What's happening with kindle and ePub?

[FizzyWater]

The Overdrive people were in town today to demonstrate ebooks to folks at my local library.

I went to see if they were demo-ing the updates that will include the Kindle ebooks. Nope.

However, when I stopped to talk to the folks there (the table was manned by two people from Overdrive and two people from my library system), I specifically asked them about it. The answers were (sadly) vague, but one of the Overdrive guys told me flat out that "mobipocket is going away" as a choice. (He said mobipocket was to ebook software what DOS was to operating systems!) I asked how that was possible, since that's basically the Kindle format, and he said Amazon would be using epubs.

When I pushed on that point, he started to say something but stopped - it sounded like he was going to say that Amazon was going to somehow wrap their format around the epub, but I think he didn't want to say something he was 100% sure on.

I had read on Overdrive's website that you wouldn't have to know what kind of book to borrow, that you'd just pick what could be read on your reader. I wondered what that meant - Sony can ePub and PDF, but I'd rather not borrow a book if the only option was PDF. The answer I got (although I'm not sure I believe it) is that everything was converting over to ePub.

They also said a similar simplification would be going on with the audibooks from Overdrive (that you'd pick your gadget and get to download the format that works for you). Again, I'd prefer MP3 to WMA, even if I can play WMA, so I still wish they were clearer on how this would work.

But I suppose we'll find out soon enough...

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

They also said a similar simplification would be going on with the audibooks from Overdrive (that you'd pick your gadget and get to download the format that works for you). Again, I'd prefer MP3 to WMA, even if I can play WMA, so I still wish they were clearer on how this would work.

But I suppose we'll find out soon enough...

Thanks for sharing, FizzyWater. That's the first time I've seen mention of the audiobook formats being similarly consolidated. I would much prefer MP3 too; however, my library has many more WMA books than MP3. It wouldn't be such a pain except I have a Mac and an iPod which requires extra steps to use the Overdrive WMA books. Luckily I have the ability to boot my Mac with Windows XP to download and transfer them; it's just an annoying inconvenience.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

It wouldn't be such a pain except I have a Mac and an iPod which requires extra steps to use the Overdrive WMA books.

You're welcome! The woman specifically mentioned Apple products and problems with the WMA format. I use a Creative Zen, but sometimes I listen on my phone or my (old, old) PDA, so I just think MP3 is more likely to be easy to use!

[carld]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I asked how that was possible, since that's basically the Kindle format, and he said Amazon would be using epubs.

I honestly don't care one way or another what file format Amazon uses, mobi, ePub, whatever, as long as I can use my Kindle the same way I am now I'm fine. I would guess most of the Kindle ebook buying public feels the same way.

I still don't see Amazon paying Adobe to use their DRM, so switching to ePub really wouldn't mean any change in the status quo.

A change to audio books would be much appreciated though. I don't have a device that'll play WMA files except my desktop. My HTC TP2 would play them, but Overdrive pulled their Windows Mobile app and I haven't been able to find any other place to download it.