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CHAPTER 16: New Media: Reading Newspapers, Magazines, and E-books
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E-Books
Unlike the iPhone, Android doesn’t come with a standard e-book reader. That doesn’t
leave you out of options, however. You can choose from a large selection of readers,
both for open and proprietary book formats. Keep in mind that there are several formats
for reading books, and some companies put Digital Rights Management (DRM) on their
e-books to prevent them from being illegally distributed or read in unauthorized readers.
Figure 16–3 shows just a sampling of available e-book readers for Android.
Figure 16–3. Android e-book readers.
If you have already begun creating a digital library, you’ll want to stick with an app that is
compatible with your content. If you’re just getting started, there are a few things to
keep in mind as you choose a reading app:
Proprietary formats: Epub is one of the most widely accepted book
formats, but even it comes in DRM and non-DRM varieties. Check to
see if the book you purchase is protected by DRM or an open offering.
Storage: Where are your books stored? Can you download a new
copy if your phone crashes? Can you pick up your book on one device
and finish on another?
Availability: How many books are available from your online
bookstore? If you can only buy a few books, and those books can only
be read on a single reader, it’s quickly a case of diminishing returns.
Price: What’s the average price for a book? Publishers are moving
from a model where e-book stores offer variable pricing, so look at
several titles.
Stability: The digital world is a very rapidly changing place. There are
no guarantees that your favorite store will stay in business.
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