What Does the Ideal eBook Reader Software Include? Must-Have Features and Enhancements

A few days ago, I took a brief look at hardware development in eBook readers and noticed that E-Ink Carta technology is becoming more widespread thanks to falling entry-level prices. At the same time, specifications are improving with higher resolution, denser displays (Kindle Voyage and Kobo Aura H2O). However, as many digital reading enthusiasts constantly emphasize, it’s not just about the hardware.

At least as important as the electronic specifications is the range of software features. eReaders offer flexible eBook usage, opening the door to all sorts of enhancements to make the reading experience as comfortable as possible.

Today we’re looking at which features belong to the core tasks of an eBook reader, and how these should be implemented to deliver the best benefits. As so often happens, there are always different opinions on the subject, so of course I’d love to hear from you about what perfect reading software should look like, or in which of the mentioned points you hold a different opinion. Just leave a comment!

Text Display

As absurd as it may sound to those unfamiliar with the eBook scene, an error-free text display is by no means a given. While printed books are provided with a fixed layout and checked before printing, eBooks offer flexible text display (see the following point). Unfortunately, this flexibility often allows errors, flaws, or imperfections to slip into the book’s display.

A prominent example is the lack of hyphenation on Kindle devices. Unless otherwise embedded in the file, an eBook presented on an Amazon reader displays the text in justified format without word breaks. While this is relatively unproblematic in English due to the frequent use of short filler words that minimize text gaps, in German, it can occasionally result in an unattractive look with unusually large word spaces, depending on the font size setting.

However, even some of Amazon’s competitors experience display issues. The notorious paragraph bug in the Adobe Viewer often faces criticism. Rather than filling the eBook reader’s screen entirely with text, the lower area remains occasionally blank to avoid widows and orphans syndrome.

Similarly disruptive can be incorrect font display, such as found recently with PocketBook when italic text is displayed.

An error-free, visually flawless, and homogeneous text display is essential and should be a top priority for every manufacturer. Even if not all users are bothered by the mentioned problems, one should still ensure that a book is displayed (even when various parameters are changed – see below) as the author intended.

Font Display Customization

Text adaptation options somewhat overlap with the previous point. When I first read with an eBook reader, I was impressed by the (then limited!) font adjustment capabilities.

The vast majority of eReaders allow you to change font size, margin spacing, line height, and font type. With these options, you can tailor the text to your own taste and meet your personal needs. These changes are particularly crucial for individuals with a visual impairment or disability, offering better readability options not available in printed books. Such adjustments can also help with a reading impairment.

Extensive font options on Kobo

Kobo’s eBook readers stand out positively here, as their text adjustment works almost seamlessly, allowing for virtually all imaginable modifications. Additionally, you can also adjust the font thickness (for supported fonts) step by step (!).

A night mode (available on Kobo with a modification) would be a welcome addition, which can not only be useful for reading in the dark with backlighting but can also improve readability for those with the aforementioned visual impairments.

Library Function

Not all users have extensive eBook collections, so management may not play a significant role, and you can always quickly find the desired title anyway.

One of the biggest advantages of digital reading devices is undoubtedly the ability to carry your entire book collection with you and thus be completely independent of your home computer or bookshelf. A book library can take on considerable proportions for avid readers over several years (especially if a large number of free eBooks are stored).

PocketBook has recently been capable of handling multiple keywords via Calibre as well as a directory structure

In such cases, basically two management mechanisms have crystallized:

• Either organize using the file directory structure, as you know it from a PC. Here you can simply copy the eBooks into corresponding folders and create a clear directory tree, which you can manage easily on a PC without third-party software.
• Alternatively, the free reading software Calibre is often used, which offers extensive sorting possibilities with its tag function. The advantage here is that you can place an eBook in several categories (e.g., Science Fiction & Star Trek) without duplicating the file (and wasting valuable storage space).

Currently, only PocketBook offers both options. With the new firmware 5.x, the long-demanded multiple Calibre tag support has finally been integrated – in addition to the already existing directory structure option. Together with other filtering and sorting functions, PocketBook currently offers the most comprehensive library management on the market. That’s how (or similarly) it should look with all providers.

Dictionaries

Reading foreign language books is easier than ever with eReaders. With just a few taps – usually a single tap – the word translation is displayed, and you can continue reading immediately.

The downside is that virtually no manufacturer delivers a perfect dictionary function. The biggest obstacle is undoubtedly the lack of support for grammatical forms (beyond the base form) with many providers. This means that different declensions or conjugations are often simply not found. In this regard, Kindle and Sony’s built-in dictionaries perform particularly well.

The built-in Kindle dictionaries are excellent

Unfortunately, you can’t expand them on Sony devices, and Amazon only supplies a handful of built-in dictionaries, while the additional offerings don’t match the initially high quality.

Another issue: Most providers only include English translation dictionaries, so as a German customer, you don’t always get what you need. The Tolino alliance is the only exception, providing a range of different German translation dictionaries thanks to its German roots. However, the source material must be criticized here as the dictionaries come from Wiktionary, which generally can’t match the quality of editorially maintained offerings.

A useful addition is a vocabulary trainer. On Kindle devices, words looked up in the dictionary are (upon request) transferred to the vocabulary trainer, allowing you to check your understanding later. Very useful!

Note-Taking

Taking notes directly in an eBook and then using them on a PC is also a practical thing, especially for non-fiction books, reviews, etc.

Simple text highlights and handwritten markings, created with your finger or a provided stylus, are desirable features. Nowadays, nearly all providers offer the former option, but only PocketBook (and Sony) also provide handwritten notes. Unfortunately, accessing PocketBook’s note-taking function is not very intuitive due to two different modes.

What’s important here is the ease of exporting notes for use on a PC, as well as a clear list view directly on the device to quickly get your bearings. Often there are no page or position references, so it’s not always clear where the note was made. Filter, sorting, and search options are also often missing in the notes list.

Bookmarks

Marking important pages with a dog-ear is not only possible in paper books; in virtual form, it’s also available on most eBook readers. This way, you can keep significant text passages for later and quickly reference them when needed.

Interactive bookmarks for more flexible use on Kindle (Voyage)

What seems like a relatively simple function to implement at first glance can be enhanced with useful additional features. With its latest software, Amazon has introduced a very useful preview feature for bookmarks, allowing you to quickly check the bookmark page without changing pages (see image). With a simple tap, you can continue reading right away.

This can be particularly useful in complex books where you repeatedly need maps, a name lexicon, or a glossary.

PDF Display

PDF display is among the most frequently neglected functions of many eReaders. This isn’t surprising since most eBooks now appear in a flexible formatting file format (ePub or Mobi), allowing the content to adapt to the (typically) smaller E-Ink display, so you can read without difficulty.

However, it’s different for (usually complex) technical and non-fiction books that are often provided in PDF format with a fixed layout. To display such titles reasonably on a dedicated reader, some software tricks are necessary.

A multi-column mode (for newspapers, scientific papers, etc.), dynamic zoom, margin cropping, text reflow, and landscape mode should be part of any reading device. PocketBook can now be congratulated on having the best PDF functionality in the mainstream market. Onyx is similarly good, though it plays a smaller role in Germany.

PDFs are often treated quite negligently, which can be particularly problematic for users who read more than just fiction. A sensible range of PDF display options with the mentioned functions should be part of every manufacturer’s standard repertoire.

Internet Browser

At first glance, an internet browser on a dedicated reading device doesn’t seem necessary. However, when you consider the possibilities a well-integrated web browser offers, you might change your mind quickly.

With ACSM support, for instance, you can download eBooks directly from other stores or use the device for Onleihe (library loans) without detouring through a PC. A text reflow mode enables reading long texts without constantly needing to scroll horizontally, which can be tedious on the relatively slow E-Ink displays.

The recent update significantly expanded the Tolino browser’s capabilities

The use of bookmarks to quickly access your favorite internet pages should certainly be integrated.

The Tolino alliance now has the best browser implementation since the recent update. Equipped with Android-based technology, you can rely on an excellent internet browser that is not only fast but also includes all the features mentioned.

Miscellaneous

A very sensible and practical additional feature can be found in Amazon’s parental controls. On Kindle eBook readers, you can restrict various software functions, allowing you to hand the device to a child without fear of them falling into a cost trap or downloading content not suitable for young eyes. You can also track reading progress with statistics.

App installations allow for better customization

Onyx and Icarus Android eBook readers offer a different type of additional option, allowing you to install Android applications on the devices, thereby sensibly expanding the software functionality and allowing for reader customization.

This proves particularly practical with options like the use of the Skoobe app, offering an eBook flat rate from 10 euros per month.

Unfortunately, such possibilities are only available with the right Android base, which is not the case for Amazon, Kobo, and PocketBook. Only the Tolino eReaders would offer the necessary prerequisites as mainstream devices.

Conclusion: What eReader Software Should Be Like

As can be seen, there are a variety of different functions that can meaningfully extend an eReader’s usability. The good news is that most providers now meet a certain minimum standard for many functions, and the differences are thus less pronounced than a few years ago, making major missteps as a digital novice less likely.

The bad news: No provider offers the perfect all-in-one solution with flawless software functions. Each device has its particular strengths and weaknesses, and manufacturers implement various functions in very different ways.

A combination of various software options could further enhance the digital reading experience

Without further ado, here is a list of functions that, in my opinion, the perfect eBook reader should include:

• Error-free text display
• High responsiveness
• Seamless font customization options (Kobo) with landscape mode and night mode
• Library function with Calibre support and folder management (PocketBook)
• Dictionaries with conjugation and declension recognition (Sony, Kindle) in German (Tolino)
• Consistent (!) note-taking with export, synchronization, and handwritten markings (Sony)
• Bookmarks with a preview feature (Kindle)
• PDF display with various viewing modes (PocketBook)
• Fast internet browser with text reflow, ACSM download support, and bookmarks (Tolino, Sony)
• App expansion possibilities (Onyx, Icarus), parental controls (Kindle)

It must be noted, as always, that each user has different requirements for their reading device, and the points mentioned here are by no means universally valid. Therefore, I’d also love to know what the perfect eReader software looks like for you. Which function is indispensable? Let us know simply by commenting on the article!