[Q] E-reader apps - Galaxy Tab 10.1 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all!
This may have been asked before (actually I'm pretty sure, but combing through the last 5 pages of threads I'm having a hard time finding it), but my question is this: I've got a lot of ebooks in epub format (gotten from.... other places that I won't discuss here lol) that I am wanting to get loaded onto my Galaxy Tab 10.1 (16gb wi-fi only) that I just got last week. I have been looking into several programs that say that they will transfer from my desktop to the tablet (Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions in particular both state that they will work with the Tab). And both say I have to have an ebook reader app on the Tab.
I say all that to ask this: 1.) will both Adobe Digital Editions and Calibre do what they say well (or if someone has a better preference please let me know!) or do I need to look at using a different program to transfer my ebooks; 2.) will the default Google Books app work to read those epub formatted books or do I need to get a different ebook reader app (and which one should I get)?
Sorry for the horribly long post! Just wanted to state my question with the most background info that I could! Thanks a ton guys! You're the best forum in the world!

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I use calibre to convert my eboooks to .mobi format to use with the kindle app on my tab. It works great, is open source and it will match the meta data of the cover art to the mobi file so the covet art actually shows up on my tab. A few pdf files i coverted did not turn out so good (spacing errors and such) but other than that i thimk it is a good program.

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FillTheVoid said:
I use calibre to convert my eboooks to .mobi format to use with the kindle app on my tab. It works great, is open source and it will match the meta data of the cover art to the mobi file so the covet art actually shows up on my tab. A few pdf files i coverted did not turn out so good (spacing errors and such) but other than that i thimk it is a good program.
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Ok well what's the difference between .mobi and .epub formats? I haven't really found a good definitive answer to that (even on trusty wikipedia). Is one really better than another?

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Honestly I really dont know. I do know that it is the format the kindle app uses and that is what I needed. Sorry I cant be more help with that.

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Haha! Thanks for the info though. Really appreciate it!

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I've tried several but find that Manotano Reader works best for me. Handles ADE DRMed files no problem. Just copy the files to a folder and Import them into MR.
Not inexpensive but so much of a time saver that I don't mind. I Copy the files to a Dropbox folder on my PC. DL them from the DropBox Folder to eBook folder on My ST. Import and done.

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Jay Evans said:
I've tried several but find that Manotano Reader works best for me. Handles ADE DRMed files no problem. Just copy the files to a folder and Import them into MR.
Not inexpensive but so much of a time saver that I don't mind. I Copy the files to a Dropbox folder on my PC. DL them from the DropBox Folder to eBook folder on My ST. Import and done.
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Ok! I'll have to give that one a shot. Depending on the price that is haha! Thanks for the helpful info!

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eBook reader is already included
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 already includes an ebook reader. It was a part of the Touchwiz update. It can read the epub and PDF formats. It is compatible with the Adobe DRM if you are borrowing books from your library or buying other copy protected books, so you can give it your Adobe ID username and password, and it should be able to read them.
It is simply named "ebook" in the apps screen.
for transferring the books,
turn off the USB debugging under settings->Applications->Development
plug you tablet into your computer
browse to your tablet under your computer.
find the ebook folder on the tablet, put your ebook files in the ebook import folder
the path from my computer was "Computer\GT-P7510\Tablet\ebook\import"
After the files are copied, open the ebook app,
go to the menu and choose import to let the ebook reader app see the new books.

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Barnes and Noble's Nook app supports .epub. Just drop your files into sdcard>Nook>MyDocuments and you're good to go. Not sure about DRM though.
For pdf's, I use ezPDF Reader. It's not free, but it's got some pretty nice features.

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I use Aldiko, handles ePub and PDF which are my 2 main formats. I use Samba Filesharing for Android to create a network share, dump the files in and then use Aldiko's import folder feature to get them into it's library.

