Comments for Booksprung http://booksprung.com ebook news and tips Mon, 21 May 2012 15:24:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Eric Welch http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9612 Eric Welch Mon, 21 May 2012 15:24:54 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9612 I should have also mentioned to wonderful feature of being able to easily send documents and magazine articles (especially using Readability) to a specific Kindle (I send most to my Fire but some to my Android Tablet.) The only thing I miss about the Kindle app is the ability to divide into multiple page views as you can on Nook and iPlay apps. The biggest drawback to the Kobo app has been its predilection to download ALL of your books onto whatever device you put it on. If you have a fair number of books, that's significant. A limitation of the Kindle software is the 5 device limitation which I don;t think the others have - or at least I haven't run into it yet. I should have also mentioned to wonderful feature of being able to easily send documents and magazine articles (especially using Readability) to a specific Kindle (I send most to my Fire but some to my Android Tablet.) The only thing I miss about the Kindle app is the ability to divide into multiple page views as you can on Nook and iPlay apps. The biggest drawback to the Kobo app has been its predilection to download ALL of your books onto whatever device you put it on. If you have a fair number of books, that’s significant. A limitation of the Kindle software is the 5 device limitation which I don;t think the others have – or at least I haven’t run into it yet.

]]> Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Eric Welch http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9611 Eric Welch Mon, 21 May 2012 15:18:07 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9611 I have -- and use -- all four of the major reading apps: Kindle, Nook, iPlay, and Kobo (iBooks just isn't in the same league so while I have it on my iPhone, I rarely use it.) I tried out the new Kobo web but did not find the home screen as noxious as you did. Still, the Kindle remains my default and is now where I purchase 95% of my books. The "last page read linkage" works better across my devices (I have iPhone, Android tablet, Color Nook, Kindle3 and Kindle Fire and often read on my laptop - my wife uses a touchscreen Nook) although it's gotten better on Nook books. Another great feature of the Kindle app is the way it handles highlights. As someone who writes a lot of book reviews (135 last year on Goodreads) I appreciate the ability to highlight a passage, then go to Kindle.amazon.com where all my highlights are located and then just cut and paste quotes into the review or review significant passages. To my knowledge none of the others does this. I have — and use — all four of the major reading apps: Kindle, Nook, iPlay, and Kobo (iBooks just isn’t in the same league so while I have it on my iPhone, I rarely use it.) I tried out the new Kobo web but did not find the home screen as noxious as you did. Still, the Kindle remains my default and is now where I purchase 95% of my books. The “last page read linkage” works better across my devices (I have iPhone, Android tablet, Color Nook, Kindle3 and Kindle Fire and often read on my laptop – my wife uses a touchscreen Nook) although it’s gotten better on Nook books. Another great feature of the Kindle app is the way it handles highlights. As someone who writes a lot of book reviews (135 last year on Goodreads) I appreciate the ability to highlight a passage, then go to Kindle.amazon.com where all my highlights are located and then just cut and paste quotes into the review or review significant passages. To my knowledge none of the others does this.

]]> Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Chris Walters http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9610 Chris Walters Mon, 21 May 2012 01:53:11 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9610 Re. #1: Seriously? If you've truly used both apps extensively, then you should already know that both companies' iOS apps offer the <em>exact same three ways</em> to sort the user's library: by Recent, by Title, and by Author. But it gets worse (for Kobo, at least). When it comes to the web apps, Kindle still offers all three sorting options, while Kobo only offers Recent! On a related note, Kobo's dashboard/home also sorts exclusively by Recent. But that's really not the larger issue here, which is that Kobo's dashboard/home screen <em>only</em> exists for promotional purposes, and not to improve the user experience. And if you think tapping a store link is inconvenient, then what about tapping an unlabeled "menu" icon (three horizontal lines), then tapping "Library", in order to see your full library in the Kobo iOS app? That's two extra taps required for Kobo, versus zero taps for Kindle. Talk about inconvenient! To put it another way, that's like arguing that having to pull open the door to a store in order to go inside is inconvenient, but letting the retailer go into the customer's home and fill his living room with racks of merchandise is a better solution. Re. #2: Thank you for mentioning this. Not for calling me a shill, but for drawing my attention to the Kobo affiliate program. I got pretty defensive at first, because the last time I looked at my affiliate memberships, I cut out Nook because they'd withdrawn from Google's program, and Kobo didn't offer any affiliate program that I was aware of. After reading your comment I went back and looked at both companies, and I see that they have new affiliate offers. Assuming I can get accepted, expect to see a wider variety of ereader device banners in the sidebar in the near future. Re. #1: Seriously? If you’ve truly used both apps extensively, then you should already know that both companies’ iOS apps offer the exact same three ways to sort the user’s library: by Recent, by Title, and by Author.

