Ebook Readers for WM
 

What does everyone use for ebook readers? I am currently using Freda. (Has pretty good touch navigation, http://www.turnip.demon.co.uk/jim/freda/)

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Hoping this comes soon, except I don't read...
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=13107

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I have a number of eBooks as pdf files. The stock Adobe Reader on Sprint TP2 works great for me. Simple and high quality.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Looks pretty sweeeet! Its amazing how far ebooks have come since I had my Palm M100! hahahahaha

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Hi all,

Version 1.1 of Freda is now released, bringing various new features, including:

• Dictionary lookup using SlovoEd
• Bookmarks/Annotations
• Better handling of stylesheets
• A shortcuts screen

Please go to http://www.turnip.demon.co.uk/jim/freda to download the new version - and let me know of any problems.

Thanks,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

The manila 2.5 hd2 book reader is really nice so far, used it a little.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

This version is putting too much space between paragraphs, so in some cases very little text actually appears on-screen. I've got it set to ignore consecutive blank lines and not to add one after paragraphs.

It fixes a problem that had resulted in a square being displayed at the start of each paragraph.

Both this version and the previous one show all punctuation as question marks in the book I'm currently reading irrespective of encoding option selected. Desktop readers do not do this with the same file.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Probably that space is 'vertical margin'. The previous version of Freda was ignoring the book's directives about vertical margin; version 1.1 does pay attention to them. But on some books (particularly PDFs converted by Calibre) that produces a vertical margin that is uncomfortably large for reading on a phone screen. On the book properties screen, set 'Max Margin=10%' (or 0%) and it should display better.
Maybe the book uses an encoding (code page) that is not present on your phone? If you'd like me to check it out, please send me the epub file, and your Freda log file (\program files\freda\logfile.txt), and I will investigate. You can email me at home@jim-chapman.net

Thanks,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Thank you very much. I'll try those things.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Changing Max Margin made a big difference.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I've been using ubook reader for ever now. I tried the first release of freda but it didn't play well with my htm, and html books(need to try the new version though.)

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Version 1.1 should work a lot better with your htm/html books (do check the manual for some hints on how to ensure that html docs pick up images and style-sheets correctly too). Any problems, please let me know (home@jim-chapman.net).

Thanks,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Can't even get Freda 1.1 to run on my Dopod 838pro with Black Satin (WM6.1).

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Sorry to hear you're having trouble using Freda. If you send me a bit more detail of what's going wrong, I will sort it out.
The most common difficulty that people experience with getting Freda installed is that it requires an up-to-date version of the Windows .Net compact Framework, and not all OEM device builds include that. If that happens, you should get an error message about the Framework version when you try to launch the app. You just need to download (from Microsoft) the updated Framework, and install it. Detailed instructions are in Freda's manual
Thanks,
Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Interesting program and sounds like Freda is the latest. I'll try it out. I am starting to read more and more now. :)

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Just finished a book in Freda, it's great other than dropping into memory on any alerts(incoming call, text, or email alert.) Also the load times after closing the application completely, can be a bit annoying especially since it doesn't close to memory on hitting the end key. Overall I enjoy it more than ubook as it does a better full screen and does black background with white text more naturally. (No side border for it, though I miss the clock on that section.) Hope to see more updates, perhaps something in the load times, and paginating. ;-)

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I guess when you mention 'close to memory' you mean 'move to background' (since it's not an iPhone and does therefore support multi-tasking, the OS will keep the program running). I have had a lot of trouble with getting Freda to move to the background cleanly - particularly when trying to make it work right with HTC's various UI adaptations. What UI are you using - WM default or some other shell?
Development is ongoing ... load times and pagination are something I continue to look at. And I might even add a clock ...

Thanks for using Freda,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I'm running 6.5.3 with the stock windows titanium home screen. Also is it normal for it to hold the phone on and only turn off screen when I hit the power button while it's running? Seems odd that it does this.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

+1 for Freda. Thanks to Jim for a fantastic piece of software. I've read hundreds of books on my phones/pda's over the years. I used to use Mobipocket's Mobireader, but it was never quite right, even for my simple needs. I never stopped looking and eventually stumbled on Freda here on the forums. I've never looked back. Each release makes it closer to perfect. For instance, I can now close the app from within the book using 1.1 (I was going to complain and upgraded while writing this.)

Jim, can we get the menu option to close back? I can't close from full-screen now. Bringing up the menu takes me out of fullscreen and I can close the app, but I have to put it back in full-screen when I open the book again. Also, any hopes of a higher-res icon? It pixelates on Sense 2.5.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Maybe you've managed to get the option 'Keep Backlight On' set? If so, that will stop you turning off the backlight unless you exit Freda (and since leaving the backlight on but turning the device off would obviously be silly, that option also stops you turning the device off :) ). On the main menu, select Screen>Allow Backlight to Turn Off to disable this behaviour).

