E-books: Devices and Apps

Bluefire Reader App           Moonreader App                 Ebrary App

• Device Size: dimensions and weight determine portability.
• Screen: screens range from 6 to 9.7 inches, are E Ink or backlit, and can feature touch options.
• Battery Life: drastically different across devices, from ten hours to one month!
• Access to Content: varying options for borrowing from WUSTL and buying from a retailer.
• Network Access: WiFi and 3G are common options.
• Software: features (highlight, bookmarks, searching) and operating system features (dictionary, apps).
• Storage: quantity of megabytes/gigabytes are offered, along with cloud storage.
• Price: Prices are dropping, so use a buying guide or a comparison chart to find a release date and whether it will see a price drop or upgrade.

Wide range of Android devices.

• download an Ebrary or EBSCOHost e-Book in PDF or ePub format
• protected with Adobe Digital Rights Management (DRM) as long as you have the Bluefire Reader app installed on the device.
• Simply install the Bluefire Reader app on your Android device. The first time you download an e-Book to the Bluefire Reader app you will be prompted to authorize the app with your Adobe ID. (You only need to do this once.)
• Then, to download any Adobe DRM protected e-Book direct to your Android device look, for a Download (or similar) button for the e-Book in your web-browser and then click it. The -Bbook should then download to the Bluefire Reader app. 
• You are able to download or transfer the same e-Book to up to 6 computers and tablet devices/smartphones and e-Book readers where either Adobe Digital Editions is installed and authorized with the same Adobe ID (computers) or where e-Book reading apps on the tablet devices/smartphones have been authorized with the same Adobe ID or where the e-Book reader/s has/have been authorized with the same Adobe ID.

More information on the Bluefire Reader app.

Kobo on Android Devices

Kindle on Android Devices

• You can use or sync your apps, audiobooks, books, music, movies on up to five different computers  authorized with the same Apple ID.
• Apple and Digital Rights Management (DRM): For information on how to do this go to the iBooks App (from Apple) information on the E-Book Reading Apps for Smartphones/Tablet Devices page
• iBooks for iPhone, iPod touch and iPads
• Kindle for iPhone, iPod touch and iPads

Downloading e-Books protected with Adobe DRM (such as EBL, Ebrary and Ebooks on EBSCOHost ebooks) directly to Apple devices using the Bluefire Reader app

• Apple devices do not support Adobe Digital Editions. To get Adobe DRM protected content (e.g. Ebrary or EBSCOHost ebooks) onto Apple devices install the Bluefire Reader app to download Adobe DRM protected content direct to the app. Alternatively you can transfer e-Books previously downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions to the Bluefire Reader app.
• Simply install the Bluefire Reader app on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. Then touch on the app and you will be prompted to authorize the app with your Adobe ID. (You only need to do this once.) Then, for example, if you wish to download any Adobe DRM protected ebook direct to your Apple device look for a Download (or similar) button for the e-Book in your web-browser (typically Safari) and then click it.

Transferring e-Books to the Bluefire Reader from Adobe Digital Editions

• Assuming you have downloaded and installed Adobe Digital Editions on your computer and have added the Bluefire Reader app to your Apple device and authorized both with the same Adobe ID you will be able to transfer e-Books to your Apple device via iTunes
• When you open iTunes, connect your Apple device. Once iTunes has recognised your Apple device select the icon for your device in the left-hand side column. Then go to the toolbar at the top of the screen and click on the Apps tab. Then scroll down to the File Sharing section and click the Bluefire Reader icon in the Apps section.
• Click the Add… button and then  you’ll need to browse to where Adobe Digital Editions has stored your e-Book
• iTunes should then copy the file to your Apple device and Bluefire Reader will then automatically add this item to your Bluefire Reader Library. You can then open and read your e-Book in the Bluefire Reader app.

Transferring e-Books to the iPad from Adobe Digital Editions

• iPad / iBook, allows the transfer of e-Books to an iPad if one has the iBooks app installed. Directions for installing eBooks via iBooks. Adobe Digital Editions is not required
• How to get a book onto the device.

