Your Opinion: iSilo PDBs on the way out?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-19-2006, 03:08 PM

On my e-book site, I sell my books in multiple formats, including PDB for eReader, and a seperate PDB for iSilo (among others). I've just noticed that, after a year, I have sold NO iSilo PDB e-books at all!

Now, I know that I'm not exactly selling to thousands here (or even hundreds... or even... well, never mind

), but should I consider this a trend? Are there fewer iSilo readers out there now? Are other formats winning out? Should I drop the iSilo PDB in favor of another format?

Opinions are requested.

VillageReader · 10-19-2006, 03:59 PM

Steve - I posted a message on your site a while back about a .pdf formatted specifically for the Iliad. As you probably know from bouncing here, the 'resizing' capability of the Iliad for a .pdf is still in its infancy, even though there were just some dramatic improvements in the last week or so. Minor reformatting of your ebooks to the right size would be great.

As far as iSilo goes, on the Palm I have I still have that format, but haven't added anything to that format in a very long time. Most, if not all, of my recent additions there have been either Mobipocket or Tomeraider.

Bob Russell · 10-19-2006, 04:52 PM

I don't remember if you have Palm Doc format (not the eReader one), but that seems to be readable on most desktops or pdas/smartphones, at least Win Mobile and PalmOS. (It's the one called "Doc" at memoware... http://www.memoware.com/mw.cgi/?screen=help_format) And those platforms are the only ones I'm aware of with iSilo support.

Oops... seems iSilo is supported on Smartphone, Symbian UIQ, and Symbian Series 60 also. But some Symbian at least seems to support PalmDoc... http://www.memoware.com/mw.cgi/?screen=help_other

So as much as I love iSilo, especially with iSiloX for extracting web content, I'm thinking that PalmDoc has the more widespread support for people wanting to read it.

PalmDoc may also be what you are calling eReader/PalmDoc, I'm not sure. But if it's the same, you probably don't need iSilo also. On the other hand, for existing books, does it hurt to have an extra format?

Sorry to be so wordy, but hopefully this helps...

derekweb · 10-19-2006, 06:57 PM

I personally prefer to use iSilo, because (specifically) of the iSiloX capability. Usually, and it's about 75% of the time, the formats when given to me electronically never seem to fit right on my handheld, until after I re-do or clean up the eBook. It's frustrating.

So, I simply get the HTML or other like, and convert myself. Usually have no issues with the conversion.

Is it dead? Nope. Probably fighting for who's top-dog, however. iSilo does what I need the best,... for what it's worth.

Brad · 10-19-2006, 07:02 PM

About 90% of the ebooks I read are in iSilo - it is my preferred reader for several reasons, iSiloX among them.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-19-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VillageReader

Steve - I posted a message on your site a while back about a .pdf formatted specifically for the Iliad. As you probably know from bouncing here, the 'resizing' capability of the Iliad for a .pdf is still in its infancy, even though there were just some dramatic improvements in the last week or so. Minor reformatting of your ebooks to the right size would be great.

I remember the message. What was the size of the Iliad screen in inches? I can check into what I need to do to resize PDFs for that size.

Alexander Turcic · 10-20-2006, 05:55 AM

iSilo is still my favorite reader on both platforms, Palm and Windows Mobile.

Unfortunately, since it doesn't support any form of DRM, publishers have been hesitant (i.e. non-existent) in supporting iSilo - which probably explains why it has always been just a niche product.

Like many other people I prefer downloading content in a more "open" format, such as HTML, and then use excellent tools like iSiloX to convert the content to the format I need. This probably also explains why nobody is downloading iSilo books directly.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-20-2006, 06:43 AM

A lot of people on these boards repeatedly say "I convert myself," and often using HTML. That's the reason I've been considering HTML as a potential iSilo PDB replacement...

VillageReader · 10-20-2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I remember the message. What was the size of the Iliad screen in inches? I can check into what I need to do to resize PDFs for that size.

What I use is 4.7 W by 5.9 H. Margins at .2 all around works fine.

Thanks - I'll be visiting your site again soon

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-20-2006, 10:27 AM

Okay, then let's get a concensus: Anyone else know if 4.7 W by 5.9 H (or thereabouts) would be a good PDF size for most other readers? (We'll exclude desktop PCs from this question, which we know are configured for letter-size documents.)

NatCh · 10-20-2006, 12:01 PM

Sony Reader is around 3.54" X 4.84" and I've been slapping on a .03" margin. :shrugh:

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-28-2006, 05:16 PM

Overall, I'd like to be able to keep my list of formats to 5 or less. If I tried to satisfy every type of reader and hardware, I'd have a dozen or more formats and sizes listed! The direction of my original question is to determine the 5 most popular and practical e-book formats to offer my books in.

Based on what I've been reading about Sony Reader, I might do RTF conversions for that device, as opposed to PDF. (RTF is also in the running, alongside HTML, as my PDB replacement.) I might reduce my PDF size, though, to something more approximating a paperback page size, especially if that makes it easier for some hardware to read.

I should probably ask, what is the native format for the Iliad? Maybe formatting specifically for that device would make more sense.

VillageReader · 10-28-2006, 10:04 PM

.rtf can be easily reformatted for the Iliad.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-28-2006, 11:14 PM

Okay, so I know RTF works for the Iliad, and it can also be converted to PDF for other readers. I also know HTML can be converted to many formats, including iSilo. Would it make more sense, therefore, to add RTF and HTML, allowing customers to do their own conversions and fit their device, and remove other formats, like the iSilo PDB, from my list?

(My currently offered formats are eReader PDB, iSIlo PDB, Mobipocket PRC, MS Reader LIT, and Adobe PDF.)

