Google Play Books alternatives

Here are the latest news about Google Play Books:

13.05.24. Google Play Books offers hundreds of free eBooks for children



In the grand tradition of mildly chaotic yet charming announcements, Google Play Books has unveiled a mind-bogglingly generous expansion of its kids’ collection—over 300 free non-fiction titles with a snazzy "Read & Listen" feature that lets children read and listen simultaneously, presumably leaving no excuse for confusing “their” with “there” ever again. But wait, there's more! To sprinkle a bit of intergalactic joy on the whole reading affair, Google has rolled out digital Reading Rewards stickers, guaranteed to thrill kids into reaching reading milestones faster than a Vogon could butcher poetry, available on Google Kids Space or the Play Books Android app. As if that wasn’t enough to make you raise your towel in approval, Google has also decided to toss thousands of audiobook previews onto its YouTube channel—because why shouldn’t books get their moment in the spotlight among cat videos and conspiracy theories? And just when you thought the galaxy couldn’t get any more bookish, they’ve added an "Upcoming" section to the app's "Library" tab, offering book pre-orders and recommendations to keep your reading queue as endless as Zaphod Beeblebrox’s ego.


2024. Google Play Books to offer audiobook previews on YouTube



Google Play Books has been provided an update that introduces several new features to the app. That includes integration with YouTube where users will be able to listen to audiobook previews for free. This would be in addition to the audiobook previews that are already available via the Play Books app for Android, iOS and the web. As it is, YouTube enjoys a huge userbase and it is only natural Google will like to leverage it to seek better exposure for its audiobooks as well. In any case, Google has been restructuring its media business of late and several of its services such as Play Music and Podcasts have been brought under the purview of YouTube. Among the other changes introduced to Play Books include the addition of the new Upcoming tab at the top of the Library section. So, you will now have Your books, Shelves and Series along with the newly added Upcoming tabs at the top under Library. This, as Google explained, will show “all your pre-orders in one location on a calendar that can be filtered based on specific series or authors.” You will also be provided updates on authors and series that you might have shown interest in, which can be like titles that you may have searched or viewed.


2023. Google Reading Insights allows to track your kid’s reading habits



Google has introduced a new feature in Google Play Books called Reading Insights, which serves as a tool for parents to monitor their children's reading activities. This feature, conveniently integrated into the Family Link app along with other parental control tools, enables parents to track their children's book choices and their progress in specific titles. By using Reading Insights, parents can access various information, such as the recent books their children have read, their most frequently read books, their reading frequency and the extent to which they have progressed in a particular title. This comprehensive overview allows parents to gain a better understanding of their children's reading habits. Furthermore, the Reading Insights feature also supports tracking audiobook titles.


2023. Google Play Books app adds new book management feature



Google Play Books app has recently introduced a significant enhancement to its redesigned library management system, with the aim of making the organization of your book collection simpler. One notable improvement is the ability to handle multiple books at the same time, allowing users to easily select and manage numerous titles together. Now, actions like adding books to shelves, marking them as finished, or removing downloaded copies from devices can be done in bulk. To aid in efficient book discovery, Google has implemented various filtering options. Users can now filter books by genre, author, reading age (particularly beneficial for children's books) and family library status. These filters make it effortless to quickly identify specific books based on personal preferences.


2023. Google Play Books now offering new Reading Practice tool for kids



Google Play Books is introducing a new feature called Reading Practice in the United States, which aims to assist young readers in improving their comprehension skills using children's e-books. This feature will be accessible through the Google Play Books Android app and Google Kids Space. With Reading Practice, children will be able to enhance their vocabulary by tapping on words to hear their pronunciation and child-friendly definition. For early readers, a text tracker will highlight the words as they read aloud, allowing them to practice any missed or mispronounced words at the end of each page. The majority of books on Google Play Books will include Reading Practice, ensuring easy access to this valuable tool. Google Play is committed to creating family-oriented products and services that support children in learning and exploring technology safely. The goal is to provide parents with the necessary tools and flexibility to encourage reading in their children while fostering healthy and positive digital habits.