But it gets worse (for Kobo, at least). When it comes to the web apps, Kindle still offers all three sorting options, while Kobo only offers Recent! On a related note, Kobo’s dashboard/home also sorts exclusively by Recent. But that’s really not the larger issue here, which is that Kobo’s dashboard/home screen only exists for promotional purposes, and not to improve the user experience.

And if you think tapping a store link is inconvenient, then what about tapping an unlabeled “menu” icon (three horizontal lines), then tapping “Library”, in order to see your full library in the Kobo iOS app? That’s two extra taps required for Kobo, versus zero taps for Kindle. Talk about inconvenient!

To put it another way, that’s like arguing that having to pull open the door to a store in order to go inside is inconvenient, but letting the retailer go into the customer’s home and fill his living room with racks of merchandise is a better solution.

Re. #2: Thank you for mentioning this. Not for calling me a shill, but for drawing my attention to the Kobo affiliate program. I got pretty defensive at first, because the last time I looked at my affiliate memberships, I cut out Nook because they’d withdrawn from Google’s program, and Kobo didn’t offer any affiliate program that I was aware of. After reading your comment I went back and looked at both companies, and I see that they have new affiliate offers. Assuming I can get accepted, expect to see a wider variety of ereader device banners in the sidebar in the near future.

]]> Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Bill Jones http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9609 Bill Jones Mon, 21 May 2012 00:03:27 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9609 As someone who has used both services extensively, i have two things to say: 1 kobo's homescreen is a better launch pad than kindles's library bc it displays the reader's last read books in the top row (ie easier to find than in an aplhabetised list) and when I go to this page it makes browsing/searching for new books much easier than on kindle's cloud reader where I hv to explicitly tap on a store link (ie it's inconvenient) 2 seeing as this page is plasted with ads promoting the kindle, I think you should come clean and let everyone know you're a shill for Amazon. BJ As someone who has used both services extensively, i have two things to say:

1 kobo’s homescreen is a better launch pad than kindles’s library bc it displays the reader’s last read books in the top row (ie easier to find than in an aplhabetised list) and when I go to this page it makes browsing/searching for new books much easier than on kindle’s cloud reader where I hv to explicitly tap on a store link (ie it’s inconvenient)

2 seeing as this page is plasted with ads promoting the kindle, I think you should come clean and let everyone know you’re a shill for Amazon.

BJ

]]> Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Chris Walters http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9608 Chris Walters Sat, 19 May 2012 17:02:20 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9608 But of course I'm not comparing which app has the best dashboard -- Kindle doesn't have one at all -- but rather which app has a better user interface when first launched. In my opinion, an app's first screen is the "home" screen, regardless of what the developer or vendor might call it, and those screenshots represent each app's "home" screen. (Unless you were reading a book previously, in which case both apps correctly open to the last page read.) As for what Kobo offers in the "store" section, when you compare the two Kobo apps I think you can see what the true purpose of that section is for. In the app store version, all the promoted books are free, but that's because Kobo can only offer free things there unless it wants to hand over 30% of each sale to Apple. By contrast, the new web app replaces those free books with full price new releases and bestsellers, reserving the bottommost row (you have to scroll up to see it) for free books. Regardless of the books being offered, in both cases that section is reserved for vendor use, not customer use, so in essence it's "store" territory. But of course I’m not comparing which app has the best dashboard — Kindle doesn’t have one at all — but rather which app has a better user interface when first launched. In my opinion, an app’s first screen is the “home” screen, regardless of what the developer or vendor might call it, and those screenshots represent each app’s “home” screen. (Unless you were reading a book previously, in which case both apps correctly open to the last page read.)

As for what Kobo offers in the “store” section, when you compare the two Kobo apps I think you can see what the true purpose of that section is for. In the app store version, all the promoted books are free, but that’s because Kobo can only offer free things there unless it wants to hand over 30% of each sale to Apple. By contrast, the new web app replaces those free books with full price new releases and bestsellers, reserving the bottommost row (you have to scroll up to see it) for free books.

