Stanza

Zak Reiter · **Stanza** - July 16th, 2008, 11:57 AM #1

In my App Store browsing, I stumbled upon the eBook reader Stanza. There were a few different applications for reading eBooks, but Stanza is the application that has truly stood out.

What caught me by surprise is their large amount of fully available and free books. I immediately tapped through and downloaded not one, but six great classic novels. I was stunned still by the simple reading interface. The eBooks are stored as RTFs (although there are options to import multiple formats, such as PDF), and users view each page separately, flicking through as though leafing through a normal book.

Tapping the screen opens a few options on the bottom, from browsing chapters to changing font size, and there is even an option to search for specific text. It’s also simply to just hop back to the main menu, as the software automatically bookmarks the page.

If a user is interested in importing their own eBooks, there is a computer-based program by the same name that is downloadable from LexCycle that allows that exact thing, but please note that it is only available to Mac users, so Windows users have my condolences.

The program is still technically in beta (on its sixth edition), but I would easily say that this is one of the most complete eBook readers available, at least of the apps that are free. I plan on using it plenty, and I know a few sites to get my own free eBooks, so this ought to be an entertaining application for those boring train rides. Now I can be the trendy man with the iPhone instead of the imposing figure carrying an old edition of Freud’s ‘Civilization and Its Discontents’.

Oh by the way... if you want to see something fun, turn your iPhone sideways at any point that you're browsing this program.

warlock · **i dont really get it...** - July 17th, 2008, 06:54 PM #2

This is probably just me...but I dont really get who would want to read a book, as in a whole book, like all 300 pages of it, on their iPhone. Just bring the book with you. But i guess if you do this App does the job. Thanks for the great review Zak!

dessine · July 17th, 2008, 07:52 PM #3

I would totally read a book on my iphone - especially for free. I was kinda looking into ebook readers...kinda. But it makes no sense to carry around another device. It's also better than carrying around an extra book when it could just be in my iphone. Great app. Maybe someday my textbooks will be available too, that'd save about a million pounds.

flyorpretend · July 18th, 2008, 06:48 AM #4

I wouldn't read a whole book on my iphone either, but I think Stanza is a great application. When I'm working with kids, I can have fairytales/kids books on hand as a simple time passing tool, without having to prepare by bringing bulky books along.

nauticasmexico · July 21st, 2008, 01:03 AM #5

I've read dozens of ebooks for more than 8 years, using all sorts of pda's and phones and their ability to do so has been one of the main reasons for me to choose them in the first place; the iPhone has proven an excellent medium and so far my all-time-favorite ebook reader. Stanza is truly a beautifully executed app and it excels by providing reading material wherever I go and whenever I need it, which happens to be pretty much any idle moment of my working day. Now I can transfer any lit or pdf file I have wirelessly to my iPhone using the -also free- Stanza Desktop (Mac only).
And yes, many of those ebooks have been in excess of 300-pages long.

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Zak Reiter Forum Ninja Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Killanoise! Posts: 144 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Stanza - July 16th, 2008, 11:57 AM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> In my App Store browsing, I stumbled upon the eBook reader Stanza. There were a few different applications for reading eBooks, but Stanza is the application that has truly stood out. What caught me by surprise is their large amount of fully available and free books. I immediately tapped through and downloaded not one, but six great classic novels. I was stunned still by the simple reading interface. The eBooks are stored as RTFs (although there are options to import multiple formats, such as PDF), and users view each page separately, flicking through as though leafing through a normal book. Tapping the screen opens a few options on the bottom, from browsing chapters to changing font size, and there is even an option to search for specific text. It’s also simply to just hop back to the main menu, as the software automatically bookmarks the page. If a user is interested in importing their own eBooks, there is a computer-based program by the same name that is downloadable from LexCycle that allows that exact thing, but please note that it is only available to Mac users, so Windows users have my condolences. The program is still technically in beta (on its sixth edition), but I would easily say that this is one of the most complete eBook readers available, at least of the apps that are free. I plan on using it plenty, and I know a few sites to get my own free eBooks, so this ought to be an entertaining application for those boring train rides. Now I can be the trendy man with the iPhone instead of the imposing figure carrying an old edition of Freud’s ‘Civilization and Its Discontents’. Oh by the way... if you want to see something fun, turn your iPhone sideways at any point that you're browsing this program.

warlock Rocks the Board Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 168 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	i dont really get it... - July 17th, 2008, 06:54 PM #2
	This is probably just me...but I dont really get who would want to read a book, as in a whole book, like all 300 pages of it, on their iPhone. Just bring the book with you. But i guess if you do this App does the job. Thanks for the great review Zak! __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: Black 32GB iPhone 3GS iPhone Version: 3.0 Developer GM Seed Computer & OS: Aluminum MacBook Pro-OS X & iMac 24''-OS X AIM: dirtbikedude2201 www.tmdevteam.com

dessine New Recruit Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	July 17th, 2008, 07:52 PM #3
	I would totally read a book on my iphone - especially for free. I was kinda looking into ebook readers...kinda. But it makes no sense to carry around another device. It's also better than carrying around an extra book when it could just be in my iphone. Great app. Maybe someday my textbooks will be available too, that'd save about a million pounds.

flyorpretend Forum Lurker Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	July 18th, 2008, 06:48 AM #4
	I wouldn't read a whole book on my iphone either, but I think Stanza is a great application. When I'm working with kids, I can have fairytales/kids books on hand as a simple time passing tool, without having to prepare by bringing bulky books along.

nauticasmexico Forum Lurker Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	July 21st, 2008, 01:03 AM #5
	I've read dozens of ebooks for more than 8 years, using all sorts of pda's and phones and their ability to do so has been one of the main reasons for me to choose them in the first place; the iPhone has proven an excellent medium and so far my all-time-favorite ebook reader. Stanza is truly a beautifully executed app and it excels by providing reading material wherever I go and whenever I need it, which happens to be pretty much any idle moment of my working day. Now I can transfer any lit or pdf file I have wirelessly to my iPhone using the -also free- Stanza Desktop (Mac only). And yes, many of those ebooks have been in excess of 300-pages long.