BookFusion eBook Reader & Management Sync Across All Devices Android, iOS & Web

[Sarmat89]

Originally Posted by skillachie

Not accurate as you can turn all pages by tapping or swiping

Interesting.

The tap in the lower right corner doesn't work.

The tap in the upper left corner doesn't work.

Taps/presses in the left, right, top, bottom page edges do nothing.

Upward swipe scrolls pages backwards.

Have you ever seen a book reader for a touch screen before?

Also, I noticed that you use Calibre software, but there is no mention of that fact on your website. That is in violation of the Calibre license.

[skillachie]

@Sarmat89 You have to click on the arrow to turn the page when using the web reader on your tablet/phone.

Our native iOS and Android apps allow you to navigate to the next page using a tap to go to the next page.


However we do automatically convert different formats using Calibre and other tools.

[skillachie]

We have made several updates to our Android & iOS App:

*Added Currently Reading: This allows readers to quickly select their last read eBooks
*Pagination: Support for both global and percentage based pagination
*Improved EPUB/MOBI performance
*Improved PDF performance
*Other bug fixes and improvements

Web App: https://www.bookfusion.com/reading
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bookfusion/id1141834096
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...android.reader


Please let us know if you if you have any additional feedback or suggestions.

PS: We are also working on a calibre plugin to allow you to seamless read and sync your eBooks across all devices. If you would like to get beta access send me a PM or an email at dc@bookfusion.com

[skillachie]

We just released our Calibre eBook Plugin. Please visit the post on MobileRead to learn more

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...79#post3708679

We will also be doing a 3 week promo that ends in July for early premium readers. Stay tuned for more.

[anoukaimee]

I'm very interested in your product, but in looking over your "FAQ" you don't provide what I assume would be the most frequently asked question: how much does this cost? What is a free vs premium account? And what are your discounts for early adopters?

Frustrating and makes me a little leery. Thanks.

[vikarti]

Speaking as user:
>What is a free vs premium account?
3 differences I found out when was non-premium:
- per-book file limit on upload via web site (I didn't checked in-app upload and plugin didn't exist at this
- limit to number of books.
- nag screen with offer of premium (after a lot less number of books than limit) on web

[skillachie]

Originally Posted by anoukaimee

I'm very interested in your product, but in looking over your "FAQ" you don't provide what I assume would be the most frequently asked question: how much does this cost? What is a free vs premium account? And what are your discounts for early adopters?

Frustrating and makes me a little leery. Thanks.

1)How much does it cost?

It costs $4.99/month or $39.99/year for early adopters/readers

2)What is a free vs premium account?

Free accounts have the following limits:
*100 or less eBook limit
*Subscription popup
*Limited use of the Calibre Sync Plugin

3)With premium accounts there are no limits on the account

what are your discounts for early adopters?

Currently discounted a mentioned in #1. Early adopters will forever be charged the early adopter price as mentioned above. However new readers beyond the early adopter phase will be charged $8.99/month or $60.00 per year

[Lparsons21]

Just downloaded this app on an iPad, Likebook Mars and Asus Zenpad Z8 to give it a whirl. Some early comments.
On the iPad - looks good and performs well. Reading settings are rather sparse.
Likebook Mars eink Android tablet - works ok but slow getting going, this is the same overall performance for every other app on it too, so not bad in comparison. Reading settings are sparse also, even including no font selection which is offered on the iPad.
Zenpad Z8 - works well with the same shortcomings as noted for the Likebook.

Uploading of books is a bit of a chore and needs to be re-thought. There should be a method from within the app and not only from the website IMO.

The subscription model may be a big detriment to adoption IMO.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[skillachie]

Originally Posted by Lparsons21

Just downloaded this app on an iPad, Likebook Mars and Asus Zenpad Z8 to give it a whirl. Some early comments.
On the iPad - looks good and performs well. Reading settings are rather sparse.
Likebook Mars eink Android tablet - works ok but slow getting going, this is the same overall performance for every other app on it too, so not bad in comparison. Reading settings are sparse also, even including no font selection which is offered on the iPad.
Zenpad Z8 - works well with the same shortcomings as noted for the Likebook.

Uploading of books is a bit of a chore and needs to be re-thought. There should be a method from within the app and not only from the website IMO.

The subscription model may be a big detriment to adoption IMO.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for trying and providing feedback Lparsons21. To answer your comments

1. iOS Reading Settings - We recently added additional fonts. What other features would you like to see for reading settings

2. Android Reader - An updated app will be released next week that adds support for custom fonts when reading similar to iOS

3. Uploading of eBooks from Devices - Correct. A new version of the app will be ready in Q1 that allows you to better organize and bulk upload books directly from your device

4. Subscription Model - We do not sell ads , nor our users data so ask for a reasonable $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year for unlimited use and number of uploaded eBooks.

Would you prefer a freemium option but be open to viewing ads? Most platforms that offer free based services monetize users via other channels so the user pays indirectly.

Thanks again for taking our apps for a spin. Feel free to reach out if you have any additional feedback.

[Lparsons21]

I’d like to see things like page turn animation toggle and margin and line spacing. The animations are fine on lcd screens, not so good on any eink device I’ve seen.

Good to hear of the upcoming improvements.

As to which is better, subscription or freemium, it is hard to say which is better but possibly a freemium version with an upgrade to subscription to drop ads and offer the other benefits might work better for you. As to what is a reasonable subscription price, well the market will tell you that over time.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[skillachie]

Update:

Android

Added support for custom fonts
Added support for Android 9

iOS

Added support for custom fonts
Improved PDF reader

[skillachie]

Major updates for iOS and Android

• Full-screen mode support

• New reader settings(EPUB)
  Font align
  Vertical and horizontal margins
  Line spacing
  Custom text and background colors
  Page animation(Curl, Slide, None)

• Fixed bug with syncing PDF progress

• Minor bug fixes and improvements.

