Top 10 eBook Readers (reading apps)

Latest news about eBook Readers (reading apps)

04.10.24. AI reading coach startup Ello now lets kids create their own stories



Ello, the AI reading companion that aims to assist kids struggling to read, launched a new product that enables kids to participate in the story-creation process. Called “Storytime,” the new AI-powered feature helps kids generate personalized tales by choosing from a selection of settings, characters and plots. For example, a story about a hamster named Greg who performed in a talent show in outer space. Kids can pick from dozens of prompts, resulting in thousands of combinations. Like Ello’s usual reading offering, the AI companion — a bright blue, friendly elephant — listens to the child read aloud and evaluates their speech to correct mispronunciations and missed words. If kids are uncertain how to pronounce a specific word, they can tap on the question mark icon for additional help. Storytime offers two reading options: one mode where Ello and the reader take turns and another, simpler mode for younger readers where Ello does most of the reading.


2024. Amazon removed Kindle Flashcards



Amazon has begun sending out emails notifying customers about their plan to discontinue the Flashcards feature on Kindles. The Flashcards feature allows you to review words that you’ve looked up in the dictionary and mark them as mastered. However, the Vocabulary Builder feature will remain, so you can still review looked up words, just not using flashcards. Amazon already started removing the Flashcards feature from Kindle apps and they intend to do away with Flashcards entirely in November of 2024. Users can request the flashcards associated with their account from this page at Amazon and continue using them on their own devices, but all flashcards will be deleted from Amazon’s servers later this year, so you need to download them soon.


2024. How to download Google books to PDF?



Google Books - is the biggest online library on the Web. It allows to search, preview and read online millions of books from libraries and publishers worldwide. But reading books on Google Books (online) is hardly comfortable. You can't even add bookmarks. Besides, Google Books doesn't allow to save books and read them offline on your tablet or e-reader like Kindle, Nook or Kobo. You can’t print Google Books and read them in bed, but need to sit in front of desktop screen that harms your eyes. Besides, if you use a ebook management program, where you use to organize all your ebook library, you want to download Google Books to your hard drive. But, ok, there are 3 ways to download Google Books to your desktop: ***


2024. ElevenLab - AI text-to-speech e-reading app



ElevenLabs is a new AI text-to-speech e-reading application. It supports 32 distinct languages from around the globe. The primary selling point is its ability to read PDF files, articles, newsletters, EPUB books and most web content aloud. However, it does not read Apple Books or Kindle Books as it doesn’t support DRM. There are numerous narrators available, which distinguishes it from many other reading apps. Users can listen to the voices of Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, or Sir Laurence Olivier. ElevenLabs states that the iconic voices are exclusively accessible through the app and for individual streaming. The app is completely free to download and use. The company mentioned it might explore a path to monetization sometime in the future. Developers plan to add more features to the app, such as offline support, OCR and audio snippet sharing. Therefore, they will support this initiative for a long time.


2024. Kindle allows to read books on Peloton bikes



Amazon has partnered with Peloton to allow users read books while exercising on home-bikes and treadmills. To access the Kindle library you need to log into Amazon account directly on the bike screen and navigate to the Entertainment tab at the bottom. The integration provides a rather weird reading experience. You can turn pages with a tap, adjust font size, quickly navigate between chapters create bookmarks to continue reading from where you left off and turn on full-screen display. This new Kindle feature is currently available exclusively in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.


2024. 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. Storiaverse launched a short-form storytelling app that combines video and written content



Imagine, if you will, a cozy little pocket of the digital cosmos called Storiaverse, where graphic novel lovers and adult animation buffs converge to indulge in a delightful feast of animated video and written word. Available on both iOS and Android (because, naturally, the universe insists on fairness), this platform weaves together a curious "Read-Watch" format, allowing one to glide effortlessly between animated sequences and narrative text with a single upward swipe, much like a curious dolphin leaping between waves. For those who would rather nibble on the story’s chapters before diving into its moving pictures, skipping the animations is as easy as refusing a third cup of tea. With tales compact enough to fit snugly into five to ten minutes, Storiaverse is perfectly calibrated for those with wildly diverse tastes and equally diverse schedules.


