01:16 PM by Bob Russell in E-Book General | News

When we think about comparing e-book devices, we care mostly about some basics:
* Screen quality
* Battery life
* Size and ease of use
* Supported e-book formats

Sure, there are many other features like screen lights that people care about. And the price certainly matters when deciding whether or not to purchase. But I think this pretty much covers the basics. (I'm sure that if I left out something obvious, we'll see it pop up immediately in the comments!)

Okay. Now let's focus for a moment on the issue of supported formats. First of all, I am going to surprise you by saying that I don't care what format the reader supports natively. As long as there is a way to easily and accurately create that native format (on Linux and Windows), it's okay.

So you might think that lots of formats are very important, but I only care about the following two things:
1) The ability to convert HTML and PDF files for use on the device.
2) Support for my favorite DRM'd format

The only reason I include #2 is obvious - there are always books out there that are only available in DRM'd formats, and I want to be able to purchase and read them. Conversion programs aren't going to do the job unless they strip out the DRM, which is a whole other discussion.

So why don't I care about native text support, for example? Or any of the many other formats? It's simple. Because e-books represent a significant amount of time investment as I read them, I don't mind spending a little bit of time doing a format conversion beforehand. I rarely need to read something particular "by surprise" so I can plan ahead. As long as it's a popular non-DRM'd format, I feel confident that there will be simple ways to convert most files into a simple universal format like HTML, and then from there is can be converted to use on the device.

The only reason I include PDF conversion in the picture is because there are documents that are not-text based, or require special layout. HTML isn't very good for that. Plus, one can grab a free PDF print driver and create a PDF file out of anything that is printable.

There is one huge caveat, however. The software that puts HTML or PDF files on the device must actually work. All the time on every "reasonable" file without problems. It must come out looking good. And the software must be available and continue to be updated for a period of time, and support all popular platforms. Already, that is reason enough for some people to say "I must have native PDF/HTML format support, or the equivalent".

Some people will also object because they don't want to have to do a conversion step at all. They want to pop in an SD card with an RTF file and just start reading. I agree. That is also a nice feature. For me, though, it's not essential. Just nice.

And, finally, I should add one more comment with respect to the e-book format wars. You might think I don't care. Not true. Even though I don't care too much personally about formatting beyond what HTML gives us, there are two huge reasons I care a lot about a universal reflowable e-book format. Number one, I want to eliminate every concern about conversions entirely. If, for example, everyone creates and supports all e-books in ePub, then we all win in terms of reduced complexity and improved compatibility. Ideally, it would be like .txt or .html files, but with more features. Just the way HTML improves on text files, but retains the universality, so might a standard format like ePub if everyone uses it.

And number two, formats matter because there is a feint hope for the holy grail of a common DRM scheme. Imagine every protected e-book using the same interchangeable protection scheme and the same interchangeable key mechanisms. Any e-book reader could read any DRM'd book if you have the right to read it. If you buy a new device, you can still read the same books that you bought. If a company goes out of business, it doesn't stop you from keeping usage of the books. I don't have a lot of hope due to the various disincentives for book sellers and publishers, the need to have a community DRM key server of some type, plus fears of a single DRM-breaking program making everything available to pirates. But we don't know the future, and who knows what can be achieved if people are forced to work together.

I'm sure I've ruffled a few feathers by saying format support is of secondary importance to me in an e-book reader. So let me have it. Why do you agree or disagree?

08:29 AM by Nate the great in E-Book General | Deals and Resources (No...

Newegg has the black Jet book on sale today for $100 the regular retail. If you've never heard of this device before, you should look at the review.

02:00 PM by Nate the great in E-Book Readers | Alternative Devices

I just got the email.

Today, we are pleased to announce availability of the new ACCESS GVM Beta 3 for Nokia Nseries. This new version includes several bug fixes in Garnet VM core components as well as in Garnet PIM applications. The Beta 3 also grows the already big list of compatible applications with two new supported games. Enjoy!

Download the ACCESS GVM Beta 3 from our web site: http://www.access-company.com/produc...1&v=15f61b02c1

09:26 AM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

Remember last summer when CrunchGear announced that the next Amazon Kindle device would be released around October this year? Well, guess what, it turned out that it didn't happen. Apparently, according to their super-well-informed sources, Amazon chief Bezos wasn't satisfied with the software and thus postponed the release.

It was scheduled to be released in October in time for this holiday season, but Bezos himself reportedly pulled the plug for last minute changes to the software. Our sources now say it’s tentatively scheduled to go on sale in “early next quarter.”

The same CrunchGear sources claim that a Kindle student device, featuring a larger screen, would be targeted for the first half of 2009.

Related: Kindle 2.0 in October 2008?, Not one, but several Kindle successors in the works!

10:00 AM by zelda_pinwheel in E-Book General | News

Amidst the continuing cries from readers of "more (e)content please !" it would seem that at least one publisher is paying attention : although e-book sales remain estimated at a mere 1% or less of the overall book market, "Random House's vice president for digital operations, Matt Shatz, says e-book sales have increased by triple digit percentages in 2008" and the publishing house is responding by announcing plans to digitize thousands of books, according to an article on Wired.com :

NEW YORK (AP) -- With e-book sales exploding in an otherwise sleepy market, Random House Inc. announced Monday that it was making thousands of additional books available in digital form, including novels by John Updike and Harlan Coben, as well as several volumes of the "Magic Treehouse" children's series.

Head over here to join the discussion / celebration. Thanks to DonaldL. for spotting the news !

06:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

Just in case you've missed anything, here is the list of our frontpage news this week.

Miscellaneous - Announcements

• Reminder: Chicago meet-up, 22 November 2008
• Server maintenance 11/23@4am EST

04:50 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Announcements

We are planning a scheduled maintenance window which will be performed on Sunday, Nov 23rd at 4:00am Eastern Time. During this maintenance window, MobileRead may not be accessible for five minutes at the most.

Alex

06:21 PM by Patricia in Miscellaneous | Announcements

The details of the Chicago meet-up have been finalised:

Chicago Meet-Up:

November 22nd, 4:00pm
Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches
6 E. Madison St.
Chicago, IL

So far: 2 (maybe 3) + 1 imaginary friend.

Agenda: Nothing. Chat. Walk around.

See also this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31686