Shortcovers.com now offering Adobe ePub downloads - Page 2

=X= · 09-15-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

=X=, ADE does not necessarily mean ePub ...

Hi Hellmark yes you are correct but it does included it, I tried to emphasis only ePUB by putting it in parenthesis.
I re-read my question and realized I was not all to clear

. It's probably more accurate to use the term "Adobe ePub" and DRM-FREE ePUB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

And for the record, they do use ADE.

Actually this is incorrect, while they do sell "Adobe ePUB" is not supported on their readers. If you still think you are correct please tell me how to access an Adobe ePUB from their BlackBerry/iPhone reader.

Hellmark · 09-15-2009, 04:39 PM

=X=, also, if you look it says "Adobe Digital Editions required." at various spots when you go to download a book. As far as testing on a blackberry, or iphone, I can't do that. I just know the books I've got from Shortcovers, did infact require Adobe Digital Editions to download, just like every other ADE book I've downloaded elsewhere.

lunged · 09-15-2009, 06:40 PM

=X= and Hellmark, I think I can clear this up.
Shortcovers lets you download Adobe DRM ePub files, but the iPhone (and Blackberry, I imagine) app only interfaces with the online library. So, no the apps don't accept ePub files, but yes, they sell ADE ePub at the same time.

I also wish they would add ePub support to their apps, as images don't show up properly in the online books. If they would allow full downloads to the app with proper image support (currently, if an image is in the text, it just shows up unreadably small at the beginning of the chapter), I would be fine with it not supporting ePub… but really, I seems much easier to just let you use your ePub books in the app than re-work the whole online reading component.

Hellmark · 09-15-2009, 06:48 PM

Well, the inability to use the ADE books on iphone is not Shortcovers' fault. ADE does not exist for iPhone (or Blackberry, based on what I've seen). ADE is a flash based app, and flash is not available for iphone. if ADE is not available on a system, then ADEPT encoded books are not readable. It is simple as that.

lunged · 09-15-2009, 06:50 PM

Really? Are you saying Sony readers (and other ePub, eInk readers) have flash on there, just for ADE books? There must be a way to use ADE without flash...

JCKobo · 09-18-2009, 02:01 AM

Let me try to answer the questions that have come up since I was last here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Do you have any plans to support ADE (ePUB) or just ePUB on your reading device?

Our devices don't read EPUB files (Adobe or otherwise) as of yet - they continue to read our own Shortcovers format. We do now make Adobe-DRM'd EPUB files available for download, which you can read with Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) or on compatible reading devices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

Also what is not clear from your web site is if one buys ePUB does the user still have the ability to read from the shortcovers app.

Yes, purchasing from Shortcovers lets you read on your iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pre, Android, or any Adobe EPUB supported platform.

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

I think the app is very stylistic and integrates very nicely to your store. However the app is lacking in the most important feature, reading a book. It's extremely painful to read a book from the app.

Which app are you referring to? We have apps on 4 different mobile platforms, all with different capabilities.

We just released a new Blackberry application which RIM has decided is good enough to feature on their AppWorld, and have a brand new iPhone application that we are waiting on Apple to approve (it has been with them for 7 weeks now) that improves the experience dramatically, and includes a bunch of new features, like proper offline reading .

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

I think the app is very stylistic and integrates very nicely to your store. However the app is lacking in the most important feature, reading a book. It's extremely painful to read a book from the app.

We are working hard to improve our apps, and I hope you'll keep trying them as they improve. I've read quite a few books in our latest version (including the pending iPhone application) and I hope you'll find it up to your standards when it becomes available.

Jordan Christensen
Product Manager, Shortcovers

JCKobo · 09-18-2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Well, the inability to use the ADE books on iphone is not Shortcovers' fault.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunged

Really? Are you saying Sony readers (and other ePub, eInk readers) have flash on there, just for ADE books? There must be a way to use ADE without flash...

Adobe makes a 'Mobile SDK' available that vendors can license that allows the reading of Adobe DRM protected EPUBs and PDFs, and it's designed for mobile devices. That is what Sony, etc.. use.

No one has this running on a phone platform yet. Lexcycle announced they had licensed it, but haven't implemented it (and given their purchase by Amazon, I doubt they will)

Jordan Christensen
Product Manager, Shortcovers

FizzyWater · 09-19-2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Berk

I also like their site design much more than the horror that is BoB or Fictionwise.

Really? I can't even figure out how it works!

benham · 09-19-2009, 01:33 PM

Just signed up JC!

Hopefully this will mean that more books will be available and/or cheaper.