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brandonyoung said:
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 already includes an ebook reader. It was a part of the Touchwiz update. It can read the epub and PDF formats. It is compatible with the Adobe DRM if you are borrowing books from your library or buying other copy protected books, so you can give it your Adobe ID username and password, and it should be able to read them.
It is simply named "ebook" in the apps screen.
for transferring the books,
turn off the USB debugging under settings->Applications->Development
plug you tablet into your computer
browse to your tablet under your computer.
find the ebook folder on the tablet, put your ebook files in the ebook import folder
the path from my computer was "Computer\GT-P7510\Tablet\ebook\import"
After the files are copied, open the ebook app,
go to the menu and choose import to let the ebook reader app see the new books.
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That's actually a pretty simple seeming way to transfer ebooks (all of mine are in epub (and for sure I'm not worried about DRM)) from my computer to the Tab. However, here's my sticky part. I HATE the look of the TouchWiz UI update. Loved the plain Jane Honeycomb that came with it (don't get me wrong, I think it added some very good features and needed updates), but the skin just makes it look silly to me. So my plan is to root and install a custom ROM of vanillia Ice Creme Sandwich when it comes out. That's why I'm looking for a third party (or Google) ebook reader.

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I second the Nook App from B&N. Had a Nook color for about a year though and got used to the way the software works. Gave Nook to my wife and got the GT10.1. Just copy your epubs into the folder via varelawarfare's instructions and they'll turn up in your library. Haven't used the Kindle app much, but I prefer Nook over Aldiko, Google Books and the Samsung reader (but may just be because I'm used to it). I also use Overdrive reader as it is pretty good at seamlessly downloading DRM-ebooks (library for instance).

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On my 8.9 the nook app seemed to be very sluggish, does it happen to everyone? I ended up using the book app that came with the tablet, its actually pretty good but some books it doesn't override the fonts thus doing weird stuff like keeping text black when I choose a dark background.

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So it's really looking like the top picks for most people are either the Nook or Kindle readers or Akidio and Calibre for loading them onto the Tab? These are some great responses and suggestions from everyone! Super appreciative!

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cardsharp234 said:
So it's really looking like the top picks for most people are either the Nook or Kindle readers or Akidio and Calibre for loading them onto the Tab? These are some great responses and suggestions from everyone! Super appreciative!
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My take on this, since I spent a LOT of time looking for a good book / epub reader:
- Kindle: Need to convert to .MOBI format, no page-flip transitions
- eBook: Maximum number of files supported is 200, but does a good job otherwise
- Moon Reader+: Excellent reader, quirky but highly configurable, however cuts off last line of text for each page for some .epubs
- Aldiko Premium: Chokes when trying to load shelf, otherwise fine
- Mantano Reader: Very polished interface, developers listen to user feedback, handles PDF apart from .epub, no page-flip transitions
- EZ PDF Reader: Excellent for PDFs, but no .epub support
Bottom-line: I use Mantano
/would go for Moon Reader+ if Mantano were not available...

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I tried several and Moonread it's my fav (never used Mantano, I'll check it out) since it offers alot of options and it allows to scroll smoothly between pages.
For loading books I use Calibre with "connect/share start content server" so it can be used wireless as a web store directly from the ereader or from the browser.
What I hate about all these ereaders is that none use the same folder for storing the epub files, some use /book, other /ebook or /ebooks

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I'm using Aldiko for Epub and EZ PDF Reader for PDF. EZ PDF Reader is the only tool on Android with acceptable PDF quality (tried them all including Mantano, small text is unreadable).

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Revils said:
For loading books I use Calibre with "connect/share start content server" so it can be used wireless as a web store directly from the ereader or from the browser.
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So (if I'm reading this right) I can basically wirelessly update what new content I have on my computer to my Tab via wireless home network??? That beats having to use that freaking short cord that comes with my Tab. Heck... Thought just hit me. If I can remotely access my computer, wonder if (though that remote access and assuming of course that I'm in a wireless area) I could update my Tab content even when I'm away from the computer..... Interesting concept to me right there.

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cardsharp234 said:
So (if I'm reading this right) I can basically wirelessly update what new content I have on my computer to my Tab via wireless home network??? That beats having to use that freaking short cord that comes with my Tab. Heck... Thought just hit me. If I can remotely access my computer, wonder if (though that remote access and assuming of course that I'm in a wireless area) I could update my Tab content even when I'm away from the computer..... Interesting concept to me right there.
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Yup! check on Calibre menu "preference-sharing over the net".
If your computer can be reached over internet it can be done everywhere otherwise just when you are connected on the same wireless router

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Revils said:
Yup! check on Calibre menu "preference-sharing over the net".
If your computer can be reached over internet it can be done everywhere otherwise just when you are connected on the same wireless router
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That's freaking amazing that Calibre can do that! ...God bless that/those developer(s)!