Hi.
As we know, kindle is kindling more rage at the moment than thirst for books. i'm looking for alternatives to kindle/apple books that I can use for downloading/reading eBooks. The library apps are trash, I've tried those before and I'm not down for turning each page when it gets to the end. I know I'm spoiled by kindle, but are there any other apps out there for reading and downloading eBooks?
Comments
Subscribe to bookshare and there are a couple of readers.
Bookshare has its own reader, but it isn't near as good as the free "Speech Central" or the paid Voice Dream app. It is amazing what Bookshare has available, all for $80 a year. I only buy off of Amazon or Apple when the choice is buy the book as an ebook, or buy it and scan it myself. The great thing about bookshare books to me is that the apps to read on the phone are better meant for blind users, you can lock the phone and use buttons on your headphones to stop and start, for example, which you cannot do with iBooks or kindle. Also, you can set both Voice Dream and Speech central so that the back button on your headphones can just back you up a sentence or 15 seconds or whatever, so if you get interrupted, you can easily find your place again. Also, both programs let you download books from bookshare, so you aren't having to use another app to buy the think like Kindle. These programs give a much better reading experience for just those reasons.
Some options and a useful resource
Hi,
Have you tried Google Play Books and/or Nook from Barnes & Noble? Also, the Library of Congress has a decent resource on alternative apps for both iOS and Android for 3rd party Ebook and Audio Book readers.
Nook:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/barnes-noble-nook/id373582546
Google Play Books:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-play-books-audiobooks/id400989007
NLS Resource:
https://www.loc.gov/nls/resources/blindness-and-vision-impairment/devices-aids/accessible-mobile-reading-apps/#readingApps
HTH. 😎📘
Book share
This person who wrote this article lives in Australia. I don’t know if bookshelf is supported over here in Australia.
Bookshare and NLS.
As far as I know, bookshare really isn't supported here. Just as we can't get content from NLS.
Book share is in the United States, as two is an LS
lunarwolf, You are absolutely correct. I don’t think none of those are supported over here.
Regarding NLS
I put that link above as a resource. Unless you mean to say you cannot access the website? On that page is a large list of accessible book reader apps, for both Ebook and Audio book. Some free, some pay, and some in between.
Just a list of links to apps on the iOS and Android app stores.
HTH.
Where?
Simple question where is "Over Here?"
over here.
Over here is Australia.
Bookshare is availabe in Australia.
I have no idea how much stuff they have, or how much it costs, but here you go: https://www.bookshare.org/cms/bookshare-australia
are you looking for ebook reader or ebook source?
sounds like you are looking for both. for the reader, i'm agnostic about it, and i kind of don't want to promote a specific app, god knows why but sometimes people just get so imotional about it.
but for ebook source, zlibrary is the best, it's a mystery nobody seems to like it. hell, sometimes you can get the book before it goes on sale.
Zlibrary is not legal
I also loved ZLibrary, until I got in trouble from my employer for using it! Right now on my work computer, our IT department blocks access. I actually wasn't in trouble personally; my boss didn't even know. It is just that everyone who used it got it blacklisted.
I still use it on my home computer; just be aware!
Archive.org is legal though for now
And with the Open Library from Archive.org, you can sign up as a disabled user and they automatically OCR books when you download them. They are in legal battles with various authors' groups, but currently you can legally sign up and borrow books from them.
I know the original poster didn't like library apps, but I've had good luck reading with Libby and VoiceOver. Libby used to be totally inaccessible, but it's great now as of this writing.
And if you google for DRM-Free ebook sources, many of them have books you might like that are in the epub format, so look for accessible epub readers. Google for epub readers and see which ones you like or search the app directory here.