Marvin Review

Previously quite the hit for iPad-owning reading fans, Marvin has made its way to the iPhone ably demonstrating just what a great eBook reader the device can be. For those who enjoy reading on the move, Marvin should be a firm choice for a while to come.

The app is immediately simple to use. Relying upon DRM-free EPUB books, it comes with a selection of great classics such as "The Picture of Dorian Gray," "Crime and Punishment," and many more. Importing others is just as simple, done via iTunes, Dropbox, or a Calibre plugin. Tutorials for doing such things are located via Safari rather than built into the app, but fortunately it's all quite straightforward.

Reading through the app is just as simple and intuitive with a variety of clearly laid out gestures dictating what can be done. Various personal features such as brightness and text size are similarly manipulated this way. In fact, in terms of arranging page layouts just how one wants, Marvin is impressively varied with options to cater for every situation.

Such originality continues with other, smaller features, such as the ability to set a timer for how long one wants to read. There's also the option to search the app, bringing out various key characters and themes, making Marvin a potentially ideal source for those conducting research. Highlighting and annotation tools further enhance these options, plus there are custom commands that can be used to integrate within Wikipedia, Goodreads, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and many other services.

It's powerful stuff and ensures that Marvin is much more than just a regular eBook reader, although it does that job admirably well, too. While I'd have appreciated clearer, built-in tutorials, everything else about the app hits the spot perfectly. For regular readers, it'll be quite the delight and a real must have.