The world of mobile entertainment on your iPhone and iPod touch doesn’t have to be limited to music, podcasts, and videos. Now, thanks to the App Store and a legion of developers, you can add ebooks to your mobile entertainment platform.
IPhone ebook applications come in all flavors and styles, as a stop by the Books section of the App Store will reveal. Some apps are simply one books or comic embedded in a reader. Others are reader programs that can have all kinds of purchased and free eBooks added to them.
This list features eight English-language iPhone eBook applications that are readers that you can add books to, not just books in and of themselves. As I review these apps and investigate them in more detail, I’ll updated this page with more content and links.
BookShelfLT
Price: Free
Formats Supported: Text, HTML, PalmDoc, fb2
Download
Notes:Books are free, but are ad-supported; limited to 10 books at one time
eReader
Price: Free
Formats Supported: eReader
Download
Notes: Works with eReader mobile store
Libris
Price: $2.99
Formats Supported: Plain text, PalmDoc, non-secure eReader files, non-secure MobiPocket files, Libris
Download
Notes: Includes book cover art and illustrations, text size and color can be changed; can buy books from Fictionwise
Penguin Group USA
Price: Free
Formats Supported: NA
Download
Notes: Not an eBook reader, but provides podcasts, interviews, essays, and more related to Penguin books and authors
Safari Books Online
Price: Free
Formats Supported: Safari Books
Download
Notes: iPhone version of Safari Books service, which requires subscription to sync downloaded books to iPhone or iPod touch
ShortBook
Price: $4.99
Formats Supported: fb2
Download
Notes: N/A
ShortBookLE
Price: Free
Formats Supported: fb2
Download
Notes: A less full-featured version of ShortBook- removes Night mode, bookmarks, and other feaures
Stanza
Price: Free
Formats Supported: Text, PDF, Kindle
Download
Notes: Library of 50,000 titles for sale from Fictionwise; 40,000 free downloads via Project Gutenberg; has companion desktop app
