Why We’ll Never Have Innovative E-Books

hughes · 08-03-2011, 11:26 AM

Facebook buys Push Pop Press, innovators in epublishing, but plans to use technology on their social platform rather than in ebooks:

This Is Why We’ll Never Have Innovative E-Books

Tim Carmody's article sees this as a loss to the development of ways of publishing ebooks that go beyond simple text.

Do innovations in epublishing beyond text excite you as an author or as a reader?

Is Facebook's (or social media's in general) redirection of talent and resources good or bad for innovation in the publishing space?

jgaiser · 08-03-2011, 11:56 AM

Umm.. Do we really *need* innovative ebooks? I think you would find that most of us here just want to read. I really don't need more distractions.

HomeInMyShoes · 08-03-2011, 12:15 PM

Beyond text depends what I'm reading. Some books would work really well having an interactive map, or an interactive graph embedded in it. But for a lot of what I read, they would just be the flashing Eat At Joe's and Get Flat Abs signs that are interfering with me finding the information I need.

I don't necessarily see this as a huge step back. I think it's a temporary step back for some things, but there will always be a need for research into the dissemination of information and someone else will see the needs and fill that.

What I want right now is an affordable color touchscreen with fast refresh and backlighting that wasn't a glare-out in bright light. Oh, and easy on the eyes. That might make PDF an actually useable format on devices and solve a lof publishing issues we have right now. Although marked up LaTeX would be a little better in my opinion. Compressable and not so bloated for easily marked up things.

jgaiser · 08-03-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

What I want right now is an affordable color touchscreen with fast refresh and backlighting that wasn't a glare-out in bright light. Oh, and easy on the eyes. That might make PDF an actually useable format on devices and solve a lof publishing issues we have right now. Although marked up LaTeX would be a little better in my opinion. Compressable and not so bloated for easily marked up things.

And a pony too?

taustin · 08-03-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughes

Do innovations in epublishing beyond text excite you as an author or as a reader?

No. It makes me think I'll be reading a lot less in the future. We already have epublishing technology that includes all those innovative ideas. It's called the World Wide Web. And it sucks for most purposes.

Ditchleyportrait · 08-03-2011, 01:00 PM

i think the innovation is exciting. there are things that a writer may want to do in terms of novelties that could be displayed perfectly through greater innovation.

writers always try things that challenge the traditional text, like faulkner drawing an eye in place of the word, for example.

there are valid, literary ideas that could develop from greater technology and 'things going on" in ebooks. moving graphics or interactive elements in literature, particularly fiction, could make things interesting.

i do not see facebook as a deterrent to greater technology. another company will pop up.

elcreative · 08-03-2011, 01:08 PM

All of these so-called innovative ideas have been tried, succeeded in some areas, generally died in others or are called videos, movies, interactive books etc and can all be done with things like the web... books for relaxation and entertainment (you know... fiction) are for reading those odd things, what are they? Oh yes... words. If I want anything else then it's available form something else... there's a case for reference and teaching works to have links to other material but most of us use our ereaders for leisure reading and that's what's wanted... other stuff can be done happily on a non-pocketable tablet, a computer or even a smartphone...

DuskyRose · 08-03-2011, 01:27 PM

I downloaded one of those virtual books with embedded video. It's on my iPad. It's a mystery/thriller.

The first video was the editor talking. Killed that quickly as I just wasn't interested. Just wanted to start the story.

Start of chapter two is someone (author?) reading out loud at least the first page of that chapter. Bailed out of that as well. The text is right there, I can read it, thanks.

Seriously, overkill. I'm not inclined to go back to it at the moment, but what was interesting was in the actual text, the story itself. The first two videos, for me, were a waste of time and effort. I don't imagine much beyond that that will actually add to the story.

HomeInMyShoes · 08-03-2011, 01:39 PM

^Just putting video into a regular book is probably going to end up with what you just described. Using video to rethink how we tell a story is another matter. It could work, but it might just end up being like a cut scene in a video game which we just press esc as fast as we can.

rkomar · 08-03-2011, 02:01 PM

I think these books with whiz-bang effects are for a different market than the small fraction of people who are regular readers. The majority of people don't particularly like to read for entertainment. When they do read, it's mostly best-sellers so that they can participate in cultural phenomena (rather than just reading for its own sake). If the whiz-bang effects can make these books entertaining enough for even part of that majority, it could be a huge, new source of revenue for the industry.

astrangerhere · 08-03-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taustin

No. It makes me think I'll be reading a lot less in the future. We already have epublishing technology that includes all those innovative ideas. It's called the World Wide Web. And it sucks for most purposes.

Well said that. I am one of those people overjoyed with the new Nook because it doesnt have buttons, screens or anything else. Its a book without being book, and honestly that is ALL I want. Facebook can have the rest of this crap.

carpetmojo · 08-03-2011, 02:50 PM

This rather reminds of an audiobook I was once given, which helpfully included a text copy of the book "to enhance my listening experience"............

I'm sorry to say my normal reserve went just a teensy bit out the window.

taustin · 08-03-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Well said that. I am one of those people overjoyed with the new Nook because it doesnt have buttons, screens or anything else. Its a book without being book, and honestly that is ALL I want. Facebook can have the rest of this crap.

Sing it, brother. If I want an interactive web page, I'll fire up a web browser. And I'll probably do it on my laptop or desktop. If I really wanted something like my nook that could do that, I'd buy a real tablet. And surf the web.

