[QUOTE=Elfwreck;450875]... [quote]Just like the web, e-publishing will evolve from mostly text-based, limited design pages, to richer, more print-like look - see for instance the image attached.
Quote:
Why should it move towards fixed-size, fixed-shape, publisher-established instead of reader-adjustable settings? Why not move toward more flexibility--hyperlinked documents, search features, choice of standard layouts plus the option for customized views? (Which part of the web has moved to be "more print-like?")....
|
For the same reason, publishing is not done using MS Word.
Design is important, often as important as the content, and sometimes more important. The web is certainly moving this way, and it has come a long way, visually, since its barely formatted, reflowing text origins.
I hear these arguments all the time, from the backroom, where the techs just don't understand why anyone cares how things look, as long as they function.
But people are affected by how things look: I assume you do not pick sexual/life partners, based only on functionality....
If there is screen-size standardization, there would be less need to reflow, and better opportunities to present a well-formatted page.
But, let's talk about reflow, since you deem it to be the great benefir of EPUB. As far a I can tell, you are incorrect about the new Adobe's lack of reflow ability. You can also change font sizes, search, zoom, etc..
So for text-based material, you'd still be able to change font sizes, and reflow for a 2" screen, to your heart's content.
I don't feel strongly against EPUB, but was just surprised at the outcry about it missing from the K DX's feature set. Other than possibly price (about which I am not informed), I still don't see any real need for it.
I'd rather all the myriad incompatible formats died a peaceful death, so that all ebooks work across all platforms, and can be presented as appropriate, for a very wide range of purposes. It would make life easier for consumers, publishers and manufacturers, and would facilitate faster adoption of the media.