"You are currently reading Quarksec 1456756 of 129457894."

October 22, 2013 9:46 AM

What is a nice e-reader app for Android that incorporates actual page numbers?

I want to read books on my Android-running Kobo Arc. I want to know what page I am on while I do so. I do NOT want to know how many pages are left in the chapter, or what unit I am on of some mysterious book-length measurement system that does not correspond to physical page numbers.

Can anyone help? Extra points if it is a free reading app. Double extra points if the app is aesthetically pleasing.

posted by joelhunt to Technology (11 answers total)

Do you mean that you want to know what page number you are on, with reference to the printed version of the same book? Because I don't think that is possible; most (all, AFAIK, but maybe there are exceptions) non-PDF ebooks don't contain information about the pagination of the print version.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:29 AM on October 22, 2013

Response by poster: Really? My gosh. If that is the case, it is going to take a significant effort on my part to retrain my brain to stop wanting that information. Am I weird?

Ok, question refining. If page numbers are not available, how about an Android ereader app that indicates the percentage of the book that you have completed?
posted by joelhunt at 10:35 AM on October 22, 2013

Kindle? I don't have an Android deivce, but Kindle on the iPhone shows pages.
posted by dirtdirt at 10:52 AM on October 22, 2013

Android as well, seemingly.
posted by dirtdirt at 10:53 AM on October 22, 2013

Best answer: Aldiko for Android, shows a page with nothing on it (here) but if you tap the screen, you get page numbering (see here)

Note: if I change the font size to extremely large, the total number of pages remains the same and I can change pages and it will still tell me I'm on page 6 until it says I'm on page 6-7 and finally page 7.
posted by czytm at 11:04 AM on October 22, 2013

Really? My gosh. If that is the case, it is going to take a significant effort on my part to retrain my brain to stop wanting that information. Am I weird?

Ok, question refining. If page numbers are not available, how about an Android ereader app that indicates the percentage of the book that you have completed?

It bothered me for a little while when I first started to make the transition. I read probably 90% of the time on an e-Reader these days - mostly the Kindle App for Android - and that gives me a %, and I find that I think mostly in those terms now.

I also like that it measures reading speed and gives you an indicator at the bottom about how long until you reach the end of the chapter (in minutes).

So, I'm a convert.
posted by kbanas at 11:35 AM on October 22, 2013

Response by poster: I guess it's either Aldiko or convert my epubs to mobis and go with Kindle. Thanks for the help!
posted by joelhunt at 11:50 AM on October 22, 2013

Best answer: FBreader ( website ) has this as well. Current page and percentage in bottom right
posted by stuartmm at 12:29 PM on October 22, 2013

Response by poster: Gonna give FBreader a try, thanks!
posted by joelhunt at 12:59 PM on October 22, 2013

Most books from the Kindle store have page numbers that match up to the physical copy. Don't know if it would be the same for books acquired elsewhere though.
posted by tsh at 12:34 AM on October 23, 2013

Kindle also definitely does the percentage of book read thing. On both my actual Kindle and on my android phone Kindle app. I believe it does on the iPhone app as well.
posted by Grither at 4:30 AM on October 23, 2013