Sony Reader Lives on with Rowling!

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

This is, of course, not true. Which is why Rowling said that the ebooks "will be compatible with all devices."

Well, ONE of the "Pottermore" articles floating around claimed that the books would be in ePub form and stated that ePub is compatible on all devices. Which, for the moment at least, is untrue.

Now, whether that quote came from Pottermore or from Rowling or from the article writer, who knows. In other news, someone on the internet is wrong.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Well, ONE of the "Pottermore" articles floating around claimed that the books would be in ePub form and stated that ePub is compatible on all devices. Which, for the moment at least, is untrue.

Now, whether that quote came from Pottermore or from Rowling or from the article writer, who knows. In other news, someone on the internet is wrong.

Here's a direct link to the article on CNN:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/23/tech...book/index.htm

Here's the quote from the article:

"Rowling's site will be the exclusive sales channel for the Potter e-books, bypassing traditional e-book stores like Amazon's Kindle store, Barnes and Noble's Nook store and Apple's iBookstore. The Harry Potter series will be published in the open-source e-Pub format, which is compatible with any electronic reading device, including the iPad."

[Ditchleyportrait]

why not publish in multiple formats? why squeeze amazon like that?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Ditchleyportrait

why not publish in multiple formats? why squeeze amazon like that?

Ask instead, "Why would Rowling choose to ignore/deprive herself of amazon's customers?"

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Ask instead, "Why would Rowling choose to ignore/deprive herself of amazon's customers?"

Well, if it's DRM free, there's nothing at all going to stop Amazon's customers from buying it, converting it and reading it.

Admittedly, some percentage will not wish to take the extra step of converting with Calibre. Some are going to be offended just by having to sideload it. I never get that, since sooner or later, you need to hook a cord to a device to charge it. I don't get why it is so onerous to some folks to use the same cord to hook it to a computer and transfer a file or two once in a while.

Honestly though, I don't know why they don't just offer it in both formats. But who knows, maybe by October, Kindle will be supporting ePub. Things can change fast in our world.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by graycyn

Well, if it's DRM free, there's nothing at all going to stop Amazon's customers from buying it, converting it and reading it.

Admittedly, some percentage will not wish to take the extra step of converting with Calibre. Some are going to be offended just by having to sideload it. I never get that, since sooner or later, you need to hook a cord to a device to charge it. I don't get why it is so onerous to some folks to use the same cord to hook it to a computer and transfer a file or two once in a while.

Honestly though, I don't know why they don't just offer it in both formats. But who knows, maybe by October, Kindle will be supporting ePub. Things can change fast in our world.

A lot won't know they can convert. Just because Calibre is out there and free, does not mean everyone will know about it to even look for it. But I do have to say that ePub > Mobipocket is a lot better then the opposite.

[vxf]

I posted this on the SONY boards. But I might as well, just 'cause I am happy, repost:

Financial Times on June 23, 2011:


"Developers have not disclosed how much the books will cost. But the FT has established that Sony, a joint venture partner in the site, is developing related products, including a themed version of its Sony reader"

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/8c9fb...#axzz1QLRFmfsO

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by graycyn

Well, if it's DRM free, there's nothing at all going to stop Amazon's customers from buying it, converting it and reading it.

Admittedly, some percentage will not wish to take the extra step of converting with Calibre. Some are going to be offended just by having to sideload it. I never get that, since sooner or later, you need to hook a cord to a device to charge it. I don't get why it is so onerous to some folks to use the same cord to hook it to a computer and transfer a file or two once in a while.

Honestly though, I don't know why they don't just offer it in both formats. But who knows, maybe by October, Kindle will be supporting ePub. Things can change fast in our world.

A significant percentage, probably a majority, of Kindle owners got them because they work without a PC. It's not that it's onerous to plug in a cable; they just don't see why a portable reading device should require a mandatory accessory PC. So don't expect them to go out of their way to "fool around" with format shifting and sideloading. They've done without official Potter ebooks til now, they can do without them moving forward.