• E-Ink devices are smaller, cheaper and lighter than tablets
• Their real advantage lies with the e-Ink screen technology which is easier on the eyes with less glare
• They use less power than the LCD screen used on a tablet because E-Ink technology only uses power to redraw the page
• The page is not backlit so you need a light to read by as with a real book

Sony Reader, Kobo eReaders and Nook Ebook Readers use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer e-Books in PDF or ePub format protected with Adobe DRM from Adobe Digital Editions to the e-Book reader from the computer to the device.

You are able to download or transfer the same e-Book to up to 6 computers and tablet devices/smartphones and e-Book readers where either Adobe Digital Editions is installed and authorized with the same Adobe ID (computers) or where e-Book reading apps on the tablet devices/smartphones have been authorized with the same Adobe ID or where the e-Book reader/s has/have been authorized with the same Adobe ID.

• Kindle Software
• Kindle e-Book readers has a closed Digital Rights Management system. Therefore you cannot transfer e-Books from Adobe Digital Editions to the Kindle
• Kindle does support DRM free PDF's. Simply hook up your Kindle to your computer through a USB cable and drag-and-drop the PDF's from your computer to the Kindle
• Kindle also supports DRM free ePub files (like those you download from Google Books), which must be converted from ePub into a file format the Kindle can understand such as PDF or MOBI. To do this you need Calibre (a free e-Book management and e-Book file converter). Converting PDFs to ePub or Kindle
• 73 places for free Kindle e-Books online (legally)
• Adobe Digital Editions, which allows readers to transfer eBooks to mobile devices offers a list of ALL compatible devices
• How to get an e-Book onto the Device

• Connect your Nook into the USB drive on your computer. Open Adobe Digital Editions. Adobe Digital Editions will now recognize your Nook and the Device Setup Assistant box should appear. Adobe Digital Editions should prompt you to authorize your Nook. Use the same Adobe ID as you used to authorize Adobe Digital Editions on your computer
• In Adobe Digital Editions make sure you are still in the Library viewing mode. To move 0-Bbooks onto the Nook simply drag and drop them to the Nook icon on the left-hand side of Adobe Digital Editions. After copying the e-Book to the Nook, “eject” the Nook from your computer and safely unplug the USB cable. The e-Book should appear on your Nook. If the e-Book does not appear, try restarting the Nook. (Be aware that currently you cannot buy e-Books for the Nook from the Barnes & Noble Bookstore outside of the U.S.)
• Adobe Digital Editions, which allows readers to transfer e-Books to mobile devices offers a list of ALL compatible devices
• How to get a book onto the device - nook support pages.

• Connect your Kobo into the USB drive on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions should prompt you to authorize your Kobo. Use the same Adobe ID as you used to authorize Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions will now recognize your Kobo and will list it within the Bookshelves area of the Adobe Digital Editions window
• In Adobe Digital Editions make sure you are still in the Library viewing mode. To move e-Books onto the Kobo simply drag and drop them to the Kobo icon. After copying the e-Book to the Kobo, “eject” the Kobo from your computer and safely unplug the USB cable. The e-Book should appear on your Kobo. If the e-Book does not appear, try restarting the Kobo.

• Connect your Sony Reader into the USB drive on your computer. Adobe Digital Editions should prompt you to authorize your Sony Reader. Use the same Adobe ID as you used to authorize Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. Once authorized, a Sony Reader icon will appear within the Bookshelves area of the Adobe Digital Editions window
• In Adobe Digital Editions make sure you are still in the Library viewing mode. Copy the e-Book onto your Sony Reader by dragging and dropping the title you want to transfer to the Sony Reader icon. After copying to the Sony Reader, “eject” the Sony Reader from your computer and safely unplug the USB cable. The e-Book should appear on your Sony Reader. If the e-Bbook do not appear, try restarting the Sony Reader
• Adobe Digital Editions, which allows readers to transfer e-Books to mobile devices offers a list of ALL compatible devices
• Download Sony Reader Apps
  
• How to get a book onto the device