Apple’s iPod Touch, iPhone and
iPad portable devices have completely revolutionized the way we consume written
content. Instead of lugging a backpack filled with books around, you can take
thousands of complete books with you wherever you go on a device that is
lighter than even most paperbacks. There are a wide variety of different
applications designed for the eBook reading experience available in the iTunes
App Store at any given moment, but only a few of those are really worth the
time it takes to download.
iBooks
iBooks is Apple’s official,
first-part eBook reader. It allows you to read any book that you’ve purchased
and downloaded from the iTunes Book Store, in addition to files saved in the
PDF file format. iBooks also gives users the ability to purchase new books
directly from the app itself, so no computer is required. You can separate your
collection into a series of digital “Shelves” by author, genre, book series or
any other category you can think of. The interface is sleek and clean, and it’s
designed specifically to take advantage of the touch screen capabilities of the
iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. The best part is that iBooks is available for free
to all users.
Kindle by Amazon
The official Kindle application
from Amazon effectively turns your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad into one of the
company’s popular Kindle devices. This single app, available free of charge,
allows you to read any digital book purchased on Amazon.com on your Apple
device. You can move your existing Kindle collection over to your iPod Touch,
iPhone or iPad with the touch of a button simply by syncing your Amazon.com
account with the application. You can also purchase books on Amazon.com and
have them instantly appear on your device a few seconds later automatically.
NOOK by Barnes & Noble
NOOK is Barnes & Noble’s
answer to Amazon’s Kindle application. This free application allows you to read
all books formatted in the NOOK’s proprietary format. Downloading iBooks,
Kindle and NOOK on the same device allows you constant and immediate access to
the three largest digital book stores on the planet. If you can’t find a
particular book in one of the services, you will surely be able to find it in
either of the remaining two.
Overdrive Media Console
Overdrive Media Console is a free
application that allows you to check digital books out from your local library
without ever leaving the house. You simply sign up for a free account and enter
your existing library account information. You can then browse your local
library’s digital book inventory and download what you like. When the “Check
Out” period has ended, the book will automatically be deleted from your device
and “checked back in” at the library. There is no need to worry about late fees
ever again.
Shakespeare
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare,
you really need to download this application as quickly as possible. As
Shakespeare’s work is old enough to be a part of the public domain, this app
compiles the complete collection into one easy to navigate interface. This is
especially useful for students who need to read one or more of Shakespeare’s
works for a class.
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