Rating: 
Review Conditions
The eBook, A Study in Scarlet from Offscreen Technologies was installed on a Nokia 5800 XPressMusic, an S60 5th edition device with Symbian OS version 9.4.
Installation
The eBook can be downloaded from the Ovi Store. Login and set your mobile to either of the 2 S60 5th edition devices to get a link to download the eBook.
First View
Its might seem odd that I am reviewing an eBook. But this eBook has captured all features that I am looking for in a pocket reader on my mobile. Read on for what makes it great.
Main Review
A Study in Scarlet, a standalone eBook is a Symbian OS application. Technically it is an eBook because its an electronic version of the traditional print book by the same name and author. But it cannot be read on any other platform other than S60 5th edition and cannot be read using any other eBook reader that runs on the same platform. Hence I have used the term a standalone eBook.
The tried and tested model for sellign and distributing eBooks is for a company to make the eBook reader application freely available for a specific platform and let publishers sell titles at varying prices. Mobipocket eBook reader is a good example. The iPhone has turned out to be a very good platform for reading books with its own native eBook reader available in iTunes. At the other end of the spectrum are dedicated devices for reading eBooks, like the Kindle and the Sony Reader. The model of selling standalone eBooks is somewhere in between. The casual book reader will not hesitate to buy standalone eBooks since he doesn’t want to build a collection or replace his book collection with digital copies.
There is Table of Contents using which you can jump directly to one of the 13 chapters in the book. Unfortunately, there are no page numbers in the book. A horizontal scrollbar displays the chapter you are reading and can be used to scroll forward or backward but its not accurate.
The eBook reader remembers the page you were reading last before exiting the application. When you open it again, you are taken to that page.
The eBook reader disables auto lock so that you are not constantly distracted by the screen locking out.
Handling
There are two touch controlled buttons, ToC and Exit. The pages of the eBook can be moved forward by tapping the right side of the screen and backwards by tapping the left. The Page can also be dragged up and down. A hand pointer icon is shown when the pages are moved. An arrow shows up indicating whether you are moving back or forward in the book.
Weaknesses
Surprisingly, this eBook occupied nearly 14 megabytes of RAM on by device!! Given that the 5800 XPressMusic is not well endowed with RAM (just 40 megabytes at startup), this is an issue for me.
I would like to see page numbers, not just chapter numbers. But the application remembers the page, so that’s ok. I would like to have the option to bookmark pages and search for specific text. But I guess for the price of just 1 Euro, additional features means higher development cost and may not be profitable.
Conclusion
The eBook, A Study in Scarlet can be downloaded at the Ovi Store for free. There are 5 more eBooks in the Sherlock Holmes series that cost 1 Euro each. The eBook reviewed here is clearly a sample for users to try and purchase more eBooks from the Ovi Store. One Euro per book is an excellent pricing model and should be very attractive. Its a must have and I’ll give it 5 of 5.
Offscreen Technologies has a many cool applications in the Ovi Store. Check them out too.
You can also get the eBook A Scandal in Bohemia for free here (couldn’t find it on the Ovi Store). This eBook is not exactly in the same format as A Study in Scarlet but its easy reading.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Ashok,
Glad you liked the review of SPB TV.