2022. Google Play Books adds a Wish List



Google Play Books is rolling out a new update for its Android app that introduces a wish list feature on the main navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. This is alongside the Home, Library and Shop buttons. It is a dedicated feature specific to Play Books, allowing you to add titles you wish to purchase later to your wish list, which you can view at any time. Tapping on a title in the wish list will direct you to the Google Play Books entry for it, where you can download a sample or make a purchase. Most users who buy books are using the Play Books app for this purpose, as it allows both purchasing and reading within the app. However, in recent months, the company has updated its billing policy, imposing a 30% fee on each in-app transaction. This has led Audible, Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble to remove the ability to purchase content, turning their apps into consumption-only platforms.


2021. Google Play Books now has new tools to make reading easier for kids



Google Play Books has unveiled a suite of new tools designed to make it easier for even young readers to start enjoying books. The Read & Listen feature will narrate a book to your children. You can either turn the pages manually or allow them to turn automatically. The Tap to Read feature will read aloud any word that you tap on. This helps kids learn the correct pronunciation of the word and provides a description, often accompanied by an illustration, to ensure a complete understanding of the term. Additionally, the Kid-Friendly Dictionary offers simple explanations of words, further supporting the learning process.


2021. Google Play Books will help kids to learn to read



Google Play Books has introduced several new features designed to assist young readers. Firstly, it now allows children to hear books read aloud and they can tap on individual words to hear them pronounced. Additionally, kids can read or listen to thousands of child-friendly definitions, many of which include illustrations to aid in understanding and learning. Google states that most of their children's books come with these new reading tools. Parents can also download a free sample of any children's book to check if the reading tools are available for that title before making a purchase.


2019. Google Play allows to rent ebooks



Google Play has introduced a new system for renting ebooks. A small section that quietly went live last week features around 200 titles from Open Road Media. The rental prices range from $1 to $2, with a rental period of 3 days, which should be sufficient to voraciously read most of the romance, thriller and science-fiction novels available. The Google Play rental system is currently available only in the United States. It is not yet clear whether this is a pilot program to assess consumer interest or part of a larger strategy to enter the rental market with additional publishers.


2019. Google Play Books adds custom shelves, shelf icons



Google Play Books has introduced Beta Features, offering users early access to experimental functionalities. The initial features include customized bookshelves, allowing you to arrange them however you prefer. Search and Sort options are also available, enabling you to swiftly find a specific book or organize your library using various criteria. The final beta feature is Ready to Read, a new shelf that displays the books you haven't completed yet to help you easily pick up where you left off. Currently, these beta features are available for your desktop browser and will eventually be rolled out to Android and iOS.


2019. Google Play Books gets redesign on Android



Google has refreshed Play Books with a new material design that gives it a more minimalist and streamlined appearance. The update is primarily focused on visuals, with hollow iconography, predominantly white backgrounds and a switch to Google/Product Sans fonts. The carousel on the home screen has been made smaller and more compact, a change that also applies to the bookstore. The reading experience within the app hasn't been significantly altered, although the minor adjustments may not favor those looking for enhanced accessibility. Some of the text on the screen has been reduced in size and certain interactive elements have been minimized. However, as this is an ebook reader, you can still customize font sizes to suit your preferences.


2018. Google Audiobooks gets Trim Silences feature



Google Play Books is the sole platform where you can listen to audiobooks bought from Google and they have just introduced a new feature called Trim Silences. This feature will automatically eliminate long pauses between words or sentences. While most audiobooks are professionally produced and remove these pauses by default, some small publishers and indie authors may have pauses, making Trim Silences a helpful tool.


