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hapax legomenon · 01-28-2010, 02:21 AM

Hi, there,

I am producing epub files. I think I have a handle on how to do so for e-ink readers.

But I'm wondering how the reader applications for the iphone will affect how we should design our epub files.

Some random wonderings:

1)is there an epub reader for PC which lets you test 1024x768? Do you think ibooks will have an emulator for the PC?

2)will people tend to use the default reading application ibooks or will they download several (Stanza, Delicious Library, etc).

3)even though the resolution is allegedly 1024x768, I've been told that this is actually not particularly high for that screen size. Will this affect the choice of embedded fonts or font size?

4)will the guidelines for graphics change?
http://www.zorba.us/?page_id=676
I foresee problems when trying to produce ebooks for both the Kindle 2 and the ipad. I guess the lesson learned here is that 63K will still be the upper maximum, with images scaled up or down and using css to declare a maximum width in percentage for the img element.

5)I wonder if anybody has any thought about whether people will do a significant amount of reading in landscape mode.

6)I also have to wonder whether this sort of reading device will again bring books for the Safari browser (via subscriptions or through hybrid solutions such as Ibis http://blog.threepress.org/2009/11/0...nd-bookserver/ or Bookworm). Then again, I have to wonder about multimedia support for Safari (since flash doesn't appear to be in the picture).

7)Again, the different real estate specs might make some features practical which were only possible-but-awkward in the smaller eink device. Any thoughts about that?

8)I have to wonder what will the impact be on reading blogs and RSS feeds. Will this device increase the proportion of reading that is done on bookish things or bloggy things? (i.e., will rss reader and ebook reader be 2 distinct apps, or will ibooks try to bring both kinds of reading together).

9)the thing I really want to know is: if you're reading epub files, what will happen when you click a URL? (and what how much multitasking or application switching can the ipad actually do) http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...PCKHWATMY32JVN

10)some have speculated about annotations software. Will the ibook be doing that? Can a developer do a plugin that adds that functionality to ibook?

Your thoughts and speculations would be appreciated.

01-28-2010, 02:21 AM	#1
hapax legomenon Erotica Writer Posts: 102 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Device: ipad, Sony Reader PRS 505, Cybook 3	designing epubs for ipad? (my thoughts) Hi, there, I am producing epub files. I think I have a handle on how to do so for e-ink readers. But I'm wondering how the reader applications for the iphone will affect how we should design our epub files. Some random wonderings: 1)is there an epub reader for PC which lets you test 1024x768? Do you think ibooks will have an emulator for the PC? 2)will people tend to use the default reading application ibooks or will they download several (Stanza, Delicious Library, etc). 3)even though the resolution is allegedly 1024x768, I've been told that this is actually not particularly high for that screen size. Will this affect the choice of embedded fonts or font size? 4)will the guidelines for graphics change? http://www.zorba.us/?page_id=676 I foresee problems when trying to produce ebooks for both the Kindle 2 and the ipad. I guess the lesson learned here is that 63K will still be the upper maximum, with images scaled up or down and using css to declare a maximum width in percentage for the img element. 5)I wonder if anybody has any thought about whether people will do a significant amount of reading in landscape mode. 6)I also have to wonder whether this sort of reading device will again bring books for the Safari browser (via subscriptions or through hybrid solutions such as Ibis http://blog.threepress.org/2009/11/0...nd-bookserver/ or Bookworm). Then again, I have to wonder about multimedia support for Safari (since flash doesn't appear to be in the picture). 7)Again, the different real estate specs might make some features practical which were only possible-but-awkward in the smaller eink device. Any thoughts about that? 8)I have to wonder what will the impact be on reading blogs and RSS feeds. Will this device increase the proportion of reading that is done on bookish things or bloggy things? (i.e., will rss reader and ebook reader be 2 distinct apps, or will ibooks try to bring both kinds of reading together). 9)the thing I really want to know is: if you're reading epub files, what will happen when you click a URL? (and what how much multitasking or application switching can the ipad actually do) http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...PCKHWATMY32JVN 10)some have speculated about annotations software. Will the ibook be doing that? Can a developer do a plugin that adds that functionality to ibook? Your thoughts and speculations would be appreciated. Last edited by hapax legomenon; 01-28-2010 at 02:28 AM.