Signalling needed properties for EPUB3

[fncll]

I came across this thread after watching some videos about "fixed layout" epubs. Is that something that is limited to epub3? (though it seems perhaps better to just use PDF in that case

[kovidgoyal]

Yes, it's EPUB 3 only and yes its better to just use PDF in that case -- much wider compatibility.

[andrea864]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The question no one has answered for me, is why? Why should I waste countless hours of my life adding support for epub 3 to calibre? What does epub 3 enable that epub 2 does not?...

I have yet to see a use case that I care about that is possible with epub 3 but impossible with epub 2. As such I have far more important things to spend my calibre development time on.

@kovidgoyal - the key use for me is that epub 3 appears to support script that isn't latin, whereas other formats do not. I work in a e-education charity to make literature available in arabic, and am trying to determine how best to convert text to epub 3...

[kovidgoyal]

There is no extra support for non-latin scripts in epub 3 vs epub 2.

[Mechatism]

A use case becoming more relevant is audio. Epub2 does not support audio and audio data in custom fields is non-portable. Epub3 provides portable audio support AND has mechanisms to syncronize playback with highlighted text a la Kindle. Amazon is now pushing audio books for readers on the go and many cars now allow audio to be played though their speakers via bluetooth. I much prefer to listen to books while driving rather than listening to the garbage on the radio. Please reconsider support for Epub3!

[jackie_w]

If you want your books read aloud it's pretty easy to read EPUB2 in any number of Android reader apps with a Text-to-Speech feature. More convenient than embedding MP3 in an EPUB3 IMO.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Mechatism

A use case becoming more relevant is audio. Epub2 does not support audio and audio data in custom fields is non-portable. Epub3 provides portable audio support AND has mechanisms to syncronize playback with highlighted text a la Kindle. Amazon is now pushing audio books for readers on the go and many cars now allow audio to be played though their speakers via bluetooth. I much prefer to listen to books while driving rather than listening to the garbage on the radio. Please reconsider support for Epub3!

So get audiobooks, that is why they exist.

EPUB3 isn't even about listening to the book instead of reading it -- that is TTS and audiobooks.

...

So far I haven't seen anything that might sway Kovid's above stated opinions on the usefulness of EPUB3 support.

[senhal]

Interesting, isn't it?
http://www.albertopettarin.it/blog/2...ud-ebooks.html

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by senhal

Interesting, isn't it?
http://www.albertopettarin.it/blog/2...ud-ebooks.html

And your point?

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by senhal

Interesting, isn't it?
http://www.albertopettarin.it/blog/2...ud-ebooks.html

He is a regular on this site. For one thing he arranged with Kevin the support of SMIL in the Sigil ePUB3 output plugin.

[senhal]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And your point?

I'm sure Calibre will include support for epub3 when/if needed.
Anyway, that use of audio inside epub3 is worth considering and really different from audio-books

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by senhal

I'm sure Calibre will include support for epub3 when/if needed.
Anyway, that use of audio inside epub3 is worth considering and really different from audio-books

I am afraid we will have to agree to disagree about the usefulness.

Just because something is possible, does not make it useful.

[bentleymaniac]

Actually, I think the best thing about ePub 3(.1) is the MathML options. It is really very handy when making mathematics and engineering textbooks available for eReaders. PDF just doesn't work, and SVG can be rather annoying, especially if you make a slight mistake. MathML you edit the code. SVG you create a new file to replace the erroneous one. and with SVG, you end up with a LOT of extra files, making your book SO much bigger than is needed.

I think if anything, it would be MathML and options like it that make ePub3 better than ePub2. (also the css language has improved in ePub3, but we can work around that.)

[kovidgoyal]

Just use MathML/CSS 3 in epub 2 -- it will work everywhere that MathML works in epub 3. The only exception being the idiotic epubcheck.

The simple fact that the IDPF failed to grasp in their epub 3 process is that *all* future ebook renders are going to be based on browser engines. Which means that they will display whatever a browser can display, regardless of the "version" that you put into the OPF file in an epub.

Fortunately, the IDPF saw the error of their ways for EPUB 3.1

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Yes, it's EPUB 3 only and yes its better to just use PDF in that case -- much wider compatibility.

As long as we're digging up an ancient thread anyway, I might as well comment on this. PDF is more broadly compatible only if you treat it as a view-only/print-only medium. The big advantage of fixed-layout EPUB is that the content itself is in a sensible, structured text format, which means things like copying and pasting actually work (more or less) correctly.

If you've never copied a chunk of text out of a PDF file and found that all the spaces were missing, you haven't used PDF enough to hate it yet. Keep working with it, and you'll get there.