ePub on the K3???

JSWolf · 10-09-2010, 11:18 AM

Since the K3 has been jailbroken and programs are able to be installed and run on the K3, why hasn't anyone done an ePub interpreter for the K3?

MrPLD · 10-09-2010, 11:35 AM

Maybe it's a case of Calibre making it too easy to do the conversion and subsequently there's lots of mobi verisons of ePubs around compared to the relatively complex ePub viewer install?

I also for one would like the K3 to support ePub natively, though admittingly I'd like to see it be with Amazon's approval (hah - I know, I should keep on dreaming).

Paul.

desertgrandma · 10-09-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

Maybe it's a case of Calibre making it too easy to do the conversion and subsequently there's lots of mobi verisons of ePubs around compared to the relatively complex ePub viewer install?

I also for one would like the K3 to support ePub natively, though admittingly I'd like to see it be with Amazon's approval (hah - I know, I should keep on dreaming).

Paul.

I'm sure they've considered that........but realized if they did they would OWN the e-book reader market, which they don't want to do.

MrPLD · 10-09-2010, 11:43 AM

Yes, they would own the market on the e-Reader devices but I suspect with Amazon the real profits are the books being bought from their store. If they endorse the ePub reading ability that suddenly lets people buy ebooks from alternative suppliers that will work on their K3 ( to be fair, a lot of authors already offer mobi format books outside of Amazon )

The K3 is the cheap Razor handle... and the books are the blades that they want you to keep on buying (but only their brand!)

badbob001 · 10-09-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

The K3 is the cheap Razor handle... and the books are the blades that they want you to keep on buying (but only their brand!)

Yup, this only works if you buy amazon-branded blades. I would not be surprised if Amazon makes very little money on the devices and perhaps is even subsidizing them, especially the 3G version. This may be why they are developing kindle apps for non-kindle devices... less overhead cost to recover.

MrPLD · 10-09-2010, 08:02 PM

I agree, after manufacturing costs, shipping, handling returns/support I doubt there's a lot of margin in the K3, even the wifi unit. Those eInk displays are still rather expensive, even if you buy a few million of them.

If Amazon did offer ePub viewing ability I do not think that there would be a mass move away from Amazon as a book supplier - however it's like that the business decision makers aren't willing to risk it.

Paul.

daffy4u · 10-09-2010, 08:38 PM

If Jesse Vincent were interested, he could revamp Savory (or someone else could build upon it).

JSWolf · 10-09-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

If Jesse Vincent were interested, he could revamp Savory (or someone else could build upon it).

Was Savory the conversion to Mobi for the K2? if so, that's not what I am looking for. I'd like someone to write a proper ePub reader for the K3. If a game engine can be written, no reason an ePub viewer cannot as well.

I know Amazon won't officially do it. But if someone does it, it very well may boost sales of the K3 even though it won't support DRM.

delphidb96 · 10-09-2010, 11:03 PM

I think we won't see epub on the K2, or K3, because the KDK hackers aren't up to the task.

(There, that ought to light a fire.

)

Derek

daffy4u · 10-09-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Was Savory the conversion to Mobi for the K2? if so, that's not what I am looking for. I'd like someone to write a proper ePub reader for the K3. If a game engine can be written, no reason an ePub viewer cannot as well.

I know Amazon won't officially do it. But if someone does it, it very well may boost sales of the K3 even though it won't support DRM.

Savory did convert non-DRM ePubs on the fly to be read on K2 as well as a more robust PDF reader.

There has been some discussion about an ePub reading app but some think that it won't be allowed because of a clause about no general ebook reading apps allowed. I hope that interpretation is incorrect especially since Amazon owns Stanza and could create a Stanza app.

Quote:

Developer Guidelines

Voice over IP functionality, advertising, offensive materials, collection of customer information without express customer knowledge and consent, or usage of the Amazon or Kindle brand in any way are not allowed. In addition, active content must meet all Amazon technical requirements, not be a generic reader, and not contain malicious code.

We will work to refine the above guidelines throughout the beta.

JSWolf · 10-14-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Savory did convert non-DRM ePubs on the fly to be read on K2 as well as a more robust PDF reader.

There has been some discussion about an ePub reading app but some think that it won't be allowed because of a clause about no general ebook reading apps allowed. I hope that interpretation is incorrect especially since Amazon owns Stanza and could create a Stanza app.

I did specify a proper ePub display program. That lets out Stanza as Stanza is not really all that wonderful without a lot of work.

Well, as for the clause...not be a generic reader, this is not FBReader. It's a specific reader for ePub only. So technically, that clause may not apply.

cjottawa · 10-18-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

I agree, after manufacturing costs, shipping, handling returns/support I doubt there's a lot of margin in the K3, even the wifi unit. Those eInk displays are still rather expensive, even if you buy a few million of them.

If Amazon did offer ePub viewing ability I do not think that there would be a mass move away from Amazon as a book supplier - however it's like that the business decision makers aren't willing to risk it.

Paul.

Take a look at this article:
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/09/17/...ets-kindle-3s/

It's anecdotal but the article cites "$177.66" per device.

Regarding the ePub debate, Sony's eBook store made an overnight switch from its own proprietary format to ePub. Users automatically received new versions of their books in ePub format.

Amazon could follow suit, if they felt having a proprietary format was putting them at a disadvantage.

Personally, I've elected to buy a number of books from sources other than Amazon in order to obtain ePub versions.

In one case, a book from O'Reilly publishing was available less expensively than on Amazon, in DRM-free ePub format, directly from the publisher.

10-09-2010, 11:18 AM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,998 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	ePub on the K3??? Since the K3 has been jailbroken and programs are able to be installed and run on the K3, why hasn't anyone done an ePub interpreter for the K3?

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10-09-2010, 11:35 AM	#2
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Maybe it's a case of Calibre making it too easy to do the conversion and subsequently there's lots of mobi verisons of ePubs around compared to the relatively complex ePub viewer install? I also for one would like the K3 to support ePub natively, though admittingly I'd like to see it be with Amazon's approval (hah - I know, I should keep on dreaming). Paul.

10-09-2010, 11:43 AM	#4
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Yes, they would own the market on the e-Reader devices but I suspect with Amazon the real profits are the books being bought from their store. If they endorse the ePub reading ability that suddenly lets people buy ebooks from alternative suppliers that will work on their K3 ( to be fair, a lot of authors already offer mobi format books outside of Amazon ) The K3 is the cheap Razor handle... and the books are the blades that they want you to keep on buying (but only their brand!)

10-09-2010, 08:02 PM	#6
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	I agree, after manufacturing costs, shipping, handling returns/support I doubt there's a lot of margin in the K3, even the wifi unit. Those eInk displays are still rather expensive, even if you buy a few million of them. If Amazon did offer ePub viewing ability I do not think that there would be a mass move away from Amazon as a book supplier - however it's like that the business decision makers aren't willing to risk it. Paul.

10-09-2010, 08:38 PM	#7
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	If Jesse Vincent were interested, he could revamp Savory (or someone else could build upon it).

10-09-2010, 11:03 PM	#9
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	I think we won't see epub on the K2, or K3, because the KDK hackers aren't up to the task. (There, that ought to light a fire. ) Derek