2018. Android e-Readers can no longer access Google Play



Google has introduced a new security policy that is blocking users from accessing the Google Play Store on an Android e-reader. Dozens of popular brands in Asia and Europe do not have an official license for Google Play; instead, they only load the framework and the app store. Previously, this was sufficient, but not anymore. If you have an existing e-reader and linked your Google account before March 16th, 2018, you should be fine. However, if you have recently purchased a new Android e-reader or reset your existing one to factory settings, you will no longer be able to access the Play Store.


2018. Google Play audiobooks get Smart Resume and bookmarks



Google Play Audiobooks is receiving a significant update that introduces several new features that were notably absent when it debuted earlier this year. The most beneficial new feature is Smart Resume. Instead of resuming in the middle of a sentence or even a word when your audiobook playback is interrupted, this new feature will intelligently rewind to the start of the word or sentence, helping you maintain your immersion. This update also includes the ability to set bookmarks so you can easily return to your favorite sections of a book and the option to adjust the playback speed—whether speeding it up or slowing it down to thoroughly enjoy a favorite passage in Ulysses. If you regularly use Google Assistant and are already taking advantage of the newly launched Routines feature, you'll be pleased to know that you can now choose to continue your audiobooks when you wake up or begin your commute.


2018. Google brings audiobooks to its Play store



Google Play Store now offers audiobooks. This new audiobook feature is rolling out in 45 countries and nine languages. Similar to other platforms, you can listen to a preview of the audiobook on the Play Store and audiobooks are automatically added to your family library, allowing you to easily share your audiobook copy of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” with everyone in your household. One handy feature is its integration with Google Assistant on both your phone and Google Home. With this integration, you can simply ask the assistant to read your book and it will do so. You can also inquire about basic details of the book (“Who is the author?”). Google’s pricing appears to be competitive with similar offerings from Amazon.


2017. Google Play Books improves reading experience



Google Play Books app for Android has undergone a major overhaul and now streamlines the reading experience. The Library page has seen considerable updates, with four of the five tabs being eliminated, leaving just two: Shelves and Books. The new Shelves system features vibrant and engaging cover art that displays books you haven’t started reading yet, while below that are books you’re currently reading. The third row is reserved for books you’ve completed. All the functions previously found in the removed tabs are now incorporated into the Books tab. The old tabs were essentially filters for the books in your account. The new Books tab offers a comprehensive list of your books and you can use the filter button at the top right of the page to narrow the list to your uploads, purchases, or those in the family library.


2016. Google Play now allows to gift e-books



Google Play Books has released a minor update to their Android app that enables users to gift e-books. To do so, you simply need to go to a book on your homepage or within the Play Books Store and tap on the three dots. There is an option to gift the e-book to someone with an existing account and they will receive an immediate notification that you have sent it, along with detailed instructions on how to access and read the book within the app.


2015. Google Play Books makes it easier to read at night



If you’re a night reader on your mobile device, you know it’s difficult to get tired with the bright screen glaring at your eyes. This isn’t an issue with physical books, as you can use a soft light to create a relaxing atmosphere. Google Play Books aims to replicate that softer experience with a feature called “Night Light.” As the evening progresses, it gradually filters out the blue light from your screen, replacing it with a warm, amber hue as the sun sets, to make reading more comfortable. Night Light automatically adjusts based on the amount of natural sunlight outside according to the time of day, providing the ideal warmth and brightness. This color adjustment is easier on your eyes and significantly enhances reading in low-light conditions.


2015. Google improved Comic Book reading in Play Books for Android



Google has released an update to its Google Play Books app for Android that will enhance the experience of reading comics on your phone and tablet. Reading comics (or graphic novels, if that’s more your preference) on small screens has never been ideal. The new reading interface on Android (with iOS support coming soon) will activate when you are in landscape mode. In this mode, you can now smoothly scroll through a story with just a vertical swipe. Google has also introduced personalized comic recommendations to help you discover similar series, as well as a selection of curated series pages for comics in the Play Store.