And yes, a lot of things can happen *long* before now and october.
Like Rowling, a Kindle user herself and openly fond of the wireless feature, clarifying that every reader means Kindle, too. And that she understands that 15 million-plus Kindle owners out there is not a market to be ignored or slighted.

[Ryvyan]

Hopefully there will at least be multiple formats supported on the e-books. Even if there are ways to go about it for the Kindle, a supported format would at least minimise the perceived hassle. Honestly, I can't wait to see kids start picking up the books again in the electronic format on their parents' iPad or Kindle (etc.)! It's always a joy to be spreading the love of reading, and I've always thought that the Harry Potter series are well written and thus worthy of its popularity.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it but I'll buy the e-books. It's always cumbersome to bring them out because they are heavy and awkward, but also because I'm in my mid-twenties.

p/s: I used to use an opaque book cover for questionable titles, now it's on my iPhone.
p/p/s: The movies are not done very well, but kids seem to love them and pick up reading the books anyway! So I guess it's a good thing?

[vxf]

Originally Posted by Ryvyan

Hopefully there will at least be multiple formats supported on the e-books. Even if there are ways to go about it for the Kindle, a supported format would at least minimise the perceived hassle. Honestly, I can't wait to see kids start picking up the books again in the electronic format on their parents' iPad or Kindle (etc.)! It's always a joy to be spreading the love of reading, and I've always thought that the Harry Potter series are well written and thus worthy of its popularity.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it but I'll buy the e-books. It's always cumbersome to bring them out because they are heavy and awkward, but also because I'm in my mid-twenties.

p/s: I used to use an opaque book cover for questionable titles, now it's on my iPhone.
p/p/s: The movies are not done very well, but kids seem to love them and pick up reading the books anyway! So I guess it's a good thing?

The Financial Times articles I quote above states that the books will be sold exclusively through the website but compatible with "with a range of e-reader devices including Amazon’s Kindle, Apple’s iPad, and Sony’s reader".

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

A lot won't know they can convert. Just because Calibre is out there and free, does not mean everyone will know about it to even look for it. But I do have to say that ePub > Mobipocket is a lot better then the opposite.

Good point... but I suspect many will learn or find out how to convert *IF* it actually proves to be needful. I suspect there are plenty of folk who might have to learn to sideload as well. It'll stop some, but those who truly want the books will persist and get it figured out. Friends show friends and all that.

I really think we are worrying way too early about this. I bet it's going to be a non-issue.

[Ryvyan]

Originally Posted by vxf

The Financial Times articles I quote above states that the books will be sold exclusively through the website but compatible with "with a range of e-reader devices including Amazon’s Kindle, Apple’s iPad, and Sony’s reader".

Thanks for the update, I was unable to access the article without registering. The current discussion was arguing the lack of support for Kindle and I thought I'd chime in.

[sonyreaderfan]

Originally Posted by Ryvyan

Thanks for the update, I was unable to access the article without registering. The current discussion was arguing the lack of support for Kindle and I thought I'd chime in.

Type into Google, "financial times harry potter sony reader" without the quotes and the article will appear among the results.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

A significant percentage, probably a majority, of Kindle owners got them because they work without a PC.

These won't work without a PC because they won't be sold at Amazon. You'd have to connect to purchase; running it through a converter is very little hassle on top of that.

Yes, if she doesn't provide .mobi/.prc ebooks, she'll lose some customers. But obviously, "acquire every possible customer" is not high on her priority list, or she'd be selling through Amazon and B&N.

And yes, a lot of things can happen *long* before now and october.
Like Rowling, a Kindle user herself and openly fond of the wireless feature, clarifying that every reader means Kindle, too.

There's hints of "working with Amazon" in some of the reports; it's possible that Amazon is working to accept .epub and maybe .lit as document types that it will convert for the Kindle. It may not have done so before now because it thought customers would be too confused by the concept of "we can only convert non-DRM'd ebooks;" two years ago, Amazon could pretend those had no notable market share.

[GlenBarrington]

The title pretty much says it all. . .