Bluefire reader app - Page 41

Jane12 · 10-22-2011, 02:56 PM

Hi Micah,

I agree that some sort of alert when the library is rebuilding a great idea, and I'm totally willing to pay $$ for a quality ereading app.

Also, I really like the default sans-serif font and I'm curious what it is. Can you say?

Philantrop · 10-22-2011, 02:59 PM

IMHO, the best course of action would be to have an open-source ebook reader for iOS. Mind you, this *could* be charged for (cf. Wesnoth being F/OSS and still being sold on the AppStore) anway. (And here I'm looking at you, iOS ebook reader devs. :-) )

Let's face it, there's (almost)* no other way to stop any determined company (like Amazon) from buying and subsequently burying a closed-source software (like Stanza, Bluefire Reader or MegaReader, just to name a few).

Because in the end, when it comes to non-trivial amounts of money, most of us (including myself) will give in or will be forced to give in to secure the survival of a company.

(* "almost" because there's the KDE Free Qt Foundation (http://www.kde.org/community/whatisk...foundation.php) but that's not something viable for a smaller project like an ebook reader)

Micah · 10-22-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

This is really good news, Micah.

Something else I would suggest, given whats happened to Stanza, is that you start asking for donations or charging for the app. I'd hate to see you tempted by an offer from Amazon which will surely come in the future, because you are doing this for $0 I've paid up to $10 for reading apps I don't use because they are now not up to scratch. I'd be happy to pay for something which is excellent, ad-free, and staying available with all iOS updates (and Android updates... still not sure which way I will jump in the long run).

Thanks for the suggestion. We might do that some day, but I'd want to also have a free version. One or two bucks is not much for most people, but one of the greatest things about ebooks is that it puts a bunch of free books into the "hands" of anyone (fortunate enough to get their hands on a device) - even if they are very poor, or kids that don't have credit cards. This is important to me, as I believe that reading changes and enriches lives - and readers make better neighbors and global citizens. This is one reason we work so hard to support library lending too. It is complex technology, but libraries are a vital organ to our American organism and we need to support them.

Anyway, off my soapbox - We do license our software to ebook retail chains and brand it for them. So we have a revenue stream that keeps us fed.

ATimson · 10-22-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philantrop

IMHO, the best course of action would be to have an open-source ebook reader for iOS.

While that's a great idea, that wouldn't be a be-all end-all; I rather doubt Adobe would allow their sourcecode to be released to the world at large, which means no DRM support.

(And a home-brewed rendering engine, but I'm willing to accept that someone can come up with one as good as Adobe's, even if they haven't yet.

)

kyteflyer · 10-22-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micah

...

Anyway, off my soapbox - We do license our software to ebook retail chains and brand it for them. So we have a revenue stream that keeps us fed.

Aha! Thats why I have seen so many Bluefire clones on the app store

Micah · 10-22-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

Aha! Thats why I have seen so many Bluefire clones on the app store

Yes, and you will see many more.

Micah · 10-22-2011, 10:07 PM

One cool app coming up is for the ABA (American Booksellers Association) called "IndieBound". You can shop from your favorite local store and they get the proceeds. Infrastructure provided by Google and the ABA. App by Bluefire.

Micah · 10-22-2011, 10:09 PM

Also some library systems will be releasing their own eReader apps - powered by the smoky B.

Micah · 10-22-2011, 10:10 PM

Yea, Yea. I'm a UX guy not a writer.

JSWolf · 10-22-2011, 10:19 PM

So, what about updating Bluefire to use the latest mobile ADE?

artbatista · 10-22-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

This is really good news, Micah.

Something else I would suggest, given whats happened to Stanza, is that you start asking for donations or charging for the app. I'd hate to see you tempted by an offer from Amazon which will surely come in the future, because you are doing this for $0 I've paid up to $10 for reading apps I don't use because they are now not up to scratch. I'd be happy to pay for something which is excellent, ad-free, and staying available with all iOS updates (and Android updates... still not sure which way I will jump in the long run).

I could not have said better!

Perhaps two versions, a free or ad supported version and full/paid version.

Like you I have paid as much for just trying reader apps.

Cheers

Art

Micah · 10-22-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So, what about updating Bluefire to use the latest mobile ADE?

I don't understand the question. ADE is desktop software.

ATimson · 10-22-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micah

I don't understand the question. ADE is desktop software.

I'm assuming he means RMDSK 9.3 (Bluefire is using 9.2, I believe?).

Micah · 10-23-2011, 10:47 AM

[QUOTE=ATimson;1799071]I'm assuming he means RMDSK 9.3 (Bluefire is using 9.2, I believe?).[/QUOTE

Yes, we are using 9.2. Is there a particular feature in 9.3 that interests you?

broberds · 10-24-2011, 01:20 PM

Hi Micah,

When I open Bluefire after being out of it for a while, it "forgets" the book I'm reading and takes me back to Library. I'd love to just come back to where I left off in the book I'm reading.

10-22-2011, 02:56 PM	#601
Jane12 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 1706300 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: iDevices	Hi Micah, I agree that some sort of alert when the library is rebuilding a great idea, and I'm totally willing to pay $$ for a quality ereading app. Also, I really like the default sans-serif font and I'm curious what it is. Can you say? Last edited by Jane12; 10-24-2011 at 08:07 PM.

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10-22-2011, 02:59 PM	#602
Philantrop Addict Posts: 296 Karma: 32153 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Kindles (e-ink)	IMHO, the best course of action would be to have an open-source ebook reader for iOS. Mind you, this could be charged for (cf. Wesnoth being F/OSS and still being sold on the AppStore) anway. (And here I'm looking at you, iOS ebook reader devs. :-) ) Let's face it, there's (almost)* no other way to stop any determined company (like Amazon) from buying and subsequently burying a closed-source software (like Stanza, Bluefire Reader or MegaReader, just to name a few). Because in the end, when it comes to non-trivial amounts of money, most of us (including myself) will give in or will be forced to give in to secure the survival of a company. (* "almost" because there's the KDE Free Qt Foundation (http://www.kde.org/community/whatisk...foundation.php) but that's not something viable for a smaller project like an ebook reader)

10-22-2011, 10:07 PM	#607
Micah Bluefire Reader dude Posts: 329 Karma: 1089156 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Ipad	One cool app coming up is for the ABA (American Booksellers Association) called "IndieBound". You can shop from your favorite local store and they get the proceeds. Infrastructure provided by Google and the ABA. App by Bluefire.

10-22-2011, 10:09 PM	#608
Micah Bluefire Reader dude Posts: 329 Karma: 1089156 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Ipad	Also some library systems will be releasing their own eReader apps - powered by the smoky B.

10-22-2011, 10:10 PM	#609
Micah Bluefire Reader dude Posts: 329 Karma: 1089156 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Ipad	Yea, Yea. I'm a UX guy not a writer.

10-22-2011, 10:19 PM	#610
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So, what about updating Bluefire to use the latest mobile ADE?

10-23-2011, 10:47 AM	#614
Micah Bluefire Reader dude Posts: 329 Karma: 1089156 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Ipad	[QUOTE=ATimson;1799071]I'm assuming he means RMDSK 9.3 (Bluefire is using 9.2, I believe?).[/QUOTE Yes, we are using 9.2. Is there a particular feature in 9.3 that interests you?

10-24-2011, 01:20 PM	#615
broberds Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: iPhone	Hi Micah, When I open Bluefire after being out of it for a while, it "forgets" the book I'm reading and takes me back to Library. I'd love to just come back to where I left off in the book I'm reading.

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