Adobe Announces New eBook and PDF Support for Mobile Devices

zelda_pinwheel · 02-16-2009, 10:31 AM

Straight from the horse's mouth : Adobe announced today a Mobile SDK which will allow the development of mobile phones capable of reading pdfs and epub ebooks.

Quote:

Software Development Kit Enables Reflowable PDF and Content Protection for Smartphones and Reading Devices

BARCELONA, Spain — Feb. 16, 2009 — At the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of the new Adobe® Reader® Mobile SDK, a software development kit (SDK) designed to enable companies to deliver mobile phones and handheld devices that can easily download, manage, and display PDF content and eBooks. The new software engine delivers support for reflowable PDF technology, Adobe’s content protection technology, as well as the EPUB file format, an XML-based eBook standard with broad support from the publishing industry.

In support of the new Adobe Reader Mobile SDK, a number of companies announced plans to ship devices or applications in 2009 that integrate the new Adobe technology, including Bookeen, iRex Technologies, Lexcycle, Plastic Logic, Polymer Vision Ltd., and Spring Design. The Adobe Reader Mobile engine is already integrated into the groundbreaking Reader Digital Book™ by Sony.

Notice that among the companies planning to integrate this technology in 2009 are Bookeen, Plastic Logic, Polymer Vision... 2009 is off to a good start !

thanks to Guillaume for the tip.

Read the whole article here or download the pdf version attached.

Gibbo · 02-16-2009, 10:34 AM

I just read it on Teleread, thx for the info

wallcraft · 02-16-2009, 10:50 AM

With this product, and the upcoming eReader SDK (implied by comments from Foxit and Astak), MobiPocket's "DRM exclusivity" deals with dedicated reading device vendors will come under pressure for the first time. These were largely theoretical up until now, because there were no alternatives. Now there is at least one and possibly two.

Assuming the exclusivity requirement remains in place, the "future devices" mentioned here will not have MobiPocket support. Devices with 9.7" (and larger) screens will need good PDF support and are perfect for textbooks delivered as Adobe Secure PDFs (possibly with a time limit on use), so I would expect large screen devices to favor Adobe over MobiPocket.

Note that Robertb mentioned here that Adobe wants $75K per year for the SDK.

-Thomas- · 02-16-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

... including Bookeen, iRex Technologies, Lexcycle, ...

I bet they will only release something for their DR1000 reader, not for the iLiad... but good news anyway!

mtravellerh · 02-16-2009, 12:16 PM

Good news, good news indeed. Especially for epub.

wallcraft · 02-16-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

In support of the new Adobe Reader Mobile SDK, a number of companies announced plans to ship devices or applications in 2009 that integrate the new Adobe technology, including Bookeen, iRex Technologies, Lexcycle, Plastic Logic, Polymer Vision Ltd., and Spring Design.

Adobe obviously knows who its customers are, but I don't think Bookeen or iRex have announced plans for Adobe support, and who is "Spring Design"?

What iRex said (Sept 24, 2008) in the DR1000 FAQ:

Quote:

Q: Are there any plans to add Adobe Digital Editions and/or or ePUB support?
A: As explained above, our open platform allows easy addition of content rendering engines and we support any third party developer willing to add these formats.

This is consistent with the MOBI DRM exclusivity deal iRex presumably has for the DR1000, but not consistent with iRex shipping "devices or applications" with Adobe Reader Mobile (unless they don't support Adobe DRM). In other words, Adobe can ship Adobe Reader Mobile for the DR1000 but iRex probably can't pay them for it or ship it themselves.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-16-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Adobe obviously knows who its customers are, but I don't think Bookeen or iRex have announced plans for Adobe support, and who is "Spring Design"?

actually bookeen has been talking about adding epub support for months. what i would like to know is, will they add it to the gen3 via a firmware update (drm free then, since mobipocket is already on there) or are they planning a gen4 with epub support.

i don't know who spring design is either but i'm curious...

ProDigit · 02-16-2009, 02:29 PM

what about Sony?
Doesn't it use this technology yet?

zelda_pinwheel · 02-16-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDigit

what about Sony?
Doesn't it use this technology yet?

yes, sony already uses it ; it's mentioned at the end of the quote in the first post.

owl123 · 02-17-2009, 03:21 AM

As for iRex there has been an announcement at their blog: http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2009/02/17...r-irex-dr1000/.

I'm surprised that there's no mention of Iliad. Big screen devices like DR1000 don't really need that reflowable tech. I'd say it's mainly for the smaller ones like 6" and less.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-17-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owl123

As for iRex there has been an announcement at their blog: http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2009/02/17...r-irex-dr1000/.

