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: 1.7
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.
- Platforms:
- Windows XP, Vista and 2000
- Mac OS X v10.4.10 or v10.5
- Linux (in development)
- Sony Reader PRS-505 (in development)
- Library Management
- Multiple Bookmarks
- Search Inside Books
- Localised in English, French and German
- Built in Copy Protection
- v1.7 now implements full text justification
Website: www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/
Bookworm
Bookworm is an experimental online platform for storing and reading ePub-format books that allows access any time, anywhere. The browser has especially been optimised for the Apple iPhone, but Amazon Kindle users can also read ePub formatted books.
- Platforms:
- Any computer with a web browser
- iPhone or other mobile web device (e.g. Amazon Kindle and Opera Mobile)
- Supports all XHTML markup (tables, lists, native fonts)
- Supports any images including SVG (if the browser supports SVG)
- User-friendly Page and Chapter Navigation
- Books can be re-downloaded at any time for use in a specialized device or software reader
- Does require an internet connection to read online
Website: bookworm.threepress.org
Book Glutton: The Unbound Reader
The Unbound Reader is a fully integrated online EPUB reader from Book Glutton, where not only can you read your books from any computer with an internet connection, but also share your books as part of a book group and read books that belong to other book groups. Book Glutton will also automatically convert any HTML based document into an EPUB formatted book.
- Platforms:
- Any modern web browser with Javascript enabled.
- Automatic HTML to EPUB conversion
- Share your uploads with other readers (public domain titles only)
- Makes use of reading groups for extra community interaction
- Requires an internet connection to use
Website: BookGlutton.com
FBReader
Current Version: 0.10.2
- 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, although the latest release has made great improvements. 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 Beta 14
Stanza is an eBook reader available for Windows, Mac and the iPhone, which 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). Lexcycle also has plans to release dedicated versions for PDA’s and other mobile devices.
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:
- Windows PC
- Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later
- iPhone
- 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/
Calibre – eBook Management
Version 0.4.x
Calibre is a comprehensive eBook management suite that can catalog your entire eBook collection, fetching metadata and cover art automatically from the net. It is able to read metadata from over 20 different eBook formats and convert over a dozen different eBook formats to EPUB and Sony LRF.
With Calibre you are also able to download news and other periodical content with full articles and support for subscription only content from over 70 different news organizations. The internal eBook viewers can view LRF, EPUB, MOBI, LIT, and HTML formats and as Calibre uses the webkit rendering engine it has full support for HTML+CSS+javascript.
There is a built-in web server to allow you access to your eBook collection from anywhere in the world.
Calibre directly supports the SONY PRS 500/505/700 as well as the iPhone (with the Stanza reader) and is available for Windows, OS X and a number of different Linux flavors.
Website: calibre.kovidgoyal.net
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.
- Platforms:
- Windows PC
- Blackberry
- Windows Mobile
- Symbian OS
- Palm OS
- Cybook
- iLiad
- Over The Air eBookstore
- Reads DRM books (mobi Format)
Website: www.mobipocket.com
