Top Publishers and Sony Support New Digital Publishing Experience (Digital Editions)

NatCh · 06-19-2007, 01:15 PM

Special thanks to sic for noticing this one and pointing it out to us!

Adobe announced today that Digital Editions is getting support from publishers and ... wait for it ... the Sony Reader!

I don't have much to say on it off hand, so I'll let them speak for themselves.

Quote:

Leading publishers, online retailers and channel partners have announced their support for Adobe Digital Editions today (see separate quote sheet ). By using a new export feature built into Adobe InDesign® CS3, publishers can easily create new Adobe Digital Editions-ready content, helping to significantly reduce cost and conversion time. In addition, with versions for mobile platforms and reading devices also planned, Sony has committed to embed Adobe Digital Editions technology into its portable reader product line. [Emphasis Added]

“Adobe Digital Editions will revolutionize how publishers deliver eBooks and other digital content and how consumers experience it,” said Rob Tarkoff, senior vice president, Corporate Development at Adobe. “The combination of Adobe Digital Editions, InDesign CS3 and a new generation of hardware from innovators like Sony shows that digital publishing is front and center for content owners -- and millions of readers who are looking forward to innovations in the delivery of their favorite works.”

“We’re excited to work with Adobe to pioneer new applications for eBooks and other digital documents,” said Ron Hawkins, vice president of portable reader systems marketing at Sony Electronics, Inc. “This collaboration will give us the opportunity to expand our offerings to a larger audience and new markets, allowing individual consumers, businesses, and other customers to take advantage of the portability and ease of use of Sony’s Reader products with a wider spectrum of content.” [Emphasis Added]

Follow the link for the full story, but the rest is mostly just going on about how wonderful DE is, in other words, the same stuff that was in the other press release.

kovidgoyal · 06-19-2007, 01:29 PM

Sigh...another ebook format.

NatCh · 06-19-2007, 01:35 PM

Yes, and no, I think.

The Adobe name is a big recommender -- pubs have insisted on using PDF for e-books even though it's poorly suited for that purpose. If DE were to become the de-facto standard for e-books, then the fact that it's "another" format wouldn't be all that big a burden. This thing could (should, really) replace PDF entirely for e-books, so it'd be a one for one swap.

Also, consider what this might mean for ConnStore books: Perhaps Sony might start offering their books in DE format, rather than BBeB, which would take a second format off the table.

A fella can dream, right?

Hadrien · 06-19-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Sigh...another ebook format.

Kinda... Isn't this the new Open eBook format ? http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops/OPS_2.0_0.984_draft.html

Steven Lyle Jordan · 06-19-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Sigh...another ebook format.

Party pooper! Stop complaining, put on your dark-grey party hat, and drink that kool-aid!

But seriously, folks, I know I'm hoping Adobe manages to start whittling away at the Tower of E-babel, and give us some standardization in this industry. Lord knows, we need it!

Of course, I thought the same thing about PDFs, about a decade ago... and look what happened with that...

Hadrien · 06-19-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Party pooper! Stop complaining, put on your dark-grey party hat, and drink that kool-aid!

But seriously, folks, I know I'm hoping Adobe manages to start whittling away at the Tower of E-babel, and give us some standardization in this industry. Lord knows, we need it!

Of course, I thought the same thing about PDFs, about a decade ago... and look what happened with that...

PDF did standardized documents, and that's what it was created for.

yvanleterrible · 06-19-2007, 01:47 PM

When they say "embed", does that mean in a chip? DE would mean a better reflowing capacity for PDF on the reader but if it's on a chip that means there's no way for actual owners to have it... Unless it could be done in the next firmware release. That I'd like because on the computer DE is fun to use.

NatCh · 06-19-2007, 01:49 PM

What Hadrien said.

PDF has done an excellent job of getting documents into a standard format, it just happens to stink for e-books. That's why I'm feeling some stirrings of optimism that they might just manage the same thing for e-books ... oh yeah, and those magazines and newspapers too.

yvanleterrible · 06-19-2007, 01:53 PM

... And comic books...

JSWolf · 06-19-2007, 01:53 PM

This means that Sony is actually doing something correct for a change. I hope they do fix the PDF support when they add in DE support. I wonder how long it will take for the DE to be added in.

kovidgoyal · 06-19-2007, 01:55 PM

The thing that concerns me is that judging by adobe's track record they'll provide cross platform reader software but to create/convert to this format will require a commercial non cross platform application, which just sucks.

kovidgoyal · 06-19-2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadrien

Kinda... Isn't this the new Open eBook format ? http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops/OPS_2.0_0.984_draft.html

If it is that's pretty cool. If not down with Adobe!

Hadrien · 06-19-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The thing that concerns me is that judging by adobe's track record they'll provide cross platform reader software but to create/convert to this format will require a commercial non cross platform application, which just sucks.

OPS support for LaTeX: that's what we need !

yvanleterrible · 06-19-2007, 01:57 PM

BTW it also implies the presence of Macromedia Flash that is the display part of DE.

kovidgoyal · 06-19-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadrien

OPS support for LaTeX: that's what we need !

Got my vote! :-) There's already support for dvi->svg so how hard can OPS be?

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06-19-2007, 01:29 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Sigh...another ebook format.

06-19-2007, 01:35 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Yes, and no, I think. The Adobe name is a big recommender -- pubs have insisted on using PDF for e-books even though it's poorly suited for that purpose. If DE were to become the de-facto standard for e-books, then the fact that it's "another" format wouldn't be all that big a burden. This thing could (should, really) replace PDF entirely for e-books, so it'd be a one for one swap. Also, consider what this might mean for ConnStore books: Perhaps Sony might start offering their books in DE format, rather than BBeB, which would take a second format off the table. A fella can dream, right?

06-19-2007, 01:47 PM	#7
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	When they say "embed", does that mean in a chip? DE would mean a better reflowing capacity for PDF on the reader but if it's on a chip that means there's no way for actual owners to have it... Unless it could be done in the next firmware release. That I'd like because on the computer DE is fun to use.

06-19-2007, 01:49 PM	#8
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	What Hadrien said. PDF has done an excellent job of getting documents into a standard format, it just happens to stink for e-books. That's why I'm feeling some stirrings of optimism that they might just manage the same thing for e-books ... oh yeah, and those magazines and newspapers too.

06-19-2007, 01:53 PM	#9
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	... And comic books...

06-19-2007, 01:53 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This means that Sony is actually doing something correct for a change. I hope they do fix the PDF support when they add in DE support. I wonder how long it will take for the DE to be added in.

06-19-2007, 01:55 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The thing that concerns me is that judging by adobe's track record they'll provide cross platform reader software but to create/convert to this format will require a commercial non cross platform application, which just sucks.

06-19-2007, 01:57 PM	#14
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	BTW it also implies the presence of Macromedia Flash that is the display part of DE.