Entertainment
A library in your pocket
Thanks to the up and coming EBook reader apps, reading has become more accessible and light-weight than ever beforeBivek Khatiwada
With the right app, one can turn any gadget into their private library. Thanks to these EBook reader apps, reading has become more accessible and light-weight than ever before. The invention of EBook reader apps has helped readers make the most out of their love for reading, and bookworms don’t feel guilty about spending too much time on their phones anymore. Today, we review three best EBook reader apps that cater to voracious readers not only in terms of the choices available but also reader-friendly user interfaces and features.
Moon+ Reader
One of the best EBook reader apps out there, Moon+ Reader is sure to moon any bookworm over with its versatile functionalities and adaptability. While there are hundreds of reader apps out there that promise the ‘best’ user experience, Moon+ Reader has a user-friendly interface that is truly first class. With manifold settings and adjustment buttons that are meticulously placed, this app is one of those rare ones that come as close to replicating the actual reading experience that so many other apps try but fail.
One of the first positives of Moon+ Reader is that it is compatible with a host of different file extensions. So, whether you’re downloaded book is in a PDF or PUB , or any other format, you will be able to read it seamlessly on the app regardless. When reading on Moon+ Reader, ebooks generally load in the portrait mode by default, however, it is not mandatory that you remained confined to this mode, with the app allowing you to switch to a landscape mode whenever you want. Likewise, you can also adjust many other visual settings as per your liking. The app allows you to tweak the font you’re reading in, the font size, text and background colours and different spacing and margins depending on your preferences. Another big plus for this app is its auto-scrolling feature that adjusts to your reading speed. With it you can turn your mobile phone into a virtual teleprompter!
What is more, because unfamiliar words can be major speed breakers when you are engrossed in your book, Moon+ Reader seamlessly collaborates with the dictionary and translating app on phone that make finding the meanings of words as easy as a single tap. You can even highlight words (or quotes, or entire paragraphs) that you want to bookmark and revisit later.
The customisations and user-friendliness does not end here. The app comes with some nifty features for your eye-care too. In order to prevent the eyes from the strain of bright light in the dark, Moon+ Reader has an option where you can switch the book’s background to black. The app also warns the user to discontinue reading if you have been reading the ebook for more than the preset time. Furthermore, the app also comes with a blue light filtering option which the users can set according to their preferences.
All these features will only take up a measly 10MB space from your device, there is no beating that!
Amazon Kindle
Reading offline can be swift and easy with Moon+ Reader, but you might find yourself scratching your head when you can’t find the book you want to read available online. This is where Amazon Kindle out does every other ebook app out there. With its gargantuan library of ebooks, which can be accessed by creating and logging into your Amazon profile, Amazon Kindle is perhaps one of the largest inventory of online books that are out there.
Like the Moon+ Reader, this app also has adjustable options for display brightness, text size, colour, font, spaces, margins, and alignments. Searching for text, highlighting quotes, copying them and sharing them among the friends is also hassle-free like the Moon+ Reader. However, the major difference between the two is its dictionary function. Unlike the Moon+ Reader, Amazon Kindle allows the users to download a dictionary which resides in the app data and allows you to find the meaning of the words without leaving the app’s user interface. The app also has a built-in Word Wise mode, which floats the meaning of words above them, saving the user time and hassle.
Along with the comfortable user interface, the app is also very interactive. Readers can share the progress while reading books and can even recommend books to friends. You can also leave your book reviews once you’re finished, leaving behind a guide for those that come behind you.
Picking up and getting started with books on Amazon Kindle is easy and convenient. However, all the books in the store are not free and come at a price. Furthermore, the payments can only be made through internationally accepted debit or credit cards. So, if you can get past that little hitch, you are in for a seamless interface that is worthy for the largest ebook store that there is.
WeRead
Finding offline ebook files for Nepali books is an admittedly difficult task—even the gargantuan Amazon store is of little help. This is where the Nepali app WeRead comes into play. Developed by Kathalaya, We Read is an app conceived by and for Nepali book lovers.
We Read’s bookstore has a surprisingly versatile catalogue of Nepali and English fiction and non-fiction books. The app has managed to classify books into a wide range of categories, from which the free books can be downloaded readily. However, some books come at a price, and can be paid for through online payment gateways like eSewa and PayPal. Despite having a comparatively limited number of books in its store, the preferences within the app are quite versatile. Like the other apps on this list, We Read also comes with buttons to adjust the display brightness, font face, text size, margins and spacing.
While We Read is a laudable initiative, it is not free of glitches. Some books in the app store don’t even have necessary descriptions! Reviewing and rating the books is also unbelievably cumbersome. Once these glitches are addressed and some other user-friendly features added, however, We Read has the potential to become a veritable bridge between Nepali authors and publishers and an increasingly digital readership.