EPUB3 is dead, long live EPUB3Lite... - Page 5

derangedhermit · 08-04-2013, 06:01 PM

What large pieces of functionality are there in EPUB3"full" that are outside what current versions of Firefox or Chrome support? For example, Firefox supports animated SVGs, MathML is pretty good (if you install the fonts, of course), javascript, HTML5 audio and video...

MovieBird · 08-04-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Lossy compression: MP3, Ogg Vorbis for the open-source minded (AAC for Apple stuff)

MP3/Ogg is so last decade. Check out Opus

speakingtohe · 08-04-2013, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately the "current standard" (ie ePub 2) lacks features which are essential in some markets. For example, it has no support for vertical writing systems which are essential for languages such as Chinese.

I have been told that the current kepub standard supports right to left and maybe vertical. Unfortunately only useable with Kobo readers and Kobo tablet software only allows you to read Kobo books AFAIK. Still it is actually one good thing that can be said for the kepub standard.

Helen

HarryT · 08-05-2013, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I have been told that the current kepub standard supports right to left and maybe vertical. Unfortunately only useable with Kobo readers and Kobo tablet software only allows you to read Kobo books AFAIK. Still it is actually one good thing that can be said for the kepub standard.

Helen

And that's a good illustration of the fact that an individual company can easily add necessary features to its own software - as both Kobo and Amazon have done - whereas standards committees cannot. That's why ePub is always going to have a hard time competing with Amazon, because Amazon have the flexibility to add whatever features to their software that they deem necessary.

David Munch · 08-05-2013, 10:07 AM

This seemed relevant:

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Agreed - a modular spec would be the best answer. Even better, a modular reader.

But itsnt epub3 already modular if kobo/Apple/etc support it in different ways?

Turtle91 · 08-05-2013, 10:44 AM

As far as I understand epub (all versions) is already modular. It says in the spec that if the device can't support whatever function then it can gracefully degrade...eg. if it's an e-ink then it isn't expected to produce different colors.

Likewise on epub3 if a device can't support video (e-ink again...hmmmm...yup definitely won't buy another e-ink

) then it simply doesn't play it...the key is that it should not crash the device or fail to load the book.

A standard simply means that IF you are going to support the functionality THEN you need to support it in the following standardized manner. This provides consistent results across platforms; results that developers can depend on when they are creating the books.

So, IMHO, there really should be no reason not to release epub3 (with some fixed items) which include all of the video/audio/mathml/css3/html5 etc. David's Cartoon is humorous, but letting each company come up with their own version of epub would make matters far worse. It is much better to have portions of a standard that you don't support than creating your own version of a standard.

Cheers!

08-04-2013, 06:01 PM	#61
derangedhermit Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 1280000 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Device: None	I'm still confused What large pieces of functionality are there in EPUB3"full" that are outside what current versions of Firefox or Chrome support? For example, Firefox supports animated SVGs, MathML is pretty good (if you install the fonts, of course), javascript, HTML5 audio and video...

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08-05-2013, 10:44 AM	#66
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,397 Karma: 20212733 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	As far as I understand epub (all versions) is already modular. It says in the spec that if the device can't support whatever function then it can gracefully degrade...eg. if it's an e-ink then it isn't expected to produce different colors. Likewise on epub3 if a device can't support video (e-ink again...hmmmm...yup definitely won't buy another e-ink ) then it simply doesn't play it...the key is that it should not crash the device or fail to load the book. A standard simply means that IF you are going to support the functionality THEN you need to support it in the following standardized manner. This provides consistent results across platforms; results that developers can depend on when they are creating the books. So, IMHO, there really should be no reason not to release epub3 (with some fixed items) which include all of the video/audio/mathml/css3/html5 etc. David's Cartoon is humorous, but letting each company come up with their own version of epub would make matters far worse. It is much better to have portions of a standard that you don't support than creating your own version of a standard. Cheers!

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