iPad And... the iPad supports ePub

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by Valloric

If you're a publishing house and your epub doesn't look right in iBooks (or whatever they're calling the built-in epub viewer on the iPad), you don't release the book.

And what makes you think something looking right in "iBooks" is a guaranty of anything? For all I know it could:

-Not support NCX toc's, or only single-level toc's. Publishers wouldn't bother building books with good hierarchical toc's.

-Not support embedded fonts, or worse, have a set of "default available" fonts. Publishers would have CSS files which refer directly to these fonts, and wouldn't work in any other reader (even worse if some of these fonts are dingbats).

-Have some weird default sizes and margins. Publishers would code the ePubs to override these defaults, which could make them look wrong in other readers.

I've never been an optimist

[Krystian Galaj]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Yeap.
But then ,if apple have some sense, they'll use ade drm to make tier stuff compatible. And there no telling there is no contractual / technical reasons that forbid using ade drm with an other renderer.

And since Adobe DRM is already broken, they'll probably concentrate on blocking any way of putting any ebooks but those from iBooks store on the device.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by Krystian Galaj

And since Adobe DRM is already broken, they'll probably concentrate on blocking any way of putting any ebooks but those from iBooks store on the device.

Guess they can be stupid enough for that.

[deltop]

I think some people are being far too paranoid

Although I'll admit it IS Apple so they probably have good reason to be. But look at the facts so far.

1. There are already a number of ebook apps in the app store. Apple would annoy lots of consumers and companies by banning them.

2. Apple is already far far less stringent now when it comes to competing apps. There are a ton of apps out there now that "compete" with the so called core functionality of Apple's own apps.

3. The sdk shows that the iPad has a shared directory that can be mounted on your pc or mac and that apps can access this. This is a biggy imho as previously for the Touch and iPhone you had to jump through convoluted hoops to get your own non itunes content on board. This will make it easy to get comics and other content say epubs on there.

[Valloric]

Originally Posted by Jellby

And what makes you think something looking right in "iBooks" is a guaranty of anything?

Don't burst my bubble Jellby, I'm hoping Apple's renderer will be amazing.

[Pardoz]

Originally Posted by deltop

But look at the facts so far.

You left out:

4. Apple has stated they want to see e-book prices (especially on bestsellers) go up by 50%. This is going to be an uphill battle if people can just load up the Kindle app and buy from there for $5 less.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

But with what kind of DRM? Adobe Adept or something completely new?

Exactly. That's the second shoe I'm waiting to hear fall.

[deltop]

Originally Posted by Pardoz

You left out:

4. Apple has stated they want to see e-book prices (especially on bestsellers) go up by 50%. This is going to be an uphill battle if people can just load up the Kindle app and buy from there for $5 less.

Actually I'd put 4 at:

4. The device is unlocked, showing that they've already dropped some restrictions compared to the iPhone.

But I see your point. And it's a good one, one of the best arguments for them dropping support for other ebook apps.

[Alpha_Cluster]

Originally Posted by Pardoz

You left out:

4. Apple has stated they want to see e-book prices (especially on bestsellers) go up by 50%. This is going to be an uphill battle if people can just load up the Kindle app and buy from there for $5 less.

Actually they are price matching Amazon from the sounds of it.

Also Apple will implement epub correct. Look at webkit its the most compliant web browser. Look at mov it video is h.264. They are known to use standards and do it well. The drm wont be Adobes since look at how Apple still doesn't allow flash. I am also looking forward to a real epub reader.

btw Apple wont remove other book apps they wont need to since they will have a more rich experience and any of the book reading apps like the Kindle app will not cause issues. Remember you didn't need DRMed music in iTunes back when iTunes had DRM. Also remember Job's broke the music industry on DRM maybe he can do it again with publishers?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Alpha_Cluster

Actually they are price matching Amazon from the sounds of it.

