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Old 01-30-2009, 02:34 PM   #1309
Robertb
Astak Director, Bus. Devl
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Agree on the formatting madness!

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton View Post
Obviously this won't help your current situation but man does it point to the need for ONE standard format that works on all devices. Why do consumers need to even know about formats? Seems a failure of the ebook industry to me though granted it's a young industry.
Dear John Newton:

Believe me, when I first got into eBook Reader manufacturing I blindly assumed that ALL of the major formats would sooner or later get together for the common good of all. Since then I have become sick over the crap that happens in the industry over formats. Amazon wants to sell books supposedly. Then why restrict Mobipocket? Would it not be to Amazon's advantage to have people from any device load Mobi and then order their books?

Yes, I agree on the frustration over formats. Astak wants to be Open Format. Load whatever you like. Unfortunately, not everybody is as great as Fictionwise in working towards this goal. I do not mind Amazon saying no to Astak... but at least grant support for those who purchased already. Seems to me that is in their interest too,

At IDPF this year I hope to get a chance to talk on this issue. In the meantime, we have Fictionwise working night and day to offer the SDK we need. WHEN this comes out we will give explicite instructions and try to also get other formats up on our website (www.mobiebook.com) so people can add what they want easily and quickly and without hassle. Maybe, just maybe, David can at least get Goliath to cooperate a little. I do not have any rocks in my sling for Goliath... I just want to see the industry pull together to support the consumer. IF we all cooperate then the eBook Reader industry on a whole will grow wildly and everybody is happy!

There, I vented some pent-up anger about this disgusting format war.

Robert B
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