It is the Worst of Times for Reading EBooks

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Yes, innovation has slowed substantially. An alternative viewpoint on that is that devices are just pretty mature right now and there's not really any easy ways to release a better model.

I think that this is pretty much where we are at. Unless there is some major innovation that is a game changer, most of the changes now are incremental - better battery life, more memory.

I do think that if someone is ever able to come up with a universal ebook reader, i.e. one that can grab an ebook from whatever ebook store you buy from as well as allowing side loading, then that will be a game changer, but I also think this would require cooperation from Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N and the myriad of other smaller ebook shops to agree on various interface standards and I think the odds of that are about the same as me winning the lottery.

[conan50]

I agree as far as e-ink devices. Where are the awesome Miracast color e-ink with big beautiful screens we were promised?
The fact is lcd screens got better, cheaper, and e-ink got stuck.
Publishers like Tor are encouraging with freeing ebooks of drm, but most publishers still use it, making it questionable if you own the ebook without making you into a criminal.

[lumpynose]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I do think that if someone is ever able to come up with a universal ebook reader, i.e. one that can grab an ebook from whatever ebook store you buy from as well as allowing side loading, then that will be a game changer, but I also think this would require cooperation from Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N and the myriad of other smaller ebook shops to agree on various interface standards and I think the odds of that are about the same as me winning the lottery.

But with respect to the format, ignoring DRM, aren't we there with EPUB? Ignoring amazon of course. So if there were some open source, free DRM that everyone could use, that might get them (excepting amazon no doubt) to use it.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

But with respect to the format, ignoring DRM, aren't we there with EPUB? Ignoring amazon of course. So if there were some open source, free DRM that everyone could use, that might get them (excepting amazon no doubt) to use it.

It is that 'could use' part that scares the publishers and purveyors of the DRMing tools.
Unique (manufacturer/store) DRM is about making the wall taller-thicker, not protecting the content. It is about "You can only use books you bought HERE on this device." "Use only Factory parts or all warranties are void" has been used to peddle overpriced repair parts for years. It is all about Locking you into their business model.

DRM also stops the centuries old practice of lending books (ignore the digital duplicate may exist for a period issue. Amazon did come up with a partial solution, but only within their castle). The other part, is everybody in the DRM industry has their hand in the till. They want a FEEs, for every 'lend' or post sale activity, even though this is managed by a computer that is also doing the main, original DRM task (The computer is already running, shuffling a few extra bits needed to lend, cost minuscule $ to do. The $ was made doing the original DRM infesting, Licensing the device software and to the manufacturer).
The poor Author take the hit because Retailer A used a different DRM (or format) than brand K does and the Author had to agree to a contract to only sell thru A. DRM was supposed to protect the Author. It really protects the Seller.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by lumpynose

But with respect to the format, ignoring DRM, aren't we there with EPUB? Ignoring amazon of course. So if there were some open source, free DRM that everyone could use, that might get them (excepting amazon no doubt) to use it.

Not really, I'm talking about seamlessly being able to access any book you purchase from any store from a single device. Even if DRM was abolished, most stores don't have an exposed API that allows a customer to access his or her purchased ebooks, or for that matter, allows a customer to buy a specific ebook. There are a lot pieces to the puzzle.

Of course, "ignoring DRM" is a bit like saying "other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play", i.e. it's hard to ignore DRM.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by theducks

It is that 'could use' part that scares the publishers and purveyors of the DRMing tools.
Unique (manufacturer/store) DRM is about making the wall taller-thicker, not protecting the content. It is about "You can only use books you bought HERE on this device." "Use only Factory parts or all warranties are void" has been used to peddle overpriced repair parts for years. It is all about Locking you into their business model.

DRM also stops the centuries old practice of lending books (ignore the digital duplicate may exist for a period issue. Amazon did come up with a partial solution, but only within their castle). The other part, is everybody in the DRM industry has their hand in the till. They want a FEEs, for every 'lend' or post sale activity, even though this is managed by a computer that is also doing the main, original DRM task (The computer is already running, shuffling a few extra bits needed to lend, cost minuscule $ to do. The $ was made doing the original DRM infesting, Licensing the device software and to the manufacturer).
The poor Author take the hit because Retailer A used a different DRM (or format) than brand K does and the Author had to agree to a contract to only sell thru A. DRM was supposed to protect the Author. It really protects the Seller.

