Quote:
Originally Posted by Kumabjorn
When you buy from Amazon you get a different book file depending on what device you are downloading to. Wouldn't it be possible to simply have a hi-res file uploaded and the Amazon servers would render it on the fly for the downloader?
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Theoretically, I think so. But the way it works now if I want to do something like hi-res, I can specify "only supported on these devices" at upload. There's a different "sand box" to play in for working with say, the hi end Kindle Fire. I don't own one and have had no need to upload anything that special. I have noticed the option for that and also seen some of the bits here and there about "these devices only." I know it didn't work that well out the gate--people were able to download things that they couldn't then read well because Amazon allowed the download to happen anyway. I'm not sure of the status, but if I recall correctly it was happening with graphic novels that had been set up to used only on the tablet types of things, but some people were trying them on other devices and they had issues.
What I do know is when I do images for things like "Send to Kindle" stories from my blog, I had to be very careful to make sure the images were small or low enough resolution to make it through/show up. So for example, each short story came with a cover--I had to make that cover small enough that when the Send to Kindle button is selected by the reader, it would show up properly--there is no 'Don't send this part, just send text" when using Send to Kindle buttons. EVERYTHING on that page/post with the button goes. And if the image is too large, either the entire "send to kindle" failed with an error or the text showed up with "X" box.
I certainly can't know what device is on the other end.
I don't know that too many publishers use the Send to Kindle button, but it's just another example of where Amazon would have to be "smart" about an image coming through and know the device it was going to--and then shrink accordingly. Again, it should work because Amazon grabs the post, you (the reader) log in to your account and then say "Yes, send it." So technically Amazon should know WHICH type of device it is sending to at that time. But right NOW, if the picture is too large, FAIL. If I've sized everything correctly, you get a black/white picture on the e-ink device and if you have a color unit, you get color--but it's the same picture.
Amazon provided the code for the Send to Kindle button.
I just downloaded a book today that had a map at the beginning (Fantasy of course). It was garbage. I wrote the author and told him it was too large. Now that same map might show up fine on some of the higher end devices, but right now...Amazon just sends what it has and if it doesn't happen to work, you get all kinds of wonky things from "no file" to garbage to an X.