I was considering buying the Kindle 2 or the Sony E-book Reader because I wanted to make it more convenient to do more reading. I figured if I didn’t need to go to any book stores or lug around any bulky books, I would be more likely to read. Then it dawned on me that there were several iPhone applications for reading e-books. I downloaded 2: Stanza and eReader, both free. Both have several links to retailers for downloading current titles as well as to the Gutenberg Project’s free classics. (Right now I’m reading Pride and Prejudice.)
What cool apps. It’s so easy to read anywhere, anytime. Now if I can just find easier ways to extend the battery life on the iPhone to keep up.
Good tip - I also use Stanza and other iPhone apps here in the US, but my iPhone is locked into AT&T and I will probably not be bringing it along when we move to Taipei in October. So, I’m looking for good alternatives to the expense of shipping a ton of English language books overseas or purchasing them at marked-up prices locally.
Do any of you guys use the Kindle 2 or its competitors in TW? I know the wireless download feature on the Kindle does not work outside the US, but it does not seem like a big deal to have to connect it to a computer every now and again to download a book purchased through Amazon (at reduced prices as compared to printed copies). Seriously considering a splurge before shipping out.
GeographicCure, Is your Iphone a 3GS? I know the Iphone original and 3G are easily unlocked and jailbroken with a simple software install. I’m coming to Taipei with my Iphone original and have unlocked it myself. It’s an extremely easy process and a great way to hold a lot of books. I don’t know a lot about jailbreaking the 3GS right now, but if you cannot at the moment its only a matter of weeks or months before you can.
Interesting, arjay. My iPhone is the original flavor and I was only planning on bringing it along to Taipei to use as an iPod Touch.
I had heard of unlocking but wasn’t sure how easy it was, whether you could accidentally turn your phone into an expensive brick. etc. Sounds like it worked well for you - could you send me a link to the guide you found most helpful?
Also, does anyone know if the iPhone features (mainly web browsing and email) are fully functional on other providers’ networks and in Taipei? Are data plans expensive in TW, or are their cell phone plans arranged differently?
A lot of questions / answers can be found there, but just to give you an idea, an unlimited 3G plan costs here on average 900 - 1000 NTD per month (30 USD)
All functionalitues can be used and even much much more when jailbroken.
Gues you are a bit in Tech, so it should not be difficult look for HA** iphone on the net (coz we can’t point you out here hehe :no-no: )
Thanks, ceevee - that thread is definitely the go-to place… at least I’m pretty sure all my questions will be answered when I get through all 50 pages of posts Thanks again for the info, all.
Reading a book on a cellphone screen versus on an e-ink screen is hugely different. I don’t know about you, but I already spend hours and hours sitting in front of my computer doing work. I don’t want to read a +500 page book on the same screen!
I know quite a few people, including perhaps me, who bought a few iPhones from the US and unlocked and jailbroke them here. Easy. Costs about $30US and takes about 30 minutes at the local electronics market. Plus they add all kinds of applications. Everything works fine including maps, etc. And there are tons more applications available beyond those on iTunes. Skype for instance, for free international phone calls…
Even if you accidently brick the iPhone, someone here can easily fix it.
[quote=“tango42”]I know quite a few people, including perhaps me, who bought a few iPhones from the US and unlocked and jailbroke them here. Easy. Costs about $30US and takes about 30 minutes at the local electronics market. Plus they add all kinds of applications. Everything works fine including maps, etc. And there are tons more applications available beyond those on iTunes. Skype for instance, for free international phone calls…
Even if you accidently brick the iPhone, someone here can easily fix it.[/quote]
Great - I may give the jailbreak a whirl myself, but good to know that it can be fixed for a few bucks if I screw it up.
Do you know anyone who had their battery replaced in TW? The kit in the US seems to go for about $50 and requires a minor soldering job; I can do it, but if it’s cheap and easy to have it done in Taipei, I might wait. My phone’s battery is starting to hold only about 60% of its capacity.
I agree with you, charmander - the backlit LCD screens are much harder on the eyes than are the e-ink devices. Still, the Kindle and Sony e-book readers may remain a luxury for most at the US$300 price point.
I owned a Sony PRS-500 briefly when it launched. It wasn’t the price that prevented me from keeping it, and definitely not the technology. Instead, it was the fact that the reader is a single-function device that would take up more space in my already quite packed messenger bag. I was also constantly worried about cracking the fragile e-ink screen (which would cost almost as much as the entire device to replace). For now I read my books and rss on my smartphone, but Sony’s latest batch of Readers are tempting. TBH, i’m pretty surprised Sony seems committed to the Reader product, rather than just abandoning it after the first iteration.
Thanks again for the info, all.