e-Books on iPad as opposed to the Kindle.

iPad settings“I tend to set up the screen resolution and brightness [on the iPad] to suit my eyes depending on the time of day and lighting. My first job was working in sales but then I took a degree and from then on have really made the most of computer skills to see me through work and any further studies.

I use the iPad as a third monitor (to hold my notes, whilst I write), as a fantastic desktop calculator, to watch the BBC iPlayer in bed, to check and send emails, I use it in front of the television if I am watching a video to check up on facts etc!

The ONLY downside of the iPad is …weight.I wouldn’t want to stand on the tube reading The Times on it for 40 minutes.It has colour, which is missing on the Kindle, and you can browse the ‘real’ Amazon with iPad and read Kindle books [via the Kindle app]. I also do not like the page transform on the Kindle (the page goes black for a second and then refreshes with your new page). Very annoying to my eyesight.

On the iPad you can adjust colour from bright white to beige – I like beige and you have 6 font sizes – finally I run the actual brightness at around 20% but the glossy screen means that it can be difficult to read in direct sunlight whereas the Kindle will work quite happily on the beach!For me the Kindle screen is too small (6″) as opposed to iPad (9.7″)”

Richard – Computer Science

 

Open Library – The record interpreter for definitions and roots

open library and manuscript“I have to work with ancient manuscripts and find that the online Open Library record interpreter is really helpful when it comes to Latin roots. I use two screens and scan the manuscript into Word and then add notes in comment boxes.”

The Open  Library offers books and papers that can be read online and in several other formats including PDF, Plain text, DAISY, ePub, DjVu, MOBI as well as sending a copy to a Kindle

Becky  – Medieval Renaissance Culture.

Access ebooks from libraries with Kobo Reader

Kobo reader“I have discovered that the Kobo e-reader can open protected (DRM’d) epubs from libraries.  They are synced by connecting the device to a PC with Adobe Digital Editions installed.  But as far as I know it has no TTS.”

The Kobo wifi has adjustable fonts and views but these can depend on the book that has been downloaded.

Using the free Calibre ebook management service is another alternative when documents need to be converted to an accessible format

Neil – Psychology

Free Balabolka will open unprotected ePub files (and PDFs)

Balabolka logo

Balabolka logo

“Free Balabolka will open unprotected ePub files (and pdfs), but not protected ones like library books. Balabolka has options for changing font style, colour, size and background colour.  It can use the free MS voices or any voices you have with other programs, and speaks with highlighting. It does not preserve presentation or images.”

The on-screen text can be saved as a WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG or WMA file. The program can read the clipboard content, view the text from CHM, DjVu, DOC, EPUB, FB2, HTML, ODT, PDF and RTF files.

Here is a video with Craig Mill showing the use of Balabolka being used with MyStudyBar

Direct YouTube video link 

Jean – Dyslexia support