Also Apple will implement epub correct. Look at webkit its the most compliant web browser. Look at mov it video is h.264. They are known to use standards and do it well. The drm wont be Adobes since look at how Apple still doesn't allow flash. I am also looking forward to a real epub reader.

btw Apple wont remove other book apps they wont need to since they will have a more rich experience and any of the book reading apps like the Kindle app will not cause issues. Remember you didn't need DRMed music in iTunes back when iTunes had DRM. Also remember Job's broke the music industry on DRM maybe he can do it again with publishers?

[Valloric]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Can you make a more constructive post than a head-slapping smiley? How about addressing the posters arguments? What would be the point of this? It's disrespectful.

I for one agree with what he said, except that last part about Jobs breaking the music industry on DRM.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Valloric

Can you make a more constructive post than a head-slapping smiley? How about addressing the posters arguments? What would be the point of this? It's disrespectful.

I for one agree with what he said, except that last part about Jobs breaking the music industry on DRM.

I think it perfectly expresses my reaction to such a load of fanboi hogwash.

You are welcome to express your thoughts and reactions as well. Don't expect to be able to tell others what to do though.

[fizzwinkus]

Originally Posted by Valloric

I for one agree with what he said, except that last part about Jobs breaking the music industry on DRM.

i believe he did. before apple's drm, all drm schemes before it were more draconian. that amazon's mp3 store that went drm first was the music industry's last ditch effort to break apple and their $1 a song pricing structure. as glad as amazon was to have drm free music and cheaper wholesale prices from the labels, know that they were equally happy adding any drm the music labels wanted, so long as it had an advantage over apple.

as for apple's epub, it will use the same apple drm. as soon as they can persuade publishers to give it up, they will sell drm free epub.

[Pardoz]

Originally Posted by Alpha_Cluster

Actually they are price matching Amazon from the sounds of it.

Or not.

btw Apple wont remove other book apps they wont need to since they will have a more rich experience and any of the book reading apps like the Kindle app will not cause issues.

Do you have anything resembling evidence for that, or are you just stating opinion as fact?

For myself, much as I'd like to believe they'll open the platform to competitors, I don't think they will. Consider:

Amazon sells videos for watching on portable devices.
Apple sells videos for watching on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by refusing to allow Amazon to sell their videos to users of Apple's devices.

Amazon sells mp3 files for listening to on portable devices.
Apple sells mp3 files for listening to on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by refusing to allow Amazon to sell their mp3s to users of Apple's devices.

Amazon sells e-books for reading on portable devices.
Apple sells e-books for reading on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by....

...nobody knows yet. But filling in the blanks with "refusing to allow Amazon to sell their e-books to users of Apple's devices" doesn't seem like a completely unreasonable guess.

[Alpha_Cluster]

Originally Posted by Pardoz

Or not.



Do you have anything resembling evidence for that, or are you just stating opinion as fact?

For myself, much as I'd like to believe they'll open the platform to competitors, I don't think they will. Consider:

Amazon sells videos for watching on portable devices.
Apple sells videos for watching on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by refusing to allow Amazon to sell their videos to users of Apple's devices.

Amazon sells mp3 files for listening to on portable devices.
Apple sells mp3 files for listening to on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by refusing to allow Amazon to sell their mp3s to users of Apple's devices.

Amazon sells e-books for reading on portable devices.
Apple sells e-books for reading on portable devices.

Apple competes with Amazon by....

...nobody knows yet. But filling in the blanks with "refusing to allow Amazon to sell their e-books to users of Apple's devices" doesn't seem like a completely unreasonable guess.

Um most of your complaint is about Amazon using DRM as well and that not allowing you portability. I am sorry but Amazon videos are DRMed just as much as Apple so you cannot get it on the device. That is not the issue we are discussing anyways. I merely was pointing out that Apple whether or not he actually got the first DRM free music was the cause the led to the effect.

As for my reasoning for why is because Apple has been opening up the platform more then restricting it remember it used to be you could not make a app for giving directions or using VOIP now those are allowed. Do you really think Apple would be able to drop the slew of eReading apps? I don't think so it would cause to much bad publicity.