2024. Overdrive Libby is improved for reading digital magazines



Picture this, if you will: Libby, that pleasantly clever and ever-evolving digital library assistant, has decided it’s high time to embrace the untamed abundance of digital magazines cascading through library branches. In a fit of brilliance, it has conjured up a dedicated Magazine Rack within the Shelf summary—a veritable showcase of the latest editions of your subscribed magazines and any other publications you’ve whimsically picked. Now, finding your favorite reading material amidst the library’s digital sea is as effortless as locating your towel (if you’re paying attention). But wait, there’s more! A shiny new Subscribe button now graces search results and title pages, letting you hitch your reading wagon directly to any intriguing magazine. With a flicker of cosmic synchronicity, each fresh issue will tumble joyously into your Magazine Rack and set off a checkout process, sparing you any bureaucratic faff. One tap, and voilà! You’re off reading, checkout magically handled. The assortment, as vast as the Hitchhiker’s Guide itself, includes OverDrive darlings like Time, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and even niche gems like Minecraft World. A truly stellar offering, wouldn’t you agree?


2024. FBReader for Android improves ePub support



The new version of the popular reading app FBReader for Android 4.0 brings a significant change to the reader core. The developers have replaced the obsolete zip archive support with the modern libzip library. That means some ePub (and other zip files) that were not openable by FBReader will work now. On the other hand, any change in the core is potentially dangerous. Please report if you found some crashes or slowdowns with this release. Other new features include new appearance option: “Neglect screen notches”. It is helpful for devices with a wrongly detected notch, e.g., if the front camera is hidden under the screen. The app stores the correct reading per cent now. Reading progress will be shown correctly in the library. However, you have to open a book with the wrong indicator to fix it. The footer is visible over the reading-aloud panel. You can optionally switch to the old behaviour.


2023. NOOK Reading App for Windows is discontinued



In a move that seems as inevitable as the end of a Vogon poetry recital, Barnes and Noble has, with a flourish of indifference, waved goodbye to the NOOK reading app on the Microsoft Windows Store. The app’s listing has vanished into the digital void, and new downloads have been firmly placed in the category of things that will never happen again. Existing users, however, may continue to cling nostalgically to their NOOK apps for now—though Barnes and Noble has offered no promises, prophecies, or even mildly reassuring shrugs about the long-term fate of the service. Instead, they encourage the hopelessly optimistic to explore their “more expansive” reading options through NOOK apps for Android, iOS, or even the grand and lofty NOOK for Web. But the tale grows darker still: as announced earlier, those still clutching their trusty Nook Simple Touches and Glowlight devices are soon to find themselves as cut off as Arthur Dent from tea. By April next year, the Nook Store will close its metaphorical doors, and syncing additional digital content will become as impossible as surviving a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster without a hangover.


2023. Amazon is merging Comixology into Kindle



In a move as cosmically inevitable as Vogons reciting poetry, Amazon has unveiled a grand plan to unite the Comixology and Kindle apps into a single digital galaxy on iOS, Android, and Fire OS, with the grand convergence set for December 4, 2023. All those splendidly illustrated works previously orbiting exclusively in the Comixology app will now zoom effortlessly into your Kindle library, as if they'd always been lurking there, just beyond the next page turn. Until the cosmic alignment, you’re still free to read your comics on Comixology—but come December, Kindle will be the new command center. Fear not, for navigating the vast expanses of your new digital library is child’s play; the 'Comics & Manga' filter will summon forth your graphic treasures, while 'Books' lets you drift peacefully without the colorful clamor of comics, graphic novels, and manga. Long-pressing any title enables the classic 'Hide Book' maneuver, whisking unwanted stories into the 'Hidden' dimension, accessible only to the diligent explorer through the library filter menu. For those who dare to ponder the deeper mysteries of this epic merger, further details await just beyond the next click.


