Proper ebook reader

[asani]

Hey guys,

As I really need to read lots of books ( PDFs and sometimes Epubs ) every day I need to find the app with some special characteristics. I spend some time looking for it by myself but not much came out so I decided to ask the question here and you guys might be able to help me. and here is the problem

Usually, I read books on my Macbook pro and on my Ipad depending on the situation, and I do lots of highlights and comments on them so I need an app for reading ebooks ( pdf and epubs ) which can synchronize my comments and highlights somehow between my devices. this is the most important part as I use iBook for now on my mac and iBook and GoodReader on iPad but none of them is equipped with such an ability.

thanks

 

[dwig]

The ePub format has absolutely no support for highlighting, period. All readers and reader apps that offer such functionality do it themselves in a totally proprietary way, either using a separate proprietary "sidecar" file to store the highlights or embedding it into the ePub bundle (ePub files are really specially laid out ZIP files).

Thus, the only hope of finding an ePub reader that will sync highlights and/or notes across devices will be to use the same app on both devices. You'll need to find an ePub reader that offers highlighting with syncing and is available on both of your devices. You can't mix-and-match reader apps.

PDF has support for highlighting, but this support embeds the highlights into the PDF doesn't support true syncing. Syncing would require that you close the PDF on the device that has just made a new highlight, use an external syncing service (Dropbox, ...) before opening the newly synced file on the other device. If independent highlights have been made on each device they can't be "merged" into a file that has both sets.

 

[asani]

the idea is about syncing files with all attributes and properties based on some cloud solution. about using the same app on the laptop and tablet, is the all I'm looking for. so if there was an app that could do such a service I would use it on both iPad and mac happily.
Thanks for the response

 

[dwig]

You'll likely get vastly more and better responses if you post to an ebook orientated forum. I suggest MobleRead.com

 

[bluespark]

What about the Kindle app? https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200911660

 

[StandingGoose]

Usually, I read books on my Macbook pro and on my Ipad depending on the situation, and I do lots of highlights and comments on them so I need an app for reading ebooks ( pdf and epubs ) which can synchronize my comments and highlights somehow between my devices. this is the most important part as I use iBook for now on my mac and iBook and GoodReader on iPad but none of them is equipped with such an ability.
thanks

From what I can see, iBooks can do what you want.

On my Mac, I opened an epub previously imported into iBooks, highlighted some text and made a note. Those were visible on my iPad as soon as I opened that epub.

On my iPad, I opened a PDF previously imported into iBooks, highlighted some stuff using the highlighter tool, and inserted some text using the text tool. Closing the PDF (just to be sure), I saw the "dashed cloud" symbol on the file for 2-3 seconds. When I opened the file on my Mac, the changes were present.

This does tie you to iBooks. Perhaps you don't have the appropriate options turned on on the Mac and iPad?

 

[dwig]

What about the Kindle app? https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200911660

Nice app, but doesn't suppport ePub so it would be a no-go for the OP

 

[willentrekin]

Curious about why you're tied to those formats, particularly if (as noted above) one doesn't actually support the functionality you're looking for.

(I'd argue the actual best "Proper ebook reader" is a Kindle Oasis/Paperwhite, which is why I'm curious about your usage beyond file format preference.)

 

[bluespark]

Nice app, but doesn't suppport ePub so it would be a no-go for the OP

I don't use ePub so I could be wrong, but I think books in that format can be converted to a format Kindle can read, using an app such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.h...g=dt-incontent-btn-20&tag=dt-incontent-btn-20

EDIT: It may be easier even than that: https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2...y-to-quickly-send-epub-ebooks-to-your-kindle/

OP, any reason you aren't considering a Kindle and the Kindle app?

 

[dwig]

I don't use ePub so I could be wrong, but I think books in that format can be converted to a format Kindle can read, using an app such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.h...g=dt-incontent-btn-20&tag=dt-incontent-btn-20

EDIT: It may be easier even than that: https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2...y-to-quickly-send-epub-ebooks-to-your-kindle/
...

Conversion takes time and effort. Also, simple automated conversions don't always produce good results. (note, even the blog you link to discusses "converson" despite the first sentence stating otherwise!).

Amazon's Previewer is very good, but is designed to produce a complex Kindle fle containing two flavors of the Kindle format plus the original ePub. This can produce an overly large file for personal use. Amazon's intention is that Previewer be used for producing ebooks that are to be published on Amazon. It is common for users to need to edit the ePub to get a good conversion.

A better conversion tool for personal use is Calibre. It offers more control, produces smaller single format files if desired, and includes an ePub & AZW3 editor. Their primary support forum is MobleRead.com.

 

[HenryAZ]

I source all of my ebooks from the county library system. They offer them in ePub as well as Kindle format. I used to use an iPad and get ePubs (with the Overdrive app installed). The only issue with an iPad is its screen is impossible to see in sunlight or even bright ambient light (outside on the porch, but in the shade). I bought a Kindle, which is viewable even in direct sunlight. When I started checking out books in Kindle format, I was surprised to find there is a much greater selection of books in that format than the ePub format. You can also load PDF's on it, as well.