Under new Overdrive model users will no longer choose a file format, just 'ebook'

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by carld

It's only a good thing if the unknown file format actually works well on your choice of reader. As stated above, if I borrow a book for my Kindle, or phone, and they send down a PDF I'm not going to be happy.

Doesn't the kindle reflow pdf files? I know that that doesn't work really well with technical books that have tables or figures, but for that you would just get a bigger reader anyway.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Doesn't the kindle reflow pdf files?

No, the Kindle doesn't support re-flowable pdf... that I know of.

[TimW]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

No, the Kindle doesn't support re-flowable pdf... that I know of.

It doesn't reflow...unless you send it through the conversion process and then it reflows into a dreadful mess.

[khalleron]

I want to see toddos and ahi in a cage match.

I'll bring the popcorn.

[RockdaMan]

My take on it was that upon registering with the library, patrons would indicate what device they have. Then when they go through the checkout process they would receive an appropriate 'ebook'. The best available for their device--we just don't know who will determine 'best'.

[carld]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Doesn't the kindle reflow pdf files? I know that that doesn't work really well with technical books that have tables or figures, but for that you would just get a bigger reader anyway.

I can read PDFs if I turn them to landscape orientation, at least mostly. It's workable, but not something I really want to bother with. Though, come to think of it, PDFs have to be authorized and downloaded through Adobe Digital Editions, so really there's no chance that you'll end up with a PDF on your Kindle without knowing about it.

[newlaza]

Were'nt there some rumors a while back about Kindle taking Epub submissions from publishers? Obviously it's a pretty grand speculation, but isn't it possible the K4 will support Epub? Or maybe I'm just fantasizing. But, I don't think it's out of the question considering library support was announced "sometime this year" and we are all expecting a new Kindle and/or tablet "sometime this year".

[carld]

Originally Posted by TimW

For a Kindle, the previous Overdrive announcement specifically said any library book that your library has will also be available as a Kindle book. This announcement seems to more generally say that ebooks/audiobooks should be platform agnostic...they will be available in the format you need. However, the number of licenses is still a restriction...if you only have 3 licenses for a particular book, you can only have three checkouts at a time.

While that's what it said, the truth is that some books are available only as PDFs. However, after thinking about it I remembered that PDFs have to go through ADE, so really there's no chance of ending up with a PDF on your Kindle unexpectedly.

[elemenoP]

Does Amazon sell any PDF files for Kindle? Or all they all mobi or azw or whatever you call it?

This is how I'm imagining a regular ebook checkout working for a Kindle user: go to your library's website. Select the book you want. Checkout through Overdrive's checkout process. The ebook file is now in "My eItems" in the Overdrive interface. DON'T download the file. DON'T connect your Kindle to your computer. Turn on your Kindle. Look on your home page, your library ebook is there. It has been delivered by Amazon directly onto your device.

I have no special insight into this, but that's my guess. And I think it would be great! Wireless library downloads would actually turn the Kindle into the BEST library book reader.

But yes, PDFs throw a wrench into the whole process.

[tubemonkey]

Glad I don't do PDFs; considering the problems they pose for quite a few members around here.

[DiapDealer]

Were'nt there some rumors a while back about Kindle taking Epub submissions from publishers?

Not really a rumor. Submitting epubs (that are then converted to mobi's) is not really new. And Kindlegen currently embeds the epub (or html source) in the mobi--has for some time. Supporting epub is something that they may do at some point, but I don't believe that's what we're going to see with Amazon books being available through Overdrive.

[Hellmark]

That'll be great, go to check out a book, and find out it is in a format my reader doesn't support....

[DiapDealer]

That'll be great, go to check out a book, and find out it is in a format my reader doesn't support....

I honestly think it's overreacting to believe that something like this will happen. Is it absolutely inconceivable that they might just get this right?

Next up in the unfounded complaint department: increased wait times.

[carld]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Does Amazon sell any PDF files for Kindle? Or all they all mobi or azw or whatever you call it?

All azw or topaz, no PDFs.

Originally Posted by elemenoP

This is how I'm imagining a regular ebook checkout working for a Kindle user: go to your library's website. Select the book you want. Checkout through Overdrive's checkout process. The ebook file is now in "My eItems" in the Overdrive interface. DON'T download the file. DON'T connect your Kindle to your computer. Turn on your Kindle. Look on your home page, your library ebook is there. It has been delivered by Amazon directly onto your device.

Hopefully it will work something like that. Though I'd think there would have to be an option to DL the book to your desktop. Not everyone has the 3G model or a wireless connection at home.

[Sil_liS]

I don't really see the point in worrying about this. I would think that if the book comes only as a pdf it is because it needs the fixed formatting, and you wouldn't find it as epub or mobi anyway.