Can JK Rowling bring on e-book standardization? - Page 2

CleverClothe · 07-24-2011, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm sure she meant spoken languages. The HP books are available in a huge range of languages including, for example, Welsh, Latin, and ancient Greek.

What about Klingon?

Sorry, I just have to wonder about some people.

HarryT · 07-24-2011, 02:04 AM

I have both the Latin and Ancient Greek editions. They are both extremely well written.

charleski · 07-24-2011, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

The biggest problem is that the mobi format doesn't support images with text flowing around it, so you lose some of character of the original books. Mobi doesn't even support something as simple as a drop cap.

Forget fancy stuff like images and drop caps. Mobi doesn't even support something as basic as a hanging indent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have both the Latin and Ancient Greek editions. They are both extremely well written.

If the Latin version were translated properly, they'd change the words in the spells to use garbled Etruscan

.

HarryT · 07-24-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

Forget fancy stuff like images and drop caps. Mobi doesn't even support something as basic as a hanging indent!

It does, actually. The code:

<p width="-1em">

will give you a hanging indent of 1em on the paragraph.

Jozawun · 07-24-2011, 08:24 PM

Harry, do the Latin and Ancient Greek editions use the hanging indent properly?
Because if they don't, I'm not going to bother buying them.

Freeshadow · 07-24-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

If the Latin version were translated properly, they'd change the words in the spells to use garbled Etruscan

.

Hell yeah I think you're right about that.

EatingPie · 07-24-2011, 09:14 PM

I've read a lot about this, and I am hoping Amazon goes ePUB. Not a slam dunk, but I think it the more likely course.

Here's a few things that I think are factual, from what I can garner.

Rowling said no DRM on the books.
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/...rmore-details/

Books are via Google Books (obviously), making them ePub.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp

Books are sold exclusively through Pottermore, Google can't even sell them on their site.
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/...rmore-details/

Pottermore sells the books, and purchases are through Google Checkout.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp

Google did not say that the arrangement was exclusive.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp

Amazon has said they are "working closely with Pottermore to make sure Kindle customers will be able to buy and read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books."
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-a...ble-on-kindle/

Again, I'm pretty sure those are all facts. The PC Mag article saying that Google did not claim exclusive rights was ambiguous. Is it non-exclusive rights to Google Books, or Google Checkout? If it's the former, then Amazon may be able to license .mobi versions. However, PCMag implies the latter, meaning you could pay through Amazon Marketplace or something; that has no effect whatsoever on format, just payment option.

So it basically boils down to this: if Google Books has exclusive rights to the books, Amazon has to support ePUB. If not, Amazon can make a deal for a .mobi version.

I am sincerely hoping that Amazon is pushed in to ePUB. It's not like that'll be hard. They could either pay ADE licensing, or buy up an existing iPad/iPod 3rd Party ePUB reader. Or they could bite the bullet and develop their own.

-Pie

HarryT · 07-25-2011, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOZAWUN

Harry, do the Latin and Ancient Greek editions use the hanging indent properly?
Because if they don't, I'm not going to bother buying them.

Can you give an example of where the HP books use hanging indents, and I'll look.

karunaji · 07-25-2011, 02:21 AM

If no-DRM is a requirement then no need for ADE as well. Amazon could simply sell non-DRM mobi through their site. I don't think that format is important in this case as HP books have simple formatting. The real benefit could come from accepting DRM-less publishing.

HarryT · 07-25-2011, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karunaji

If no-DRM is a requirement then no need for ADE as well. Amazon could simply sell non-DRM mobi through their site. I don't think that format is important in this case as HP books have simple formatting. The real benefit could come from accepting DRM-less publishing.

Amazon already do sell DRM-free books. Whether or not a book has DRM at Amazon is purely down to the publisher.

charleski · 07-25-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It does, actually. The code:

<p width="-1em">

will give you a hanging indent of 1em on the paragraph.

