Ubuntu Tips n Tricks: TechSource: How To Use Google Play Books As Your Ultimate E-Book Reader Across Linux and Android

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

TechSource: How To Use Google Play Books As Your Ultimate E-Book Reader Across Linux and Android

How To Use Google Play Books As Your Ultimate E-Book Reader Across Linux and Android

Posted: 26 Nov 2013 04:02 AM PST

These days, Amazon seems to have taken over the publishing world. Jeff Bezos, the innovative and long term-thinking CEO of the company has decided that e-books is the future and the future is right here and right now. Furthermore, thanks to the immense popularity of iPads, which were also marketed as e-book readers, books in the traditional paper format seems to have become outmoded all of a sudden. In fact, such is the growing popularity of e-books that France has passed a new bill that restricts Amazon from selling e-books at low prices so as to keep the local bookstores in business. In other words, the age of e-books is here and sooner or later, you'll have to jump on the bandwagon.

That said, as lucrative as the Kindle or the iPad looks, investing money in a big device just for e-books might seem like a waste if you already own an Android tablet. Whether you have Nexus 7 or a Note-like 'Phablet,' there are ways in which you can enjoy the best e-books no matter where you go. In fact, having used Kindle before, I'd go so far as to say that the e-book-reading experience on Android is more convenient and liberating as well. So, if you own an Android device and want to turn it into an ultimate e-book reading device that works across all platforms, here are some tips:

Step 1: Install Google Play Books

Though Google Play Books comes installed with most of the latest Android devices, there are some devices that might not have it already. If so, go to the Play Store and install the app on your device.

Step 2: Upload all your books

If you have a lot of e-books on your computer already, simply upload them to your Play account by going HERE. If you don't have any e-books, you can purchase DRM-free e-books from O'Reilly. Also, there are other sites that offer similar service as well.

Which format to use for uploads?

Personally, I have found that ePubs work best with Google Play Books. I've tried uploading PDFs and they don't give you the features that ePubs give.

Step 3: Start Reading

Google Play Books works across all platforms, including Linux as well! So, once you upload all your books, simply start reading them on your desktop or your Android device. The reason Google Play Books is better than other competitors is that it syncs your highlights and notes across all platforms. Also, if you'd left off reading at a particular page on your phone or tablet, Play Books will sync that position with your desktop as well. Furthermore, when compared to Kindle, which works on Linux as well, it is much more lightweight and gives you faster page turns.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.