Download Guide

Elsi · 09-07-2008, 12:27 PM

OK -- I know that the MobiPocket Download Guide was created in response to an unauthorized edition and was geared toward the Kindle user who has the ability to download directly into the device via the WhisperNet facility.

But, I find myself using it as a generalized catalog of just the MobiPocket books. Now that I have a Sony Reader as well, I want a Sony Download Guide.

Here's my rationale -- the online interface is too difficult to filter. Here's an example. Start by selecting "Sony BBeB (LRF)" from the E-Books pull-down in the blue bar. You get a page with just LRF-format books. It's too tedious to page 4 pages ahead at a time to get to the Ns which start on the 59th of the 88 pages, so click on the "N" in the guide at the top of the page. Oops! Now you're back to a listing of all the formats.

Having a guide for the Sony-format books means that I will not have the catalog cluttered with other formats. I would be able to browse titles and descriptions with my Sony Reader. And, even though I can't "order" and download directly into the Reader, I can plan what I'd like to download the next time I'm online.

A book about books seems goodness to me.

pilotbob · 09-07-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

Here's my rationale -- the online interface is too difficult to filter. Here's an example. Start by selecting "Sony BBeB (LRF)" from the E-Books pull-down in the blue bar. You get a page with just LRF-format books. It's too tedious to page 4 pages ahead at a time to get to the Ns which start on the 59th of the 88 pages, so click on the "N" in the guide at the top of the page. Oops! Now you're back to a listing of all the formats.

Elsi,

Do it the other way around.

1. Go to the eBooks index https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php

2. Click on the "N"

3. Then, in the format drop down select "BBeB Books".

Yes, unfortunately if you select another index letter you will have to re-select the format. Perhaps submit a request to Alex in the feedback forum for it to remember the Format and Genre when you choose a new index letter.

BOb

nrapallo · 09-07-2008, 12:51 PM

Oh, and while we are talking about Download Guides, I have already requested that the 'IMP Download Guide' be created for ebookwise 1150 users.

The EBW1150 has just recently "acquired" the ability to download .imp directly from within a .imp ebook onto the reader as well as a .imp ebook directly from our IMP ebook upload forum here. In fact, EBW1150 users can also have a .prc ebook converted "on-the-fly" and the resulting .imp ebooks gets downloaded onto the reader via a plugin I wrote for the impserve program using Mobi2IMP.

The IMP Download Guide, like the Mobipocket one, would then just list the .imp ebooks along with the descriptions and be indexed similarly.

It would be great to have all three popular formats having their own Download Guide!

Maybe the Sony will "acquire" this ability to download any ebook therein as well...

Elsi · 09-07-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrapallo

Maybe the Sony will "acquire" this ability to download any ebook therein as well...

While this might be a wonderful enhancement to the device, I don't see that the ability to download books directly into the device should be the criterion to determine whether a download guide is created. The Guide can be just that -- a guide to what is available for download, regardless of the means by which that download is accomplished.

Yes, the download links wouldn't be active in the Sony Reader, but I view those as a very minor part of the MobiPocket Guide.

On a related topic ... Amazon just sent me an e-mail suggesting that I subscribe to Bookmarks. "... you can now save 22% on a subscription to the magazine for voracious readers, Bookmarks. So many books, so little time--let Bookmarks do the work for you. Every month, they sift through over 500 reviews, and create finely crafted summary reviews of new and classic books so you can refine your search to titles that interest you."

Readers like to read about books. The Download Guide from MobileRead makes excellent reading -- particularly where the submitter has taken some time to provide a summary and/or review of the book.

Patricia · 09-07-2008, 04:01 PM

It's an interesting idea, Elsi.
Jon has asked Alex to consider it. There may also be improvements in the book search facility in the fullness of time (if the software can be hacked and when Alex has time. His to-do list is very long at the moment.)

nrapallo · 09-02-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrapallo

Oh, and while we are talking about Download Guides, I have already requested that the 'IMP Download Guide' be created for ebookwise 1150 users

....

