In previous posts, I wrote about the upcoming improvements to Apple’s iBook app including the addition of a PDF reader. I also mentioned three apps now available in the app store for displaying PDF files. Should you wait for the improved iBooks or go with one of these three? If so, which one?
I spent some time studying these three apps and a clear winner emerged. Even after the new iBooks arrives, I recommend you go with the latest version (v.2.8) of GoodReader. While all three are capable PDF readers, GoodReader offers a powerful feature set for just 99 cents.
Both TabletPCReview and cnet reviews recently covered GoodReader, so I won’t spend time here rehashing what they wrote. However, as an educator and presenter, I evaluate how an application may work for learning and informing. In the case of apps such as PDF readers, that includes the ability to share the content with a class or audience. That means projection.
Both CloudReaders and GoodReader support an external display. Fast PDF does not and at $2.99 is the most expensive of the three. CloudReaders is primarily a comic book and graphic novel reader, and the file formats supported reflect this function. GoodReader supports more common file formats, the kind you and I are likely to use most often, including PDF, text, MS Office, iWork, jpeg, audio and video.
Projecting these files is where GoodReader really shines (pun intended). With PDFs, I was able to switch from landscape to portrait view, pinch to zoom, and tap to zoom. The projected image offered a “window” onto the document that allowed me to slide the document around within this window. I could select a portion of the document to focus on, then zoom and pan as needed. What I did on the iPad was faithfully rendered on the projection screen (a white wall in my home office). See the two samples below captured from the iPad, one fullscreen and one zoomed with a reverse pinch.
FULLSCREEN
ZOOMED
I had a few problems with my (old) VGA projector. Swapping portrait and landscape views caused this projector to lose the connection and the” video out” button in GoodReader became disabled. Disconnecting the cable and restarting GoodReader enabled the projection, but with a decided green tint as the projector color shifted. Resetting the projector to an RGB color profile solved the problem. There’s an even simpler solution. Before switching the orientation of the iPad, turn the video off in GoodReader. Rotate your iPad. Then turn the video back on. See image below.
Your (newer) projector should handle this better. I had none of these issues with the iPad connected via VGA cable to a 36″ monitor. Repeated swapping of portrait and landscape views worked smoothly. Remember to adjust the Auto-Lock setting of your iPad when you present so you don’t lose the display. On the iPad select Settings, then General, then Auto-Lock. Fifteen minutes should be enough. You can also “Disable device auto-lock” in the GoodReader settings if you don’t want to change your auto-lock when preparing to present. See image below.
You have three options for transferring files to GoodReader on the iPad. For fast, simple file transfer over USB, I recommend using iTunes with your iPad cabled to your computer. Select the “Apps” tab and scan down the screen for the “File Sharing” area. You’ll see GoodReader listed there along with any other apps that offer file transfer to the iPad. Select GoodReader and then you can drag and drop files to add them to the list. Files are automatically transferred to GoodReader on the iPad. See the image below. (The ADD button you see in GoodReader Documents in iTunes can also be used to build the file transfer list.)
You can also copy files to the iPad via Wi-Fi or online file services such as Dropbox.com or Box.net, though these methods require a more complicated server setup. For more on these methods and using the GoodReader app, see the GoodReader for iPad user manual.
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