Is the end near for Mobipocket?

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

But they're using essentially the same format on the Kindle. Just with a modified DRM.

Yes, but they can update that format anytime to something totally different and just push out a new reader in an update and stop selling new MobiPocket books.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by tompe

Yes, but they can update that format anytime to something totally different and just push out a new reader in an update and stop selling new MobiPocket books.

That would still leave them in full control, with other ebook retailers and existing owners of mobipocket ebooks and supporting devices in the dark.

Also Mobipocket is basically just HTML in a Palm container file. Given the incredibly flexible nature of HTML I believe there is plenty they could still do to improve the format rather than simply replace it. Yes that would mean older devices might not render newer books accurately, but it's better than not reading them at all (and likely newer devices also not reading the existing books).

[krischik]

Originally Posted by zerospinboson

Sure, but what is the point? They've already got all Kindle users locked in, so why would they want to deny themselves the revenue and consolidate the rest of the market under the ePub flag? [...] So I'm confused.

Me to. The only thing I can think of that in there original masterplan moving international should have happen much earlier. Then they would have dominated the market like Apple does with the iTunes.

But they left if for to long and European carriers denied them wireless access (using high prices) and started there own eBook initiatives.

So my guess is that what we see now is that some parts of there masterplan is seriously delayed (Kindle available worldwide) while other parts are going ahead on schedule (shutting down mobipocket).

Martin

[krischik]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Wasn't there a post recently stating that Amazon is only accepting content from US Publishers? That would pretty much rule out a big chunk of eBooks, wouldn't it?

Indeed the world most successful science fiction book series ever written is not available in the Kindle shop.

The series is available in Mobipocket shop and usually fill the best seller list there.

Mind you the Series is also available as DRM free ePUB and (impossible to convert 2 column) DRM free PDF. So if you are prepared to convert or own a Kindle DX then you could probably read it on Kindle as well. But you would not buy at Amazon any more.

Originally Posted by pilotbob

But, I still stand firm on my main point that if mobipocket goes away it will not somehow hurt Kindle owners.

That is of course no consolidation for someone who owns 201 books from the German Mobipocket shop. I have to say that this opinion is quite selfish, self centred and unconsiderate.

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Just with a modified DRM.

Actually only one byte - the file id - is changed. And the PID is printed in a different format. The DRM itself is not changed. With some care you can make Kindle read a DRM encrypted Mobipocket book.

Martin

[netman49]

Mobipocket had its advantages, especially the free tools, but it still was a proprietary format. This is hopefully a great chance for the ePub format, it's open, it supports CSS etc. etc.
Hope to see some brilliant edit and conversion tools for ePub now, like Calibre and Sigil , but we need more

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by netman49

Hope to see some brilliant edit and conversion tools for ePub now, like Calibre and Sigil , but we need more

On that note, Sigil has recently been updated, and so far, it has proven to be the easiest tool I have to create fully-compliant ePubs that display the way I want them to. But I agree, more and easier-to-use ePub creation tools are always desirable.

[ireadiwrite]

[QUOTE=DawnFalcon;587009][QUOTE=ondabeach;586470]MP4 is a video file extension...

ireadiwrite - ...

It's amazing what lenghts some companies will go not to deal with other, perfecrly legitimate, companies for no apparent reason.

Hi DawnFalcon, and thanks so much for your supportive comment - much appreciated!

If ANYONE ever hears any news about how international publishers can get their content onto the Kindle store, I'd sure appreciate an email or message. In the meantime, I'll continue selling our books everywhere else except Amazon.

[JSWolf]

I think that once Sony changes to ePub, you will find ore publishers wanting their eBooks on Sony's site. Also, Sony will have self publishing so all those self-published titles on Amazon can be put on Sony's site as well.

[ireadiwrite]

For sure, we signed up with Sony some months ago, they're just not ready yet.

I personally think the fact that Sony and other stores like Fictionwise/B&N, Books on Board, COOL-er, Smashwords, etc. are doing this (self-pub, self-upload, etc.) will force Amazon's hand to accept international publishers. And hey, for all I know, and considering that they just shut down accepting pubs through mobipocket, they could make some sort of announcement next week which says they replaced eBookbase with some other platform, so I may be forced to eat my anti-Amazon words! I can only hope...

[JSWolf]

Fictionwise is going to lose out big time as more and more readers go ePub via ADE and Fictionwise does not support ePub with DRM. So for the titles they carry with DRM, it's going to backfire on them in the long run.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by ireadiwrite

If ANYONE ever hears any news about how international publishers can get their content onto the Kindle store, I'd sure appreciate an email or message. In the meantime, I'll continue selling our books everywhere else except Amazon.

I guess you need an American connection for now...

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Just more drm-stripping and conversions to mobipocket for me. I like the mobipocket reader a lot and will use it until my WinCE based devices die.

Pretty much the same for me. I generally buy a LIT file if possible first, explode it and keep that and the original file as part of the conversion process to MOBI. The reader is great, my wife is content with her HP IPAQ running the reader, so all is good.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by krischik

Indeed the world most successful science fiction book series ever written is not available in the Kindle shop.

The series is available in Mobipocket shop and usually fill the best seller list there.

Do you think that just might be because Perry Rhodan is German and the Kindle is only sold in an English-speaking country?

[krischik]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you think that just might be because Perry Rhodan is German and the Kindle is only sold in an English-speaking country?

Of course - most definably. It is one of the main points I almost always stress in any Kindle related discussion: The Kindle device and Kindle books are only available in the USA.

And only accepting content from US Publishers also means that non english books won't be available either.

[krischik]

There had been a short discussion (there are no long discussions any more) on mobipocket on tighter regional restrictions. This lead me to a little rethink and recap of the Mobipocket demise.

As far as I counted Amazon took the following steps towards a potential shut down of Mobipocket:

1. Halt all Software development - The latest software release way January 19th, 2009.
2. Outsource customer service - The forums are not monitored any more, e-mail service is reported to handle only the most standard problems.
3. No new Perry Rhodan subscription - The interesting twist here is the fact that the subscription runs for 50 weeks and is paid in full upfront.
4. Disallowing new registration for non USA publishers - Which is what this thread is all about
5. Tightening up regional restrictions - The new one which reduces attractiveness for non USA customers.

Did I miss anything? Of course for all but the first point one can find a perfectly legitimate explanation not involving a potential shut down of Mobipocket.

Martin