Every time we do less that of a human fingertip to turn the page. Electronic devices have become the option to read books, not only the book but also tablets and smartphones. The latter, despite the size of the screen, are the majority option in China (60% versus 10% would choose tablet). Rely far on we have tried, and I have read a book from the iPhone. I tell you how it has been experiencing.
I want to read on my iPhone but what app should I use?
I considered this choice based primarily on whether just going to read on the iPhone or if there was a possibility (medium or long term) than with other devices, especially at the same time. The format of e-books I did not care to be in epub format, can add both iBooks and other third-party apps (also in PDF and other formats), so there was no problem.
In my case, I opted for iBooks, the service of the house, for convenience and have other Apple devices that I have read previously and I keep reading even if you change your phone. While it is not the only platform option that provides synchronization both the library and the bookmark (Google Play Books also does), the fact of having the integrated store and the default app prevailed to aspects such as the price of books, which they are usually cheaper on the Amazon platform.
The interface, although in this case it is simply trying to represent a book, was also decisive for the choice. There is little difference in display modes (normal, night or sepia), although in the case of iBooks night mode can be automatic. As for typography and presentation, in the case of iBooks and Kindle go through the proper mold app equaling the source keeping in all the books, which does not happen with Google Play Books and other, where we can find sources of the letter really small.
I have my app and my book do I adjust something in the terminal?
Currently, this is something that we will consider since the terminals have settings automatic brightness that usually works well, as is the case in question, the iPhone 6. Both brightness as the background color of the page in the case of iBooks, they obey either the luminance changing environment.
Thus, both full sun and indoors or dark environments, hardware level I have not had any complaints. Personally, I opted for the automatic activation of the theme “night” (white letters on black background) and the terminal response appropriately to changes in addition to the view requires less effort and more eyestrain is avoided.
Experience: It is a good choice as an eBook smartphone.
Size matters also in reading, the main limiting reagent diagonal experience it has. In this case, it is a display terminal 4.6 inches, which might fit the average interval from 4.5 to 5.5 inches by reference an actual average size of about 5 inches terminal.
Given this, for me, it has been a discomfort that the reading surface is small relative to the average size of a paper book or an electronic book (about 6-7 inches), rather than the display type, (i.e. that is not electronic ink). Little information, and contained too many more steps page (for the enemies of astronomical numbers of pages, that means another handicap, by the way).
“Some easily accommodates compressed interfaces and / or wasted time (smartwatches, some apps for windows phone, etc.) In addition, there are those who do not.”
More than letter size, since as we said this could be changed at any time, it is a question of interface and content distribution with respect to space. In fact, increase the font size is counterproductive because it increases the slight feeling cramped, but fact is that this goes for people; there who easily adapts to compressed interfaces and / or wasted time (smartwatches, some apps for Windows Phone, etc.) and some people do not.
The discomfort increased perhaps by the memory or habit of taking certain postures while reading a book larger: a completely different both when holding the smartphone with a hand as to put it on the table with a stand that made sense often lectern as well as the habit of using knees as such. Fatigue appeared long before screens or larger areas, in fact.
It is not the best option
Personally, I do not recommend the experience of reading with the smartphone, at least if you have a choice. The only advantage over the other options is purely physical: weight and space to carry it. However, I think a reason lightweight (pun intended) to choose this option.
“The only advantage over the other options is purely physical: weight and space to carry it”
Unless buying another device is discarded, a smartphone is preferred by the joint use of the book with another app (take notes, notes, etc.) or want to have a book of literal pocket, in my opinion, is much better option one tablet or ebook. The book, incidentally, is the last argument of kings, Joe Abercrombie, the last of his trilogy the first law that I recommend a lot.
Do you read books from your smartphone? These are the keys that you have to consider
The smartphone is one of the electronic devices that we use most often, if not more. Many of us do not conceive of leaving home without it, and would not hesitate a moment to turn around and go back for it if we discovered that we had forgotten. In addition, gradually, these terminals have been replaced in our day to day other gadgets, such as compact cameras and MP3 players’ photos, among other devices.
