Posted by:
Wes Fryer
While it is possible to read a PDF file on a smartphone in its
original format, I've found to be MUCH easier and flexible to convert
PDF files into eBook-formatted documents and read them on the smaller
screen of a smartphone. This post explains how to do this using free,
cross-platform software tools.
On my own iPhone, I use the commercial application "Air Sharing"
to quickly upload different files from my laptop to the iPhone to
access them on-the-go. Often, however, PDF files are not formatted well
to read on the iPhone's screen. In this situation, the free Stanza desktop application
and iPhone application make a perfect combination to convert PDFs to an
eText format of your choice and then upload/share files from a laptop
or desktop computer to the iPhone.
The free Stanza desktop application
runs on Windows or Macintosh computers. After downloading and
installing it, open a PDF file you'd like to convert into an eText
format with Stanza. Then from the FILE menu, choose EXPORT BOOK AS and
select your desired eText format.
Save the eBook you've created on your computer, close the original
PDF file, and open the eBook version with Stanza. You're now ready to
transfer the eBook from your laptop or desktop computer to your iPhone.
For an overview of different eText/eBook formats, refer to the Wikipedia article, "Comparison of e-book formats." I have successfully used the eReader format to convert and read PDF files on my iPhone.
If you're using an iPhone, you'll want to download and install the Stanza iPhone application.
Then, in the desktop version of Stanza you can choose TOOLS - ENABLE
SHARING. With your laptop/desktop computer and iPhone connected to the
same WiFi network, you should now be able to click on SHARED BOOKS in
the Stanza application and connect to your own computer wirelessly.
Select the book you want to download to your iPhone, and click DOWNLOAD.
Now you can read the PDF file as an eBook, and enjoy eBook reading
functionality including ready-adjustment of text sizes. You'll notice
images are stripped out of the eBook when this method is used.
Your own converted eBook documents should now show up in your Stanza
library along with other eBooks you've downloaded from sites like Project Gutenberg or purchased.
Have you experimented with different eBook formats, and found one
that you prefer over another? I'm just starting to "get into" reading
eBooks this summer, and my experiences so far have been VERY positive.
It is amazing to be able to have portable, mobile access to not only
full-length books others have written but also ANY other document you'd
like to convert into an eText format and upload/transfer to a
eBook-compatible device!