How I Started On Mobile eBooks
Four years ago, I was an active member of a girl forum. Most of the topics were mostly women’s talk, one thread caught my attention. It was Harry Potter’s comparison between the movie & the book. They’ve said, book version was far better than the movie. I want to disagree but I haven’t read any book of Harry Potter series. I want to have a copy but I cant afford it at that time. Then I searched for an alternative option, I saw a link on that forum, one of the member share her pdf copy of HP books. I’ve download them and researched on how can I have them read on my mobile phone, I was using Nokia 3650 at that time.
Since I’m into blogging already, I asked almost all of the co-bloggers for help. Sad to say, nobody got the answers. Buying a PDA was neither an option. There must be a solution! hehehe… I saw a thread at the “for sale” section of that forum. She’s selling ebooks as sideline, ebooks at 10php each in different formats. Order a minimum of 10 ebooks @ 10php (promo). Regular price was 50php per ebook. Have to try them first if its possible so I’ve ordered ebooks in pdb format. Why pdb? Because buyers order ebooks for their pc or pda. *.pdf for pc and *.pdb for pda.
After I’ve received the files through email, I saved them on my email’s briefcase, went to my cousin’s internet shop. I don’t have my own PC at that time. He have this bluetooth service on his shop, my suggestion actually. Anyway, he sent the files to my cellphone via bluetooth. Then I searched for a mobile application that reads pdb files. I saw handybook reader, installed it and used it for my purchased ebooks. And that’s how my mobile ebook reading hobby started.
Repligo Conversion, Anyone?
No doubt that Repligo is my favorite eBook format. Repligo allows you to have virtually any document from your PC right on your mobile device without compromising the original document’s appearance, formatting, fonts, graphics and integrity.
Conversion:
- I’m using Repligo PDF Mobilizer software for converting unlimited amounts of PDF files for PDA or Smartphones.
- I’m using Repligo for Nokia Series 60 2.0 software for converting other formats such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet Explorer. After installation, you’ll notice that the repligo icon is included in your toolbox of word, excel, powerpoint. If you want to convert the current page… just click this icon.
The Repligo conversion softwares are not free. The Repligo for Series 60 convertion software comes with Repligo Desktop, your guide for conversion. Repligo Windows and Repligo for Symbian 60 readers are absolutely FREEwares. By this time, if you check on their site, some are getting confused on which is to be download that’s why I’ve put download links here. Make sure that you have downloaded the correct application for your device.
The conversion softwares are intend to convert files to repligo format. If you have download such repligo files and want to convert it to another format, here’s how to do it:
- Install Repligo Windows viewer on your PC
- Open the file in it
- Do select all, then copy (as long as your eBook is text)
- Paste it to notepad
- Save it as txt format
- Then you can convert it afterwards or read it on your mobile using txt eBook mobile application
Why PDF format Is The Commonly Asked eBook Format
I’ve came across with this article Why PDF Is Not An Ebook Format, the article was written 4 years ago. PDF (Portable Document Format) is the most commonly asked eBook format, in fact there are many websites that offers free PDF ebook downloads.
The article above said, “PDF is one of the reasons ebooks have been so slow to catch on with the majority of the reading public; readers that have tried reading PDF files on screen have concluded that ebooks are hard to read.” I disagree and agree.
I disagree that pdf is slow to catch readers, PDF is still the most requested eBook format primarily because mostly PDF readers and eBooks are free to download. A simple googling search, you’ll find a lot of PDF eBook download sites. If you happen to browse eBook forums, you’ll notice that many are still looking for PDF formats. PDF is electronic transmission format for paper documents, it is the perfect format for printing, if you’re still the conventional reader. I’ve encountered many such bookworms from my old mobile blog, they choosed to have it printed and read it the traditional way.
I agree that its really hard to read PDF on mobile but I still prefer PDF format as my source format for conversion. Converting and making it eye friendly on my mobile is my primary concern.
Online Mobile eBook Reading
Speaking of online eBook reading, first you should have a proper connection settings. Options to have a proper configurations:
- Go to your phone’s manufacturer’s website
- Call your network provider and request for “over the air” configuration
- Install an application that automatically configures your settings
I’m using Settings Wizard for my configurations. In my country, GPRS connection is common to prepaid and postpaid subcribers but not the internet connection to prepaid subscribers. It depends if you’re using an old sim card, this is a gossip from my mobile blog friends that new simcards available now are not internet capable. I guess its true, its really hard to find one nowadays. It doesn’t matter if you have the right configurations, its with your network provider’s simcard. I am among the lucky ones, I still prefer to used a prepaid simcard to control my connection cost. Anyway, why am I talking about mobile internet connections here?
I’ve tried wattpad mobile application last week on my 6630. The application doesn’t work on my 6630, I always have the “Error, Invalid GZIP format” or sometimes “error” prompt. I’ve tried it on GPRS and inet connection, both with same results. I’ve used Opera browser instead using internet connection and access their website, it works fine except for the connection charges. I do not prefer to read my ebooks online whether on mobile or on the net.
Wattpad do have a list of eBooks submitted by members. There are 3 ways to read their eBooks:
- Go to their site using the wattpad reader on your phone and read it online (If their application is Ok with your phone’s connection) or download it for offline reading.
- Go to their website using a computer, register and download jar or jad file, then install it to your mobile phone.
- Go to their website, copy the text file, paste it to notepad (its in txt format, convert it to whatever format you want), then transfer it to your phone.
Note: The wattpad application is for online mobile ebook reading. You don’t need it anymore if you prefer to download their java eBook files.
MobiReader, A Free Powerful eBook Reader
Mobipocket Reader for Symbian smartphone is another powerful eBook reader, the best thing of being powerful is its free. LOL! Who doesn’t want a free mobile application nowadays?
Why is it powerful? Take a look at the left part of my screenshots, it is the default introduction of MobiReader. It’s in prc format but it looked like a html format, it seems that you’re browsing from a third party browser of your symbian phone because of the link function. The introduction is way ahead better from other eBook reader introduction, you can’t believe that the application is free. Would you believe that you can open your eBook 1.03, prc format with MobiReader. I’ve tried that, take a look at the right side of the screenshot, it did worked. The trick here is if you have eBook 1.03 files, just transfer them to e:\eBooks — this is the default location of MobiReader and presto! You can read them with MobiReader, it is in the library already.
I’ve tried opening a txt format file with MobiReader, it worked as well. But even if you moved the txt file to designated folder, you cannot see it at the library. Just open the txt file via FExplorer.
I’ve mention from my earlier entries that eBook reader compatibility is one of my criteria on choosing a new symbian phone. No problem about the requirement anymore, MobiReader will surely handle my old collection of prc format eBooks.
Symbian60.1 – Nokia 3600, Nokia 3620, Nokia 3650, Nokia 3660, Nokia 6600, Nokia 7650, Nokia N-Gage, Nokia N-Gage QD, Siemens SX1, Sendo X.
Symbian60.2 – Nokia 3230, Nokia 6260, Nokia 6620, Nokia 6630, Nokia 6670, Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681, Nokia 6682, Nokia 7610, Nokia N70, Nokia N72, Nokia N90, Panasonic X700, Panasonic X800, Samsung SGH-Z600, Samsung SGH-Z720, Samsung SGH-Z730
Series60.3 – Nokia 3250, 5500, E50, E60, E61, E62, E70, N71, N72, N73, N75, N80, N91, N92, N93, N93i, N95
To download other mobipocket version for other symbian phones, click here. I’ll just stick to this great aspects of MobiReader for now, I’ll explore the other great things soon.
