I wrote one of the best posts in the history of humankind the other day. It was the one about using DropBox to get ePub format ebooks onto your iPad. Then commenter Wes was kind enough to point out the giant flaw in my towering masterpiece of modern instructionation. “What if you don’t have access to a computer at all?” I wept for hours after reading it, then I shook it off and got to work on this, the new best post in the history of humankind. If you’ve ever wanted to get DRM free eBooks directly onto your iPad for reading, without a computer, then click on the read more link.

It turns out that there is a very simple mechanic in the iPad OS as well as the new iOS 4 to allow you to download certain supported file types to the iPad directly from Safari. Previously you always had to be Jailbroken to allow this, usually through the use of a plugin called Safari Downloader and a file browser like iFile. Now however, as long as it’s a file type that one of your installed apps supports, you’re golden.

First you have to have a compatible reader installed. I found that among the apps I had installed, Goodreader, Stanza and iSilo were all able to read ePub books. Stanza is my favorite reader on the iPad and iPhone so that’s what I went with.

Now just browse to your favorite site for downloading DRM free ePub format books, I like Epubbooks myself. Once you’re there, find a title you like and tap on the download button.

Once you’ve navigated to the link it will give you the following screen, allowing you to choose which app opens the file. Choose Stanza (or your preference you rebel) and tap Open In.

Your ebook will now be available to read right in Stanza and it will be copied into the apps folder so you will be able to continue to access it using that app.

Thanks Wes!