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macr0t0r · 08-24-2009, 07:02 PM

Of course the B&N reader is a refurbished eReader app. They did buy it after all:
Motricity created the eReader format and application:
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Motric.....-a0123624220
Fictionwise buys eReader from Motricity and makes it their preferred format:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9...o-fictionwise/
Barnes&Noble then buys Fictionwise; yes, the whole thing:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10190554-93.html

Truth be told, I still LIKE the eReader format and applications. If the idiotic authors and publishers continue to demand DRM, the eReader DRM is the least evil:
1. It does not require you to login to a central server to unlock, so your purchased ebooks will always be able to be loaded and opened. (recall what happened when the Mobipocket server went down and people could't authenticate their ebook).
2. The eReader application is available to many platforms (Windows, Mac, Palm, WinMobile, Blackberry, iPhone, Symbian). However, we're still waiting on Linux and Android.
3. The file is hashed using your Name and the last 8 digits of your credit card number, so that data can not be extracted after you unlock a book. You are free to put the book on any number of devices, and you could even give a copy to your sister and unlock it on her device (no peeking!). It's DRM, but it permits a certain level of the "honor system."
4. The files are not bloated, and they already support footnotes, sidebars, dictionary references, and zoomed images.

I'm a big fan of Fictionwise. Unfortunately, they've had a hard time penetrating the e-Ink market since each company wants to be the sole distrubutor for their device (Sony Reader and Kindle). They can only provide nonDrm books for those devices, which are still uncommon. I'm hoping for two things:

1. That the Barnes&Noble branding, marketing dollars, and upcoming Plastic Logic's reader will finally give the format the boost it needs to get into the "general" audience.

2. That Barnes&Noble doesn't ruin a good thing.

I'm REEEAAALLLYYY watching #2. Please let the Fictionwise crew stay and handle the library, guys!

- Jim

08-24-2009, 07:02 PM	#36
macr0t0r Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 108 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Palm Treo 680, Sony Reader	Of course the B&N reader is a refurbished eReader app. They did buy it after all: Motricity created the eReader format and application: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Motric.....-a0123624220 Fictionwise buys eReader from Motricity and makes it their preferred format: http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9...o-fictionwise/ Barnes&Noble then buys Fictionwise; yes, the whole thing: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10190554-93.html Truth be told, I still LIKE the eReader format and applications. If the idiotic authors and publishers continue to demand DRM, the eReader DRM is the least evil: 1. It does not require you to login to a central server to unlock, so your purchased ebooks will always be able to be loaded and opened. (recall what happened when the Mobipocket server went down and people could't authenticate their ebook). 2. The eReader application is available to many platforms (Windows, Mac, Palm, WinMobile, Blackberry, iPhone, Symbian). However, we're still waiting on Linux and Android. 3. The file is hashed using your Name and the last 8 digits of your credit card number, so that data can not be extracted after you unlock a book. You are free to put the book on any number of devices, and you could even give a copy to your sister and unlock it on her device (no peeking!). It's DRM, but it permits a certain level of the "honor system." 4. The files are not bloated, and they already support footnotes, sidebars, dictionary references, and zoomed images. I'm a big fan of Fictionwise. Unfortunately, they've had a hard time penetrating the e-Ink market since each company wants to be the sole distrubutor for their device (Sony Reader and Kindle). They can only provide nonDrm books for those devices, which are still uncommon. I'm hoping for two things: 1. That the Barnes&Noble branding, marketing dollars, and upcoming Plastic Logic's reader will finally give the format the boost it needs to get into the "general" audience. 2. That Barnes&Noble doesn't ruin a good thing. I'm REEEAAALLLYYY watching #2. Please let the Fictionwise crew stay and handle the library, guys! - Jim Last edited by macr0t0r; 08-24-2009 at 07:05 PM.