iLiad & ePub

[m-s-s]

Hello,

next year starts the Sony eReader in Germany. So some books will be available in the ePub format.
Is it possible to read them with the iLiad too? Which software I need for this? Anwhat about DRM in ePub?

Maybe anyone out there knows the answers...

Thx

m-s-s

[wallcraft]

The iLiad can read DRM-free ePub using FBReader. Note that FBReader ignores CSS and the Table of Contents (toc.ncx), so it isn't perfect. In some cases you may be better off converting from ePub to MOBI using MobiPocket Windows Reader (or other MobiPocket tools). This still ignores the TOC, but in-lines some of the CSS which might help in the iLiad's MOBI reader or FBReader.

The only application that can read Adobe Secure ePub is Adobe Digital Editions, and the only handheld devices that support ADE are the Sony PRS-505 and PRS-700.

[m-s-s]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The only application that can read Adobe Secure ePub is Adobe Digital Editions, and the only handheld devices that support ADE are the Sony PRS-505 and PRS-700.

Oh, thats no good news. Hmm, maybe ADE is available for iLiad till next spring.
Or another replacement software.

I've read that ebooks in geramny should not bound to just one player, like the amazon kindle or the sony PRS-***. Maybe they are DRM-free and only watermarked.

Ok, we'll see.

thanks for your information.

mss

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by m-s-s

maybe ADE is available for iLiad till next spring.

ADE can obviously run on a Linux EInk device, since it is running on the Sony's, but MobiPocket requires DRM-exclusivity on any dedicated reading device that supports MOBI DRM. So Adobe DRM support won't be available on the iLiad. There is a remote possibility that it will be available on the DR1000 series, but only if Adobe does the port (presumably without being paid by iRex) and the volume of DR1000 sales probably does not support this.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The iLiad can read DRM-free ePub using FBReader. Note that FBReader ignores CSS and the Table of Contents (toc.ncx), so it isn't perfect.

Is there any particular difficulty in implementing this?

Also, what would be the best format that can be shared between a Sony and an iLiad?

[wallcraft]

Adding CSS support to FBReader is a major upgrade, but it is apparently being worked on.

The ePub TOC support is easier, but does seem to be a road block (since MobiPocket have not done it either). It is in fact possible to add a 2nd TOC in the .opf file, and this one is honoured by FBReader and MobiPocket. Many older ebooks have a TOC inside the ebook itself near the start of the book, and these work as usual but are not associated with a TOC icon.

DRM-free ePub probably is the best format they have in common. However, the use of Calibre to format shift for the PRS-505 is very common. For DRMed content this first requires breaking the DRM, which is possible with MOBI and LIT and eReader formats. All of these convert well using Calibre, either to LRF or to ePub. The ePub is readable on the iLiad, but it is also possible to start from the original and format shift differently for the iLiad. The most recommended initial format is LIT (MS Reader). This can be exploded into an OEB ebook for FBReader on the iLiad, and converts well to ePub as well. One advantage of LIT is that it tends to have larger images than the alternatives, and the large images are better for the iLiad.

[Sonist]

Thanks, wallcraft. I already have a bunch of EPUB files for my PRS-700, so I'll try them tonight (btw, do I need to install FBReader for EPUB files, or would the stock reader be fine?)

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Sonist

do I need to install FBReader for EPUB files, or would the stock reader be fine?

If they are DRM-free and you have a Windows PC, then the easiest approach is to convert them to MOBI by importing them to Windows MobiPocket Desktop Reader. If they are all in one directory you may be able to drag and drop the entire directory (this definitely works with MobiPocket Creator, but I'm not sure if it supports ePub import yet). The MOBIs are readable by the stock MOBI Reader (or by FBReader, since they are DRM free). They will end up in your standard MOBI directory on the PC, usually My Documents\My eBooks.

Otherwise install FBReader. The 0.8.14 version supports ePub, but for the more flexible 0.8.4 version (which I use) you will need to rename from .epub to .oebzip (and FBReader will treat them as OEB ebooks, which usually works).

[Sonist]

Thanks again, wallcraft.

I'll try FBReader then. But why would they remove direct EPUB support in the later version? :-(

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Sonist

I'll try FBReader then. But why would they remove direct EPUB support in the later version?

It is the newer version that has ePub. I don't use it because, on the iLiad, it does not have access to the FBReader menus, due to the difficulty porting complex apps to the device.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

It is the newer version that has ePub....

Oh, I get easily confused by 2-digit numbers

I actually converted a couple of EPUB files to MOBI with Stanza, loaded them on the iLiad and they worked very nicely.

I haven't installed FBReader yet, was thinking of waiting for Adam to tweak 2.13 and just flash that, since it has FBReader and the keyboard integrated.

Two additional related questions:

1. Is FBReader noticeably slower with EPUB than the standard reader with MOBI files?

2. Does Search work with EPUB and PDF files in FBReader?

[m-s-s]

Hello,

i just want to ask, are there some news about reading drm-epub with iliad v1?

Tomorrow sony starts selling PRS-505 in germany. And it is possible to buy ebooks now in drm-epub format.

Does the FBreader handle this today?

Thanks for answering.

bye
m-s-s

[Shaggy]

iRex recently announced that they will be supporting DRM ePub and Adobe DE on the DR1000, but not the iLiad.

[EowynCarter]

Too bad.

Did Irex stopped supporting the illiad ?
Would be anoying to have the cybook Epub proof, and not the iRex.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by m-s-s

i just want to ask, are there some news about reading drm-epub with iliad v1?

Does the FBreader handle this today?

The system software from iRex isn't going to have any more major (or perhaps even minor) upgrades. So the DRMed MOBI Reader and won't improve, and there will never be an Adobe Digital Editions port to the iLiad (for DRMed PDF and ePub).

FBReader's ePub support has changed significantly in versions 0.10.X. Earlier versions treated ePub essentially as OEB 1.1 (like exploded LIT), and like all other formats it did not support CSS at all. FBReader instead used its own global set of styles. With 0.10.X some CSS and some ePub features are supported. I have seen different reactions to the change, some like the upgraded output but others either prefer the original CSS-less approach or consider partial CSS support as not good enough. In any case, there isn't a "ready for prime time" version of 0.10.X on the iLiad although I think it is fair to say that this would replace both the existing versions of FBReader on the iLiad for most people if it was available.

FBReader does not support DRM. However, there are ways to circumvent the DRM on all popular ebook formats, including ePub (although doing so isn't necessarily legal in some places). One point to remember about DRM-free ePub is that you don't have to leave it in ePub. Calibre will convert it very well into MOBI for example, and its ePub to LIT may be an even better alternative once it has a bit more development. FBReader handles DRM-free MOBI (and LIT, with a pre-processor) very well in a CSS-free manner, and the iLiad's standard Java-based MOBI Reader is also an option.