Maybe the Sony will "acquire" this ability to download any ebook therein as well...

Bump...

Elsi, thanks for reminding me about this one too!

I think you should have "dibs" on Alex's free/spare time, as your thread is older...

Hey, the Sony Daily Edition is coming out by the end of this year...

Patricia · 09-02-2009, 07:28 PM

I think that things are more complicated now with regard to Sony readers. They now read both LRF and EPub.

nrapallo · 09-02-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

I think that things are more complicated now with regard to Sony readers. They now read both LRF and EPub.

Then I would think in simple terms i.e. Select input ebook format to include in Catalog (.prc, .epub, .lrf, .pdf, .imp) and then select output format of ebook to download (.prc, .epub, .lrf, .pdf, .imp). Oops, .imp generation may be difficult for linux systems, so I would settle for .prc output format!

Multi-purpose tool...

Elsi · 09-02-2009, 09:00 PM

Nick -- well, an any-to-any utility could be interesting.

Although I really would like catalogs for the various book types, I haven't said much about it 'cause there was some discussion of totally revamping the library and implementing a database -- from which it would be much easier to create a catalog. I'm patient. And Alex is very busy these days.

09-07-2008, 12:27 PM	#1
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Download Guide OK -- I know that the MobiPocket Download Guide was created in response to an unauthorized edition and was geared toward the Kindle user who has the ability to download directly into the device via the WhisperNet facility. But, I find myself using it as a generalized catalog of just the MobiPocket books. Now that I have a Sony Reader as well, I want a Sony Download Guide. Here's my rationale -- the online interface is too difficult to filter. Here's an example. Start by selecting "Sony BBeB (LRF)" from the E-Books pull-down in the blue bar. You get a page with just LRF-format books. It's too tedious to page 4 pages ahead at a time to get to the Ns which start on the 59th of the 88 pages, so click on the "N" in the guide at the top of the page. Oops! Now you're back to a listing of all the formats. Having a guide for the Sony-format books means that I will not have the catalog cluttered with other formats. I would be able to browse titles and descriptions with my Sony Reader. And, even though I can't "order" and download directly into the Reader, I can plan what I'd like to download the next time I'm online. A book about books seems goodness to me.

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09-07-2008, 12:51 PM	#3
nrapallo GuteBook/Mobi2IMP Creator Posts: 2,958 Karma: 2530691 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: REB1200 EBW1150 Device: T1 NSTG iLiad_v2 NC Device: Asus_TF Next1 WPDN	Oh, and while we are talking about Download Guides, I have already requested that the 'IMP Download Guide' be created for ebookwise 1150 users. The EBW1150 has just recently "acquired" the ability to download .imp directly from within a .imp ebook onto the reader as well as a .imp ebook directly from our IMP ebook upload forum here. In fact, EBW1150 users can also have a .prc ebook converted "on-the-fly" and the resulting .imp ebooks gets downloaded onto the reader via a plugin I wrote for the impserve program using Mobi2IMP. The IMP Download Guide, like the Mobipocket one, would then just list the .imp ebooks along with the descriptions and be indexed similarly. It would be great to have all three popular formats having their own Download Guide! Maybe the Sony will "acquire" this ability to download any ebook therein as well...

09-07-2008, 04:01 PM	#5
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	It's an interesting idea, Elsi. Jon has asked Alex to consider it. There may also be improvements in the book search facility in the fullness of time (if the software can be hacked and when Alex has time. His to-do list is very long at the moment.)

09-02-2009, 07:28 PM	#7
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	I think that things are more complicated now with regard to Sony readers. They now read both LRF and EPub.

09-02-2009, 09:00 PM	#9
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Nick -- well, an any-to-any utility could be interesting. Although I really would like catalogs for the various book types, I haven't said much about it 'cause there was some discussion of totally revamping the library and implementing a database -- from which it would be much easier to create a catalog. I'm patient. And Alex is very busy these days.

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