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Old 11-06-2012, 08:55 PM   #1
Big McLargeHuge
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Question Need help

I am looking to buy a new ereader, but before that i thought i'd ask everyone what format support i should be looking for. I don't want any formats like Mobi that are owned by a single company (Amazon) which could potentially be gone in the future (as unlikely as that is in Amazon's case). Also, i'd prefer one that devices i buy in the future might support. If i buy all my books from Amazon and decide 2 years down the line i want a nook or something i will be screwed. I know you can convert books to different formats using Calibre, but i've had some books get messed up after a format change, so i'd rather not.

I only know about Mobi so far. How is ePub? Is it owned by anyone in particular? What formats should i keep an eye out for? When i buy my ereader i will be looking for one without much of an ecosystem or an open one, because i will be using DRM free books, whether i buy them that way or i make them that way myself. So which formats are usually sold by DRM free stores?

Sorry if this is a weird question, or if it's in the wrong place. I couldn't see a better place to ask it. And as always, any help is greatly appreciated .
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Old 11-06-2012, 11:32 PM   #2
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ePub is an open standard. It isn't owned by any company. There are varying forms of DRM for ePub, with three main ones. Adobe's ADEPT, which is what you'll find at almost every place that sells DRM'ed ePubs. Next up is B&N's DRM used on the nook. Newer versions of ADEPT's SDK does support B&N's DRM, but, some device manufacturers use older versions, so your milage may vary. Finally, is Apple's iBooks. iBooks can only be bought via iTunes on your computer, or via the iBooks app on an iOS device (iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone), and only be read on an iOS device.

So, DRM free ePub is an open standard, but 3 main forms of DRM are used with ePub. One is extremely widespread, one is only from one source but can be used on some other devices, and one extremely limited one. Basically, can't really go wrong by going ePub.

Personally, I would recommend Sony or nook, for readers.

nook is from Barnes and Noble, so supports their proprietary DRM, as well as the Adobe DRM. On a stock nook Simple Touch, nook Color, or nook Tablet, there is a limit on how much you can "Sideload". Sideloading is when you transfer a book from your computer, rather than downloading directly from the built in store on the device. For the built in storage, you can only sideload 256mb on the Simple Touch (of the 2 gigs storage), and 1gig on the Color or Tablet (of the available 8 or 16 gigs). That is still a lot of space, but that limit can be changed if you root the tablet.

I personally have an older Sony PRS-505, and my wife has a PRS-300. Both have long since discontinued, but are still really good readers. The newer PRS-T2 looks like a really great tablet, and I am tempted to get one. No restriction on sideloading like the nook has (all internal memory available can be filled with sideloaded books).

Both Sony and B&N now use Android as a basis for their readers. You can root them and install other software if you want. Kind of funny seeing Angry Birds being played on an eInk ebook reader.

PS, I know that I did not capitalize the "n" in nook. Blame B&N, they purposely stylized it that way.
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Old 11-07-2012, 12:46 AM   #3
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How's the new Kobo Glo? I just started comparing that and the B & N Glowlight.
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Old 11-07-2012, 01:18 AM   #4
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Not had much experience with the current gen Kobos. I know the older hardware (first and second gens) could be pretty buggy, not sure if they got the kinks out. Hopefully a Glo owner comes along to comment.
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Old 11-07-2012, 05:04 AM   #5
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I've had a kobo glo for the last month, been using it as my main reader since I got it (Only found one bug which has since been fixed with a firmware update).
I like it, already passed my Sony 650 on to a family member.

Only things I'm not keen on
No folder support (Seems to be standard nowadays), although the search is streets ahead of the kindle so finding a book isn't too hard.
No Power meter when reading.

All in all though it's a good reader, the light comes in handy and there are enough font/layout settings to make things look how you want.

Putting books on it is as easy as buying them from kobo (On the device or elsewhere) and synching the library or just sticking in a micro sd card with a bunch of books on it in the slot.

Now if they would only release a cover in the UK things would be sorted.
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Old 11-07-2012, 11:55 AM   #6
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.mobi is used by lots of companies, not just Amazon.
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Old 11-07-2012, 12:24 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Hellmark View Post
nook is from Barnes and Noble, so supports their proprietary DRM, as well as the Adobe DRM. On a stock nook Simple Touch, nook Color, or nook Tablet, there is a limit on how much you can "Sideload". Sideloading is when you transfer a book from your computer, rather than downloading directly from the built in store on the device. For the built in storage, you can only sideload 256mb on the Simple Touch (of the 2 gigs storage), and 1gig on the Color or Tablet (of the available 8 or 16 gigs). That is still a lot of space, but that limit can be changed if you root the tablet.
All Nook devices you mention have an micro SD-card slot to add memory for sideloaded content. For $5 you can already buy an 8 GB card.
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Old 11-08-2012, 05:03 PM   #8
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.mobi is used by lots of companies, not just Amazon.
Could you give me some examples of companies that distribute books in European languages other than English in .mobi-format?
(Honestly, I would be interested to know.)
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Old 11-08-2012, 06:41 PM   #9
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I don't know about languages other than English. I only read books in English.
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Old 11-09-2012, 12:09 PM   #10
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Could you give me some examples of companies that distribute books in European languages other than English in .mobi-format?
(Honestly, I would be interested to know.)
Amazon killed the Mobipocket format here in Europe, by not allowing Mobi-DRM on an ereader also supporting another DRM (like ePub). Because of this manufacturers all chose to support ePub instead of Mobipocket DRM.
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Old 11-09-2012, 12:17 PM   #11
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Not just in Europe. Having Mobipocket DRM on an ereader that supports other DRM is forbidden here in the US, too. I don't think that is the reason manufacturers went to ePub, though.
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Old 11-09-2012, 06:09 PM   #12
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All Nook devices you mention have an micro SD-card slot to add memory for sideloaded content. For $5 you can already buy an 8 GB card.
I know they have sd slots, but i was under the impression sideloaded books were still restricted to the normal non-b&n area.
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