[Changed the header per Michaels request]
Once again, I repeat, I don't care about any one particular format, so please stop pretending this is a valid topic with me,
But then why do you keep offering advice to me that you know will not work for me because I *am* interested in eBook formats and eBook content development such as DP does which is HTML rendered into ePub and MOBI? PG doesn't even typically support PDF so how does the fact tha Safari happens to kind of support reading documents in PDF have anything to do with PG?
And just how many systems do you have, or know of, that wifi to two wifi spots at the same time???
My generic $300 netbook has absolutely no problem whatsoever fresh out of the box using wifi to transfer files either from the internet or to/from the publically shared folders of all my locally networked computers. I never have to change a wifi setting just to get a file from a differing location!
Sorry, reading the manual and looking up Apps does not qualify you with any actual experience on the subject.
Not to mention that YOU did not mention, once again, the actual NAME of
OK I spent another 3+ hours at the Apple Store (bricks and mortor) last night trying all the "books" apps there including all of your suggestions and none of them do anything "reasonable" like actually allowing one to transfer a ePub or MOBI file from a chosen location on the internet onto the iPad and allowing one to read that eBook there. the products you are claiming so much expertise about. I tried all the ones you mentioned previous plus all the ones searchable via the App Store searching on "book" or "ebooks" as you suggested previously.
Nevertheless, if, at the end of all this, you send me a list of questions, comments, complaints, etc., I will try to go get you answers from Apple.
The question, complain, comments, etc would be the same as from the start, namely: "If in fact one can do so on iPad, how does one use iPad to download a free eBook in ePub or MOBI format via wifi from an internet site that I choose, storing that ePub or MOBI eBook on the iPad, and then get iPad to open that eBook for reading at this and/or a later date -- when I may or may not have an internet connection?" This is quite possible from Kindle (whispernet), desktops, laptops, and netbooks, for example, so I don't think it's an unreasonable expectation.
And hasn't Apple made it totally obvious you can't do with with an iPad???
Then why in gawds name would anyone want to get an iPad as an ebook reader?
Ah, now, at this late stage, you have added that you want to edit eBooks on the iPad.
I can live without it. What makes iPad uninteresting to me is if one cannot use wifi to download an ePub or MOBI file from a location of my own choosing. I can't edit eBooks on the Kindle, for example, but the Kindle does allow me to bookmark problem spots in the text I am SR'ing, and then I can transfer the bookmarks to my desktop, use that info to locate the problems in the text under development, and fix it there.
If you spent the same four hours' worth on a Kindle, and liked it so much you were already programming with it, I can't imagine why you are having this conversation at all.
I think if you have been following these conversations at all over the preceding months you would know that I am not in love with any particular ebook reader which is why I am still on the outlook for something that would work better. Apple hyped how much better iPad would be, so I tried it, and found that in fact it consists of demoware.
Unless it is just to moan and complain in front of an audience to somehow "get even" with Apple for being. . .well. . .Apple.
I have to admit I have not spent much time on Apple desktops or laptops but I cannot believe that Apple could possibly be *this* restrictive on their desktops or laptops or they would be out of business. The question is not then whether or not I like Apple, but rather whether or not iPad offers anything new and interesting in terms of an eBook Reader. You claimed it did. I tried it and it doesn't work. If iPad is that restrictive, then I don't like it. I also don't like nook for the same reason -- namely nook has a wifi but doesn't let the customers use it for anything except buying books from B&N. Why should I pay for a "feature" I am not allowed to use? Does that mean I hate B&N? No, if I want to buy a book or magazine I still go to B&N -- I just don't spend my money on a nook designed to lock me into only being able to spend more money on a nook. Do I "love" Kindle -- no, it has a crappy web browser, is slow to open PDF files, has the lousy slow AT&T "whispernet" connection etc. Yet even with these restrictions I CAN get things done with Kindle, whereas iPad successfully blocks everything I try to do.
At first you denied using iBooks at all, don't you remember???
No. Quote me when.
I told you we tried Stanza, because I told you about the large blurry iPod
Actually, you spoke of that as if it were a hypothetical...
I don't think I did. Quote me when.
So, you are admitting you never asked for what you didn't get.
Strange. Why would I ask for the privilege of paying a subscription fee to develop apps for a device that doesn't work?
You seem to be bringing up something new, and of great interest.
I have talked about it before on this same forum so it is not new and flamed Amazon for their stupidity then just as I am flaming Apple for their stupidity now. Search on "1984 Amazon" if anyone is interested in the "1984" Amazon Kindle act of stupidity. Read http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPad_User_Guide.pdf re iTunes syncing if you want to read about Apple's act of stupidity.
Now, just above, you said you were using iBooks, doesn't that count?
iBooks was on the iPad already, so no, I didn't download it. When I went back to the Apple store again last night at your suggestion they repeated that I was not allowed to download apps and that if I tried to do so it would not work. I waited till they were not looking, tried downloading apps, and eventually figured out how to get the app downloads to work. The apps *themselves* once downloaded however do not allow downloading of free ePub and MOBI books from a website of my choosing, storing those on the iPad for reading later, so the apps you ask me to install don't do anything interesting or useful to me.
You keep short-changing Wattpad, which I think I mentioned first.
I did download Wattpad and it simply yet another app that ties to one particular server on the internet downloading a subset of PG books lightly reformatted from ASCII plaintext.
When at the Apps Store, just search for "ebooks" and "books" etc.
How many times have I said that???
I did that, tried everything, again the apps out there all connect to a private server on the internet downloading a subset of PG books lightly reformatted from ASCII plaintext. iBooks is a bit better in that they take PG ePub, hack it to represent it as-if it comes from Apple, and redistribute it from their servers. This also means that they only serve up a subset of PG works, and it means that it is not useful for content development, such as SR from DP. Kindle for iPad is a bit better in that they again take PG books, hack it to represent it as-if it comes from Amazon, and redistribute it from their servers -- but do it on a better reader app than iBooks. Which again means that they only serve up a subset of PG works, and it means that it is not useful for content development, such as SR from DP.
(Re Goodreader) You download it from the Apps Store. . . .
But IT in turn cannot download ePub or MOBI books from a general location on the internet.
No, they just worked around their current version of Steve Jobs, such as working around IBM, then Apple, then Microsoft, and Intel, and ADM, Sony and all the rest. . . .
Thinking back in time I think this was a somewhat true statement when app distribution was via computer stores. Since the internet has caught on I haven't had problems distributing content nor apps to whoever I want. The internet has a problem in that searching is via Google, and Google in turn does their own monopolistic practices, such as refusing to return a search "hit" on small websites even if you search on the exact name of that website -- unless one sends copious advertising dollars to Google.