Adobe executives point the finger at Amazon Kindle

[Alexander Turcic]

While the upcoming Adobe Digital Editions 1.5 release is not exactly latest news, PC Mag has an interesting commentary on what Adobe thinks of the Amazon Kindle launch:

Ironically, Adobe executives criticized the closed nature of the rival Amazon Kindle e-book platform -- even as their own Digital Editions customers are currently locked into a single device, albeit a PC. An Adobe spokesman also noted that the company is a partner of Sony and its existing Sony Reader, which can display .PDF files.

"Right now the Kindle is a closed platform, as you're aware," said Bill McCoy, general manager of the ePublishing business at Adobe, in an interview. "It's a fixed device; content can't be read on any other device, such as an iPhone. It's a closed ecosystem, even more so than iTunes and the iPod."

So what else do we got? PDF of course. And ePub. Let the e-book death match begin.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Considering Adobe's lack of consideration for customers, lack of customer support, and DRM that causes e-books to vanish when there's a computer problem, they hardly have a leg to stand on... and I know plenty of people who wouldn't think twice about kicking that one leg out from under 'em.

When they start selling books in non-DRM'd ePub... then they can talk.

[JSWolf]

I'm just really curious as to how this is all going to play out. I would love to have epub support and better PDF support on the 505.

[drkool]

I am really resigned to the fact that it will be years before we see all the big players in the e-book market start co-operating. Imagine what the kindle could have been if it could play nice with all formats, allow me to buy books from where I like (Maybe amazon can charge the seller a sort of toll tax then...for send me that store) and do what I want with the purchased e-book.

we can see something like this if google had a e-book reader. hmmm come to think of it ...that is a good idea..

[kpfeifle]

It's a fixed device; content can't be read on any other device, such as an iPhone. It's a closed ecosystem, even more so than iTunes and the iPod."

I don't see books purchased from Sony's Connect store being able to be read on an Iphone...how is it any different?

[TadW]

Originally Posted by kpfeifle

I don't see books purchased from Sony's Connect store being able to be read on an Iphone...how is it any different?

Good point. Some people believe Sony will eventually move over to Adobe's .ePub format. Just a rumor though.

[Hadrien]

I believe that Adobe's plans for DE are quite different from Sony/Connect and Kindle/Whispernet.

First of all, instead of using a device id, they'd like to use a single id for all your devices. This mean that once DE is ported to multiple devices (dedicated readers, PDA, smartphone...) you'll be able to use your e-books on any of the compatible devices.
I don't think that Adobe will keep this technology for its own e-book shop, instead, we'll see third party websites selling content for Adobe DE.

In this case, it would be much better than what Amazon and Sony currently offer. First of all, with epub, you can support more advanced formatting, font embedding, complex metadata etc... Unlike .azw and BBeB, it should be possible to use these files on a large number of devices in the future. And I'd rather buy e-books from a multiple number of places rather than just Sony or Amazon.

[nekokami]

I don't see an incentive for Sony or Amazon to make the first jump to ePub. Barnes & Noble might, though. It would be quite a coup for them to be able to say "You can read OUR ebooks on ANY registered device." I think they'd need an application or website that's as easy to use as the Kindle setup seems to be, though.

[igorsk]

Actually, Marlin DRM used by Sony is supposed to work like that - i.e. you'd be able to move your content between any devices registered to you (like it's done now for PCs and Readers). The problem is, that DRM is supported only on Reader and PC right now...
The full standard even has provisions for moving license from one user to another, converting to a different DRM provider and so on, but I doubt it's implemented.

[TadW]

Sony Merlin reminds me of Sony Atrac. Proprietary and only supported by Sony.

Didn't Sony recently stop using Atrac ...

[bojan]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

First of all, instead of using a device id, they'd like to use a single id for all your devices. This mean that once DE is ported to multiple devices (dedicated readers, PDA, smartphone...) you'll be able to use your e-books on any of the compatible devices.

This kind of DRM scheme doesn't make any sense, because all you need is a single person that posts the ebook and the ID on the net, and anybody can download it and read it. The solution would be to tie the ID to a "real" person, but the problem would be how to build the reasonable authentication system for this.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by bojan

This kind of DRM scheme doesn't make any sense, because all you need is a single person that posts the ebook and the ID on the net, and anybody can download it and read it. The solution would be to tie the ID to a "real" person, but the problem would be how to build the reasonable authentication system for this.

the eReader from Palm uses a credit card number. It is a pretty reasonable authenticatoin system since you are not likely to post your credit card number on the net.

Adobe and Microsoft tie the authentication to an account on the web and then Microsoft at least requires registering devices.

Dale

[Hadrien]

Originally Posted by bojan

This kind of DRM scheme doesn't make any sense, because all you need is a single person that posts the ebook and the ID on the net, and anybody can download it and read it. The solution would be to tie the ID to a "real" person, but the problem would be how to build the reasonable authentication system for this.

That's what Adobe is planning to do. Sharing your ID would mean sharing real information about yourself in this case.

[TadW]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

That's what Adobe is planning to do. Sharing your ID would mean sharing real information about yourself in this case.

Which should work fine to prevent extensive piracy unless people start using stolen credit cards and fake identities.

[bojan]

Originally Posted by TadW

Which should work fine to prevent extensive piracy unless people start using stolen credit cards and fake identities.

Exactly, and there all sort of other problems. For instance if someone breaks into your computer, steals your books and posts it on the net. Then there are legal issues with the credit card being a authentication source...