Kindle in danger of becoming e-books' Betamax

Madam Broshkina · 08-12-2009, 05:48 PM

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- If Jeff Bezos isn't careful, his beloved Kindle could end up as the Betamax of the e-book business.
Amazon's competitors, after fumbling about like the Washington Nationals for the past couple of years, are starting to get their act together. They're moving toward a shared e-book format, called ePub, that's different from the one on the Kindle.

Read the rest at:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kin...max-2009-08-10

rcuadro · 08-12-2009, 05:50 PM

I think that as competition increases Amazon will adapt...

Andybaby · 08-12-2009, 06:04 PM

ugh... yeah... okay.

they sell a digital product, they can convert all their prc books (azw books) to epub in a matter of seconds, and open distibution up.

right now they are fine with keeping it closed up. they sell more readers and books than ever other company.

the kindle store isn't going the way of the dodo. this story is ridiculous.

Elsi · 08-12-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

I think that as competition increases Amazon will adapt...

Indeed, it's easier to adapt software than it is to refit a physical medium. While it would be reasonably easy to provide an additional decoder for the format used on the old Sony recorders, my Betamax tapes are too small for the my current video player -- their sprocket holes don't line up with the drivers, and the tape is narrower than the playback heads.

Sporadic · 08-12-2009, 06:27 PM

I know, remember when Apple didn't open the iPod up to Ogg Vorbis?

What a disaster!

griffonwing · 08-12-2009, 07:15 PM

I still curse Amazon. They have my King Raven series locked into Kindle Format, and it's not available anywhere else on any other format!

Curses!!

etherspin · 08-12-2009, 08:40 PM

arent they actually in a legal position to perpetuate the inability of other companies to allow for mobipocket drm and Epub DRM on one device while making their own device do exactly that ? I'm afraid they may be in the best position of all.

Sweetpea · 08-13-2009, 12:43 AM

Either they should drop MobiPocket, or they should allow it to be used next to another DRM scheme, I agree. In the least, they should make firmware that also allows non-DRM epub to be read.

Andybaby · 08-13-2009, 08:26 PM

amazon does not want drm, they want to sell books, and most publishers wont let them do that without drm. IF they see epub as the way to sell more books, while still keeping the publishers happy. I'm sure they will do it.

but their ultimate goal I believe is books without drm. but if epub becomes universal, than drm doesn't matter. because then your drmed epub can be read anywhere.

all they need to do it have every other Ebook reader come onto the market with ADOBE epub drm support. and then they may switch to Epub.

but currently. they seem to be selling more than enough kindles and kindle books.

Hellmark · 08-13-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

ugh... yeah... okay.
they sell a digital product, they can convert all their prc books (azw books) to epub in a matter of seconds, and open distibution up.
right now they are fine with keeping it closed up. they sell more readers and books than ever other company.
the kindle store isn't going the way of the dodo. this story is ridiculous.

It wouldn't be a matter of seconds, realistically. I'd say more likely weeks, but still not difficult.

Andybaby · 08-13-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

It wouldn't be a matter of seconds, realistically. I'd say more likely weeks, but still not difficult.

amazon has the second largest server farm in the world I think (maybe its top 5. I havent checked in a while,)

in terms of prc to epub, they are nearly the same functionality wise on the inside. so they could create an automated prc to epub script and run it on every book in seconds. tech wise they would take their time, they are the largest seller of books. and they don't want to mess anything up.

but it wouldn't surprise me to know they already have the epub system worked out, and a kindle firmware with epub support.

we will see it when the time is right for them to do it.

Ervserver · 08-13-2009, 10:16 PM

I don't care if the Kindle goes extinct .... life goes on and there are other options

daffy4u · 08-13-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I don't care if the Kindle goes extinct .... life goes on and there are other options

The same can be said of every reader on the market based on personal preferences.

dmaul1114 · 08-13-2009, 11:55 PM

I have confidence Amazon will adapt as the market changes.

But if not, I don't much care as I buy e-books with the idea of only reading them once. Anything I really love and want around long-term I'll pick up a hard cover.

And it's easy enough to strip DRM and convert to other formats if the need arose anyway.

RobbieClarken · 08-14-2009, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

if epub becomes universal, than drm doesn't matter. because then your drmed epub can be read anywhere.

But there isn't a standard DRM scheme for ePub, right? I mean currently everyone seems to be using Adobe's ADEPT DRM for ePub but I thought Sony or someone mentioned developing there own at some stage. If this happens then just because your ebook reader supports Adobe ePub doesn't mean it will support all DRMed ePub.

Given the confusion that would arise, I doubt very much that anyone will create a different ePub DRM scheme but I've never understood the view that DRMed ePub will work on all devices that "support ePub".

08-12-2009, 05:48 PM	#1
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,304 Karma: 151512 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	Kindle in danger of becoming e-books' Betamax NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- If Jeff Bezos isn't careful, his beloved Kindle could end up as the Betamax of the e-book business. Amazon's competitors, after fumbling about like the Washington Nationals for the past couple of years, are starting to get their act together. They're moving toward a shared e-book format, called ePub, that's different from the one on the Kindle. Read the rest at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kin...max-2009-08-10 __________________

08-12-2009, 07:15 PM	#6
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	I still curse Amazon. They have my King Raven series locked into Kindle Format, and it's not available anywhere else on any other format! Curses!! __________________ This is a vacuous post, meant only in increasing my post count! __________________ Hoody Hoo! Roll for initiative, Monkey-Boy!! Bob Herzog, Knights of the Dinner Table

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08-12-2009, 05:50 PM	#2
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,685 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I think that as competition increases Amazon will adapt...

08-12-2009, 06:04 PM	#3
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 2683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	ugh... yeah... okay. they sell a digital product, they can convert all their prc books (azw books) to epub in a matter of seconds, and open distibution up. right now they are fine with keeping it closed up. they sell more readers and books than ever other company. the kindle store isn't going the way of the dodo. this story is ridiculous.

08-12-2009, 06:27 PM	#5
Sporadic Banned Posts: 427 Karma: 2690 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 1	I know, remember when Apple didn't open the iPod up to Ogg Vorbis? What a disaster!

08-12-2009, 08:40 PM	#7
etherspin Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 292 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: none	arent they actually in a legal position to perpetuate the inability of other companies to allow for mobipocket drm and Epub DRM on one device while making their own device do exactly that ? I'm afraid they may be in the best position of all.

08-13-2009, 08:26 PM	#9
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 2683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	amazon does not want drm, they want to sell books, and most publishers wont let them do that without drm. IF they see epub as the way to sell more books, while still keeping the publishers happy. I'm sure they will do it. but their ultimate goal I believe is books without drm. but if epub becomes universal, than drm doesn't matter. because then your drmed epub can be read anywhere. all they need to do it have every other Ebook reader come onto the market with ADOBE epub drm support. and then they may switch to Epub. but currently. they seem to be selling more than enough kindles and kindle books.

08-13-2009, 10:16 PM	#12
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,622 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Sony 505 & HP Touchpad	I don't care if the Kindle goes extinct .... life goes on and there are other options

08-13-2009, 11:55 PM	#14
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 3607 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I have confidence Amazon will adapt as the market changes. But if not, I don't much care as I buy e-books with the idea of only reading them once. Anything I really love and want around long-term I'll pick up a hard cover. And it's easy enough to strip DRM and convert to other formats if the need arose anyway.


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