Amazon Kindle might be the worst thing that could happen to e-books?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Actually the iPod itself only reads Apple's formats. All others are interpreted by iTunes when you get them in.

No, that's certainly not the case. The iPod will natively play MP3 files. There are some formats it does indeed convert when you import them into iTunes (eg WMP) but MP3 files can be imported and played with no conversion.

The Kindle works the same way but they will charge for the conversions; until someone writes a patch software to do it.

No, they're charging for the wireless transmission. You can upload via USB at no charge.

[jharker]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Actually the iPod itself only reads Apple's formats. All others are interpreted by iTunes when you get them in. The Kindle works the same way but they will charge for the conversions; until someone writes a patch software to do it.

Sorry, I don't even own an iPod (my fiancee does, though) so I didn't remember exactly how that worked.

However, Amazon does NOT charge for conversion of the files, only for sending the file to the Kindle via wireless.

But you CAN access the Kindle directly via USB, and copy mobi files* on to it directly, and it can read them and open them natively. This is different from your description of the iPod which must convert mp3 files.

Does anyone know, is there a way to strip DRM protection from a mobi book if you know the password/number/whatever?

[* non-DRMed mobi files, anyway. ]

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jharker

Does anyone know, is there a way to strip DRM protection from a mobi book if you know the password/number/whatever?

Such tools do exist, yes, but that's all I'm going to say.

[robhedin]

My Kindle arrived about an hour and a half ago... so far the experience has been very positive. Previously I used my Nokia 770 but have been lusting after e-ink for quite a while now.

The boxing on the Kindle was very apple-esque and made it feel like an event to open; plugged it into power and turned it on, and in about a minute and a half the screen came up with a personalized greeting "Dear Robert" with no setup required on my part. Read the greeting, looked over the on-line manual, and went to the menu and Lo! the books I had bought yesterday were already downloaded and ready for reading.

Plugged in the device to my Mac via USB and proceeded to load up the books I've purchased from Webscriptions.Net as well as much of the Baen free library (all as Mobipocket PRC files), and everything has been working happily with no conversion needed.

So far so good.

rob.

[rwsimon]

All the discussion comparing Amazon and Kindle with Apple and iPod is interesting. I've had several iPods over the years and have never used iTunes. There are much better third-party applications that aren't as "autocratic" as that piece of software. So for me, the iPod is only valuable because I'm not tied to Apple's DRM'd content. And there really isn't anything I want that can't be obtained (quite legally) without going to the iTunes store.

In the case of the Kindle, Amazon has impressively made a huge amount of content available instantly with the new hardware. I would guess that much of it is only available through Amazon at the moment (certainly they have many more titles than the Sony Connect store.) So if the analogy somebody suggested with Apple format vs. MP3 and Kindle format vs. some non-DRM'd ebook format is to hold, there will need to be sources of content out there that can compete (both in diversity and price.) Until the various other ebook providers out there catch up with Amazon in this regard, they do have us at a disadvantage. The same could never be said for Apple even if most iPod users elect to use iTunes.

[jgrnt1]

jharker,

I own 40 Mobipocket-DRM'ed ebooks, which makes the Kindle a no-go for me. If they offered a one-time conversion for pre-existing ebooks, that might cover it, since their catalogue is so much bigger than other ebook sellers. I believe stripping the DRM is possible, but who is to say that Amazon won't be able to detect it? With EVDO, they have access to your device anytime they want. They can update the OS whenever they choose. Suppose they can also check your library? You could keep EVDO turned off, but then some of the best features of the Kindle become useless.

Amazon is using the iPod/Zune model with the DRM lockdown. However, I don't think Amazon expects people to buy all their ebooks again. Most people read a book once and are done with it. There are a few people, like me, who will reread a book because they liked it so much, but they are a small minority. The only real issue then is reference works. Unfortunately, many of my Mobipocket books are reference works.

[tcv]

I honestly do see your point, rwsimon. I still think by-and-large that iTunes is a very popular store for several reasons, one of which being that people are buying from it. (Or are tied to it because they don't know any better -- like a report that says MSN.com is the most popular home page.) So while I can grant that you've not used it, or that many people here have not used it, I would offer that the majority of iPod owners have. We're in the minority and companies cater to what they perceive majorities want.

One thing that's very interesting to me is that many new iPod users typically have larger CD collections. It's fairly trivial to rip a CD into an iPod via iTunes. A kindle user will already need to have an electronic version of a book in order to have it processed. This makes going from p-space to e-space much more difficult and burdensome. Although Amazon might make the transition easier. (I know they do this already for some titles. You can buy the e-version for a substantially reduced price if you've already bought the p-version from them. I can't remember the name of the service.)

Cheers,

m

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

This, I think, sums up my opinion of the situation, as well. To that end, I plan to recommend on my site that Kindle users can buy Mobi versions of my e-books and upload them to Amazon's conversion system to their Kindle. That way, if anything happens to their Kindle, or if they want to read the book somewhere else, they are free to do so.

Mobi files do not need to be uploaded to Amazon at all. They can be transferred directly. Amazon does not keep copies of files you upload to them, only the books they sell and your notes.

Dale

[BillZ]

I haven't seen this mentioned here, but I'm hoping the $9.99 price puts pressure on other eBook sellers. If you look at smartphone prices, post iPhone, $399 seems to be the top of the market now.

[da_jane]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Amazon has the Digital Text Platform
that allows anyone with an Amazon account to create ebooks for the Kindle and sell them on Amazon. I'm sure that's from where the additional books originate.

Those must be self published books then because the authors who publish with NY or with epublishing houses dont have the rights to sell their own book. To which I say that the majority of Amazons offerings are fluff. They've got quantity but not quality.

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by BillZ

I haven't seen this mentioned here, but I'm hoping the $9.99 price puts pressure on other eBook sellers. If you look at smartphone prices, post iPhone, $399 seems to be the top of the market now.

I think it already did. Check current prices at http://ebooks.connect.com/

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, that's certainly not the case. The iPod will natively play MP3 files. There are some formats it does indeed convert when you import them into iTunes (eg WMP) but MP3 files can be imported and played with no conversion.

My apologies for confusing any one who's read my previous post.
I have reseached the subject and found the source of my confusion. The iPod when first out of the box is configured to work solely with iTunes; which at this point is sole caterer to content. It then uses AAF, a variant of M-PEG4, to optimize the quantity of music to be used on board the iPod. If this setup is maintained, it is not possible to access any of the stored music other that through iTunes. Not only so but the iPod will not recognize any music drag and dropped to it. However when properly configured, it will recognize and read any compatible file such as WAV and MP3 that has been dragged to it according to host computer OS fashion. It is to be noted that on a smaller storage capacity device, the AAf should be used as it takes up less space and allows more music to be stored.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Mobi files do not need to be uploaded to Amazon at all. They can be transferred directly. Amazon does not keep copies of files you upload to them, only the books they sell and your notes.

Even better!

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by pitcher23

Excellent point. Us U.S. Gadget lovers usually have to wait for our favorite Japanese or South Korean electronics. Hell, I was jealous of my European peers when they received their Iliads a couple of months ahead of me.

The new Motorola Razor 2 launched in Korea first and they're an American company.

[dedicated]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, they're charging for the wireless transmission. You can upload via USB at no charge.

I was under the impression that for PDF or Word files, you have to use the conversion via sending an email to yourself at the cost of 10 cents each. Would the USB route avoid the charge?