| FORMAT
|
Can this format be...
|
| (suffix) |
uses |
...edited? |
...reflowed (fonts can be re-sized) when reading? |
...highlighted? |
...annotated? |
...printed? |
...viewed on portable devices? |
...read on computer with... |
| .DOC |
Microsoft Word format |
YES, with Microsoft Word |
YES, following this procedure in MS Word. |
YES (Word) |
YES (comments in MS Word) |
YES, but it is easily messed... |
No. |
MS Word |
| .PDF |
typographic format |
NO. |
NO. It's the most rigid format. The only e-readers that reflow PDF are Sony PRS T1 and T2. |
NOT usually (FoxIt Pro can do it) |
NOT ususally (FoxIt Pro can do it) |
YES. best results of all formats. The document prints exactly as indended by its author. This is the format of choice used by typographies. |
NOT usually. When possible, the page is too small and it needs constant zooming and panning to be viewed. |
Acrobat Reader.Fox-It Pro. |
| .EPUB |
e-reader format (Kobo, Kobo, PocketBook, Tolino...) |
NO. |
YES. |
YES, on most e-readers and programs. |
YES, on most e-readers and programs. |
NOT meant primarily for printing. |
YES. This is the most widely used format in Europe. It is read by e-readers like PocketBook, Kobo, Nook, Kobo, or Bookeen. The vast majority of ebooks are available in EPUB. |
Calibre. Adobe Digital Editions. |
| .MOBI |
e-reader format. (Kindle.) |
NO. |
YES. |
YES, on the Kindle. |
YES, on the Kindle. |
NOT meant primarily for printing. |
YES. This is the format used by Kindle. |
Mobipocket. Calibre. |
| .DJVU |
PC-based DejaVu ebooks. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
DJVu format is very similar to PDF, but the files are much smaller and load faster. Readable with WinDJVu |
| .LIT |
PC-based e-books |
NO. |
YES. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
Microsoft Reader |
| .CRB |
format for comics and manga |
NO. |
NO. |
NO. |
NO. |
YES. |
NOT usually. When possible, the page is too small and it needs constant zooming and panning to be viewed. |
Comics Display Ex.Comic Rack. |
Software
(click on name to download) |
...reads format: |
Cost |
Highlight |
Annotations |
Dictionary |
Library of e-books |
Other |
| Calibre |
EPUB -primarily
MOBI
HTML
PDF |
free |
Only bookmarks (not very visible) |
NO |
YES, by connecting online to Dictionary |
YES. Calibre makes a library of all your ebooks. You can easily search them by author, title, language or label. |
Creates a great Library of all your books (EPUB, MOBI and PDF), that you can search by author, title, genre, labels.
If you have an e-Reader, then Calibre is the tool used to transfer the files from your computer to the e-reader. |
| Adobe Digital Editions |
EPUB |
free |
YES, highlight and Bookmark |
YES, annotations in floating boxes |
NO |
YES. |
Clickable Table of Contents in the left panel. Read-aloud, if third-party software installed. |
| Reader for PC (Sony) |
EPUB |
free |
YES, only with annotations |
YES. |
NO |
YES, basic |
Has variants for tablets and smartphones with Android. Two-page view. |
| CoolReader |
EPUB |
free |
NO |
YES, annotations in a large floating table (but no markings in the text!) |
NO |
YES. |
Unique features: You can modify the font contrast (gamma), the line height. You can change the font type (Arial, Georgia...) and color, and even the background (old paper, textile). You can read in a two-page format. May run on Android (on smartphones). |
| AZARDI |
EPUB |
free |
YES |
NO |
|
YES (basic) |
Has variants for Linux * Mac. For bigger screens (PC) you can use a 2- or 3- or 4-column format. Two-page view. You can view all your annotations in a separate pane (see below). Useful when you want to read a quotation in class. No SEARCH function! |
| FoxIT Reader |
PDF |
free |
YES, with markers of different colours and with 3 types of underlining ( |
YES. On the margins (="textbox"), or as bubbles (="callout"). |
|
NO |
Limited editing (by line). Only PDFs that are authorized can be edited & annotated. Read aloud (reads your text aloud). Integration with Facebook. |
| MobiPocket Reader |
MOBI - primarily
EPUB
AZR |
free |
YES, plus right-hand panel with all the highlights |
YES |
Colins Dinctionary |
YES. Searchable library of all your ebooks. |
Allows you to change the text of the file!