Well, yes and no. Most ebook stores are quite willing to sell ebooks without DRM. Tor sells all their ebooks without DRM and they aren't the only ones. Of course, the proprietary DRM does lock one into a specific ebook store, which is just dandy with Amazon, Apple, B&N and Kobo.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Yes, innovation has slowed substantially. An alternative viewpoint on that is that devices are just pretty mature right now and there's not really any easy ways to release a better model.

There are so many “I wants”....it can’t be that nobody can dream up improvements.

I want a higher dpi. I want instant page turns. I want all the good stores supported without being a general computer tablet. I want pen market with sync to computer and tablets. I want better and faster library management.

And I want to pay $49.99

[Sydney's Mom]

I love my oasis and the libraries are really embracing this shift.

[sun surfer]

What I've come to feel is that I just care less about it all now, the technology I mean. When it first all began, it was a bright shiny thing that caught my attention for many years, like pretty much everyone here who found this site looking for ereader discussions. I was invested in the developments and variety and wanted to try different things and see what I could most get out of an ereader.

The last few years, however, since I've got my Voyage, I just stopped caring. Perhaps if the market were still as innovative as before I'd be more invested still, but it's not. I've found I'm very happy with the ereader I have now. I know many around are gadget-holics, but I'm not really; I can be a minimalist actually. I even tried to get used to reading on phone/tablet so that I could ditch the ereader altogether but I like eink too much so one ereader stays. I just stopped worrying about the things that aren't perfect and decided what I have now is good enough for many years. Now I'm happy in my walled garden, now I don't take too many notes so not to fill up the ereader and slow it down like my Sony used to, now I don't bother with the internet connection except for the bookstore because it's too subpar and just use my phone for anything I want to look up in connection with a book I'm reading, now I've given up caring about colour eink, etc.

I would like a new Voyage to come out, or a new Oasis that has haptic buttons which I really love, but I'm in no hurry and know I might never get one and that's okay.

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I've found I'm very happy with the ereader I have now. I know many around are gadget-holics, but I'm not really; I can be a minimalist actually.

This is is what I think too, it depends on what you want from an ereader:

It is the worst of times for ereader collectors.
It is the best of times for ebook readers.

[DiapDealer]

I've always been more interested in the letter than the envelope.

[lumpynose]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I've always been more interested in the letter than the envelope.

Not a stamp collector I'll guess.

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stamps/covers

[leebase]

Ok, we've covered the "much reduced" pace of innovation. What of the poor stated of "places to buy ebooks" and certainly "deals that can be found".

Apple lost, Apple had to pay a large fine. But Agency pricing didn't die. There is no price competition among vendors selling the popular ebooks. No club deals (that I know of). No "frequent shopper rewards".

How come? Where are today's Fictionwise?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by leebase

...What of the poor stated of "places to buy ebooks" and certainly "deals that can be found".

...There is no price competition among vendors selling the popular ebooks. No club deals (that I know of). No "frequent shopper rewards".

How come? Where are today's Fictionwise?

eReaderIQ and BookBub seem to fill those needs well enough for me.

Yes, you have to watch for deals and you have wait for the discounts. No blanket 15% off all books. But the discounts tend to be far larger. Because of these services, just about every book I bought cost me less than the paperback version of the same book would have cost me a decade ago.

I'm one who thinks Big 5 ebook prices seem to be too high. But the discounts alleviate that.

Granted, these services could die on the vine at ant time. But then, so could Fictionwise, etc. As we've seen.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Granted, these services could die on the vine at any time. But then, so could Fictionwise, etc. As we've seen.

"πάντα χωρεῖ καὶ οὐδὲν μένει"—Everything changes and nothing stands still.
—Heraclitus of Ephesus (535BC-475BC)

Often misquoted as "The only constant is change".

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"—"The more things change, the more they continue to be the same thing"
—Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr