Kobo eBooks for Android receives update: revamped UI and extra features

Our smartphones and tablets have been responsible for making obsolete a lot of electronics, such as MP3 players and point-and-shoot cameras. Looks like books are the latest casualty in the path to electronic dominance by our handheld devices. Does that mean we've stopped reading? Not even close! We are now seeing an increasing trend of consumers turning to eBooks and eReaders to get their literary fix. Gone are the days of papercuts from turning a page. Swiping across a screen is so much easier.

There is not shortage of good eReader apps on the Google Play Store, and Kobo eBooks has been one of the more popular ones. Kobo boasts an extensive collection of free and affordable books, while also making reading fun with “Reading Life,” which tracks your reading habits with interesting stats.

The Kobo eBooks app for Android has now received an update. The update that takes the app to version 4.1 includes:

A revamped interface with easier navigation
New home screen design
Updated reading menu and page layout
Improved tablet support
Two page landscape view for tablets only
Ability to rate the books that you're reading

If you love to read and are looking for a good eBook application, Kobo could be the answer for you. You can download the Kobo eBooks app from the Google Play Store here.

What are your thoughts? Are you an avid reader? Do you use Kobo eBooks? If you've received the latest update, let us know your experience in the comments section below.

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Comments

Mike Crosson

Another great reader is Mantano Reader. Links below.

Mantano Reader Lite (free): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mantano.reader.android.lite

Mantano ReaderPremium (Paid): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mantano.reader.android
- Bradley Bertrim
  
  I second this. Mantano Reader is the best e-reading application I’ve tried and I’ve had a go at most of the applications in the article.
http://profiles.google.com/fahadayaz Fahad Ayaz

I use Fabrik. Mainly for the Dropbox (and soon Google Drive) integration.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.icereader
IncCo

I cannot believe you skipped Moon+ Reader ! Easily the best e-reader, I use it every day.
- mrband
  
  +100000 totally agree
  
  Moon+ is absolutely the best ereader by far, how is not even listed is ridiculous.
  - JosephHindy
    
    Yeah that was a my bad. But hey that’s why we encourage people to comment about their favorite apps that we may have missed :)
- amonlb
  
  I agree Moon+ reader is so much better than any app listed here.
- Online recharge from mobile
  
  Yes i am totally agree.
  
  Online recharge from mobile
Andrew Mezzi

What about Google Books?
- burningmoon
  
  The problem with Google Books is that you can only read GOOGLE books. It is solely a content delivery method, not an ebook reader. Barring users from importing their own books essentially neuters the app’s most core feature.
- Timmy
  
  Plus, if you like it a lot and use it every day, Google will stop supporting it.
M Wong

nothing beats Moon+ Reader , ive tried all the others
- Jason
  
  Have to agree with you mate nothing beats Moon+ Reader I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking for the best and Moon+ Reader is it. Looks great easy to customise and heaps of functionality (that those listed above don’t have) and you don’t need to be a techno geek to use it.
Chopper Joe

As others have mentioned, Moon+ is definitely worth considering. Also,, it is both possible and easy to import books into Nook app: just put books in the Nook’s subdirectory “My Documents” and you’re done.
Most Mister

No mention of Kindle’s killer feature? WhisperSync between my Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 merits #1 spot. Weak review.
- JosephHindy
  
  That’s not our rankings, that’s how the users of these apps ranked them in the Google Play Store. Also, this isn’t a review, it’s an app list ;)
http://www.facebook.com/larry.hook Larry Hook

It is incredibly easy to import books into Nook. Hands down amazing app.
http://petercast.net Peterson Silva

Ok, I am so shocked I can’t settle myself with only approving the comments that have already been made. It’s so stupid that moon reader+ is not in this list it’s almost offensive!

Also take note that moon doesn’t ditch the covers on shelves paradigm altogether (although I’m pretty sure it can be disabled) but it relies much less on it – for me it’s one of those perfect blends between holo, visual identity, performance and features. It’s awesome!
Bruce Gavin Ward

this was a seriously deficient comparison. While competence at enabling one to read ebooks, which would seem to be a given here, the author treats it as a ‘feature’ and all the important features, such as the presentation of your ‘library’, reliability of book downloads, the ability to update bookMarks across platforms, (possibly ‘the most important factor), and meaningful updates and improvements, were completely ignored. I use Kobo, and it does all the above, relatively seemlessly; keeping my last page read bookMark updated in my phone (Nexus4), tablet (Nexus7) and Kobo eReader, no matter where and when i next pick one up to read (as long as each have access to a netWork). Without this knowledge on each app, how could one possibly chose? Joe needs to do his homeWork! [& moonReader, GoogleBooks???]
Diego

I would’ve thought Moon+ Reader would have been the top!
Judith Pittman

I think you’ve covered them all, but from an author or publisher’s point of view, the more readers there are the more problematic it is trying to make sure links to everyone’s reader or app is available on your website. Sure would like to see a universal reader with everyone using the same software. A pipe dream of course, Jude Pittman of bookswelove.com