Regardless of the books being offered, in both cases that section is reserved for vendor use, not customer use, so in essence it’s “store” territory.

]]> Comment on Kobo’s new web app is good for Kobo, but not for readers by Kurt http://booksprung.com/kobos-new-web-app-good-for-kobo-but-not-for-readers/comment-page-1#comment-9607 Kurt Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:45 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7522#comment-9607 Why are you comparing two completely different screens in the Kobo and Kindle App Store apps? That is the Kobo app homepage / dashboard not the user's library. Compare the library to the library or the Kobo screen shown here to the kindle app's user dashboard (if it even has one). Also, that is not a "store" in the Kobo App Store app screenshot, there is no store in the app at all. Those are free books available to all Kobo users via their dashboard. Maybe you could instead compare those free one-click offerings in the Kobo app to what the Kindle app offers its users. ;-) Misrepresentation can harm credibility... Why are you comparing two completely different screens in the Kobo and Kindle App Store apps? That is the Kobo app homepage / dashboard not the user’s library. Compare the library to the library or the Kobo screen shown here to the kindle app’s user dashboard (if it even has one).

Also, that is not a “store” in the Kobo App Store app screenshot, there is no store in the app at all. Those are free books available to all Kobo users via their dashboard. Maybe you could instead compare those free one-click offerings in the Kobo app to what the Kindle app offers its users. ;-)

Misrepresentation can harm credibility…

]]> Comment on Change the font on your Kindle without hacking it by Keis http://booksprung.com/change-the-font-on-your-kindle-without-hacking-it/comment-page-1#comment-9600 Keis Tue, 15 May 2012 02:07:20 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=6797#comment-9600 Ok, I'm just now getting into the kindles, so I don't know a whole lot. I have a book where the first letter of the first word at the beginning of each chapter is missing. I thought that maybe I could correct this by adding a different font that has calligraphy so that those missing letters would show up...but it didn't work. Any suggestions? Has any one else experienced this? Ok, I’m just now getting into the kindles, so I don’t know a whole lot. I have a book where the first letter of the first word at the beginning of each chapter is missing. I thought that maybe I could correct this by adding a different font that has calligraphy so that those missing letters would show up…but it didn’t work. Any suggestions? Has any one else experienced this?

]]> Comment on Harry Potter series finally available as (legit) ebooks by Harry http://booksprung.com/harry-potter-series-finally-available-as-legit-ebooks/comment-page-1#comment-9599 Harry Mon, 14 May 2012 21:33:03 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7433#comment-9599 It's The Boy Who Lived, not the Boy Who Refused to Die. It’s The Boy Who Lived, not the Boy Who Refused to Die.

]]> Comment on Do printed library books really fall apart after 26 uses? (No, they don’t.) by Tor Books drops DRM – Hypergrid Business http://booksprung.com/do-printed-library-books-really-fall-apart-after-26-uses-no-they-dont/comment-page-1#comment-9592 Tor Books drops DRM – Hypergrid Business Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:57:21 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=5731#comment-9592 [...] Now, a single printed copy of a book often goes through several hands — you read it, your spouse reads it, your best friend reads it, your mom reads it, and then you donate it to the library and there’s a book sale and someone buys it and a couple more people read it, and they have a tag sale, and yet another person picks it  up.  And a library can loan out the same book dozens — even over a hundred times. [...] [...] Now, a single printed copy of a book often goes through several hands — you read it, your spouse reads it, your best friend reads it, your mom reads it, and then you donate it to the library and there’s a book sale and someone buys it and a couple more people read it, and they have a tag sale, and yet another person picks it  up.  And a library can loan out the same book dozens — even over a hundred times. [...]

]]> Comment on Stanza updated! Now works on iOS 5 by Tim Bergel http://booksprung.com/stanza-updated-now-works-on-ios-5/comment-page-1#comment-9591 Tim Bergel Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:00:24 +0000 http://booksprung.com/?p=7166#comment-9591 I had the same problem as Joan - found my old copy of Stanza 3.1 (was still in iTunes folders but others have found it in recycle bin) and used iFunBox to re-install it without deleting 3.2. The downgrade worked perfectly and all my books are still there. I had the same problem as Joan – found my old copy of Stanza 3.1 (was still in iTunes folders but others have found it in recycle bin) and used iFunBox to re-install it without deleting 3.2. The downgrade worked perfectly and all my books are still there.

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