Readers and EBook Stores connection - Help.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Seems to me that once Mobipocket releases a content creator for their system into the wild (which they've done), they can't really control who makes what using it. They can stop distributing the maker, they can stop distributing the reader, but they can't make the existing copies of either go pfft!

But then the format is dead and everyone who paid money for eBooks in that format can no longer read them on new devices.

[NatCh]

True, but that's beside the point -- perhaps I misunderstood, but you seemed to be suggesting that because Mobi is the only one who makes a converter for their format, that they then control what content could go into their format. Since they don't control the actual conversion process (having released their converter into the wild) they don't really have any control over what those 'in the wild' converters are used to convert. Even if they drop the format and stop distributing the converter they still couldn't control what the converter was used to convert. That's all I was saying.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by NatCh

True, but that's beside the point -- perhaps I misunderstood, but you seemed to be suggesting that because Mobi is the only one who makes a converter for their format, that they then control what content could go into their format.

They do, to an extent. Today, for example, only people who use Windows can make MobiPocket content.

Originally Posted by NatCh

Since they don't control the actual conversion process (having released their converter into the wild) they don't really have any control over what those 'in the wild' converters are used to convert.

And if they change the format? Then those converters can only be used with older readers and the converters become useless after a while.

Originally Posted by NatCh

Even if they drop the format and stop distributing the converter they still couldn't control what the converter was used to convert. That's all I was saying.

No. But the output from the old converter would become useless.

How many 5.25" diskettes do you have? How about 3.5" diskettes?

Formats change. While old formats may be used over time, sooner or later the hardware stops supporting it, or simply isn't sold anymore.

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by rlauzon

They do, to an extent. Today, for example, only people who use Windows can make MobiPocket content.

Not true, it runs well under Wine, and most likely Crossover. This means that you can use it in Linux or on a Mac if you like.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rlauzon

Show me where I can get a non-MobiPocket (company) program that creates MobiPocket content.

Until you do, there is no choice.

Book Designer

Granted, it cannot do DRM, but it can create non-DRM content.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Book Designer

Granted, it cannot do DRM, but it can create non-DRM content.

Requires use of a Microsoft product. Google shows no information about what it's capabilities are.

So I can't do any kind of evaluation on it.

But since it's not open source, it really isn't much better than MobiPocket's content creator.

[HarryT]

So what do you use to create your eBooks with, Lauzon - you know, all these that you keep telling us that it's "no work" to produce?

Curiously, I can find no books uploaded by you in our book upload area!

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Book Designer

Granted, it cannot do DRM, but it can create non-DRM content.

I installed it on my work PC (I deal with Windows only when someone pays me).

Book Designer does not create MobiPocket format eBooks. It will create an eBook that the MobiPocket reader will read, but that doesn't mean it's a MobiPocket format eBook.

[Adam B.]

Mobipocket is the palmdoc format with a few extra tags (documented on their website) and sometimes proprietary compression and/or encryption added. It's not the evil you make it out to be.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by rlauzon

They do, to an extent. Today, for example, only people who use Windows can make MobiPocket content.

So, it's a conspiracy by Mobi to limit the publication options of anyone who doesn't use Windows?

Let me also point out only those with access to some sort of electricity can use light bulbs.

Having hardware, software, infrastructure or whatever other kind of requirements you'd care to name is not the form of censorship you seem to be implying it to be.

Nevermind, I find I'm losing interest in watching advanced sophistry employed to avoid acknowledging that anyone else has any sort of point, however minor it might be. I've long since seen your points on the subject -- many I even agree with, even if I don't find them all compelling -- but I don't see much benefit in a discussion where only one side can ever be acknowledged as making even the least little bit of sense.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So what do you use to create your eBooks with, Lauzon - you know, all these that you keep telling us that it's "no work" to produce?

My eBooks are currently in Open Office 2.0 format. I simply do a Save As to create whatever format I want (HTML, text, PalmDOC) or an Export to PDF (for my iLiad).

Originally Posted by HarryT

Curiously, I can find no books uploaded by you in our book upload area!

I am a good Fictionwise customer. But I can't upload those eBooks.
Other eBooks are of questionable legal standing (like the Doc Savage or Shadow from Blackmask).
Some are eBooks of paper books that I have (and I can't upload those either).
I have some older books from Project Gutenberg, but I have long ago stripped out the Project's disclaimer text (back when I was reading eBooks on my Palm III) for space. It would be a violation of the Project's agreement to upload them without it. And anyone can get them from the Project just as easily as I did.

Plus, it seems that the supported formats here are closed (i.e. Sony and MobiPocket). So it doesn't seem like I have much to upload.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

Mobipocket is the palmdoc format with a few extra tags (documented on their website)

No it isn't. Re-read their web site.

A PalmDOC-encoded-HTML file is one of the formats their reader reads. But it's not a MobiPocket format eBook.

[rlauzon]

Originally Posted by NatCh

So, it's a conspiracy by Mobi to limit the publication options of anyone who doesn't use Windows?

Try to actually read my messages.

I used that as an example of how MobiPocket has control over who can do what since they control the format and won't publish the full specifications of their format.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rlauzon

My eBooks are currently in Open Office 2.0 format. I simply do a Save As to create whatever format I want (HTML, text, PalmDOC) or an Export to PDF (for my iLiad).

I'm sorry, but Open Office is a closed program. It will not run on a VAX running VMS. So it's no good. It's too closed. Do you have something that will run on a VAX with VMS to make ebooks. If not, I'm afraid, what you have is closed. I hope you know that you've chosen to use a closed program. It cannot run on a VAX with XMS, then well, it's just a closed format.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by rlauzon

Try to actually read my messages.

I used that as an example of how MobiPocket has control over who can do what since they control the format and won't publish the full specifications of their format.

How disappointing.