Why ePub 3?

[Ghitulescu]

Actually there is no need for ePub3.

However, why ePub3 appeared is a question that arrived from a plurality of reasons, only a few of them actually beneficial for the user.

1. ePub3 would need new hardware - good for manufacturers, not good for readers that need to buy (again) new devices.
2. ePub3 needs new software - good for software publishing houses, bad for authors, who need new software
3. ePub3 does actually converge to a multimedial concept, like a billion other formats, losing its special character (what is the difference from ePub3 and say a PowerPoint presentation???). Maybe it's not clear, but let's imagine a common AIO (multi-purpose apparatus that comprises a printer, a scanner and a fax): is this a printer with scanner and fax options, a photocopier with fax connectivity or a fax that can be connected to a computer and print files therefrom? This AIO came as a result of developments in all three initially not overlapping domains...
all these three clever schemes actually do nothing than to redirect an almost dried flow of money to their pockets. To make it sell-able, they invented a few things and claimed them to be the lapis philosopharum, one would be sincerely wondering why people could live without so much time

ePub2 has some shortcomings, but it was close to the intended purpose - to make a file look like a book - PDF was the first attempt, and it succeeded, but ePub solved the pagination on multiple devices.

I give an example - in the past, the entire satellite business was around a concept of CI/CAM: the end user bought what receiver he wanted, the he bought also the CAM he wanted/needed - this way the competition was free and worked in the favour of the end user.
By pretexting that the old CI could not cope with "age restriction" (which was a damn lie), the content providers issued a new format, misinformingly named CI+, note the 'plus', which introduced a lot of restrictions, and limited a lot the competition (the non-aligned Mascom went out of business as a result). The manufacturers appears to "happily adopted" CI+, as all new device was CI+.
I think I do not need to make the parallels between the ePub2/3 and CI/CI+ cases, at least 3-4 of them should be obvious.

[DiapDealer]

My response to all three of your numbered points is "No, not really."

1) For the vast majority of ebooks being sold today by major publishers, releasing those books in the EPUB3 format has not, in fact, required new hardware.

2) For the vast majority of ebooks being sold today by major publishers, releasing those books in the EPUB3 format has not, in fact, required new software.

3) EPUB3 has never been synonymous with "multi-media ebooks". Those who think multi-media ebooks are a monstrous abomination have merely perpetuated that particular misconception is all.

EPUB3 allows new things to be utilized. It doesn't force them to be utilized. It's adoption will not be the death-knell of text-only books.

[AlexBell]

Thanks, DiapDealer. I'll think about it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

EPUB3 allows new things to be utilized. It doesn't force them to be utilized. It's adoption will not be the death-knell of text-only books.

But will these new things be backwards compatible? There are a lot of apps/Readers that don't do ePub 3.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But will these new things be backwards compatible? There are a lot of apps/Readers that don't do ePub 3.

I suppose you're trying to say that can be ignored by some readers, that's the only "compatibility" you can expect.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But will these new things be backwards compatible? There are a lot of apps/Readers that don't do ePub 3.

Of course not! If everything was backwards compatible there'd be no use for ePub 3. Some stuff just goes beyond the scope of what was included in ePub 2 readers. Short of extending existing ePub 2 readers to be ePub 3 readers in all but name there's no way to make everything backwards compatible.

[DiapDealer]

The people who want to take advantage of new-fangled, multi-media-whoozy-whatsit-books will already own a device/app capable of handling them. The people who think new-fangled, multi-media-whoozy-whatsit-books are the devil won't be buying them. They'll be buying text-only novels from their favorite authors. Which will be readable on their existing devices/software whether they're in the EPUB2 or EPUB3 format. Unless you're worried that your favorite authors will be held at gunpoint and forced to publish whoozy-whatsits, there's no real reason to panic.

[Notjohn]

Of course the only thing that matters to a self-publisher trying to make a living is what the KDP does to the file we upload to it.

