Surely every Viking knows the catchy slogan: "If you don't read, I'm not going to bed with you." And it doesn't mean you have to carry tons of books on a date. Instead, all you need is a mobile device with an e-book reader app installed. Of course, knowing the content also helps. Check out which app you can choose.
Book reading apps – what's worth knowing about them?
Instead of carrying several mobile devices, you can "pack" into one. Your smartphone or tablet can be used as an e-book reader. All you need to do is install the appropriate e-book app on your chosen device. And you're ready to dive into your reading! This solution works great when traveling, during your commute to work or school, or even when you're standing in a long queue. You usually have your phone with you all the time, it takes up little space, and it's light and handy. Plus, all your favorite books are in one place. An ideal solution, right?
To make reading in this format easier on your eyes, we're giving you two simple tips worth using. First, dim your smartphone/tablet screen slightly while reading. Second, buy a matte screen protector. Not only does it absorb a lot of light, so your eyes won't get tired, but it also eliminates fingerprint smudges on the screen.
Book reading apps are available in free and paid versions. For paid versions, you usually have the option of a free trial period, e.g., for two weeks or a month. How to use these apps? It's simple! Just install the specific app on your smartphone and, if the app is paid, choose your preferred payment model, e.g., a subscription.
See also: Mobile internet at Mobile Vikings
Which book reading app to choose?
You'll find e-book reading apps on both Google Play and the App Store. They allow for comfortable navigation of content, as well as formatting of the displayed text.
Kindle
Let's start with the biggest player in this industry, Kindle (4.8 in the App Store; 4.7 in Google Play). Yes, besides the e-book reader, Amazon, the owner of the world's largest e-bookstore, also has a dedicated app. It supports the MOBI format and allows you to synchronize reading progress across different devices, including a Kindle reader. While the app gives you unlimited access to Amazon's bookstore, it can also be used to read content from other sources. Importantly, the app is only available in English.
iBooks
This is an app created for the iOS system. Apple device users have it pre-installed on their iPads and iPhones. This allows them to read books purchased from the iBookStore. It's free. It also allows you to use manually uploaded files in EPUB and PDF format. Another advantage is its convenient and intuitive interface. If you sync your e-books to the cloud, progress synchronization will also be possible across multiple devices.
Google Play Books
The Android equivalent of iBooks is Google Play Books, which works on very similar principles to its competitor. It is, of course, only available on devices for which Google provides software. Reading is also possible offline. Before purchasing a selected title, you can read a fragment of the content, which can be helpful if you're undecided about a specific read.
Moon+ Reader
Among the frequently downloaded book reading apps is also Moon+ Reader (4 stars in Play). It's easy to use and offers many customization options. You can change text size or shading. Additionally, the app has a day/night mode, so it adjusts screen brightness to the time of day. There are also themes to choose from. Moon+ Reader allows you to use online and offline dictionaries.
Legimi
Legimi (4.2 in the App Store, 4 in Play) gives you access to several hundred thousand e-books. To fully enjoy the benefits of the app, you need to pay a subscription. You have several options to choose from, at different prices. In return, you can set any theme, synchronize progress between devices, and view reading statistics.
Aldiko Book Reader
An e-book reading app for Android devices. It allows you to search your phone's memory for files in EPUB or PDF formats. You can then group e-books in your library, allowing for clear organization of your collection. With Aldiko Book Reader, you can also take notes, add bookmarks, and highlight interesting text passages. The app also allows you to access a store with many free e-books.
ReadEra
Available for free and, importantly, it doesn't display ads. It also supports a long list of text formats (txt, pdf, epub, doc, rtf). It also works offline, it doesn't connect to the cloud, so all data is saved locally on your smartphone. Its interface is very simple. Immediately after installing the app, you'll find all the text documents saved on your phone's memory within it. With ReadEra, you can choose the style, font size, margins, and line spacing. This allows you to freely adjust the text view to your preferences. The app also has a slider to brighten the screen. Additionally, there is an option to change the background color.
Other large online brands, such as Empik and Allegro, also have their dedicated apps, offering access to many thousands of titles.
An interesting read can be the beginning of a wonderful acquaintance. E-book reading apps definitely facilitate this acquaintance. They are a good solution when we don't want to buy a separate e-book reader. They also work well if we have a reader but don't want to take it with us. Apps are always available and at your fingertips.
