Fictionwise says eReader format is safe

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by TadW

Exactly! Prove all the tools and open all the specs of the format, and it'd be truly something to look forward to. Until then... just another proprietary format that is at the mercy of a single company.

All of the specs are already open for the format. PML is even covered in our wiki so everything is open. I am not sure what you mean by prove all of the tools. Today there are free conversion tools available but the direct editor in PML format is not free. PML is pretty simple really and probably not up to the task of true control of the formatting. But this might be a good thing since over control of the display of data is a real problem for CSS IHMO. The reader should have more control over the reading experience.

Dale

[vivaldirules]

Great! Can't wait to see eReader running on my Sony eReader!

[Mikou]

Originally Posted by Jadon

Backwards compatibility with the IMP format might be a bit involved, since it's a bit like PDF in being specifically tied to a page/screen size. How's a 320x480 IMP going to display on a 600x800 screen? Just magnify it? Existing ETI-2 IMPs wouldn't work well, so likely source files would have to be recompiled for a different screen size, though it might be possible for the new device to dynamically recompile an ETI-2 into an ETI-3.

I don't think I understand what you mean about the page size. While the ETI-2 can't scroll line by line, when I change the font size (S,M,L) the text reflows, completely unlike PDFs on my e-ink reader.

Originally Posted by Jadon

But, yes, I do want ETI-2 ergonomics. A device you can securely hold in one hand and page forward or back with the same hand is much better than devices that require a separate hand to hit a paging button.

Personally, I would be thrilled of FW came up with an e-ink device of their own that incorporated features of the current ETI-2. I've been using mine while Sony drags its feet about servicing my damaged PRS-500. I had forgotten how much I liked my ETI-2. I don't buy Mobipocket and have only purchased a handful of .imp books because of the closed format. This news makes me a little less wary about Mobipocket.

[Jadon]

Originally Posted by Mikou

when I change the font size (S,M,L) the text reflows

It doesn't, actually. When you compile an input text into IMP format, it calculates pagebreaks based on the font settings you or the compiler set (usually XS/M or S/L, though I personally make my books in XL-only mode). When you toggle font size on the unit, it switches to the other preset font. It doesn't reflow. More to the point, the ETI-2 format is specifically 320x480. If you view an IMP in the PC viewing program, and expand that program's viewing window from its 320x480 default, the text doesn't change. It stays a small text window, and doesn't alter to the increase in space.

DaleDe has stated that what could be done is to redefine the font size. The XL font I use has characters 15 pixels tall, which gives 17 lines per screen if I don't use headers. If you say "ETI-2 viewed at 600x800 defines XL as 25 pixels high," the pagebreaks would be the same for the precompiled ETI-2, and the physical appearance on a 6-inch screen would be almost identical to the current 5.6-inch one. If you stuck with XL as 15 pixels, you'd have a smaller font visually, and more lines per page.

I would be thrilled if FW came up with an e-ink device of their own that incorporated features of the current ETI-2.

If integral lighting is lost, I'd pass on e-ink. I'd favor an OLPC screen, myself. At 7.5 inches, it's larger than the usual 6.0-inch e-ink one, it's energy efficient, it has lighting, it's very sharp at 900x1200, it's sunlight-readable, and it can even do color. Yet it could still fit in a unit the size of the current ETI-2 (well, maybe a centimeter or so wider). On unit layout, I definitely want the current large next-page and prev-page buttons that can easily and securely be used one handed. If small physical buttons were added above, between, and below those on the double-wide left-bezel, they might be useful enough to replace the touchscreen icons, though touchscreen is useful enough for notes and such that it shouldn't be eliminated unless it makes for significant cost saving.

[Mikou]

Originally Posted by Jadon

It doesn't, actually. When you compile an input text into IMP format, it calculates pagebreaks based on the font settings you or the compiler set....

Thanks for the explanation. :-) For now, the way it resizes text doesn't really affect me, but I can see how forward compatability might be an issue.