The Android market now boasts of more than 200,000 applications, 70 % of which are free. It is clear that there’s an ‘app’ for everyone, even for hardcore book lovers. With the rise in e-reading, more and more people are ditching the paperbacks for this rapidly evolving platform. So, if you’re one of those bibliophiles, here are the 5 best Ebook Apps that you must install on your favorite Android device.
CoolReader: Thanks to Federico Kereki for the suggestion. CoolReader is a free ebook reading application that supports a variety of ebook formats including 'ePub, fb2, txt, doc, rtf, html, pdf' and more. Similar to the aforementioned FBReader, it is Free and Open Source and it works across all major platforms including Windows and Linux. CoolReader is loaded with some amazing features like Text to Speech (TTS) support, online catalogs, night reading, dictionary support, bookmarks and a fully functional File Browser. What’s more, this app can also read from .zip files so that you won’t have to worry about those files you drop to your SD card while on the run.
Download: CoolReader
FBReader : Thanks to Axel Bruland for suggesting this app. FBReader is an opensource e-book reading application that works across almost all the major platform, including Android. The free app sports a minimalist User Interface allowing readers to start reading their books instantly. FBReader supports ePub, oeb and fb2(.zip) file formats and integrates nicely with external dictionaries like Colordict. This nifty little app is localized for 14 languages and it features a network library where you can download new books from popular catalogs like Feedbooks, Manybooks and Smashwords. FBReader can also access manually downloaded books to the SD card if placed in a directory titled Books. The app has a 4 and 1/2 star rating on the Android market and is definitely a must-have for anyone who prefers to read ebooks — more importantly, ePubs — on their phone.
Download : FBReader
Wattpad : Wattpad is regarded as the YouTube for ebooks as it houses more than 100, 000 free ebooks which you can download and start reading instantly. You can choose from a wide variety of books of various genres written by undiscovered as well as published writers from around the world. If you’re a literary neophobe, then there are a lot of classics like ‘War of the Worlds’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ to choose from. Wattpad is a great app if you’re always searching for something new and fresh to read. As of now, Wattpad is the most downloaded ebook app ever, so do give it a try.
Download : Wattpad
Aldiko : Aldiko is another great ebook reading app which allows users to read and download thousands of books to their Android phones. You get to choose from a collection of latest bestsellers to popular classics with an additional option to import your ePub and PDF files. The app is free and has 4 and 1/2 ratings in the Android market. Thanks to a Guest reader for the suggestion
Download: Aldiko
Google Goggles : While Goodreads allows you to lookup books by scanning their barcodes, Google Goggles lets you scan a book by taking its picture. Just snap a picture of the book and results for it show up instantly. You’ll get a synopsis of the book along with its search results. Though not an app that’s dedicated for books, Google Goggles does a pretty good job at quickly finding info about a particular book. Personally, I find the Goodreads app more useful as it allows me to view reviews and add books to my GR shelves.
Download: Google Goggles
Book Catalogue : This is an open source application that allows you to catalog your read, unread and to-read books. You can search for a particular book using Amazon, Google Books or LibraryThing and add it to your collection. Alternatively, you can add books by ISBN code or scanning barcodes. For scanning barcodes, you’ll need another barcode scanning application to be installed on your Droid. Book Catalogue also has a feature which allows you to keep track of all the books you’ve loaned to your friends. The app is a simple, no fuss way to keep track of your book collection without the need to signup for any web service. And yes, you can back up and export all your data easily.
Download : Book Catalogue
Goodreads : This is an official app for the social reading network called Goodreads. This app comes in very handy when you’re browsing a ‘real library’ and quickly want to look up the reviews for a particular book. If you’re a member, you can rate your books, add new books, post status updates and connect with your Goodreads friends. The app also allows you to lookup or add books by scanning their barcodes. Just point your camera to the barcode at the back of the book, and the book’s review and synopsis will show up instantly. There’s also a link that allows you to compare the book’s prices from various vendors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Even though the app works well without a Goodreads account, it is much better if you register for the service to benefit from all of its features.
Download: Goodreads
Kindle: Amazon’s Kindle is perhaps the best e-reading device available right now. The Kindle store has about 950,000 books available which you can download instantly on your Kindle or other devices. Even though reading ebooks on the phone is not as convenient as the tablet or e-reader experience, you can fill your Droid with some great books you can read on the go. The Kindle app allows you to buy, browse, and download thousands of book from the store. Also, if you own a Kindle with an 3G/Wi-fi connection, the app automatically syncs to your last read position, allowing you to start reading where you left off. In all, a great app for reading books during those long journeys on the bus.
Download : Amazon Kindle App
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