"Fixed" e-book format?

FlorenceArt · 04-02-2013, 10:09 AM

Hi All,

Numilog, a French e-book seller, is proposing some comic books in a format called "fixed" which they claim is "optimized" for tablet viewing. I downloaded a free comic and I don't see any difference with pdf, except that it can (apparently) only be opened with the Numilog apps. And I assume it is DRMed of course.

Has anybody heard of a format called "fixed"? I suspect that it's a proprietary format, in which case I should probably write a stern letter to them, though I will probably be too lazy to do it. DRM is bad enough but proprietary DRM, well...

Tex2002ans · 04-02-2013, 01:07 PM

It is most likely a "Fixed Layout EPUB":

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Fixed_layout_ePub

FlorenceArt · 04-02-2013, 02:10 PM

Thanks, yes, that could be it. Although in this case I fail to see what the added value is compared to a PDF: the book has no table of content, no searchable or selectable text. Basically it's just a series of images. And it doesn't use Adobe's DRM, which as much as I dislike it at least is readable on several devices and apps. Here I can only use Numilog's apps. Oh we'll, I already knew that I wouldn't want to pay for a file like this.

JSWolf · 04-02-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex2002ans

It is most likely a "Fixed Layout EPUB":

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Fixed_layout_ePub

It's not possible to be fixed layout ePub as the standard is still not quite there yet. Everyone's version is different and even though they call it ePub, it's not.

Tex2002ans · 04-02-2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Although in this case I fail to see what the added value is compared to a PDF: [...] Here I can only use Numilog's apps. Oh we'll, I already knew that I wouldn't want to pay for a file like this.

It could also be some proprietary (flash?) based program or a "book app" that Numilog paid an app developer to come up with. (I am just making guesses?)

I personally would stay very far away from any books that are locked down in such a way.

FlorenceArt · 04-03-2013, 02:45 PM

I downloaded iExplorer to see the file on my iPad. Turns out it's a pdf file, but when I open it on my Mac the pages are all blank. I should really write to them to let them know what I think of their "optimized" format, which incidentally is not readable on any other app than theirs. And I'd like to know how exactly the format is "optimized" when the app doesn't even offer an option to crop the white margins in order to better see the image.

04-02-2013, 10:09 AM	#1
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	"Fixed" e-book format? Hi All, Numilog, a French e-book seller, is proposing some comic books in a format called "fixed" which they claim is "optimized" for tablet viewing. I downloaded a free comic and I don't see any difference with pdf, except that it can (apparently) only be opened with the Numilog apps. And I assume it is DRMed of course. Has anybody heard of a format called "fixed"? I suspect that it's a proprietary format, in which case I should probably write a stern letter to them, though I will probably be too lazy to do it. DRM is bad enough but proprietary DRM, well...

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04-02-2013, 01:07 PM	#2
Tex2002ans Wizard Posts: 2,297 Karma: 12126329 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Forma, Nook	It is most likely a "Fixed Layout EPUB": https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Fixed_layout_ePub

04-02-2013, 02:10 PM	#3
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Thanks, yes, that could be it. Although in this case I fail to see what the added value is compared to a PDF: the book has no table of content, no searchable or selectable text. Basically it's just a series of images. And it doesn't use Adobe's DRM, which as much as I dislike it at least is readable on several devices and apps. Here I can only use Numilog's apps. Oh we'll, I already knew that I wouldn't want to pay for a file like this.

04-03-2013, 02:45 PM	#6
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I downloaded iExplorer to see the file on my iPad. Turns out it's a pdf file, but when I open it on my Mac the pages are all blank. I should really write to them to let them know what I think of their "optimized" format, which incidentally is not readable on any other app than theirs. And I'd like to know how exactly the format is "optimized" when the app doesn't even offer an option to crop the white margins in order to better see the image.

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