Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
But epub IS html ... or xhtml ... just arranged in a specific format.
Have you ever opened an epub file -- use winzip or 7zip or .... and take a look.
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Yes, quite often.
But that the way the Epub format is promoted IS the problem.
Epub publishers don't tell you, "hey, you can read this on any PC you already own, just change the extension to zip and open."
Instead, "You have to use our reader/software," "Buy our device," etc. and they tremendously muddle the waters...all because they're locking up content with DRM that's incompatible between different distributors. All within an "open" format? Epub's "industry standard" and "openness" is a complete distortion of the truth because of DRM.
Many, many ebook advocates and producers promote Epub as a different format. (I believe they have done this to separate ebooks from "just webpages" so they can sell them.) But most people believe they need a dedicated reader or special software to read ebooks.
I think ebooks could grow much more quickly if the industry line had been, "Yeah, ebooks are just like webpages. Read them on any browser or ebook reader. Please send us $5 to get your book."
It really has been a needless trainwreck.