2023. Moon+ Reader adds new E INK mode



In the sprawling universe of e-reading apps, Moon+ Reader has emerged like a particularly clever hitchhiker, now equipped with an E INK mode that practically screams, "I know what Android e-readers want!" Designed with the peculiarities of devices from Hisense, Onyx Boox, iReader, and their kin in mind, it boldly shuns the razzle-dazzle of animations—no swirling page turns or flashy transitions here. Instead, it offers the serene aesthetic of a brilliant white backdrop and text as dark as the Galactic Core on a moonless night. For those who loathe lifting a finger more than necessary, Moon+ Reader even lets you map those trusty volume buttons for effortless page turning. It’s delightfully free on Google Play, a beacon of sideloading simplicity, and hooks up with a who's who of ebook havens like Project Gutenberg, Dropbox, WhatsApp, and Many Books. Oh, and if your SD card is brimming with books, fear not—it’s perfectly happy to rummage through and import those too, making it the Marvin of e-reading apps, just without the depression.


2023. Amazon released new Kindle app for Mac



In a move that could only be described as the digital equivalent of sprucing up the galactic Hitchhiker's Guide itself, Amazon has introduced a sparkling new Kindle reading app for Mac users. The previous version, now dubbed “Kindle Classic,” has been retired with a knowing sigh, replaced by a sleek and positively gleaming Kindle app that could charm even the surliest Vogon. With a design seemingly cloned directly from its iOS counterpart, the new app flaunts an interstellar lineup of features: endless scrolling (for those who find page numbers unnervingly finite), a reading ruler to keep your gaze as focused as a hyperspatial drive, and a galaxy of font options that would make any typographer misty-eyed. Users can now immerse themselves in full-screen reading, page-turn animations, and a cornucopia of new themes, with an X-Ray feature that reveals the secrets lurking between the lines. As users boldly enter the app, they’ll find themselves greeted by a library more visually vibrant than Milliways, displaying cover art from every e-book they own (or have sampled with reckless abandon). It’s a paradise for the organized mind, too, with options to view books in grid or list form, sort by collections, or filter by read/unread, documents, and Newsstand materials. But be warned, dear space travelers: audiobooks are still a strange, mythological creature in this Kindle cosmos, with no player in sight for Mac users... yet.


2023. Ello - AI reading coach that bolsters child literacy


In the vast and occasionally bewildering galaxy of apps, Ello has arrived like a well-meaning Vogon poetry recital, but with a far more delightful mission: to eradicate childhood illiteracy using a heady mix of artificial intelligence and child speech recognition wizardry. This subscription-based marvel caters to budding bookworms from kindergarten through Grade 3, delivering five carefully curated books each month for the intergalactically reasonable price of $24.99. Parents kick off this literary odyssey by installing the Ello app, which greets their child with a series of probing questions to gauge their reading level and interests—be it creatures furry and fantastical, creative pursuits, sports, or the peculiarities of science. A crack team of reading boffins then assembles a bespoke library tailored to the young reader’s tastes and skills. Sibling stowaways can join the adventure for $12.49 per month each. Currently marooned on tablets, Ello’s clever crew is feverishly charting a course to bring the experience to smartphones—because, naturally, a good story belongs everywhere.


2023. Microsoft Edge now allows to read EPUB files



Microsoft appears to have reintroduced support for ePub readers in the latest version of Microsoft Edge Canary. In 2019, this feature was discontinued, but it now seems to have made a quiet return. Users who wish to access the ePub format will need to follow a few simple steps. First, ensure that the browser is closed before proceeding. Then, open Microsoft Edge, right-click and select "Properties." In the Target field, scroll to the end, add a space and then type (or copy/paste) the following: –enable-features=msEdgeEpubReaderEnabled. Click "Apply" and then "OK." Once these steps are completed, the ePub format will be successfully enabled on Microsoft Edge Canary.