Not in a useful manner:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=142664

jbcohen · 07-25-2011, 07:27 AM

I do not know of any book sellers currently selling foreign, non-enligh books however I ahve an old pal that has taken up making his own foriegn languege editions of the boosk he reads. He downloads the books he buys from Barns and Nobels, removes the DRM then loads them in Open Office which he then uses to translate to his native languege. Its a long step but in his mind it is necessary since the end result is in his native languege.

charleski · 07-25-2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Can you give an example of where the HP books use hanging indents, and I'll look.

Chamber of Secrets, chapter 6, page 78 of the UK children's paperback:
"54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?"

But it's true that these are rare, though she uses a lot of extracted text.

DiapDealer · 07-25-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

Not in a useful manner:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=142664

As the OP of that thread, I have to point out that a basic hanging indent is quite possible (and consistent across various devices/apps). It's hanging indents combined with paragraphs that already have an increased left margin (blockquote element) that gets weird. Everything has it's quirks. I wish ADE would properly handle smallcaps.

karunaji · 07-25-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Amazon already do sell DRM-free books. Whether or not a book has DRM at Amazon is purely down to the publisher.

Sure but most big publishers probably chose to use DRM out of tradition. HP books could lead as an example that DRM is a pointless thing.

07-24-2011, 09:14 PM	#22
EatingPie Blueberry! Posts: 888 Karma: 133343 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500 (RIP); PRS-600 (Good Riddance); PRS-505; PRS-650; PRS-350	I've read a lot about this, and I am hoping Amazon goes ePUB. Not a slam dunk, but I think it the more likely course. Here's a few things that I think are factual, from what I can garner. Rowling said no DRM on the books. http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/...rmore-details/ Books are via Google Books (obviously), making them ePub. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp Books are sold exclusively through Pottermore, Google can't even sell them on their site. http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/...rmore-details/ Pottermore sells the books, and purchases are through Google Checkout. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp Google did not say that the arrangement was exclusive. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388789,00.asp Amazon has said they are "working closely with Pottermore to make sure Kindle customers will be able to buy and read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books." http://paidcontent.org/article/419-a...ble-on-kindle/ Again, I'm pretty sure those are all facts. The PC Mag article saying that Google did not claim exclusive rights was ambiguous. Is it non-exclusive rights to Google Books, or Google Checkout? If it's the former, then Amazon may be able to license .mobi versions. However, PCMag implies the latter, meaning you could pay through Amazon Marketplace or something; that has no effect whatsoever on format, just payment option. So it basically boils down to this: if Google Books has exclusive rights to the books, Amazon has to support ePUB. If not, Amazon can make a deal for a .mobi version. I am sincerely hoping that Amazon is pushed in to ePUB. It's not like that'll be hard. They could either pay ADE licensing, or buy up an existing iPad/iPod 3rd Party ePUB reader. Or they could bite the bullet and develop their own. -Pie Last edited by EatingPie; 07-24-2011 at 09:17 PM. Reason: Made links actually link!

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07-24-2011, 02:04 AM	#17
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I have both the Latin and Ancient Greek editions. They are both extremely well written.

07-24-2011, 08:24 PM	#20
Jozawun Fanatic Posts: 519 Karma: 2693434 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen 3, Pocketbook 902, Sony 650	Harry, do the Latin and Ancient Greek editions use the hanging indent properly? Because if they don't, I'm not going to bother buying them.

07-25-2011, 02:21 AM	#24
karunaji Evangelist Posts: 421 Karma: 1033566 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Latvia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Bookeen Opus	If no-DRM is a requirement then no need for ADE as well. Amazon could simply sell non-DRM mobi through their site. I don't think that format is important in this case as HP books have simple formatting. The real benefit could come from accepting DRM-less publishing.

07-25-2011, 07:27 AM	#27
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	I do not know of any book sellers currently selling foreign, non-enligh books however I ahve an old pal that has taken up making his own foriegn languege editions of the boosk he reads. He downloads the books he buys from Barns and Nobels, removes the DRM then loads them in Open Office which he then uses to translate to his native languege. Its a long step but in his mind it is necessary since the end result is in his native languege.