All annotations and changes are accepted only if you have opened the file in the Library first!
Has variants for Blackberry, for PDAs and for smartphones with Symbian OS and Windows Mobile operating systems. |
| Microsoft Reader |
LIT format |
free |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
. |
| WinDJVu Reader |
DJV |
free |
YES (after selection, right-click to highlight) |
YES (after selection, right-click and select "Bookmark") |
NO |
NO |
Thumbnails. Magnifying glass for details. Table of Contents in the left panel. |
| Comic Rack |
CRB, CBZ - comics format |
free |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
Needs · .NET Framework 2.0 or higher to be installed (if you run Windows XP).
Has thumbnail view, various zoom modes, autorotation (for tablets). But it's slow... |
| Comical |
CRB, CBZ - comics format |
free |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
Basic. Has thumbnails of the pages... |
| Sumatra Reader |
PDF
CRB, CBZ - comics format
EPUB
MOBI |
free |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
Basic. Has thumbnails of the pages. Slow... |
| Software |
Operating system & Store
(click on Store to download) |
...reads format: |
Cost |
Highlight |
Annotations |
Dictionary |
Library of e-books |
Other |
| Kobo |
--For Android on Google Play.
--For iPhone and iPad on App Store |
EPUB -primarily
HTML
PDF |
free |
Highlight. |
Yes; can be viewed separately. |
YES, by connecting online to Dictionary |
YES. Kobo makes a library of all your ebooks. You can easily search them by author, title, language or label. |
You may adjust the page background (there is even an "old book" style), the screen illumination, the font type, the font size.
It accepts two-finger commands, like pinch-to-zoom |
| Chapitre |
--For Android on Google Play.
--For iPhone and iPad on App Store |
EPUB -primarily
HTML
PDF |
free |
Highluight in a choice of four colours (pink, yellow, lime green, light blue) |
Yes; can be viewed separately. |
Built-in dictionary. Integrated access to Wikipedia and Google. Post quotation to Facebook. |
YES. Chapitre makes a library of all your ebooks. You can easily search them by author, title, language or label. |
Original menu style, appearing as a round circle at the center of the screen..
You may adjust the page background (there is even an "old book" style), the screen illumination, the font type, the font size, the margin size.
It accepts two-finger commands, like pinch-to-zoom |
Some screenshots demonstrating the possibilities of software
A. On computer or laptop
Calibre
for EPUB
Adobe Digital Editions
for EPUB
Sony Reader for PC
for EPUB
CoolReader
for EPUB
The highlight above is unfortunately not permanent. But annotations are.
Cool Reader with "old paper" background and two-page format.
Azardi
for EPUB
On the right you have the Table of Contents in transparent overlay.
Azardi - the Annotation View panel. You can see all your notes here.
MobiPocket Reader
for MOBI (and EPUB)
FoxIt Reader
for PDF
WinDJVu
for DJVu
Microsoft Reader
for LIT
CD Display Ex
for CBR
B. On eReader
An e-Reader (Sony PRS T2)
Note how the device does not emit any light. This allows you to read in full sunscreen (on the terrace, on the beach...).
Due to its low consumption, the battery of the e-reader lasts for 6 to 8 weeks!
The file shown here is a PDF (non-native to Sony), which Sony is able to reflow (you can enlarge fonts without zooming in).
C. On smartphone or tablet
Chapitre for Android phone
Book cover with the button-style round menu, with options for (from top clockwise): 1. font size, 2. background style, 3. page margins, 4. other options, 5. screen light level.
The knob-type menu to adjust settings (from top clockwise): 1. font size, 2. background style, 3. page margins, 4. other options, 5. screen light level..
The Other settings on Chapitre /clockwise): 1. Highlight text, 2. Search word, 3. Rotate display, 4. Stretch text, 5. Change font type..
Highlighting text on Chapitre.
Changing the font style and size on Chapitre.
Kobo for Android phone
Left page: highlighted text. Right page: Consulting the dictionary (and access to Wikipedia).
Highlighting text (top). Consulting the dictionary (bottom)
Consulting the dictionary. Making a note.
Highlighting text (top) and consulting the dictionary on Kobo.
Navigating the book on Kobo: the Table of Contents.
Viewing all the highlighted text in one place on Kobo.
Changing the font style and size on Kobo.