Google Play Books

Last updated on 15 November, 2012 - 16:54. Originally submitted by Larry Thacker Jr. on 9 May 2012 - 12:10.

Posted in:

Books

Description of App

With Google Play Books for iOS start reading today with millions of titles from Google Play on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Take your favorite books with you on the go and personalize your reading experience. Shop books in your browser on Google Play.

Great Reading Experience

Change font, search within the book, information about book
Manage your library (archive books after reading)
Night-reading mode
Read books offline
VoiceOver support

Discover Millions of Titles on Google Play

Over 4 million books in every imaginable category, from the New York Times® bestsellers to favorite classics
Millions of free books available instantly
Free preview pages
Unlimited storage of books in the digital cloud
Worry-free archive

Syncs With Your Google Play books library

Access all your books wirelessly from the digital cloud
Automatic page position syncing across devices -- pick up reading where you left off.

Version

1.4.2

Free or Paid

Free

Compatibility

This is a universal app, so works natively on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone 4S

Accessibility Comments

The app works well with Voiceover, but you will be doing a lot of page turning. Use 3-finger left swipe to go forward and right to go back. This seems backwards to me but is in keeping with VO functionallity elswhere in IOS.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling

All buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver, but the interface could be easier to navigate and use.

Other Comments

Google Play support responded to the original VO problem report on this app and fixed the issue. They may be open to further suggestions, but be aware that the first line of support may not even understand your questions. It took some persistance to get through to someone who understood and acknowledged the problem.

Link to Google Play Books in the App Store

Visit developer web site

User Options

0 AppleVis user(s) have recommended this app for VoiceOver users.

Comments

#1 VoiceOver fix in 1.3.1

Submitted by David Goodwin on 7 June, 2012 - 02:44.

Version 1.3.1 has just been released, and the release notes state that the VoiceOver bug has been fixed.

I've not used this app myself, but am assuming that the bug in question is the one mentioned above, which made it impossible to turn pages when using VoiceOver. If so, hurrah!

#2 Confirmed

Submitted by Larry Thacker Jr. on 11 June, 2012 - 13:15.

Yes, it is now possible to turn pages by using the 3-finger swipe left or right. Unfortunately they did not add the continuous reading functionallity that I suggested, but you can now read with it if you can put up with the need to constantly turn pages and get bac to the top of the screen. I will be thanking Google Support and making the second suggestion again.

#3 Version 1.4.2

Submitted by Larry Thacker Jr. on 15 November, 2012 - 16:26.

V1.4.2.6055 lists changes for Voiceover as part of the update, but I can't tell what they are. I commend them for continuing to work on it, but I'm still waiting for continuous reading. That's the one thing that would make the app truly useful.

#4 One more thing I should add

Submitted by Larry Thacker Jr. on 15 November, 2012 - 16:38.

I didn't think to comment on this because the Android app has the same quirk, but I should save you the frustration. The page chooser at the bottom will not adjust by single page numbers. You will jump tens of pages at a time, perhaps more depending on the size of the book. Ignore it unless you really want to jump around by large chunks.