How to use iPhone or iPod Touch to read eBooks I prefer to use Bookshelf to read eBooks on iPhone/iPod Touch. I also use eReader and Stanza. http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/07/13/review-ereader-and-bookshelf-app-for-iphone/ The iPad can use Bookshelf to read eBooks and more Apps should be coming out soon.

iPhone Bookshelf from Apple

How to download iPhone Bookshelf

Go to: http://www.iphonebookshelf.com/ On the right-hand side of the screen select Quick Start > launch SelfServer.

Bookshelf On PC: Double click Open > Java web Start to open program (default). Select > run > open bookshelf. On my PC it comes up with an error box. I just ignored this and clicked OK.

Bookshelf On Mac: Single Click on launch self server. The program downloads and opens Self Server. Select Add Directory > select directory (folder) where your eBooks are kept > apply settings > select password or public.

Go here to read the quick launch guide which explains everything:

http://www.iphonebookshelf.com/quickstart.php

Using Apple Stanza to read eBooks

Stanza is a free application for reading eBooks on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

'Stanza features built-in support for HTML, PDF, Microsoft Word, and Rich Text Format reading, as well as all the major eBook standards: unprotected Amazon Kindle and Mobipocket, Microsoft LIT, Palm doc, and the International Digital Publishing Forum's new epub Open eBook standard. In addition to supporting a plethora of formats, Stanza features an open API that allows developers to implement support for their own document formats. Stanza is more than just a reader: it is a reading platform!' (from Lexcycle web pages).

Download Stanza to iPhone

Open iTunes and type stanza into the search box.

Select Get Free App.

Wait for download to complete.

Synch iPhone with iTunes. To do this I need to close iTunes, connect the iPhone and then open iTunes.

Once the synch screen appears, select Applications and then Select All Applications before pressing the Sync button on the bottom right of the screen.

Download Stanza to your Desktop

Open http://www.lexcycle.com/download

Select which platform you wish to use (windows or Apple Mac)

Follow download instructions. This download takes a while.

Downloading books to your iPhone

http://www.lexcycle.com/faq/how_to_get_books_onto_stanza_iphone

1. Launch Stanza Desktop.

2. Go to File->Open, and open a book or document in one of Stanza's supported formats. Note: The text of eReader books will not be displayed, but you can still use this interface to share books with Stanza iPhone.

3. Go to the "Tools" menu, and ensure that the "Enable Sharing" menu item is checked.

4. Ensure that your iPhone is connected to the same wireless network that your PC is on.

5. Launch Stanza on your iPhone.

6. From the top-level library menu, select "Shared Books". You should see your computer name. Select it.

7. Stanza Desktop will then notify you that your iPhone is attempting to connect to your shared library, and request your permission to allow the connection.

8. Once you have granted permission, Stanza iPhone will display a list of books that are open in Stanza Desktop.

9. Tap on the book to download it Stanza on your iPhone. It will appear in Titles and Recent Downloads.

Other information on Downloading to iPhone that may be useful. http://www.lexcycle.com/faq/how_to_get_books_onto_stanza_iphone

Other Information on Stanza

FAQ by Lexcycle http://www.lexcycle.com/faq

About Stanza by Lexcycle http://www.lexcycle.com/

iPhone eReader from Apple

How to download iPhone Bookshelf

Go to http://itouchtips.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/books-on-the-go-with-ereader/

iTunes will open on your computer. The Fictionwise, Inc Ereader will be available for download.

Select GET APP and the program will download to your iTunes.

Connect your iTouch and the program will sync with your device.

Note: this is a free application. The download for Mac and PC is the same and works in the same way as when you use iTunes to purchase songs.

iPhone Bookshelf Supported file formats

BookShelf currently supports the following book formats with more on the way. For full information on formats, please see BookShelf Supported Formats.

• Plain Text [.txt]
• HTML with images [.html]
• FictionBook2 with images [.fb2]
• PalmDoc / AportisDoc [.pdb]
• MobiPocket with images (unencrypted, not HuffDict compression) [.pdb, .prc, .mobi]
• Plucker with images [.pdb]
• Compiled HTML with images [.chm]
• MIME HTML with images [.mht]
• Rich Text (currently with limited characterset support) [.rtf]
• Word DOC - only Word 97+, not DOCX, translated to plain-text (formatting is lost)
• ZIP Archives - internal folder structure is flattened, but supported files can be extracted

Please note that at this time, BookShelf does not support PDB files which were created for the iSilo or eReader programs. Support for these formats is planned for a future release.

Click to Install BookShelf with iTunes or AppStore

Quick Start: Help!

>Launch ShelfServer<

What other Software?

eReader

http://www.ereader.com/help/iphonefaq.htm

iSolo http://www.isilo.com/index.htm

Kindle 2 on iPhone

This article introduces an iPhone application which can be synch'd to your Kindle 2 account so that the Kindle books you have purchased (from Amazon) may be viewed on your iPhone. For people who own a kindle in the USA and an iPhone PLUS buy their books from Amazon this looks like a good application.

http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-kindle-iphone-app-launches-e-book-sales-to-jump-2009-3

and

http://i.gizmodo.com/5164031/amazon-kindle-now-also-an-iphone-app

PDA fiction stories on iPhone

"If you get the “Stanza” apps (for iPhone) you will be able to read Microsoft Reader, and
eReader (formats) and you can download the files from the pdafiction web page or any
other web page that has these files."

From PDA Fiction http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/PDAFiction-doc/message/2111

Comments from a User

Hi there,

I just bought an ipod touch so ventured out at the iPhone options on your site and have one little addition.

I ended up going with ereader, as it seemed to be the only option to have a workaround for getting files uploaded if your desktop computer is not part of Wi-fi network. You can upload files to your account on ereader.com and download them from there with your iPhone/iPod. ereader only seems to support pdb format but there seem to be converters out there.

Maybe you want to make that little addition since the information on how files are actually uploaded with the iPod apps was hard to find.

Signature removed for privacy reasons.

Thanks for your comments and assistance.