I'm surprised that there's no mention of Iliad. Big screen devices like DR1000 don't really need that reflowable tech. I'd say it's mainly for the smaller ones like 6" and less.

this sdk is not only for reflowable pdf ; it's also (arguably more importantly) for developping epub support. that is good news no matter what size screen.

-Thomas- · 02-17-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote from Karel over at the iRex forum:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karel

We have indeed reached an agreement with Adobe in regard to their DRM technology however this is limited to the iRex DR1000 platform.

This means the only DRM system we support on the iLiad is and will remain Mobipocket. Both for the technical and "non-technical" reasons.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-17-2009, 09:23 AM

yes, any device that supports mobipocket drm cannot support any other drm (this is the exclusivity requirement from mobipocket). however, this does not mean that they couldn't support drm-free epub, if they wanted to... perhaps you could point this out and ask if they have any plans. drm-free epub is better than no epub.

Shaggy · 02-17-2009, 10:28 AM

The iRex announcement about the iLiad is not surprising. They have previously said that they are no longer developing for the iLiad. I don't think it has anything to do with the Mobipocket restriction, since the DR1000 has Mobipocket too.

Joerg_Mosthaf · 02-17-2009, 12:54 PM

As I just posted in the Cybook section, Bookeen also has an announcement out.

02-16-2009, 02:29 PM	#8
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,158 Karma: 9023682 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, Jetbook Mini, Jetbook Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro	what about Sony? Doesn't it use this technology yet? __________________ --------------------------------- BOOO! ks. I read Internet instead of books.

02-17-2009, 09:23 AM	#13
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,828 Karma: 908606 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	yes, any device that supports mobipocket drm cannot support any other drm (this is the exclusivity requirement from mobipocket). however, this does not mean that they couldn't support drm-free epub, if they wanted to... perhaps you could point this out and ask if they have any plans. drm-free epub is better than no epub. __________________ blog.ex-elibris.fr : les liseuses, les ebooks, nos lectures, la technologie… I don't want none of that mischief on my eels! - pdurrant since i would never want to disappoint wde and vr, we are thrilled to present the next exciting avatar in zelda's wardrobe, by vivaldirules himself.

02-17-2009, 12:54 PM	#15
Joerg_Mosthaf Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 21 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: Kindle3, Kindle2i, iPhone	As I just posted in the Cybook section, Bookeen also has an announcement out. __________________ "Rule 37: There is no overkill. There is only 'Open Fire!' and 'Time To Reload!'" - from 'The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Pirates'

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02-16-2009, 10:34 AM	#2
Gibbo Evangelist Posts: 479 Karma: 1667 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rock of Gibraltar Device: Smart Q7/Asus Eee PC T91/iPad 1/iTouch 4/Kindle 4	I just read it on Teleread, thx for the info

02-16-2009, 10:50 AM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,979 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3 and Fire	With this product, and the upcoming eReader SDK (implied by comments from Foxit and Astak), MobiPocket's "DRM exclusivity" deals with dedicated reading device vendors will come under pressure for the first time. These were largely theoretical up until now, because there were no alternatives. Now there is at least one and possibly two. Assuming the exclusivity requirement remains in place, the "future devices" mentioned here will not have MobiPocket support. Devices with 9.7" (and larger) screens will need good PDF support and are perfect for textbooks delivered as Adobe Secure PDFs (possibly with a time limit on use), so I would expect large screen devices to favor Adobe over MobiPocket. Note that Robertb mentioned here that Adobe wants $75K per year for the SDK.

02-16-2009, 12:16 PM	#5
mtravellerh book creator Posts: 9,608 Karma: 1324674 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Luxembourg Device: PB360°	Good news, good news indeed. Especially for epub.

02-17-2009, 03:21 AM	#10
owl123 Addict Posts: 233 Karma: 214 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Note	As for iRex there has been an announcement at their blog: http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2009/02/17...r-irex-dr1000/. I'm surprised that there's no mention of Iliad. Big screen devices like DR1000 don't really need that reflowable tech. I'd say it's mainly for the smaller ones like 6" and less.

02-17-2009, 10:28 AM	#14
Shaggy Wizard Posts: 4,293 Karma: 529619 Join Date: May 2007 Device: iRex iLiad, DR800SG	The iRex announcement about the iLiad is not surprising. They have previously said that they are no longer developing for the iLiad. I don't think it has anything to do with the Mobipocket restriction, since the DR1000 has Mobipocket too.


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