10-23-2010, 01:29 AM | #1 |
Trying for calm & polite
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New post on Kobo blog about open platform
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10-23-2010, 09:04 AM | #2 |
neilmarr
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Why the Kobo song and dance? This is simple DRM-free policy. Nothing revolutionary, even the Amazonians offer publishers that DRM-free option (though the Big Five choose to opt out). And Sony and B&N are heavily promoting their sparklingly new 'share books' policy, which makes absolutely no difference to those publishers that always opt for DRM-free ebooks anyway. Promotional hype under pressure from frustrated readers and decent publishers is all this is. It's not altruistic choice so much as facing market reality, thanks to the likes of ebook readers on the MR boards. Neil
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10-23-2010, 09:29 AM | #3 |
Geographically Restricted
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Probably market share and having a sideways swipe at the Amazon walled garden.
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10-23-2010, 10:28 AM | #4 |
himself
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The whole idea of books on the dedicated device is maybe too new
for the planet. One layer is the book itself, with all formatting and ways to stop reader to handle it, except with left foot and the tail. Another layer is ereader. With all formatting and ways to stop reader to handle it, except with lips and right index. I expect vanilla reader to come pretty soon, probably from one well populated country. It might manage epub files only, in it's basic form. No frills, no smoke on the horizon. Would people get it? If good enough, I would. Who should sell books without any further control? I don't know. If it lives long enough, every device could use the same algorithm for display. For bookmarks and all details people like. One size that fits all is not good for anybody, but the mess of formats and content control is even worse. I'm pretty interested what people on the forum think as the best possible solution. |
10-23-2010, 10:40 AM | #5 |
Geographically Restricted
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I doubt that one size fits all will ever be realised. People want different things for their ereaders.
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10-23-2010, 10:57 AM | #6 | |
himself
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Quote:
Socrates was much worse than I am, so be happy he's not around. Seriously, I found the way to handle it all. More people did not. Some of them maybe would never. |
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10-23-2010, 12:51 PM | #7 | |
Wizard
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No, there's a little more than song and dance here. This is not the first post that Kobo execs have written passionately about an open platform.
Quote:
Kobo puts some muscle behind their words: they have an app for several other devices: Android tablets, iPad, Blackberry, Android phone, iPhone, PCs, Mac and even Linux -- not mention other devices like the Literati. They have deals to sell the Kobo ereader at Borders but also sell at Walmart. They've striven to build local content for at least four English-speaking markets. Yes, Amazon has done most (but not all!) of these things too ... exclusively for Kindle format. And Amazon generates $30 billion in annual revenue. Kobo, on the other hand, launched its ereader less than six months ago and sells it in stores in Canada, US, NZ and Australia. It's book catalogue is extensive and growing. Kobo is determined to be a major player internationally and has made many right moves. Sure, there have been growing pains -- they could support smaller publishers better but they ARE a tiny gnat relative to Amazon and resources take time to build. Within the context of today's industry, it's hard to argue that Kobo is not doing everything it can to embrace openness. |
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10-24-2010, 12:24 AM | #8 | |
himself
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Quote:
struggling for his life. Supporting other vendors is maybe the only way to stay on feet. As I see most posters getting their books from more than one source, it is the best solution for them. While the ereader proves it's quality and the owner does not have to buy the same book twice or three times, nothing to complain about. |
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