Android

Most of our eBooks can be read on devices (tablets and smartphones) running Google's Android operating system. To do so, you need to purchase the EPUB version of a title and install an EPUB-based reader, such as the Aldiko eReader detailed here, on your device.

Installing Aldiko on Your Android Device

There are several eReader programs available for Android devices, and one of the most popular is Aldiko. This is a free application that can read eBooks in the EPUB format.

Aldiko is available in a free ad-supported version or a $2.99 ad-free version. To download Aldiko to your device, go to the Android Market and search for "aldiko." Follow the onscreen instructions to install the application.

Note that as of version 2.0, Aldiko can read PDF files as well as eBooks (PDF and EPUB) protected by Adobe DRM.

Purchasing and Downloading an eBook

When available, you want to purchase the EPUB version of a book to read on your Android phone. If an eBook is available in EPUB format, you'll see a link similar to the one below. Click the Buy button to purchase the eBook.

eBook purchase options

eBook purchase options in our Store.

After completing the purchase process, the file is now available on your Account page for downloading to your computer's hard drive.

eBook purchase options

Click the link to download the eBook in EPUB format.

Once you've downloaded an eBook, you need to add it to your Aldiko library on your Android phone. Begin by connecting your Android to your computer; a new drive for your phone should now appear in the My Computer window. (Mac users may require a few additional steps from the Status Bar to mount the phone on their desktop.)

Navigate to the Import folder in the file window for the Android. You can now copy the eBook file from its home on your computer to the eBooks/Import folder on the Android.

Disconnect your phone from your computer and open the Aldiko application. From the Aldiko's Home screen, press your phone's Menu button and then select Import. From the next menu, select Import again, then select OK. The new eBooks you just added will now be imported into the Aldiko application.

Reading an eBook with Aldiko

When you launch Aldiko on your Android phone, you see the Library, a virtual bookshelf that holds all your purchased titles. You can scroll through multiple bookshelves to view all the books you've downloaded. Tap a book cover to begin reading.

Aldiko bookshelf on Android

The Aldiko bookshelf on an Android smartphone.

To turn to the next page in a book, swipe your finger across the current page to the left, or just tap the right side of the screen. To return to the previous page, swipe the page to the right, or tap the left side of the screen.

To jump to a specific section in the book, press the Menu button on your phone and select Contents. This displays the Table of Contents page; tap a chapter or section title to jump to that section of the book.

Aldiko Table of Contents on Android

Viewing an eBook's Table of Contents.

To search for a specific word or phrase, click the Menu button, click the More button, and select Search. When the Search screen appears, enter the term you're looking for. All instances of the word or phrase are now listed; tap an instance to jump to that point in the book.

To change the size of the onscreen text, Click the Menu button and select Settings. From the Settings screen, tap Font Settings. You can then the point size and weight of the text, as well as the font family used to display the text.

Changing fonts in Aldiko on Android

Changing the size of onscreen text.

Can I Share My eBook Files?

When you purchase an eBook, that copy is designed for your own personal use. While you can copy an eBook file for use on another device you own, such as a portable eReader or smartphone, you cannot share copies with other people. You also cannot sell used eBooks; ownership is yours only, and cannot be transferred.

To protect against unauthorized copying, some of the eBooks we sell as PDFs include digital rights management (DRM) technology. This technology limits the use of the purchased eBook to a limited number of devices (the maximum number is currently 6). Adobe Digital Editions is required to view these DRM-protected files.

Other eBooks are sold without DRM and can easily be copied to up to six devices. You cannot share these eBooks with other people, however. Our non-DRM eBooks are embedded with personalized watermarks that help us identify any unauthorized copies found online. For more information on watermarking, see our Watermarked eBook FAQ.