Mango Languages iPhone/iPad App Now Available

Now you can take Mango Languages with you wherever you go, thanks to the release of the Mango Mobile Library Edition app for iPhone and iPad. This new app includes all of the languages that are available through Mango, and also has many features of the Internet version of Mango, including grammar and cultural notes, interactive phonetic spellings, and semantic color mapping.

To use  this new app, you will need a valid Troy Public Library card. You will also need to set up a Mango account, which you can do by visiting our Mango Languages site here. You device also needs to be running iOS4 or greater.

The Mango Mobile Library Edition app can be downloaded here through the iTunes App store.  For more information about this new app, visit this site.

OverDrive Apps Upgrade to v2.3

OverDrive, a supplier of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks to the Troy Public Library, has upgraded their OverDrive Media Console app for Android, BlackBerry, and Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads, to v2.3. This upgrade now allows users to return EPUB eBooks early and also makes the Adobe Digital Editions authorization process easier. 

If you already have these apps installed on your device, they should update automatically. If you are new to using OverDrive on your mobile device, you can download the mobile versions of OverDrive Media Console here.

OverDrive Updates Android & iPhone/iPad Apps

OverDrive, a supplier of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks to the Troy Public Library, has released updates to their OverDrive Media Console apps for Android and Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads. The new updates include the following features:

OverDrive Media Console for Android (v2.2)

• Sepia display option for eBooks
• Screen-dimming override for eBooks
• Faster EPUB performance
• Sleep timer for audiobooks

OverDrive Media Console for iPhone/iPad (v2.2.1)

• Orientation lock for eBooks
• Night mode and sepia display option for eBooks
• Screen lock override for eBooks
• Improved range of font size settings
• In-app library “Website Finder”

If you already have these apps installed on your Android device or iPhone/iPad, be sure to check the app for these new updates. If you do not have them installed already, you can download OverDrive Media Console for Android through the Android Market or download the iPhone/iPad version of OverDrive Media Console through the iTunes App Store.

For more information about these new releases, see this post from the OverDrive Digital Library blog. 

OverDrive Optimizes Support for iPads

OverDrive, a content provider of eBooks and eAudiobooks to the Troy Public Library, has upgraded its OverDrive Media Console app for iPhone and iPad to v2.2. The biggest new feature included is full iPad support. While previous versions of the app worked for iPad, this new version is optimized to take advantage of the bigger iPad screen. Additionally, downloaded content can be displayed in either portrait or landscape orientation.

To use this new upgrade, your device must be running iOS v4.0 or above. You can download OverDrive Media Console for iPhone/iPad v2.2 directly here.

eReaders Become More Affordable

If you are interested in buying an eBook reader, now is the time. Several new models of readers are coming out soon. Also, several popular eReaders have recently dropped in price.

As we have mentioned previously, Borders is getting into the eBook game. The company is launching its own eBook store, and will soon be selling two new eReaders. In addition to the Sony eReaders it currently sells, Borders is adding the Kobo eReader and also the Libre Pro from Aluratek to the lineup. The biggest thing about these new eReaders is their price. The Kobo eReader costs $149.99, while the Libre Pro is only $119.99. Each of these new eReaders, if purchased through Borders, will also come preloaded with 100 free classic books.

Barnes and Noble is also releasing a new version of its popular Nook eReader. The new Nook Wi-Fi costs $149, and has almost all of the same features as the Nook that was released last year. The only difference is that the Nook Wi-Fi does not have built-in 3G connectivity, so you can only directly donwload books to your Nook if you have a Wi-Fi connection. Barnes and Noble has also dropped the price on the older version of the Nook, now called the Nook 3G, to $199.

Not to be outdone, Amazon has dramatically cut the price of its Kindle 2 eReader, to $189. Just recently, it was selling for $259. The Kindle is now also available for purchase in Target stores.

Meanwhile, sales of the the Apple iPad show no signs of slowing down. Apple announced that, in only 80 days, it has sold over 3 million iPads. Compare this to estimated sales on the Kindle, which in approximately 2 years has sold 3 million units.

With the many different eReaders now available at a wide range of price points, now is an excellent time to try one out.

OverDrive App for iPhone Available Now

OverDrive, one of the vendors that supplies downloadable audiobooks for the Troy Public Library, has released an eagerly awaited app that allows OverDrive MP3 format audiobooks to be directly downloaded to the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad. You can download the iPhone app through the Apple App Store.

With the addition of the iPhone app, OverDrive MP3 audiobooks are now available for almost all major smartphones, including BlackBerry devices, Android, and Windows Mobile devices. Go here to download the version of OverDrive Media Console for your device. OverDrive has also released software updates for some other mobile devices, including v1.0 of OverDrive Media Console for BlackBerry. You can download this update here.

For more information about these new releases, see this press release and this blog post.