Thursday, January 13, 2011

Bluefire Reader For iPhone Can Read DRM-Protected Books

Does the world really need a new ebook-reading app?  The Bluefire Reader actually makes a great case for one, bringing in new capabilities that could make it your favorite reader for digital volumes.

One feature in the app makes it a real standout: it reads Adobe DRM.  That means, all those ebooks you bought at Sony, Kobo, Borders and B&N can now be used on your iOS device.  This is a godsend for those who've made a lot of purchases using standalone ebook readers (I've used Sony eReaders for a long time) -- no more switching between devices and no deeply involved software conversions necessary.

Even better, you can use it to read books from the ever-growing number of digital public libraries (provided you're a card-carrying member, of course) right on your iPhone.  Do note that you'll need to open any DRM-protected borrowed books (both ePub and PDF) on Adobe Digital Editions first, lest it won't properly display on your phone.  Granted, it's a pain of a workaround, but it's very serviceable.

There's built-in support for a variety of online bookstores, so you can purchase books in-app just like any regular ebook reader.  The actual reading interface is on par with what's currently out there, as well.  If you can, though, do get your books in ePub format, as they allow for more options when reading on the app.

Granted, Bluefire Reader doesn't make for the most straightforward way to enjoy your DRM-protected books.  Still, it does a whole lot better than anything on the App Store currently manages and it's free.

[Bluefire Reader]