Custom Calibre

[Biblits]

Hi, i'm launching an indie Digital Bookstore for Latinamerica and i want to get in touch with Calibre developers to discuss the chances of building or working in a Custom Calibre ver. for this market and for the my costumers.

[kovidgoyal]

What customizations do you have in mind?

[Biblits]

I have a few things in mind:

First some kind of "skins" so we can customize the graphic view of Calibre (don't get me wrong i'm the biggest fan and user but we're talking about a market that starts from ground zero and is a very lazy one) without messing around with the engine so in the updates from your side it doesn't jam the manger itself.

I'm thinking about some way to buy direct from Calibre, i don't know if connecting direct from the software or with a explorer window that goes directly to the bookstore shopping cart (my knowledge of the programmig vudu is short) and then that the content downloads direct to Calibre so you can send it to your Kindle, Kobo, Sony etc... (less clicks better xperience)

I'm going no DRM at all so that should make things easier.

I want to provide my customers with the best buying/reading experience for me Calibre has done that so i'm coming to the source.

I'm not thinking about some app that i can take and put only my name on it but to coparticipate with Calibre and that every customer in my site use and enjoy my books with the best software availabe for managing them.

It would be good to know how about Synch between readings and the chances of going mobile with this possible Calibre Custom.

I don't know if what i'm asking is not in your interest or is just damn hard. But i think nobody can answer that question like you.

Thanks in advance

[kovidgoyal]

I have no spare development time personally, so I cannot really help, but the skinning and direct buy from within calibre are relatively easy to implement, so it should be possible for you to hire developers to do it.

The calibre viewer already remembers the last position read.

As for a mobile version, that would be considerably harder. calibre si not designed to run in such a resource constrained environment.

[Biblits]

Tks a lot for the answer, i will keep the thread if some other developer find this rather interesting.

[orellc]

Originally Posted by Biblits

I have a few things in mind:

First some kind of "skins" so we can customize the graphic view of Calibre (don't get me wrong i'm the biggest fan and user but we're talking about a market that starts from ground zero and is a very lazy one) without messing around with the engine so in the updates from your side it doesn't jam the manger itself.

I'm thinking about some way to buy direct from Calibre, i don't know if connecting direct from the software or with a explorer window that goes directly to the bookstore shopping cart (my knowledge of the programmig vudu is short) and then that the content downloads direct to Calibre so you can send it to your Kindle, Kobo, Sony etc... (less clicks better xperience)

I'm going no DRM at all so that should make things easier.

I want to provide my customers with the best buying/reading experience for me Calibre has done that so i'm coming to the source.

I'm not thinking about some app that i can take and put only my name on it but to coparticipate with Calibre and that every customer in my site use and enjoy my books with the best software availabe for managing them.

It would be good to know how about Synch between readings and the chances of going mobile with this possible Calibre Custom.

I don't know if what i'm asking is not in your interest or is just damn hard. But i think nobody can answer that question like you.

Thanks in advance

Hi biblits,

I'm and independent publisher and am also interested in customizing calibre. I think creating updated skins is a great idea. I have a very talented user interface designer who could certainly make that happen. Integrating a shopping cart would be key in my model. I also think taking it mobile is an amazing idea. Where my plans differ from yours is that I do want to incorporate DRM. I've private messaged you with my contact information. Please get in touch with me, as I'm very interested in discussing this further.

[user_none]

0.8 (currently in beta test) adds an API for integrating stores into calibre. The API is still in flux as I'm getting user feedback but I plan to have it finalized by the official 0.8 release. The idea is an integrated search that will search all stores but the actual way the store is presented to the user is left up to the store plugin creator.

[orellc]

Originally Posted by user_none

0.8 (currently in beta test) adds an API for integrating stores into calibre. The API is still in flux as I'm getting user feedback but I plan to have it finalized by the official 0.8 release. The idea is an integrated search that will search all stores but the actual way the store is presented to the user is left up to the store plugin creator.

That sounds great.

I see custom skins being a simple issue, what would it take to take this thing mobile?

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by orellc

what would it take to take this thing mobile?

You might want to start with this section of the manual. For just Windows support you can inquire with the developer of this portable version.

[orellc]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

You might want to start with this section of the manual. For just Windows support you can inquire with the developer of this portable version.

Thanks. One of the reasons I'm so interested in Caliber right now is because of the release of adobe digital publishing. It sounds like an amazing service but it is certainly very cost prohibitive. I'm basically trying to see if Caliber can be modified to a system that offers the same digital distribution across multiple platforms, with DRM, though not using the software as a service model, rather software hosted by each individual publisher. Would anyone be interested in this? I really think an open source alternative would really propel digital publishing forward for smaller publishers.

Here is an e-mail I received from Adobe yesterday.

Spoiler:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below is an overview of Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, its features,
availability, pricing and how you can get a commercial Digital Publishing
Suite account right now.

Important! Digital Publishing Suite is currently available in a free
prerelease program. However, this program will end shortly with the
release of Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 and the commercial availability of the
Professional Edition of Digital Publishing Suite expected in early May
(the Enterprise Edition of Digital Publishing Suite is currently
availabile). We have included further details below on how this will
affect all current participants in the prerelease program as well as
participants who have already published commercial applications to the
Apple App Store and Android Market. Adobe will offer a trial program after
the prerelease program is closed but will not transfer prerelease account
information to a trial.

Closure schedule for Digital Publishing Suite prerelease program

On May 3, 2011, the Digital Publishing Suite prerelease program will close
to new participants. Existing participants will have access to the
prerelease program through August 3rd, 2011.