JSWolf · 09-19-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCShortcovers

Let us know if you have any questions or comments about our new ePub offering. We've been listening to the Mobile Read community for months now, and we'll continue to keep our ear to the ground.

Jordan Christensen
Product Manager
Shortcovers

I do like the new store. It works well and that you offer ePub for mostly a decent price it's good. One thing.. I would like to have a what's new link to see the new eBooks.

benham · 09-19-2009, 03:38 PM

So far I have found 2 books that Sony doesn't offer and two that are cheaper. Haven't bought any yet as I just got done buying 8 books. Is there a way to see what free downloads there are there?

cassle · 09-20-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

If you're in the UK, you can't even order one book, so think yourself lucky!

Um... So shortcovers are limited for certain regions only? Do they allow international buyers?

6charlong · 09-20-2009, 10:29 PM

Thanks BookLoverToo for the link. It's a nice place. They don't have a lot of main titles (yet?) but they did have some books I've been looking for and no one else seems to have in an ePub edition. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin was 40-cents less than elsewhere, and no one else I found has it in ePub.

Good find!

tamzilla · 09-20-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Really? I can't even figure out how it works!

Me neither! I think the site is a mess, especially if you're looking for something that isn't in the most popular or featured areas. About the only way I could find anything was to search by author or title. I guess you're supposed to browse by Topic, not that I had much luck that way. It would be helpful to be able to browse by subject or have a complete list of the available topics somewhere other than a "cloud" of the most popular.

I'm not really interested in buying books a chapter at a time, which is what most of their offerings appear to be. Their prices on epubs were good, so I'll check them out if I already know what I want to buy. However, unless they make the site easier to navigate, it probably won't be the first place I'll go to browse.

lunged · 09-21-2009, 09:58 AM

I agree, tamzilla. For a site whose slogan (at least when you open the iPhone app) is "Find Your Next Great Read," they sure make it hard to find things. The best way to find something is to already know what you want and just search for it.

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09-15-2009, 04:39 PM	#17
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	=X=, also, if you look it says "Adobe Digital Editions required." at various spots when you go to download a book. As far as testing on a blackberry, or iphone, I can't do that. I just know the books I've got from Shortcovers, did infact require Adobe Digital Editions to download, just like every other ADE book I've downloaded elsewhere.

09-15-2009, 06:40 PM	#18
lunged Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 122 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Device: iPad	=X= and Hellmark, I think I can clear this up. Shortcovers lets you download Adobe DRM ePub files, but the iPhone (and Blackberry, I imagine) app only interfaces with the online library. So, no the apps don't accept ePub files, but yes, they sell ADE ePub at the same time. I also wish they would add ePub support to their apps, as images don't show up properly in the online books. If they would allow full downloads to the app with proper image support (currently, if an image is in the text, it just shows up unreadably small at the beginning of the chapter), I would be fine with it not supporting ePub… but really, I seems much easier to just let you use your ePub books in the app than re-work the whole online reading component.

09-15-2009, 06:48 PM	#19
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Well, the inability to use the ADE books on iphone is not Shortcovers' fault. ADE does not exist for iPhone (or Blackberry, based on what I've seen). ADE is a flash based app, and flash is not available for iphone. if ADE is not available on a system, then ADEPT encoded books are not readable. It is simple as that.

09-15-2009, 06:50 PM	#20
lunged Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 122 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Device: iPad	Really? Are you saying Sony readers (and other ePub, eInk readers) have flash on there, just for ADE books? There must be a way to use ADE without flash...

09-19-2009, 01:33 PM	#24
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	Just signed up JC! Hopefully this will mean that more books will be available and/or cheaper.

09-19-2009, 03:38 PM	#26
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	So far I have found 2 books that Sony doesn't offer and two that are cheaper. Haven't bought any yet as I just got done buying 8 books. Is there a way to see what free downloads there are there?

09-20-2009, 10:29 PM	#28
6charlong friendly lurker Posts: 896 Karma: 2436026 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Device: Kindle, nook, Apple and Kobo	Thanks BookLoverToo for the link. It's a nice place. They don't have a lot of main titles (yet?) but they did have some books I've been looking for and no one else seems to have in an ePub edition. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin was 40-cents less than elsewhere, and no one else I found has it in ePub. Good find!

09-21-2009, 09:58 AM	#30
lunged Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 122 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Device: iPad	I agree, tamzilla. For a site whose slogan (at least when you open the iPhone app) is "Find Your Next Great Read," they sure make it hard to find things. The best way to find something is to already know what you want and just search for it.

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