PDF is dead.... Long live PDF

[Justin Nemo]

There is a whisper on the street that Adobe are bringing out a new ereader format based on their popular PDF format but with .mobi like qualities. If this is so, what features would you like/expect to see in the new format?

[HarryT]

Why would Adobe bring out a reader format with "Mobi-like qualities" when they are already have THE industry standard implementation of ePub, a much more capable format than Mobi?

Can't see it happening myself.

[JSWolf]

Besides, PDF is not eReader. eReader is a completely different format. And for what PDF was designed for, it works very well. It's just when you go trying to use PDF as an eBook format that it falls flat.

I would love to see eReader sue everyone who uses the term eReader incorrectly and get them to stop.

[Justin Nemo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why would Adobe bring out a reader format with "Mobi-like qualities" when they are already have THE industry standard implementation of ePub, a much more capable format than Mobi?

Can't see it happening myself.

Er which standard are you talking about? Epub is managed by The International Digital Publishing Forum.

[Justin Nemo]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Besides, PDF is not eReader. eReader is a completely different format. And for what PDF was designed for, it works very well. It's just when you go trying to use PDF as an eBook format that it falls flat.

I would love to see eReader use everyone who uses the term eReader incorrectly and get them to stop.

Why are you stating the obvious? Of course it's not an ereader. I said they are bringing out a NEW ereader.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

Er which standard are you talking about? Epub is managed by The International Digital Publishing Forum.

Indeed it is, but the implementation of ePub used by virtually every eBook reader on the market is Adobe's implementation of it (ADE and its mobile variants), for which the device manufacturer pays Adobe a large annual licence fee. Pretty much every commercial bookstore which sells ePub books does so using Adobe Content Server (ACS) and pays Adobe a very nice royalty fee for every book that they sell.

Adobe would have to be crazy to want to upset this status quo, IMHO. They are raking in money hand over fist from ePub.

[JSWolf]

delete post

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would love to see eReader sue everyone who uses the term eReader incorrectly and get them to stop.

xerox that!

[HarryT]

Can you give us a reference to this supposed new Adobe eBook format, Justin? This is the first I've heard about it.

[Justin Nemo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Indeed it is, but the implementation of ePub used by virtually every eBook reader on the market is Adobe's implementation of it (ADE and its mobile variants), for which the device manufacturer pays Adobe a large annual licence fee. Pretty much every commercial bookstore which sells ePub books does so using Adobe Content Server (ACS) and pays Adobe a very nice royalty fee for every book that they sell.

Adobe would have to be crazy to want to upset this status quo, IMHO. They are raking in money hand over fist from ePub.

From what I remember ADE is a desk top application which end users download onto their PC.

Here's what adobe say about it:

“Adobe Digital Editions is a focused, lightweight solution (4MB download on Windows®). It extends the eBook capabilities integrated with previous versions of Reader and Acrobat and delivers a simplified, content-centric, consumer-friendly user interface.

Digital Editions supports the Sony® Reader. Visit the "Transferring items to a Sony® Reader" area of Adobe Digital Editions Help for more information on using the Sony® Reader with Digital Editions.

Adobe is actively working to support other platforms and devices. Further developments will be announced when available.”

So who is paying them a very nice royalty fee?

As mentioned in the original post, this is a whisper so there is no official link to give. Are you the depository of all ebook knowledge? If not then maybe you wouldn't have heard about it.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Adobe would have to be crazy to want to upset this status quo, IMHO. They are raking in money hand over fist from ePub.

Epub DRM was broken a long time ago, and the publishers know it. I don't think they would need much convincing to switch to a new format, especially if it couldn't be read on computers and therefore reverse-engineered.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

From what I remember ADE is a desk top application which end users download onto their PC.

Yes, it is, but Adobe also write the ePub (and PDF) firmware that pretty much all reading devices use to display ePub/PDF books. They used to call this mobile software "ADE" too, but I think they call it something like the "Adobe Mobile Software" these days. I see you have a nook - look at the page on it which displays the "legal stuff" - I'm sure you'll see a credit for Adobe on there.

EDIT: It's called the "Adobe Reader Mobile Software Development Kit". See:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/readermobile.html

So who is paying them a very nice royalty fee?

Every reader manufacturer who licenses Adobe's firmware: Sony, B&N, Kobo, Pocketbook, etc etc. Basically everyone (other than Apple) who makes a device which supports ePub. They all use Adobe's firmware.

As mentioned in the original post, this is a whisper so there is no official link to give. Are you the depository of all ebook knowledge? If not then you maybe wouldn't have heard about it.

What I'm asking is where YOU heard it. A technology website? A blog? It's the kind of news that would probably make headlines on the "gadget" sites. I'm surprised not to have heard about it, and I'd be interested to know more, because it seems like a strange move on Adobe's part, given their massive investment in ePub.

[Justin Nemo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, it is, but Adobe also write the ePub (and PDF) firmware that pretty much all reading devices use to display ePub/PDF books. They used to call this mobile software "ADE" too, but I think they call it something like the "Adobe Mobile Software" these days. I see you have a nook - look at the page on it which displays the "legal stuff" - I'm sure you'll see a credit for Adobe on there.

But not according to Adobe's website. Are you confusing it with something else?

Originally Posted by HarryT

Every reader manufacturer who licenses Adobe's firmware: Sony, B&N, Kobo, Pocketbook, etc etc. Basically everyone (other than Apple) who makes a device which supports ePub. They all use Adobe's firmware.

Again according to Adobe they only support Sony.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Justin Nemo

But not according to Adobe's website. Are you confusing it with something else?

No, I don't believe so. Every device which can load books via desktop ADE also uses Adobe's firmware on the device itself.

Eg, attached is the "legal" page from my Pocketbook 360. Note the reference to "Adobe Reader Mobile software".

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would love to see eReader sue everyone who uses the term eReader incorrectly and get them to stop.

The term "eReader" was bought by B&N when they bought Fictionwise; I think they wanted access to the eReader credit-card DRM, 'cos they're certainly not supporting the bookstore.

Since B&N advertises its nook Simple Touch as "Breakthrough E Ink® display – 25% faster than any other eReader", they've pretty much killed their ability to prosecute for trademark infringement. They've declared that "eReader" means the device, not the format, and it includes the devices of their competitors.