12-14-2009, 03:52 PM | #16 |
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12-14-2009, 03:56 PM | #17 |
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Well, I think you can ask persons developing html web-pages their opinion about standards and consolidation, I sadly think it's the best example.
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12-14-2009, 05:43 PM | #18 |
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Is it worth mentioning that several ebook reading devices use open source OS's to run their devices -- e.g. Kindle is run on Linux, nook is run on Android.
I think it's pretty clear that open source is not responsible for the proliferation of formats, or for driving anyone away from ebooks. |
12-14-2009, 06:02 PM | #19 |
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Steve, Steve.....The reason for all the Tower of E-babel, was proprietary DRM-ed formats, tied to hardware manufacturers who didn't want to compete, and publishers who were of the same mind.
If it wasn't for them, we'd be using .txt (in utf extension form) or HTML, which is both open source and the bedrock of the Internet. (Or maybe RTF which was semi-open source). Any of those would work, but you couldn't DRM them so... Tower of E-book Babble, with everybody trying to get the hammerlock monopoly on the DRM format type. |
12-14-2009, 06:50 PM | #20 | |
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Most of the formats I see out there, are really proprietary formats, that eventually were implemented by the FLOSS community. Lets take a look. The MR wiki recognizes 56 ebook formats. 18 of which are actually open (not just easily implemented and used). So that makes a little under 1/3 of the formats. If you want to whittle it down some more, not all of them are truly ebook formats, like Abiword's abw format, or OpenDocument (both of which are for word processors). Knock out stuff like that, and you're down to 10 (Note, that I did leave in PDF, while being more of a general purpose document format, it does feature support for things traditionally thought of in books such as chapters). As far as the MP3 comparison, well, MP3 is not an open format, but rather a proprietary one. Fraunhofer owns many of the patents on it, and has been known to sue companies that implement it commercially without paying for licenses. Once again, just because something is widely used, does not make it open. Really Steve, usually you're pretty good on facts. |
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12-14-2009, 06:55 PM | #21 | |
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12-15-2009, 07:26 AM | #22 |
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"You keep using that word, Steve. I do not think it means what you think it means."
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12-15-2009, 08:31 AM | #23 | |
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Huh? what word? If you are referring to "Open Source" I agree completely. That first linked article is completely wacky. Open Source was not responsible for the tower of babel but greedy device and publishers were. Last edited by kennyc; 12-15-2009 at 08:35 AM. |
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12-15-2009, 08:52 AM | #24 |
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Boy... for a speculative piece, that one seems to be pissing off a lot of people.
Without simply backing off on anything I said, I can only say that the piece was dashed off quickly, while on vacation (and probably lubricated by a tad too much rum), and posted by me... just to hear the responses. I was not in the proper frame of mind when I wrote the piece. I was actually trying to make a good point... and it all came out way wrong in execution. So, I'm not a saint. Mea culpa. But I'll endeavor not to do it again, and I'll just fade away now and let everyone enjoy their holidays. |
12-15-2009, 09:27 AM | #25 |
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12-15-2009, 10:26 AM | #26 |
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12-15-2009, 01:28 PM | #27 |
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Steve, no one is saying to leave. I usually like your posts. You can't always win them all.
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12-15-2009, 01:32 PM | #28 | |
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12-15-2009, 03:05 PM | #29 |
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Nah steve. Pissed isn't the right word as far far as i'm concerned. Surprised is more like it.
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12-15-2009, 07:03 PM | #30 | |
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I wanna see pics of the umbrella drinks you wuz consuming at the time...no matter, I think I got the gist of what you were assuming you were thinking what you felt you were saying. Anyone here who has read your comments knows where you stand on these issues... Kinda fun stuff!! |
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