eBook readers redirect ability?

thewitt · 04-18-2015, 05:31 AM

Do eBook readers all (all?) redirect when they encounter redirect URLs?

Here's what I'm considering doing in my back matter.

I would like to include links to all my books, in the major stores in which the books were purchased.

This works as I publish different versions of the books for Kindle, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

All of these will have links to my other books in the back matter, in these specific stores.

For the generic ePubs that could end up anywhere else, I link back to the book page on my website with links to all the major retailers. They can also purchase directly from my website.

What I was considering doing is changing these links to Tiny.cc links.

These links can be edited, so though I would have links to each of my books on each of the booksellers, if the URLs for these books should change over time, I simply need to edit the Tiny.cc destination URL and the link still works.

Using these of course requires that eReaders will follow the redirects.

Does anyone know of the state of the eReader world in this regard?

davidfor · 04-18-2015, 07:58 AM

I have no idea about the other ereaders, but when I press on a link in an epub on my Kobo ereaders, it asks me if I want to open the link in the browser. If I say yes, the browser is opened with that link. I would be surprised if the browser didn't support redirect.

As a test, if you created and posted the link, then we could test that link in the ereader browser. Or, post a one page test book that we could sideload and test.

thewitt · 04-18-2015, 08:22 AM

Great idea

I've attached two one page books, an ePUB and MOBI

These have one link that should redirect to a page at Amazon.

If you guys could side load these into your eReader and post the results - can you follow the redirect link - that would be very helpful.

Thanks,

-t

davidfor · 04-18-2015, 09:14 AM

I have tested the epub on my Kobo H2O and it redirected to the Amazon page for the book properly. Plus I converted it to kepub and that worked the same.

thewitt · 04-18-2015, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

I have tested the epub on my Kobo H2O and it redirected to the Amazon page for the book properly. Plus I converted it to kepub and that worked the same.

Brilliant.

Thank you.

thewitt · 04-18-2015, 01:16 PM

I tested with iBooks and it works as expected.

Can anyone add additional readers? Kindles?

cromag · 04-18-2015, 07:38 PM

I would expect most ereaders and tablets to allow this.

Some niche products won't. My JetBook Lite and Mini don't. Since they don't have wifi or any other wireless capability, there wouldn't be any point to it.

thewitt · 04-18-2015, 11:09 PM

I would not expect the offline readers to even render the links, but you are right they are not my target in this.

I received an email from someone who said the Kindlewhite won't follow the redirect link, but then he would not test a second link for me... I might have to post on kBoards or something if no one here can test that for me.

eschwartz · 04-22-2015, 05:33 PM

The Kindle opens links in the browser. The browser supports redirects.

04-18-2015, 05:31 AM	#1
thewitt Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1135446 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Miami, Florida Device: iBooks	eBook readers redirect ability? Do eBook readers all (all?) redirect when they encounter redirect URLs? Here's what I'm considering doing in my back matter. I would like to include links to all my books, in the major stores in which the books were purchased. This works as I publish different versions of the books for Kindle, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords. All of these will have links to my other books in the back matter, in these specific stores. For the generic ePubs that could end up anywhere else, I link back to the book page on my website with links to all the major retailers. They can also purchase directly from my website. What I was considering doing is changing these links to Tiny.cc links. These links can be edited, so though I would have links to each of my books on each of the booksellers, if the URLs for these books should change over time, I simply need to edit the Tiny.cc destination URL and the link still works. Using these of course requires that eReaders will follow the redirects. Does anyone know of the state of the eReader world in this regard?

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04-18-2015, 07:58 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I have no idea about the other ereaders, but when I press on a link in an epub on my Kobo ereaders, it asks me if I want to open the link in the browser. If I say yes, the browser is opened with that link. I would be surprised if the browser didn't support redirect. As a test, if you created and posted the link, then we could test that link in the ereader browser. Or, post a one page test book that we could sideload and test.

04-18-2015, 09:14 AM	#4
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I have tested the epub on my Kobo H2O and it redirected to the Amazon page for the book properly. Plus I converted it to kepub and that worked the same.

04-18-2015, 01:16 PM	#6
thewitt Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1135446 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Miami, Florida Device: iBooks	I tested with iBooks and it works as expected. Can anyone add additional readers? Kindles?

04-18-2015, 07:38 PM	#7
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,272 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I would expect most ereaders and tablets to allow this. Some niche products won't. My JetBook Lite and Mini don't. Since they don't have wifi or any other wireless capability, there wouldn't be any point to it.

04-18-2015, 11:09 PM	#8
thewitt Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 1135446 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Miami, Florida Device: iBooks	I would not expect the offline readers to even render the links, but you are right they are not my target in this. I received an email from someone who said the Kindlewhite won't follow the redirect link, but then he would not test a second link for me... I might have to post on kBoards or something if no one here can test that for me.

04-22-2015, 05:33 PM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The Kindle opens links in the browser. The browser supports redirects.

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