Many users even prefer to use a smartphone, not an e – book reader to read their favorite publications because of their usually greater portability. Also, if your smartphone accompanies them everywhere, why not also use it as an electronic reader? A smartphone can be a tool for great reading, but there are several tips that can help us enjoy more this experience, especially if we consider that, unlike e -book readers dedicated, not designed specifically for this task.
Electronic ink, reference
E-book readers have an important advantage over smartphones and tablets in this usage scenario: screens using electronic ink. Although the purpose of this post is not to delve into the technology of these devices, comes to remember that these screens, unlike LCD panels TFT, require no backlighting.
For this reason, they cause less eyestrain than backlit displays, consume less power, are thinner and offer bright images that can be observed easily even in bright environments. Fortunately, if we decide to use our smartphone for reading electronic books we have in mind several simple tips that are especially very useful to alleviate to some extent these disadvantages, and which therefore can help us have a better reading experience.
Beware the brightness
When we read, usually we put all our attention on the text to assimilate properly. The concentration level leading to a prolonged reading may slightly reduce how often you blink, which joined the eyestrain that causes prolonged exposure to the backlight of the LCD TFT screens, often leads to end up with sore eyes, and even with a headache.
“An excessive level of brightness can provoke eye fatigue in a short time and even headache”
We can minimize these symptoms and be able to read text on the screen of your smartphone for a long time if we reduce the brightness level of the screen. Each smartphone has a different intensity, so it is very difficult to give an accurate measure of the value that you must have to reduce eyestrain. Yes, it is important to bear in mind that the brightness we usually use in our smartphone is often excessive to face a prolonged reading, so it is best to reduce it when we go to use it to read and want to do it comfortably.
As I said before, it is very difficult to give a measure of brightness that can be applied equally to all smartphones on the market, but, after trying more than a dozen terminals from different manufacturers, have found that usually gives good results use a level brightness ranging between 35 and 50% of the maximum intensity.
The only thing that can force you to increase it is that you meet in a brightly lit environment, and you may have to turn up the brightness to see the screen properly. In any case, try and you will bear with the intensity that allows you to see well your smartphone screen provoking one eye fatigue.
The source and visual acuity
Much of the apps that can be installed on our smartphones for reading electronic books allow us to change the font size and even the canvas color or background on which the letters appear. As has happened to us with the brightness, it is difficult to give precise advice to reveal what font size should be used. However, we have clues that can help us find out what is right for each of us.
“Ophthalmologists often advise us to place our smartphone about 30 cm of our eyes”
The sharpness of each person is different and determines the ability of our visual system to appreciate the finer details of the object you are observing. However, ophthalmologists often advise us to place our reading sources, whether from a paper publication, an electronic reader or smartphone, at an approximate distance of our eyes about 30 cm. For this reason, the ideal is that you decanters’ at that font size that will allow comfortably read the text at that distance form. If you realize that, involuntarily, you are squinting slightly at some point, incremented a little font size.
Another note: read placing the smartphone in a horizontal position usually offers a more pleasant experience because it forces us to confront fewer line breaks, and consequently, we force our eyes a little less by offering an approach more continuity.
More resolution, less aliasing
Now we encounter the screen size and resolution. What are the suitable specifically for reading? The amount of information that can be seen on a screen depends less on its size and its resolution. Both parameters are often linked, but this is not always the case. A screen capable of showing us pretty text simultaneously causes less eyestrain than one that forces us to change line and page constantly due primarily to our eyes will be forced to re – focus less frequently.
On the other hand, if your smartphone has a very high resolution of more than 300 dots per inch, the sources will be a greater level of detail, and outlines just suffer aliasing, which is the unpleasant effect that causes jagged edges when the resolution It’s not really tall. Naturally, reading is more comfortable if the contours of the fonts are smooth.
For these reasons, most users will find it more pleasant to read your e-books on a smartphone equipped with a screen of 5 inches and resolution Full HD, for example, that another 3.5 or 4 inches and lower resolution.
In future installments of this special delve into applications for reading electronic books more attractive smartphones currently available. Do not miss them!