A writer who needs video, audio, or any other bling to tell his story probably isn't telling a story I'm intersted in hearing.

Namekuseijin · 08-03-2011, 03:05 PM

Famebook is bad and nocive in any way imaginable. It's Idiocracy at a global level.

Nancy Fulda · 08-03-2011, 03:21 PM

IMO, the vast majority of innovations -- both electronic and otherwise -- are annoying. The few that aren't quickly become standard and are no longer considered innovative.

Like many folks on this thread. I enjoy the fact that my e-reader doesn't have lots of buttons, lights, or distractions. I do wish it had a clock, though.

08-03-2011, 11:26 AM	#1
hughes Addict Posts: 223 Karma: 1006020 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Akron, OH USA Device: Kindle PW, Galaxy Nexus, iPad 1	Why We’ll Never Have Innovative E-Books Facebook buys Push Pop Press, innovators in epublishing, but plans to use technology on their social platform rather than in ebooks: This Is Why We’ll Never Have Innovative E-Books Tim Carmody's article sees this as a loss to the development of ways of publishing ebooks that go beyond simple text. Do innovations in epublishing beyond text excite you as an author or as a reader? Is Facebook's (or social media's in general) redirection of talent and resources good or bad for innovation in the publishing space? Last edited by hughes; 08-03-2011 at 12:00 PM.

08-03-2011, 02:50 PM	#12
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Too much, man........ This rather reminds of an audiobook I was once given, which helpfully included a text copy of the book "to enhance my listening experience"............ I'm sorry to say my normal reserve went just a teensy bit out the window.

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08-03-2011, 11:56 AM	#2
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Umm.. Do we really need innovative ebooks? I think you would find that most of us here just want to read. I really don't need more distractions.

08-03-2011, 12:15 PM	#3
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Beyond text depends what I'm reading. Some books would work really well having an interactive map, or an interactive graph embedded in it. But for a lot of what I read, they would just be the flashing *Eat At Joe's* and *Get Flat Abs* signs that are interfering with me finding the information I need. I don't necessarily see this as a huge step back. I think it's a temporary step back for some things, but there will always be a need for research into the dissemination of information and someone else will see the needs and fill that. What I want right now is an affordable color touchscreen with fast refresh and backlighting that wasn't a glare-out in bright light. Oh, and easy on the eyes. That might make PDF an actually useable format on devices and solve a lof publishing issues we have right now. Although marked up LaTeX would be a little better in my opinion. Compressable and not so bloated for easily marked up things.

08-03-2011, 01:00 PM	#6
Ditchleyportrait Fanatic Posts: 504 Karma: 780086 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: ny Device: Kindle DX Graphite	i think the innovation is exciting. there are things that a writer may want to do in terms of novelties that could be displayed perfectly through greater innovation. writers always try things that challenge the traditional text, like faulkner drawing an eye in place of the word, for example. there are valid, literary ideas that could develop from greater technology and 'things going on" in ebooks. moving graphics or interactive elements in literature, particularly fiction, could make things interesting. i do not see facebook as a deterrent to greater technology. another company will pop up.

08-03-2011, 01:08 PM	#7
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	All of these so-called innovative ideas have been tried, succeeded in some areas, generally died in others or are called videos, movies, interactive books etc and can all be done with things like the web... books for relaxation and entertainment (you know... fiction) are for reading those odd things, what are they? Oh yes... words. If I want anything else then it's available form something else... there's a case for reference and teaching works to have links to other material but most of us use our ereaders for leisure reading and that's what's wanted... other stuff can be done happily on a non-pocketable tablet, a computer or even a smartphone...

08-03-2011, 01:27 PM	#8
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 752 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Note Air3, Palma, K-Scribe, Eclipsa 2e, & Libra 2, Ipads	I downloaded one of those virtual books with embedded video. It's on my iPad. It's a mystery/thriller. The first video was the editor talking. Killed that quickly as I just wasn't interested. Just wanted to start the story. Start of chapter two is someone (author?) reading out loud at least the first page of that chapter. Bailed out of that as well. The text is right there, I can read it, thanks. Seriously, overkill. I'm not inclined to go back to it at the moment, but what was interesting was in the actual text, the story itself. The first two videos, for me, were a waste of time and effort. I don't imagine much beyond that that will actually add to the story.

08-03-2011, 01:39 PM	#9
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^Just putting video into a regular book is probably going to end up with what you just described. Using video to rethink how we tell a story is another matter. It could work, but it might just end up being like a cut scene in a video game which we just press esc as fast as we can.

08-03-2011, 02:01 PM	#10
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,042 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I think these books with whiz-bang effects are for a different market than the small fraction of people who are regular readers. The majority of people don't particularly like to read for entertainment. When they do read, it's mostly best-sellers so that they can participate in cultural phenomena (rather than just reading for its own sake). If the whiz-bang effects can make these books entertaining enough for even part of that majority, it could be a huge, new source of revenue for the industry.

08-03-2011, 03:05 PM	#14
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	Famebook is bad and nocive in any way imaginable. It's Idiocracy at a global level.

08-03-2011, 03:21 PM	#15
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	IMO, the vast majority of innovations -- both electronic and otherwise -- are annoying. The few that aren't quickly become standard and are no longer considered innovative. Like many folks on this thread. I enjoy the fact that my e-reader doesn't have lots of buttons, lights, or distractions. I do wish it had a clock, though.

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