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I'm just completing testing on a fix for that problem where it drops out of full-screen mode. As for the high-res icon, I will see what I can do. Actually I think the icon resolution is quite high already (128x128 ) but the pixelated effect is happening because the icon doesn't blend nicely with its background. I'm working on it ...

Thanks for using Freda,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I'm using Microsoft Reader on my Imagio. I've tried others, including the latest version of Freda. I like the touch and appearance options in Freda, and I think the program has a lot of potential, but Microsoft Reader is so slick, and it's features so intuitive and seamlessly integrated, I keep going back to it in spite of the it's lack of touch friendliness.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I use the Microsoft Reader the most. If there's a .lit version of a book, I'll buy that over the others. Otherwise, I'd just use the normal program to read whatever .extension form it's in. Like Opera for the .html and Word for .docs and such.

However, I've since flashed a 6.5.x rom and Microsoft Reader is acting funny now. There's a bit cut off on the program. Usually it's just a small cut off, you can see the background (like Sense UI) at the bottom, but sometimes it cuts half the page off and you can't see the arrows to turn the pages. Pretty annoying.

I've been looking into MobiPocket, but I've had bad experiences with it freezing often while I read.

Does Freda support .lit documents? I read it just supports .epub, txt and html which then leaves out half the ebook population with .doc, .lit, .pdf.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

That's right, Freda doesn't support LIT, DOC or PDF. My reasons for that decision:
- I believe that EPUB is the emerging standard; in the future, any book that's published will be published in EPUB (and there are solutions to the DRM question)
- Adding other book types would make the program code more complex (meaning a bigger, slower program with more bugs)
- LIT and DOC can be satisfactorily converted to EPUB using Calibre
- Calibre will also do a decent job of converting PDF, given the inherent limitations of the PDF format

Anyhow, it's open-source code, so anyone wanting support for LIT, DOC, PDF. MOBI, RTF, PDB ... (complete the list as you prefer) can always write a version of Freda that does it ;)

Thanks for your interest in Freda,

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

i use ubook reader. sorry 2 say 2 date i have had problems with other readers. ubook does take a few seconds to paginate. but is well worth the time. i like the fact that i can modify all the settings, down to the style of book. having the ability 2 do .rtf .doc. .hrm and .txt not to mention .pdb. nice in a 15 $ package. i have been using it since i had mu ipaq. thanks for listening.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I didn't know that Calibre can convert DOC files, at least there's no DOC support in "ebook-convert" manual. I usually use http://www.2epub.com for DOC files.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Jim,
Thanks for all the work on Freda. I have been using MS Reader since I had purchased .lit books from baen.com (www.webscriptions.net) for over 6 years now. I have been able to configure Freda to look like MS Reader and also use gestures to change the page (which is most excellent on a TP2). I have found a couple of things that I am interested in addressing: First, Freda seems to have a large memory cost (~10-15%) so I have been closing the app, vs. running multitask (no real biggy, starts up WAY faster than MS Reader). Second, I downloaded Calibre to convert the .lit books I have (all I have are DRM free). I was unsucessful in getting any .lit books to convert to EPUB. Not too worried, all the books I purchased can be re-downloaded in EPUB format so its not a show stopper. Anyway, Jim, Excellent job. Keep it up!

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Sweet! Downloading right now! Thank you Jim!

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

has anyone seen a cab for reader tab in manila 2.5?

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I had already loaded NETCF v3.5.
However, reloading it with latest download got Freda going.
MS should be more consistent in their naming schemes.

First looks is OK though the long initial pagination is a problem.
One of the use I plan to put Freda to is to use it as a reference device - handling large 100~1000kb text files. Game guides.

The pagination delay is unacceptable for this purpose.

At least that is my first impression.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

All cabbed up here:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=113097

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

The pagination process should be much faster the second time you open the same book (because Freda will cache the pagination data). It still isn't really instantaneous (for that, you will have to wait for 'Freda 2', which is in the works ...)

Jim

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I really like the Adobe Reader LE on the TP2, but only for small docs. For a book, I like having a bookmark feature. I can't read an entire book on my phone in one sitting.

Any suggestions?

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

Jim I went to your site and downloaded the one you had for WM6 and I cant get it to open I installed .NET CF 3.5 onto my phone before I installed Freda. I'm attaching the log file that was in the Freda folder on my phone and a video showing what was done to open this.

I do have a question about my phone is not touch capable so is this why it wont work?

Any help resolving this so it will work on my phone would be appreciated

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

I'm afraid that's right - Freda does not work with phones that are not touch capable.

Re: Ebook Readers for WM
 

so does anyone know a good ereader for WinMo 6.1 non-touch QVGA that will read epub?