• Improved night mode

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bookfusion/id1141834096

Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...android.reader

Stay tuned for another major updated in September with more improvements for our PDF/EPUB reader and updates to the bookshelf. Feel free to reach out to us at support@bookfusion.com with feedback or any feature requests.

[Elfwreck]

I made an account at bookfusion.zendesk.com, which is... apparently the business/publisher side of things?

Took me a while to figure out that an account at the zendesk side does not translate into the reader side; you can't just use one login for all of BookFusion. Also, to make an account at the reader side, it wants my birthday.

Are there age-restricted libraries? It can't be for COPPA reasons; the zendesk-side account didn't need an age statement, not even "I verify that I am old enough to hand you my data."

I can't find a terms of service document on the business side. On the reader side, I found:

User shall not post or transmit through BookFusion any material which violates or infringes in any way upon the rights of others, which is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, vulgar, obscene, profane or otherwise objectionable, which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any law, or which, without BookFusion's express prior approval, contains advertising or any solicitation with respect to products or services.

Does this apply to the contents of uploaded books? If so:

• Does BookFusion believe fanfiction is copyright infringement?
• What are its standards for "vulgar,... profane or otherwise objectionable," since those terms have no legal definitions? (Can one use it for erotica ebooks?)
• Can publishers of ebooks include ads for their other works, or for their website, without asking for permission?

I also saw this (emphasis added):

By submitting material to any public area of BookFusion, User automatically grants, or warrants that the owner of such material has expressly granted BookFusion the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate and distribute such material (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media or technology now known or hereafter developed for the full term of any copyright that may exist in such material.User hereby grants BookFusion the right to edit, copy, publish and distribute any material made available on BookFusion by User.

Why would any publisher allow this? "Once you upload your book here, we can edit and republish it any way we want?"

Or is that not talking about book submissions, but discussions in forums or blogs? (Are there social aspects to this?) (Hell, why would people on forums allow it - "we can take your discussions, edit them any way we want, and sell them?")

[skillachie]

It appears you signed up for Zendesk account which is not required. All users sign up using https://www.bookfusion.com/reading

Took me a while to figure out that an account at the zendesk side does not translate into the reader side; you can't just use one login for all of BookFusion. Also, to make an account at the reader side, it wants my birthday

We only require this to allow us to filter content since children also use the platform to read the free children books that we have. Unfortunately, the laws require us to do this.

What we could do is change it to ask a two questions such as: Are you older than 13 years old? Are you older than 18 years old?

We have no interest in your actual birthday. Do you think just changing it to a two questions would be better?

Are there age-restricted libraries? It can't be for COPPA reasons; the zendesk-side account didn't need an age statement, not even "I verify that I am old enough to hand you my data."

I can't find a terms of service document on the business side. On the reader side, I found:

Zendesk is managed by Zendesk and so I cannot speak to their terms, however they would likely not require it since you can only open a support ticket. You are not required to create an account there at all. It is used for tutorials and support tickets get created automatically.

Yes there are age restricted libraries that have content that should be accessed by a mature audience only. Additionally due to children accessing the platform as well since it is a general reader we need to comply with COPPA

I can't find a terms of service document on the business side. On the reader side, I found:


Does this apply to the contents of uploaded books? If so:

• Does BookFusion believe fanfiction is copyright infringement?
• What are its standards for "vulgar,... profane or otherwise objectionable," since those terms have no legal definitions? (Can one use it for erotica ebooks?)
• Can publishers of ebooks include ads for their other works, or for their website, without asking for permission?

I also saw this (emphasis added):

None of these terms apply to eBooks or content that an individual uploads to their private library. This applies to publishers only. Fanfiction is not considered copyright infringement. This terms applies only to Publishers but it is included in the general terms of service.

Will send it to the law firm and have it revised.


No, publishers do not require our permission to include ads in their eBooks at all. The content belongs to the publisher and they can include ads if they want to. There are a few books with ads currently such as the ones offered by this publisher

https://www.bookfusion.com/store/GlenmaisPublications



Indeed, erotica books are also available for sale which is one of the reasons we ask for the age of the reader. This allows us to filter out such content the possibility of finding that content

I also saw this (emphasis added):


Why would any publisher allow this? "Once you upload your book here, we can edit and republish it any way we want?"

Or is that not talking about book submissions, but discussions in forums or blogs? (Are there social aspects to this?) (Hell, why would people on forums allow it - "we can take your discussions, edit them any way we want, and sell them?")

This means that once you upload an eBook you give BookFusion to permission to edit(enhance it with metadata such as fetching book covers, author information and so on) and republish(convert and optimize the files for our integrated reading software). When an eBook gets uploaded it is sometimes converted to an appropriate format that can be read across all devices and enhanced with additional metadata that might be missing. These terms do not allow BookFusion to sell any uploaded content at all that is not uploaded and made available for sale by an author or publisher.


Based on your questions, it appears that the terms might not be clear as blanket terms and service was created for the platform initially. I just sent an email to the attorney that drafted these terms and shared your posts. Since your interpretation is not inline with our offering for private eBook readers. Those terms apply to publishers and authors.

The only time that I can see that particular line applying would be when we allow Readers readers to loan and borrow eBooks from each other, BookFusion would need the right to "distribute" your eBook to that friend or family member.

However, I do not want any ambiguity or misinterpretations and have requested that they revise the terms and ensure they separate the terms required for publishers and readers.

Thank you for looking since others might share the same interpretation.

[DaleDe]

You might want to adjust the wiki page -BookFusion to properly say how to use the site.

Dale