Web Browser

A Web Browser provides access to the Internet. This page is devoted to the use of a Web Browser to read eBooks. It automatically provides a GUI interface for the user. See BookBrowser for a tool that will let your browser look at local eBooks.

Many browser can be made more powerful with specialized extensions that are added to the browser itself. These can help with reading eBooks or creating eBooks from a web site.

Browser eBook features

A browser tends to treat each page individually and scrolls through the page. As an eBook reader it lacks some features such as bookmarking your location and the ability to read books in eBook formats other than direct HTML. There are some browsers addons to fix these problems and others. Browsers can also read eBook files coded in wiki formats because the wiki server converts pages on the fly. Many of these would now be classed as Progressive Web Apps.

• ePUB - Firefox and SeaMonkey can use EPUBReader. Firefox is built into Firefox OS.
• Waterfox is a 64bit version of Firefox. It should support what Firefox supports.
• eBooks.com has a feature called eb20 (eBook 2.0) which is a format for eBooks that can be read in a browser.
• Lucifox is an ePUB Reader that is an extension for Firefox.
• Opera addons can read and downloading EPUB books with support of ePUB format.
• Chrome browser features HTML5 support and is built into Chrome OS.
• Chromium Browser Open source equivalent to Chrome browser.
• AZARDI has an online version that will work with browsers. It is built on Firefox Mozilla code and Firefox OS.
• HTTrack can download a full web site for offline browsing and reading.
• Monocle can turn any browser into an eBook reader.
• Wallabag can capture a web site for offline reading. It is free.
• Microsoft Edge new version can read PDF and ePUB.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer also known as IE can now support HTML5.
• Down them all is an extension for Opera, Chrome, and Firefox to download all the links or images on a website and much more: you can refine your downloads by fully customizable filters to get only what you really want.
• WordSearch Bible web app‎‎ can display WordSearch Bible and LifeWay Books.
• Logos web app can display Logos files.

Character set

Browsers also need to be told which character set the file is using. This is normally done in the header section with a line like:

• <meta content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"/>
• <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
• <meta content="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"/>

To avoid confusing the browser only one such line should appear. Some browsers have settings that can override this entry.

EBook Devices

Dedicated eBook Devices typically do not have a full browser capability however some do provide browsers. These usually have E Ink screens.

• Amazon Kindle - has a limited custom browser
• iRex iLiad Web Browsers - these are addons
• Onyx eBook readers use Android for their OS and can use Browsers.
• Hisense uses Android for the their OS and can use Browsers.
• PocketBook eBook readers include an improved version of the Midori Browser.
• FOSS Browser is an Open Source project on Github that can be used as an E Ink Android web browser.
• Others with WiFi may only provide access to their book store.
• EinkBro is an Android browser designed specifically for E Ink devices.
• https://github.com/plateaukao/browser Plateaukao is specifically for E Ink units.

Mobile Devices

Smartphones generally require a browser for data plans. They will typically include one but it may be a stripped down version. Here are a list of replacements.

• Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers
• Bitstream's BOLT for Blackberry
• Skyfire, from Skyfire Labs, works for Windows Mobile and Nokia S60 Third Edition phones
• Dolphin browser on Android
• Chrome browser on Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad)
• Safari is shipped on all Apple computers, phones, and iPads.
• E Ink screens are often not conducive to to web sites. FOSS Browser is an Open Source project on Github that can be used as an E Ink Android web browser.

Another popular mobile device is the Web Tablet. It too will have a built-in browser but will usually use an eBook app for reading eBooks.

For more information

Downloads for all sorts of Web browsers - Includes reviews.