2014. Google Play Books’ new reading mode lets you browse huge ebooks faster



Google has just updated its Google Play Books eReader app with a focus on more efficient reading. The new Skim mode allows you to scroll between pages in a continuous flow instead of flipping through them one by one. Quick Bookmarks enable you to set multiple saved locations in the book and swiftly navigate between them—ideal for when you need to reference a table 200 pages away from your current reading. You can now view all your notes and highlights on a single page and quickly jump to the related passages. The advantages for study are quite clear.


2013. Google Play to sell and rent digital textbooks



In August, Google will begin offering digital textbooks for purchase and rental through the Google Play Books store. Google has announced partnerships with the five largest textbook publishers, allowing students to buy or rent digital textbooks for up to six months. The company stated that prices would be “up to 80 percent” lower than print list prices, a similar claim made by Amazon for Kindle textbook rentals. While Google is already selling some digital textbooks through the Play store, these are not from major publishers and are not available for rental. Entering the textbook market positions Google to compete with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple, all of which have already established a presence in the digital textbook industry.


2013. Google Play Books is Now Available in 9 More Countries in Europe



The world’s second most slowly expanding ebook store, Google Play Books, made some headway this week with the introduction of new local ebookstores in nine additional countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden. In late June, Google Play Books extended its reach to Portugal, Austria, Ireland and Belgium. Google's ebookstore is now accessible in 26 countries, from the US to Russia to Australia. It mainly offers EPUB format and is actively promoting EPUB3 while discouraging other ebook formats.


2013. Google Play Books now allows users to upload own ebooks



The latest update to Google Play Books for Android and iOS enables users to upload up to 1,000 PDF and EPUB files to their Google Play accounts. Files can be uploaded from users' computers or imported from Google Drive, provided they are under 50MB in size. Once added to the library, the files will be accessible on the Web, as well as on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, according to an announcement from the Web giant on Wednesday. The files' page locations, bookmarks and notes will be synchronizable across all chosen devices, allowing users to pick up reading where they left off when switching devices. This feature could give Google an advantage over Apple iBooks, which currently does not support user-uploaded content.


2013. Barnes & Noble integrates Google Play into Nook tablets



Barnes & Noble is integrating the Google Play marketplace (including apps, music, videos and ebooks) and Google services (Google+, Gmail, YouTube, Maps) into its Nook HD and HD+ tablets. While Nook tablets run on Android, this move seems somewhat unusual for a company that has a strategic alliance with Microsoft. Nevertheless, Jim Hilt, Barnes & Noble’s VP of ebooks, mentioned that the goal is to offer a wider media ecosystem to Nook tablet users and B&N isn’t concerned about Google Books: “We’re very confident that when people use a Nook device, they’ll engage with the Nook shopping experience,” he stated.


2012. Google Play Books app adds the power of Internet to reading



Google has updated the Android app Google Play Books, which allows you to purchase and read eBooks on your smartphone. The new features will enhance your ability to explore your books and understand what you’re reading by leveraging the power of the Internet. You can now select a word to view its translation into other languages or its definition from various dictionaries. If the word is a geographical location, you can see it on a map (Google Maps card). Additionally, you can highlight words and phrases and add side notes. The notes you create will sync across your phone, tablet and web, thanks to Google Play Books’ cloud-based content.


2011. iriver Story HD - the first e-reader that allows to read Google eBooks



Google doesn't manufacture its own e-reading device for Google eBooks, but now there's at least one third-party e-reader that supports reading Google eBooks—iriver Story HD. It has been specifically optimized for this function by two companies. With the Story HD, you can now browse, purchase and read Google eBooks directly on your e-reader via Wi-Fi, rather than downloading and transferring them from a computer to the e-reader with a cable. The iriver Story HD, priced starting at $139.99, is slim and lightweight with a high-resolution E-Ink display and a QWERTY keyboard for convenient searching. It offers over-the-air access to hundreds of thousands of Google eBooks for purchase and more than 3 million available for free.