Five years ago, 75 percent of my sales were on Amazon, 25 percent on Apple, B&N, Kobo, Google etc. Two years ago, the breakdown was 80/20. Now it is closer to 90/10.

I wonder what Hitch hears from her individual customers (as opposed to publishing houses -- whose sales of course are differently skewed)?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

Of course the only thing that matters to a self-publisher trying to make a living is what the KDP does to the file we upload to it.

Five years ago, 75 percent of my sales were on Amazon, 25 percent on Apple, B&N, Kobo, Google etc. Two years ago, the breakdown was 80/20. Now it is closer to 90/10.

I wonder what Hitch hears from her individual customers (as opposed to publishing houses -- whose sales of course are differently skewed)?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...

Our (clients') numbers have, by and large, been pretty stable over the term....88-92% on Amazon, up to 95% (and that skews, of course, b/c of the number that are exclusive to the Zon); 8-11% on B&N, and all the rest are simply peanuts. Even our biggest hottest clients still only sell 1 book on iBooks for every thousand that they sell on the Zon, and man, that's impressive, to me. Of course, Apple couldn't care less about how many ebooks they do/don't sell, so that patently plays into it. God only knows what it is per thousand for Kobo.


Hitch

[fbrzvnrnd]

Here (Italy, independent publishing house), in the last 90 days, we have: 92% from Amazon, 4% from Apple, 3% from Kobo, and 0,x from little local stores. Looking in long term, Apple is a little more that Kobo. And we have several interactive ebooks...

[Ghitulescu]

I still believe the introduction and enforcement of EPUB3 has nothing to do with providing a better content to the public, but to get more money from them.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

I still believe the introduction and enforcement of EPUB3 has nothing to do with providing a better content to the public, but to get more money from them.

Do you happen to have any concrete examples of readers having to pay more for ePub3 books?

[Notjohn]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...

Our (clients') numbers have, by and large, been pretty stable over the term....88-92% on Amazon, up to 95% (and that skews, of course, b/c of the number that are exclusive to the Zon); 8-11% on B&N, and all the rest are simply peanuts. Even our biggest hottest clients still only sell 1 book on iBooks for every thousand that they sell on the Zon, and man, that's impressive, to me. Of course, Apple couldn't care less about how many ebooks they do/don't sell, so that patently plays into it. God only knows what it is per thousand for Kobo.


Hitch

Generally, Apple is my largest earner, though I often sell more books on B&N. Kobo is a strong third. Google fourth (not all my books are on Google). And the rest, as you say, are peanuts.

Over the past say five years, B&N is the one that has slipped the most. It used to be way ahead of Apple.

But the point is that Epub 3 for me (and for your clients as well, apparently) is of no importance if Amazon doesn't build on it. Perhaps it does, but no one has yet said so.

Otherwise, this is just one of those How Many Angels Dance On The Head Of A Pin? debates. It may excite people who build ebooks for their own delectation, but for me it's pointless.

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

Do you happen to have any concrete examples of readers having to pay more for ePub3 books?

Well, me, as I do not have any ePub3 eReader so I have to buy one should I want someday read one of these wonderful pieces of technology

And all those not having an ePub3-enhanced eReaders.

As someone said ePub3 would default to ePub2 on non ePub3-able eReaders, then either I loose the extra content, which appears to be the earth's omphalos, or, tricky, if there is nothing to loose, then what's the purpose of having ePub3 in the first place...

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

Well, me, as I do not have any ePub3 eReader so I have to buy one should I want someday read one of these wonderful pieces of technology

As has been mentioned repeatedly, you don't need an epub3 reader to read most of the commercial epub3 books being sold. In fact, I'd wager to say that many people have already unwittingly purchased and read epub3 books. Especially those who just buy and read without fiddling with their books).

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

if there is nothing to loose, then what's the purpose of having ePub3 in the first place...

A strange stance to take, in my opinion. When, in the history of ever changing digital document formats, has it been considered necessary to actually NEED all of the features provided by a newer format, to utilize the newer format (especially when there's no real downside in using the latest)?