ePub Readers

The big question at present within the industry is, “what software/hardware reads the .epub format?” The bad news is, not much! Still, there are a few reading applications currently available that have support for the ePub format.

Adobe Digital Editions

Current version: 1.5

Adobe DE is a Flash based application - although this has some limitations it does allow for porting to almost any platform. Including hardware Readers such as the Sony Reader PRS-505 (currently in development).

Platforms:
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Linux (in development)
- Sony Reader PRS-505 (in development)
Library Management
Multiple Bookmarks
Search Inside Books
Localised in French and German

Website: www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/

FBReader

Current Version: 0.8.17

Platforms:
- Linux
- Windows XP
- Mac OS X
- IRex iLiad
- Maemo (Nokia 770/N800/N810) Internet Tablet.
- Sharp Zaurus
- Siemens Simpad with OpenSimpad 0.9.0.
- Archos PMA430.
- PepperPad.
- Motorola A1200 smartphone.
- Motorola E680i/A780
- FreeBSD ports
- Google Android
Library Management

The FBReader is still in development so not all ePub features have been fully implemented. Still, this is fast growing opensource project and could certainly be a market leader for ePub if the Adobe DE does not quickly get ported to more platforms.

Website: www.fbreader.org

Stanza

Version 1.0 Beta5

Stanza is an eBook reader available for the Mac that reads books in the ePub format. Along with reading ePub, it can also convert them to the iPhone “bookmarklets”, the Amazon Kindle AZW and the Mobipocket format (for use on Blackberry’s and PDA’s). They do have plans to release dedicated versions for PDA and other mobile devices…perhaps even the iPhone.

The reader does not yet handle DRM and once the final version 1.0 is released, it will no longer be free, but the cost is only $15.

This is still in beta so there are bugs and still plenty of features to be added, but it certainly looks like a great reader for any Mac user.

Platforms:
- Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later
Exports to iPhone “bookmarklets”
Exports to Amazon Kindle and Mobipocket (Blackberry, PDA, etc)
Exports to mp3 Audiobook (experimental)
Hyphenation, Multi-Column, Automatic Scrolling
User-friendly Page and Chapter Navigation
Themed Interface

Website: www.lexcycle.com/

Mobipocket Reader Desktop

Version 6.2

The Mobipocket reader has been around for a while now so it is a stable, feature rich application, available on a number of platforms; including Palm PDA’s and other mobile devices. The latest version of the Reader (6.2), now has the ability to read ePub files. As it doesn’t yet read them natively they must first be converted to the the mobi format. Once done you can then transfer your ePub books to any device able to use the Mobipocket Reader.

At the IDPF Digital Book 2008 conference Mobipocket announced they will be releasing the reader for the iPhone platform by the end of 2008.