MyBookDroid an app to Log, Scan & Review Books on your Android
by Paul Wilks
Sep 4, 2012 7:53 AM –
Install
MyBookDroid is a cool way to manage your books on your Android device. If, like me, you’re a budding bibliophile, there’s a need to keep track of your favourite novels and those on your shelves. While it’s not a reader app, MyBookDroid makes it easy to load up all your books into one easy-to-use interface- ideal if you’re gradually building your own library and need some order!
Price: Free or ad-free version for $1.99
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Simple to use!
- Separate books by virtual shelves!
- Allows you to enter information yourself or scan the ISBN number!
- Ability to create notes and add favourite quotes!
- Access to reviews and suggestions!
Cons
- Interface is a little basic compared to similar apps.
Features:
MyBookdroid allows you to scan all the titles in your book library and upload their details into a smooth little application. You can add them to shelves, rate them, read reviews and even find accept suggestions for similar novels. The app is fantastically easy to use, letting you either add books manually or use a barcode scanner to identify the ISBN number and automate the process.
It wasn’t a long time ago we reviewed Goodreads, a similar app. Goodreads is more of a social network for book readers, the app merely is a means to enter content into the site and sharing reviews and reading experiences. It’s a nice-looking app too, but if you need something simpler than doesn’t require you to sign up, MyBookDroid could be just what you’re looking for.
I really like the way you can add notes, or favourite quotes for each book- making it an ideal app for people studying literature and need to compile a library of texts for study and analysis. You can read reviews via Goodreads and also shop around for the best prices for books online. If you’re a big reader, why not take this down to your nearest bookshop, scan the books you’re interested in and add them to the list of books you want to read.
Unlike the Goodreads app, there’s a really good suggestion tool in MyBookDroid. When an entry is created a simple ‘Find Similar Books’ gives you an accurate list of titles all similar to the original. I love features like this. I especially enjoy dystopian novels and this has been a great way to discover new books I haven’t read yet.
http://youtu.be/pNjYhaInKqE
Watch on Mobile
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MyBookDroid – Dashboard
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MyBookDroid – Book profile
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MyBookDroid – Book profile menu
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MyBookDroid – Details
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MyBookDroid – Create book
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MyBookDroid – Edit
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MyBookDroid – Enter ISBN
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MyBookDroid – Search book
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MyBookDroid – Reviews
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MyBookDroid – Ratings
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MyBookDroid – Sort
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MyBookDroid – Scan barcode for easy entry
Usefulness:
For helping you compile your entire library into one-easy to view app, MyBookDroid is excellent. It’s not as social as Goodreads, but it makes it incredibly simple to add your books and even offers great suggestions. Additionally, the way you can separate books into individual shelves is superb and very intuitive.
Ease of Use:
The app offers several different ways of adding books, making it very user-friendly. I have lots of old books that were published prior to the introduction of ISBN numbers, so it’s nice to enter these old texts manually and not let them be forgotten.
Frequently Used:
Depending on your level of interest, this could be a project you enjoy over a period of time, something you add to and use whenever you add a new book, or something you browse frequently looking for new reading ideas. It’s very much down to the individual user.
Interface:
The interface, to be fair to the likes of Goodreads, isn’t the most polished and looks a little dated. However, it’s functional, easy to navigate and feature small hand-drawn icons that look good. The app downloads cover images too, so your book profiles are always nice and colourful.