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Google books...Really google?!

Amaeloeze

Well-Known Member
This app is just so far behind when compared to other book readers. Simple things and task that other book readers can do this can't.little things like having a dictionary and taking notes. I really don't want to use the kindle app because I want to support google but they really need to step their game up with this app and update it!
 
This app is just so far behind when compared to other book readers. Simple things and task that other book readers can do this can't.little things like having a dictionary and taking notes. I really don't want to use the kindle app because I want to support google but they really need to step their game up with this app and update it!

I gave Books, Kindle and Nook all a try before settling on Nook when I got my Xoom. I found myself that I preferred the friendly nature Nook reader gave me. Kindle was OK but Google Books did nothing for me at the time.

This was a year ago mind so things might be different...
 
I just can't find any books I want to read on Google Books...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
I've bought two books now with part of my $25 credit, and I've noticed one weird bug:

When I open a new book for the first time and start flipping through the pages, the little pop up position indicator never goes away. I have to close the book and open it again for it to fade out normally and leave the last lines on the page visible for reading.

Never a problem after that first view.
 
I like it as an app but the selection in the play store seems limited and I can't find many books I'm looking for.

Can you import non play store books into it?
 
I've bought two books now with part of my $25 credit, and I've noticed one weird bug:

When I open a new book for the first time and start flipping through the pages, the little pop up position indicator never goes away. I have to close the book and open it again for it to fade out normally and leave the last lines on the page visible for reading.

Never a problem after that first view.

Tapping in the center of the page is supposed to bring up and remove the page indicator and menus at the top. Did you try that?

Have been using Play Books for about a month (on my phone, no less) and was pleasantly surprised with its usability.
 
I like it... The Page turn animation gives it the edge over all other apps for me... Something about it is really pleasing
It's superficial, but I love the page turns as well in Play Books. The Google Play Books has most of the popular stuff and has a nice format. The Barnes and Noble Nook app also has page turns.

One thing that's nice about the Kindle App is the greater flexibility with font sizes and margins.
 
Tapping in the center of the page is supposed to bring up and remove the page indicator and menus at the top. Did you try that?

Yep. Looks like the stuck position indicator is on their list of known issues.

Just realized another slight annoyance: Google, the company that wants to learn everything about me so it can anticipate my slightest whim in Google Now is apparently unable to learn that I like bigger fonts when reading. I have to crank up the font size again for each new book :-).
 
I just can't find any books I want to read on Google Books...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I'm in the same boat. I have one book that I usually always have a copy of in some way and it is nowhere to be seen on GPlay. Looks like they need to hammer out a lot more agreements with publishers.
 
I like it as a reader but won't buy books from Google. Amazon seems cheaper. Since I own a Kindle (and a few other readers) I buy from Amazon then convert to epub so I can read them on any reader. It can be a bit of a process but works for me.
 
Does Google Books use something similar like Amazon's Whisper sync? Sometimes I read on my phone, then tablet, then PC and it's nice having sync'd bookmarks.
Only thing I don't like about Kindle is having multiple accounts (wife's and mine) and having to switch. Doing it on the actual Kindle is a PITA.
 
Does Google Books use something similar like Amazon's Whisper sync? Sometimes I read on my phone, then tablet, then PC and it's nice having sync'd bookmarks.
Only thing I don't like about Kindle is having multiple accounts (wife's and mine) and having to switch. Doing it on the actual Kindle is a PITA.

Yes, Google Books syncs across all of your devices.
 
Why choose one reader? I have Nook, Kindle, and Google. I get free books from B&N that I read on Nook, free Kindle books that I read on Kindle, and check out library books that I can read on either depending on the format that is available. I haven't paid for a book in a long time ;)

The power of the tablet is that you don't have to lock into any one format/provider.
 
Maybe I just can't find the setting, but I like reading in landscape with it on one page, not 2 like a book. I can set that in the Kindle and Nook app but Google doesn't seem to have that option.
 
Why choose one reader? I have Nook, Kindle, and Google. I get free books from B&N that I read on Nook, free Kindle books that I read on Kindle, and check out library books that I can read on either depending on the format that is available. I haven't paid for a book in a long time ;)

The power of the tablet is that you don't have to lock into any one format/provider.

The thing is that I purchase books from Google play and the only app that I can use to read the book is is play book app. I don't want to invest money and buy books from Google play because their book reader is not up to par with the others. You do have good point, I don't have to stick to one book reader but I want all of my books under one app I don't want to keep switching. I guess I'll just go with the nook app for now.
 
How do you borrow books to read on your tablet? I would like to check that out.

My library (actually the Cleveland regional library network) loans ebooks. I use an app called Overdrive to read them on Android. They also lend to Kindles. Check your local library website to see if they're on board with the ebooks.
 
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