Ectaco jetBook to add DRM format

jgray · 09-22-2009, 03:30 AM

For all those who wanted a DRM'ed ebook format on the jetBook, your wish will soon be coming true. According to my source, the "Barnes and Nobel" format will soon be added. I assume that this means the Fictionwise/eReader DRM format.

Although many like how eReader handles DRM, I could wish that either Mobipocket or Adobe's flavor of epub would have been selected as the DRM format to add. Mobipocket DRM would give you access to a large selection today. ADE DRM would probably be the better choice for the future IMO. Having said that, I await the day when DRM vanishes alltogether.

Pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if this revelation means that we will soon see B&N or Fictionwise selling jetBooks as well as the Plastic Logic reader?

bill_mchale · 09-22-2009, 07:59 AM

Well, if I remember correctly, at one point Fictionwise said that it was willing to essentially allow anyone else to use its DRM scheme without cost (after all, the are in the business of selling books, not software). If that is the case, it might be too soon to say we will see Jetbooks at Barnes and Nobles.

Personally I think there is already an excellent selection of of books with ereader DRM and with B&N behind it, I suspect that they will probably find a way to keep up with the other major formats. Considering I find fictionwise DRM the only one that is even marginally acceptable, I consider this a big plus.

--
Bill

wallcraft · 09-22-2009, 10:01 AM

B&N is eReader, although if you go to the B&N site you will see that many of the traditional phone O/S's have been dropped (WinMobile, Palm, S60). Note that FictionWise said that they will be migrating eReader to ePub (with B&N DRM, not Adobe), and I think dropping the "legacy" phones may be part of that migration.

It is unfortunate that we have a three way race (Kindle, Adobe and B&N) but that is the world that DRM creates.

Kralik · 09-22-2009, 10:13 AM

Ah, but when, when, when?!

Actually, I don't really care about DRM... I just like trying out firmware updates. Flash away!

smithno · 09-22-2009, 10:36 AM

That is great news! That means my 3 main readers (EZ Reader, jetBook, and Touch) will be able to all read the same books!

bill_mchale · 09-22-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

B&N is eReader, although if you go to the B&N site you will see that many of the traditional phone O/S's have been dropped (WinMobile, Palm, S60). Note that FictionWise said that they will be migrating eReader to ePub (with B&N DRM, not Adobe), and I think dropping the "legacy" phones may be part of that migration.

It is unfortunate that we have a three way race (Kindle, Adobe and B&N) but that is the world that DRM creates.

Well, I wouldn't be too hasty to say that they are going to drop support entirely. I haven't looked at the B&N site yet, but if they are supporting epub, it might simply be a matter that they have not yet gotten things up and running on the other OS's. That being said, Palm's original OS might be a bit of a stretch since the Centro is now, I think, the only phone still using it. WinMobile has too large of a user base to just disregard.

--
Bill

wallcraft · 09-22-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

but if they are supporting epub, it might simply be a matter that they have not yet gotten things up and running on the other OS's.

They are not supporting ePub yet. Which is why not including the legacy devices in the B&N badged Readers is confusing. I have seen reports that the B&N ebooks won't work using the eReader software on those devices, but I have not tried this myself. If true, then something must be different in the ebooks themselves.

Switching formats is complicated. Sony is about to go through this in its ebook store. They have the advantage of only one legacy device, the PRS-500, which they have been able to handle so far with trade-in offers. In the case of B&N, what I would do is offer eReader and ePub downloads of the same ebook for a while. However, they would need to get the publishers agreement to do this. The big advantage of this approach is that ePub can then be rolled out one device type at a time.

bill_mchale · 09-22-2009, 11:38 AM

Ok, I see your point. But maybe B&N is smart not to offer the software for Palm and Nokia (Since the Nokia s60has only a very tiny part of the US Smart Phone market). They are relatively small niche's that are likely to only shrink in the future. Better to not offer it in the first place than to offer it and then pull support in a year or two.

I still think that they will support Windows though. Too many devices out there not too. They maybe waiting on 6.5 which is suppose to have much better touch support.

--
Bill

lisreed · 09-22-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithno

That is great news! That means my 3 main readers (EZ Reader, jetBook, and Touch) will be able to all read the same books!

Are you talking about Sony Touch edition? They use adobe epub which I understand won't be compatible with B&N epub.

6charlong · 09-22-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

B&N is eReader, although if you go to the B&N site you will see that many of the traditional phone O/S's have been dropped (WinMobile, Palm, S60). Note that FictionWise said that they will be migrating eReader to ePub (with B&N DRM, not Adobe), and I think dropping the "legacy" phones may be part of that migration.

In the "eBook Book Club" section of their site, B&N has repeatedly stated their intention to "support as many devices as possible" with eReader. However, they have also stated the intention to maintain Fictionwise as a separate business. You can still get the old eReader software for all sorts of OSs on the eReader.com site, although the B&N version of the product is targeted more to wireless devices and especially the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Of course, Fictionwise (plus Books on Board, et al) have always sold popular books in multiple DRM versions.

Other manufacturers have also announced an intention to support eReader on their products. Sony for one already supports multiple DRM versions on the same book reader since they support both secure BBeB and secure Adobe ePub on my PRS505. Of course, no one can put Mobipocket DRMed books on a device with another DRMed product.

Nate the great · 09-22-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisreed

Are you talking about Sony Touch edition? They use adobe epub which I understand won't be compatible with B&N epub.

