03-24-2020, 11:29 PM | #1 |
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kepub vs epub render engines
Why does Kobo use two different rendering engines? Or, why can't they use the kepub rendering engine for epubs? I did a little experiment and changed an epub's extension to .kepub and side loaded it on my Forma and it worked. I don't know what all of the features are for a kepub to test it, I only tested that the fast scrolling worked.
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03-25-2020, 05:24 AM | #2 |
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Because they want people to buy books from their store and not from their competitors? Kepub rendering is faster and you can do things like image zooming. I'd guess they keep the epub rendering somewhat crippled, to encourage people to buy books directly from Kobo. I may be wrong, of course.
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03-25-2020, 05:49 AM | #3 | |
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I go for ePub when I don't need to zoom images because I want the better typography. I suggest trying both and seeing which is preferred, |
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03-25-2020, 06:00 AM | #4 |
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For epubs, they use the RMSDK. That gives support for books with Adobe DRM including books from lots of libraries. And it includes PDF support. But, they are restricted to how and what Adobe wants to implement.
Kepub rendering exists so that they have control on the books from their store with their own DRM. And they don't have to pay any license fee to Adobe if you don't download the epub version. It also gives them control over the rendering and features they implement. And what you did is exactly what Kobo recommends to authors. And I occasionally recommend for anyone to who wants to test things without actually converting the book. The .kepub.epub extension triggers the choice of the rendering engine. About the only thing that doesn't work properly is the reading location and bookmarks. These require the spans to be added. |
03-25-2020, 06:01 AM | #5 | |
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03-25-2020, 11:16 AM | #6 |
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Adobe has implemented more ePub 3 features in RMSDK but Kobo hasn't updated to the latest version.
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03-25-2020, 11:28 AM | #7 | |
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I don't find searching with ePub to be slow. Most books i read don't have graphics that need any sort of zooming. If I do read an eBook that has a map, I'll fix the map to rotate it so it's sideways and fix the code so it displays full screen. If need be, I'll even try to find another higher resolution map if I can if need be. Sometimes, if the map is big enough, I'll cut it in half. I've seen some books do that. |
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03-25-2020, 11:54 AM | #8 | |
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As to maps, it's easier to grab my tablet and look at the map there. I really don't feel like fixing all the maps in my library one by one. I spend enough time fixing metadata and formatting as it is. |
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03-25-2020, 03:00 PM | #9 | |
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Thanks, now I get it. |
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03-25-2020, 08:13 PM | #10 | |
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Are there any other ways in which RMDSK typography is better, in your view? Thank you! Last edited by RobertJSawyer; 03-25-2020 at 08:21 PM. |
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03-25-2020, 08:18 PM | #11 | |
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Oh and there is a better English hyphenation dictionary at https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=325081 It'v#se what I use. I posted it. You can set up the patches to auto install this every time you patch. |
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03-25-2020, 09:24 PM | #12 | |
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03-25-2020, 11:29 PM | #13 | |
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So two renderers became part of Kobo's firmware. RMSDK is still not close enough to a full featured epub3 renderer to allow sole use. |
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03-26-2020, 01:09 AM | #14 |
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The other advantage of epub in Kobo is that it handles ligatures while kepub doesn't do.
Of course Kepub is indispensable if there are images or notes. In epub notes are very badly handled, most times You tap in the note but the only result is to go to the next or previous page. |
03-26-2020, 05:47 AM | #15 | |
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