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-29-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

I don't remember if you have Palm Doc format (not the eReader one), but that seems to be readable on most desktops or pdas/smartphones, at least Win Mobile and PalmOS. (It's the one called "Doc" at memoware... http://www.memoware.com/mw.cgi/?screen=help_format) And those platforms are the only ones I'm aware of with iSilo support.

Bob, as best as I can determine, the PDB format I create for iSilo is the DOC format, so it is readable on most readers. (If anyone has tested this and found it not to be so, please let me know.)

10-19-2006, 03:08 PM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Your Opinion: iSilo PDBs on the way out? On my e-book site, I sell my books in multiple formats, including PDB for eReader, and a seperate PDB for iSilo (among others). I've just noticed that, after a year, I have sold NO iSilo PDB e-books at all! Now, I know that I'm not exactly selling to thousands here (or even hundreds... or even... well, never mind ), but should I consider this a trend? Are there fewer iSilo readers out there now? Are other formats winning out? Should I drop the iSilo PDB in favor of another format? Opinions are requested.

10-28-2006, 05:16 PM	#12
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Overall, I'd like to be able to keep my list of formats to 5 or less. If I tried to satisfy every type of reader and hardware, I'd have a dozen or more formats and sizes listed! The direction of my original question is to determine the 5 most popular and practical e-book formats to offer my books in. Based on what I've been reading about Sony Reader, I might do RTF conversions for that device, as opposed to PDF. (RTF is also in the running, alongside HTML, as my PDB replacement.) I might reduce my PDF size, though, to something more approximating a paperback page size, especially if that makes it easier for some hardware to read. I should probably ask, what is the native format for the Iliad? Maybe formatting specifically for that device would make more sense. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 10-28-2006 at 06:14 PM.

10-28-2006, 11:14 PM	#14
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Okay, so I know RTF works for the Iliad, and it can also be converted to PDF for other readers. I also know HTML can be converted to many formats, including iSilo. Would it make more sense, therefore, to add RTF and HTML, allowing customers to do their own conversions and fit their device, and remove other formats, like the iSilo PDB, from my list? (My currently offered formats are eReader PDB, iSIlo PDB, Mobipocket PRC, MS Reader LIT, and Adobe PDF.) Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 10-29-2006 at 08:50 AM.

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10-19-2006, 03:59 PM	#2
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	Steve - I posted a message on your site a while back about a .pdf formatted specifically for the Iliad. As you probably know from bouncing here, the 'resizing' capability of the Iliad for a .pdf is still in its infancy, even though there were just some dramatic improvements in the last week or so. Minor reformatting of your ebooks to the right size would be great. As far as iSilo goes, on the Palm I have I still have that format, but haven't added anything to that format in a very long time. Most, if not all, of my recent additions there have been either Mobipocket or Tomeraider.

10-19-2006, 04:52 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I don't remember if you have Palm Doc format (not the eReader one), but that seems to be readable on most desktops or pdas/smartphones, at least Win Mobile and PalmOS. (It's the one called "Doc" at memoware... http://www.memoware.com/mw.cgi/?screen=help_format) And those platforms are the only ones I'm aware of with iSilo support. Oops... seems iSilo is supported on Smartphone, Symbian UIQ, and Symbian Series 60 also. But some Symbian at least seems to support PalmDoc... http://www.memoware.com/mw.cgi/?screen=help_other So as much as I love iSilo, especially with iSiloX for extracting web content, I'm thinking that PalmDoc has the more widespread support for people wanting to read it. PalmDoc may also be what you are calling eReader/PalmDoc, I'm not sure. But if it's the same, you probably don't need iSilo also. On the other hand, for existing books, does it hurt to have an extra format? Sorry to be so wordy, but hopefully this helps...

10-19-2006, 06:57 PM	#4
derekweb Groupie Posts: 160 Karma: 3134 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United States Device: Palm Treo 700p & iPaq hx2755	I personally prefer to use iSilo, because (specifically) of the iSiloX capability. Usually, and it's about 75% of the time, the formats when given to me electronically never seem to fit right on my handheld, until after I re-do or clean up the eBook. It's frustrating. So, I simply get the HTML or other like, and convert myself. Usually have no issues with the conversion. Is it dead? Nope. Probably fighting for who's top-dog, however. iSilo does what I need the best,... for what it's worth.

10-19-2006, 07:02 PM	#5
Brad Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 201 Join Date: Sep 2004 Device: Cybook Gen3 / EB1150 /iPhone	About 90% of the ebooks I read are in iSilo - it is my preferred reader for several reasons, iSiloX among them.

10-20-2006, 05:55 AM	#7
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	iSilo is still my favorite reader on both platforms, Palm and Windows Mobile. Unfortunately, since it doesn't support any form of DRM, publishers have been hesitant (i.e. non-existent) in supporting iSilo - which probably explains why it has always been just a niche product. Like many other people I prefer downloading content in a more "open" format, such as HTML, and then use excellent tools like iSiloX to convert the content to the format I need. This probably also explains why nobody is downloading iSilo books directly.

10-20-2006, 06:43 AM	#8
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	A lot of people on these boards repeatedly say "I convert myself," and often using HTML. That's the reason I've been considering HTML as a potential iSilo PDB replacement...

10-20-2006, 10:27 AM	#10
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Okay, then let's get a concensus: Anyone else know if 4.7 W by 5.9 H (or thereabouts) would be a good PDF size for most other readers? (We'll exclude desktop PCs from this question, which we know are configured for letter-size documents.)

10-20-2006, 12:01 PM	#11
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Sony Reader is around 3.54" X 4.84" and I've been slapping on a .03" margin. :shrugh:

10-28-2006, 10:04 PM	#13
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	.rtf can be easily reformatted for the Iliad.

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