I think smithno is referring to the Ithing.

Donnageddon · 09-22-2009, 01:02 PM

One of the things that has always frustrated me is that Fictionwise offers many books (especially the latest 100% micropay rebate offers) with only "secrure Ereader/ Secure Mobipocket" formats.

From the above I understand that Fictionwise is migrating from eReader to ePub

Quote:

Note that FictionWise said that they will be migrating eReader to ePub (with B&N DRM, not Adobe)

And that Sony only handles adobe DRM for ePub

Quote:

Are you talking about Sony Touch edition? They use adobe epub which I understand won't be compatible with B&N epub

AARRRRGHHHH!

What the hell is wrong with these people? Are they determined to ensure that digital books will fail?

bill_mchale · 09-22-2009, 01:18 PM

Well, unless I am mistaken, B&N epub is going to use the ereader style of DRM. Its not directly compatible with Adobe DRM, but if B&N continues Fictionwise's practice of publishing books without DRM, then those DRMless books should work fine with Adobe Digital Editions.

Yes, there is a lot of e-bable going on out there. Its mostly the publishers fault for not insisting on some sort of DRM standard in epub.

--
Bill

andrys · 09-22-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithno

That is great news! That means my 3 main readers (EZ Reader, jetBook, and Touch) will be able to all read the same books!

Won't Sony be using Adobe's DRM starting December or so? Not B&N's...

Donnageddon · 09-22-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Well, unless I am mistaken, B&N epub is going to use the ereader style of DRM. Its not directly compatible with Adobe DRM, but if B&N continues Fictionwise's practice of publishing books without DRM, then those DRMless books should work fine with Adobe Digital Editions.

Yes, there is a lot of e-bable going on out there. Its mostly the publishers fault for not insisting on some sort of DRM standard in epub.

--
Bill

But Fictionwise does use DRM for their "secure" ebooks. It is only the "multiformat" ebooks that do not have DRM.

09-22-2009, 03:30 AM	#1
jgray Addict Posts: 373 Karma: 1509 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: jetBook	Ectaco jetBook to add DRM format For all those who wanted a DRM'ed ebook format on the jetBook, your wish will soon be coming true. According to my source, the "Barnes and Nobel" format will soon be added. I assume that this means the Fictionwise/eReader DRM format. Although many like how eReader handles DRM, I could wish that either Mobipocket or Adobe's flavor of epub would have been selected as the DRM format to add. Mobipocket DRM would give you access to a large selection today. ADE DRM would probably be the better choice for the future IMO. Having said that, I await the day when DRM vanishes alltogether. Pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if this revelation means that we will soon see B&N or Fictionwise selling jetBooks as well as the Plastic Logic reader?

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09-22-2009, 07:59 AM	#2
bill_mchale Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1398 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Jetbook, iPod Touch	Well, if I remember correctly, at one point Fictionwise said that it was willing to essentially allow anyone else to use its DRM scheme without cost (after all, the are in the business of selling books, not software). If that is the case, it might be too soon to say we will see Jetbooks at Barnes and Nobles. Personally I think there is already an excellent selection of of books with ereader DRM and with B&N behind it, I suspect that they will probably find a way to keep up with the other major formats. Considering I find fictionwise DRM the only one that is even marginally acceptable, I consider this a big plus. -- Bill

09-22-2009, 10:01 AM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 5,817 Karma: 10704 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: iLiad, Kindle 1, EZ Reader Basic and Pocket Pro	B&N is eReader, although if you go to the B&N site you will see that many of the traditional phone O/S's have been dropped (WinMobile, Palm, S60). Note that FictionWise said that they will be migrating eReader to ePub (with B&N DRM, not Adobe), and I think dropping the "legacy" phones may be part of that migration. It is unfortunate that we have a three way race (Kindle, Adobe and B&N) but that is the world that DRM creates.

09-22-2009, 10:13 AM	#4
Kralik Evangelist Posts: 463 Karma: 429 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Blue jetBook, EB1150, Eee PC 901	Ah, but when, when, *when?!* Actually, I don't really care about DRM... I just like trying out firmware updates. Flash away!

09-22-2009, 10:36 AM	#5
smithno Zealot Posts: 140 Karma: 262 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tenn., US Device: Sony PRS-505, Eee PC, Touch, EZ Reader, jetBook, jetBook Lite	That is great news! That means my 3 main readers (EZ Reader, jetBook, and Touch) will be able to all read the same books!

09-22-2009, 11:38 AM	#8
bill_mchale Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1398 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Jetbook, iPod Touch	Ok, I see your point. But maybe B&N is smart not to offer the software for Palm and Nokia (Since the Nokia s60has only a very tiny part of the US Smart Phone market). They are relatively small niche's that are likely to only shrink in the future. Better to not offer it in the first place than to offer it and then pull support in a year or two. I still think that they will support Windows though. Too many devices out there not too. They maybe waiting on 6.5 which is suppose to have much better touch support. -- Bill

09-22-2009, 01:18 PM	#13
bill_mchale Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1398 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Jetbook, iPod Touch	Well, unless I am mistaken, B&N epub is going to use the ereader style of DRM. Its not directly compatible with Adobe DRM, but if B&N continues Fictionwise's practice of publishing books without DRM, then those DRMless books should work fine with Adobe Digital Editions. Yes, there is a lot of e-bable going on out there. Its mostly the publishers fault for not insisting on some sort of DRM standard in epub. -- Bill


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