Quote:
Originally Posted by susan_cassidy
Does that mean you can't change font size in a DRM ePub? It sounds like that's what he was saying. Or does he just mean the shortcut arrow key doesn't work in DRM ePubs or PDFs?
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Not sure what he *meant* but the reality is that since the DRM used is Adobe Adept the answer, sadly, is: it depends.
As a rule, the Adobe Reader on the PB360 (the mandated way to read DRM'ed content) deigns to offer five zoom factors, the ePub format allows the publisher to force a specific, non-overrideable font and size. This is *not* a DRM issue but an ePUB publisher-service issue. (I've only run into one ebook that refused to zoom but it is a well-known "feature" of the format.) In the newly-emergent war between publishers and readers Adobe stands foursquare with the publishers.
Since ADE honors the publisher's power, if you use ADE to read ePUBs (DRM'ed or not) you are limited to the Standard ADE typographical controls. You get one font face, six (well-chosen) zoom factors, no margins, no line spacing controls, no hyphenation/alignment options, ADE page numbers on the right, a mandatory status bar, etc. This is *not* a PB360 issue per-se, it is an ADE issue. The PB360 implementation of ADE is decent enough--it supports dictionary look-up and clipping among other features--its just limited to what the publishers choose to hardwire for you. As a result, the "settings" icon in the quick menu is replaced by a "zoom" icon.
For a better idea of what the baseline PB360 interface looks like, check this:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61908
(Its what sold me on PB360.)
Of course, the PB360 offers an alternative for DRM-free ePub; it comes with a version of FBReader (and you can download a superior one called FBReader 180:
http://code.google.com/p/fbreader-po...eader180_guide) which allows you to override/redefine most ePub typographical settings.
You can easily choose which reader software to make your default or simply hold the center button and choose at launch time.
When it comes to fonts and sizes, FBReader180 allows you to specify any truetype or opentype font in any arbitrary font size; one-point increments. Your call. It also has an extensive styles.xml configuration file that lets you go to town setting up *your* prefered presentation style. (FBReader180 has a built-in settings pane for creating/editing/loading multiple styles.xml profiles.) With over a hundred settings you could spend weeks just tweaking. (Me, I settled for 5 minor adjustments to get the look I prefer; a quarter-inch margin all around, no status bar, and new chapter headings with an inch or so "space before".)
There is nothing really bad about ADE on PB360, mind you; it is comparable to ADE on other Adobe-based readers. But it is *not* the reason to get a PB360. Its a nice fallback. But if you intend to spend the bulk of your reading time in ADE you're likely better served by a Sony or Bookeen reader. (At least as of now. Rumors abound.)
But if the bulk of your reading is DRM-free (or you know how to make it DRM-free
) then you'll likely be happy with the PB360.
Oh, and when I said Baseline Interface, above, I was referring to the fact that the Pocketbook line allows you to replace the standard look and feel with your own using THEMES:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80518
These THEMES don't just reskin the interface, the change behavior and even add bookshelf modes/features. So you can have the bookshelf of your choice, the ebook presentation of your choice, multiple active dictionaries, and still have access to Adobe DRM'ed ebooks if that floats your boat.
That said, as good as the PB360 software environment is, what I most love about the PB360 is the ergonomics; it is a one-handed reader I can control with one finger and fits into my pants pocket like a thin paperback reader.
It's not perfect but it suits me just fine.