it. I mentioned that this would be nice, because being in electronic format, that they SHOULD have unlimitted resources. I mean, logically, I am not renting a physical book, but an electronic version of a book. She mentioned thay they actually only have limited licensing per copy. You don't have to worry about overdue fees, because the system automatically expires your rental after 30 days. SO, the 50 history books that were "signed out," will be available 30 days after their original rental date. And don't forget that you can reserve them for when they are available. That means that I might not be able to actually access the "book" that I want to read for maybe 3 months?
if you think that this might be a good resource for children, think again. At our library, anyway, they don't even have a children's section online.
I understand that they are still in the beginning stages of this program, but really, Amazon Kindle store has a ton of "classics" for free, that I can't even get electronically from my public library.
The library even advertised a "class" that you can take ot learn how ot use this new, wonderful system. All I could picture after my experience was a teacher attempting to demonstrate how to sign out a book, only to find tha there aren't any available to rent. She'll keep clicking, and clicking on lists trying ot find a book that she can use for her demonstration...great way to introcude people to the system, huh?

insight3fl said:
I second this post! If you have any problems let me know. The CEO is a good friend of mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that is true, tell him we need some wma DRM support. Audio Books is useless on android w/overdrive because 95% of them will not work because the lack of wma drm support.
But good thing I can put mp3s in a podcast folder for bookmark support on stock music player!

Roadzero said:
You need the adobe id because epub is an adobe digital format i
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be a bit pedantic: epub is not an adobe format. It's open.
However, DRM can be laid on top of it, and this looks like adobe drm, so you need an adobe id.

Adobe ID
How do you get an Adobe ID?
UPDATE:
nvm, got it!!

I cannot get overdrive to install on my tablet. :-/ I keep getting error telling me installation was unsuccessful...
gtabcomb 3.3 bl 1.2

I set it up on my wife's Nook Color and it worked great. I also set it up for my gTab without luck. I could download book but the Nook Software won't open it. I had to download a different epub app - though it's probably a Nook software issue and not Overdrive.

I recently got this working on my gtab running TNT Lite 4.4
I can read the books either in Overdrive Media Console (OMC) or Aldiko Free. I prefer Aldiko as it has 2 page support in landscape mode.
The download using the stock browser fails, I had to use Opera Mini (other browsers may work too). The download from the library page downloads a .acsm file.
The reader (OMC or Aldiko) then reads the .acsm file and downloads the epub.
The Overdrive Media Console downloaded epub cannot be read with Aldiko, even though Aldiko has the Adobe DRM support. The epub has to be downloaded by the app to be used for reading.
To read using Aldiko..
Enable/Sign in Adobe DRM on Aldiko. (simple registration if you dont have an account).
From the library overdrive page download the book using Opera Mini, and save it (instead of opening OMC). This will save the .acsm file in your downloads dir. Use iFileManager or AstroFileManager to open the file, and it will give you an option for Aldiko. Choosing this will download the book and put it on your Aldiko shelf. For some reason you cannot open the .acsm file from Aldiko itself, so you have to go through a file manager. Also ES file explorer does not seem to know how to open the .acsm file.

nvanlaar said:
I cannot get overdrive to install on my tablet. :-/ I keep getting error telling me installation was unsuccessful...
gtabcomb 3.3 bl 1.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it working.. it ended up that I was out of space... :-|
Sent from my GtabComb using XDA Premium App

Sideloading books into Google Books

I created a book from a PDF using Calibre. The book works fine in that program, but I can't seem to figure out how to get Google Books on my XOOM to find it. For that matter, I can't even find the books that are already loaded when I browse the folders on my computer. I created a folder called Books and dropped it in there, but there isn't a way to browse the XOOM file folders from Google Books to find it.
How would I go about making this work?
Thanks!

Why not use Aldiko?

Lars1967 said:
Why not use Aldiko?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aldiko seems to have problems with the margins since it's unable to get rid of the notification bar. Fbreader works okay, but it doesn't work with font formatting.

use the nook app, it works perfect

You can fix the margin issue in Aldiko and it works great after that. I would still like to find where the Google Book app stores books just like so many other people here but until then Aldiko works just fine.

msalem said:
You can fix the margin issue in Aldiko and it works great after that. I would still like to find where the Google Book app stores books just like so many other people here but until then Aldiko works just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It stores the books here Data/Data/com.google.android.apps.books/
But I dont know what format its in, or how to convert an ebook into that format.

Nook app works great, except for a few things.
It force closes randomly when switching screens, but never really closes. lol
It keeps forcing portrait mode for some screens, which is frustrating.
It's just not as pretty as the Google Books app!
But it did the trick, I suppose.

I can see the /data (I'm using Astro file manager to browse) folder but mine is empty eventhough I have pinned one of the books already and chose to make it available offline so I can find it. Is there anything else I need to do to see /data/data? What format are the books in?

msalem said:
You can fix the margin issue in Aldiko and it works great after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How? If I put the margins under 50, the top line gets cut off at the top. I'd rather put it edge to edge.

I use 70 for margin and 16 font size

Coolreader
I'd strongly recommend Coolreader (https://market.android.com/details?id=org.coolreader). it gives you lot more options to customize the reading experience

Can not load your own books with Google Books
Just an FYI. Google books does not offer the feature to add your own books. You have to use another e-reader app. I like Aldiko, because you and can add your Adobe digital editions to it.

I've been using Aldiko for a few years now and love it. I've never had a problem with it using my own Calibre and eCub books on several different devices.
However, I've been looking for another app that will sync my bookmark so that I can continue to read on another device from where I left off on my previous device. I have a CM7 Nook that I read in bed, but would like to read the same book during the day from my G2 and then carry on that night on the Nook again.
I've heard Aldiko is looking into this, while Kindle and Nook 'already' have this. My problem is that I've never been able to sideload using either app. I suspect this was a 'feature' in earlier versions but I haven't been able to do it using the latest versions.
I'd love to see Google Books allow sideloading and will standby for that (or Aldiko), whichever comes first and really does work!

Yaotl said:
How? If I put the margins under 50, the top line gets cut off at the top. I'd rather put it edge to edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The top line cuts off in Aldiko for me too. This was very disappointing, as I really enjoyed the app on my phones.
Moon+ Reader seems to show epubs properly and it has a good night mode, so that's my reader for now. Hopefully Aldiko optimizes for Honeycomb soon.

I use Aldiko and kindle on my phone. But on the Xoom I have been using kindle and Nook. I had no problem sideloading all of my epubs into Nook. Nook does a much nicer job than Aldiko on the Xoom, especially in landscape.

msalem said:
I use 70 for margin and 16 font size
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should be stickied somewhere. You just made my ereader app of choice usable again. TY!!

anyone know why I can't change the margins on a pdf I loaded? One of the samples that came with the app allows for adjusting the margins, but not the PDF I loaded. The only thing that appears in Settings is Brightness and Orientation. Please help, thanks!

That's just the nature of a PDF - it's static. Zooming is all you can do.

msalem said:
I can see the /data (I'm using Astro file manager to browse) folder but mine is empty eventhough I have pinned one of the books already and chose to make it available offline so I can find it. Is there anything else I need to do to see /data/data? What format are the books in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not rooted, you won't be able to see the contents of the data folder.

Nook
I'm using Nook for this. All you need to do is drop the epub file in the My Documents folder under the Nook directory.