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Originally Posted by EatingPie
Different than whom? B&N? Sony/Adobe? Ugh. B&N made ePUB a sort of one-step-forward two-steps-back sort of thing by choosing their own DRM. And the door is wide open for Amazon to do the same if they go ePUB.
Rowling has stated in the PR that the main reason for her putting the books on Pottermore is to guarantee availability for all Readers. Indeed, the Kindle question came to mind for me immediately as well.
This is the first real opportunity for a someone to have major influence on universalizing the industry. She could, potentially, force Amazon to support ePUB, maybe even starting a change to the format at large. She could also force everyone to a single, common DRM. Or she could just offer Reader-specific versions of the books (Nook version, Sony version, Kindle version, etc.).
-Pie
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Yes, B&N did more harm then good in terms of the DRM used. iBooks we just pretend it doesn't exist as a lot of their ePub is not really ePub.
There is no need for specific reader versions for all the readers that handle ePub. One ePub is all that's needed as it won't have DRM. The only place it will need to be different is for iBooks.
I'm hoping we'll get kids saying "Mommy, why doesn't my Harry Potter books like like Timmy's? His have all nice fonts and are better formatted. I want a new reader. I don't like my Kindle.".
But to be serious, this is the chance to maybe make eBooks better then they are now by consolidating into one format. I do feel that Rowling has the clout to hopefully force Amazon to do what Amazon has not wanted to do and that is go ePub.
This isn't Amazon vs. the rest of the world. This is the better format ePub vs. Mobipocket. And Mobipocket would do well by going away in place of ePub. Heck, even Microsoft knew better and we no longer have MS Reader format eBooks being made. It's just a shame that Amazon diesn't know better to stop splintering the market big time.