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



In a move that feels suspiciously like something out of a bureaucratic galactic empire's guidebook, Google has unveiled a shiny new feature in Google Play Books called Reading Insights. Think of it as a mildly omniscient tool for parents keen on peering into the literary whims of their offspring. Nestled snugly within the Family Link app—a digital Swiss army knife of parental controls—this feature lets parents snoop on what books their kids are diving into, how often they're thumbing through the pages, and whether they've actually made it past chapter two of that “classic” they swore they’d read. Reading Insights doesn’t stop there; it also tracks audiobook escapades, so parents can marvel at their children’s newfound love for having someone else do the reading. It’s like having a Babel fish, but instead of translating alien languages, it deciphers the enigma of juvenile reading habits.


2023. Kobo app for iPad App now allows to add handwritten notes to eBooks



Kobo's iPad app now supports the addition of handwritten notes to ebooks. By using an Apple Pencil, you can write directly on Kobo ebooks. If an Apple Pencil is not available, the app also allows you to write with your finger. The app includes standard Apple writing tools such as pens, pencils, highlighters, a lasso tool, an eraser, a ruler and the ability to switch between different colors. It's worth noting that handwritten notes and highlights made in the iPad app are visible in the annotations list of the Kobo Elipsa 2E (including the first generation Elipsa) and the Kobo Sage. However, they do not appear on the actual pages of the ebooks; they are only visible in the annotations list. Furthermore, these handwritten notes and highlights are not displayed on Kobo ereaders that do not support handwriting.


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



In a move that suggests someone at Google Play Books may have been struck by the sudden realization that young readers are, in fact, small humans with infinite potential, they’ve unveiled a shiny new feature called Reading Practice in the United States. This clever addition, available through the Google Play Books Android app and Google Kids Space, is designed to coax budding bookworms into mastering the fine art of comprehension via children’s e-books. Armed with the mystical ability to tap words for instant pronunciation and a child-friendly definition, young readers can expand their vocabularies while marveling at technology that feels borderline magical. A text tracker thoughtfully highlights words as they read aloud, keeping early readers on course and offering them the chance to revisit any rogue mispronunciations or skipped words at the end of the page. Naturally, most books on Google Play Books come armed with this feature, ensuring no child is left in the digital dust. In their mission to foster tech-savvy, book-loving kids, Google Play continues its noble quest to equip parents with tools that encourage reading, exploration, and digital habits that are less about chaos and more about harmony.


2023. Top 5 speed-reading apps for Android and iPhone



Speed-reading apps have, in a bafflingly inexplicable way, gained popularity in today’s world, which, as we all know, is hurtling through space at ludicrous speeds while we humans scurry around trying to do more things faster, as if we weren’t already spinning fast enough. These apps, the digital equivalent of asking your eyes to hurry up and catch the bus, claim to help you read faster and comprehend more, all in the increasingly shrinking span of time we now like to call “a day.” For those brave souls willing to challenge the laws of both optics and comprehension, here are five speed-reading apps that promise to make reading feel less like reading and more like a brisk jog through words. ***


2023. Moon+ Reader v8.1 adds new design options



Popular e-reading app for Android Moon+ Reader has released a new version v8.1, which adds new design options: New Material You Dynamic Theme & Amoled Pure Black Theme. Moon+ Reader allows to read books for free, supports multiple online book sites. You can read local books for nice experience with real-time smooth scroll and tons of innovation functions. Support txt, html, epub, pdf, djvu, mobi, azw/azw3, fb2, prc, docx, odt, rtf, umd, chm, cbr, cbz, md(MarkDown), mht/mhtml, webp, rar, zip or OPDS. Provides different visual options: line space, font scale, bold, italic, shadow, alpha colors, fading edge etc.