On June 6, 2011, any prerelease participant who has not purchased a
Digital Publishing Suite account will not be able to upload new .folio
files to the Distribution Service. For prerelease participants who have
purchased accounts, your account will be unaffected. Adobe will continue
to serve existing .folio files of Digital Publishing Suite accounts
through August 3rd.

On August 3, 2011, Adobe will stop distribution of .folio files belonging
to prerelease participants who have not purchased a Digital Publishing
Suite account.

Joining the prerelease program for Digital Publishing Suite
Until the prerelease program closes as noted above, participants in the
program can continue to use of Digital Publishing Suite is free of
charge. charge via our prerelease program. You will be able to create
digital publications and commercially distribute your applications on the
Apple App Store, Android Market and other mobile marketplaces added over
time. You can sign up for access to the Digital Publishing Suite
prerelease program at http://www.adobe.com/beta (please choose Digital
Publishing Suite from the list). After you've joined this program you'll
find documentation describing how to create your digital publications and
distribute them. A list of current live applications can be found at
http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishinggallery/.

Adobe InDesign CS5.5 & Digital Publishing Suite Overview
Adobe InDesign CS5.5 software is used to author highly interactive digital
magazines, newspapers, and corporate publications in the form of a .folio
file. To create these publications you simply need Adobe InDesign CS5.5.
Digital Publishing Suite is a set of hosted services and viewer
technology which allow you to publish and distribute .folio files to a
wide variety of tablets and through leading mobile stores via
publisher-branded applications. In summary, Digital Publishing Suite
provides:

* Viewer Builder Service to preview, test and build branded, signed
applications for iPad, Android tablets and other platforms to be
introduced over time.
* Distribution Service to host and fulfill .folio files targeted to
branded applications.
* eCommerce Service to sell content through app-provided payment systems
including Apple App Store, Android Market and other integrated payment
systems supported over time.
* Analytics Service to analyze and optimize editorial and advertising
content using a set of included analytic reports. Note: Omniture
SiteCatalyst can also be integrated to collect analytics. SiteCatalyst is
sold separately and additional fees apply.
* Folio Producer Service* integrates with Adobe InDesign CS5.5 software to
organize and create production-ready digital publications. *The Folio
Producer Service is expect to be available in early May upon launch of the
Professional Edition of Digital Publishing Suite.
* Regular Updates provided as part of a Digital Publishing Suite license
to introduce new features, services and device and marketplace support


Note: For InDesign CS5 users, the tools required to create .folio files
will be available for download from adobe.com in early May. Access to the
Folio Producer tools will not require a Digital Publishing Suite license.

Professional and Enterprise Digital Publishing Suite Accounts
Adobe offers two editions of Digital Publishing Suite: Professional
Edition and Enterprise Edition. Professional Edition accounts include all
of the above listed services. Enterprise Edition is designed for customer
who require customization and extensibility of the platform and includes
access to:


* APIs to integrate third-party subscription and print fulfillment
databases (print/digital bundles, subscriber databases etc.) where allowed
by marketplaces
* APIs to customize the store experience in the application (coming soon)
* Content Viewer customization features including navigation controls
(coming soon)
* Integration with Medialets, a mobile rich media dynamic ad platform
(coming soon)
* High-volume Distribution Service fee discounts (see below)



Pricing for Digital Publishing Suite Accounts
Adobe charges a monthly license for access to Digital Publishing Suite
services and regular upgrades. This is called a ³platform fee². The
platform fee (in dollars, euros and yen) is:


* Professional Edition is $495 per month.
* Enterprise Edition starts at $3,995 per month and scales up depending on
the scope of the corporate license coverage



In addition to the platform fee, Adobe charges fees tied to the delivery
of .folio files to the devices that Adobe supports. This is called the
³distribution service fee². The distribution service fee is purchased in
advance of delivery of .folio files. The more you buy, the larger the
discount on a per .folio file delivered basis. The schedule for the
Distribution Service fee (in dollars, euros and yen) are:


Distribution Service Fees (Annual Issues Delivered) Upfront
Payment
25,000
$5,500
250,000
$37,500
500,000
$60,000
1,000,000*
$80,000
5,000,000*
$300,000
* Only available to enterprise customers



All fees are billed on an upfront annual basis.

Gold technical support is required from Adobe. For Enterprise Edition
this costs $7,500/year. For Professional Edition this costs $1,200/year.


Is your company interested in a Digital Publishing Suite account to serve
multiple clients?

Digital Publishing Suite Professional and Enterprise accounts are intended
for publishers to distribute content which they own. We know there are
many printers, custom publishers, ad agencies or larger creative houses
interested in serving multiple clients with their own Digital Publishing
Suite account. Adobe will offer an Agency model for this purpose. If you
are interested in discussing the Agency business model, please contact
contact dpsales@adobe.com
<applewebdata://D4E9E827-3569-4ADC-83A9-BF12CE61D446/dpsales@adobe.com>
with ³Digital Publishing Suite Agency² in the subject line and we will
schedule a follow up discussion.

[user_none]

Originally Posted by orellc

I'm basically trying to see if Caliber can be modified to a system that offers the same digital distribution across multiple platforms, with DRM, though not using the software as a service model, rather software hosted by each individual publisher. Would anyone be interested in this?

With DRM, no. Education about the dangers of DRM is a growing part of calibre. See http://drmfree.calibre-ebook.com/.

DRM systems such as Mobipocket, eReader and Adobe's EPUB DRM all need to be licensed from the respective companies that implement them. You're not going to see them allowing their technology in an open source project. You're also going to run into cost prohibitive licensing fees.

[kovidgoyal]

You cannot have DRM implemented in open source software. See http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/free-s...princples/2436