Comments on: Mobipocket now running on Blackberry’s Storm and Bold—but what about the iPhone? Dirty format-tricks from Amazon? http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:42:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alan Wallcraft http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006044 Alan Wallcraft Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:06:03 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006044 David: Windows MobiPocket Reader 6.0 recognises the Kindle via USB as a supported device type. That was most likely an oversight on MobiPocket's part, because Amazon wants to manage the Kindle via Whispernet. Later versions of Windows MobiPocket Reader don't recognise the Kindle (i.e. MobiPocket explicitly turned off this capability), and so can't be used to manage ebooks on the Kindle. Only Windows MobiPocket Reader 6.2 imports ePubs, but once the ePub has been converted to DRM-free MOBI it is just a file which can be manually transfered to the Kindle via USB (or emailed to Amazon for Whispernet transfer). If version 6.2 recognized the Kindle, it could do the transfer for you. That is what Calibre will soon provide, a seamless ePub to MOBI to Kindle via USB process all within a single application. David: Windows MobiPocket Reader 6.0 recognises the Kindle via USB as a supported device type. That was most likely an oversight on MobiPocket’s part, because Amazon wants to manage the Kindle via Whispernet. Later versions of Windows MobiPocket Reader don’t recognise the Kindle (i.e. MobiPocket explicitly turned off this capability), and so can’t be used to manage ebooks on the Kindle.

Only Windows MobiPocket Reader 6.2 imports ePubs, but once the ePub has been converted to DRM-free MOBI it is just a file which can be manually transfered to the Kindle via USB (or emailed to Amazon for Whispernet transfer). If version 6.2 recognized the Kindle, it could do the transfer for you. That is what Calibre will soon provide, a seamless ePub to MOBI to Kindle via USB process all within a single application.

]]> By: Daniel Udsen http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006042 Daniel Udsen Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:52:47 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006042 The problem here is probably apples complete ban on flash and Java on the iphone, it's just not an easy thing writing good crossplatform code without any java or flash, this means that while the blackberries, HTC winphones and nokia's can share a port who even shares code with the iLiad ports while the iphone port must be written independently from scratch. The iphone doesnt work with any other cross platform framework like WVwindows, QT or XUL either. The problem here is probably apples complete ban on flash and Java on the iphone, it’s just not an easy thing writing good crossplatform code without any java or flash, this means that while the blackberries, HTC winphones and nokia’s can share a port who even shares code with the iLiad ports while the iphone port must be written independently from scratch.

The iphone doesnt work with any other cross platform framework like WVwindows, QT or XUL either.

]]> By: Alan Wallcraft http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006040 Alan Wallcraft Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:46:30 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006040 Mike: MobiPocket requires DRM-exclusivity on dedicated reading devices when the software is pre-installed by the device vendor. This has been somewhat moot until recently, because MobiPocket was the only game in town for most vendors (Sony being the exception, because they were able to get Adobe to give the PRS-505 and PRS-700 priority). It seems that both eReader and Adobe Digital Editions software will soon be generally available for Linux-based EInk devices. So now the exclusivity deals start to matter. MobiPocket can't require anything on devices that don't come with pre-installed reader software, but rather have reader software added by the user as a separate download. This is the case on all cell phones and PDAs including the BlackBerry. Mike: MobiPocket requires DRM-exclusivity on dedicated reading devices when the software is pre-installed by the device vendor. This has been somewhat moot until recently, because MobiPocket was the only game in town for most vendors (Sony being the exception, because they were able to get Adobe to give the PRS-505 and PRS-700 priority). It seems that both eReader and Adobe Digital Editions software will soon be generally available for Linux-based EInk devices. So now the exclusivity deals start to matter.

MobiPocket can’t require anything on devices that don’t come with pre-installed reader software, but rather have reader software added by the user as a separate download. This is the case on all cell phones and PDAs including the BlackBerry.

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006038 Mike Cane Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:28:01 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006038 There have been assertions in Comments at a variety of sites that MobiPocket demands DRM exclusivity on hardware. Will Berry owners be shut out of, say, eReader now? Even though they co-existed merrily on Palm devices? I'd like to know if there's a 1-to-1 between K and Mobi eBooks. That is, does Amazon's contract demand pubs approve *both* K and Mobi versions of each book? Amazon is setting itself up for a nice Restraint of Trade suit by the FTC/DoJ. With this new Administration -- which is digital savvy -- one can hope that day arrives soon! (Sorry if this is posted 2x. Teleread is burpy!) There have been assertions in Comments at a variety of sites that MobiPocket demands DRM exclusivity on hardware. Will Berry owners be shut out of, say, eReader now? Even though they co-existed merrily on Palm devices?

I’d like to know if there’s a 1-to-1 between K and Mobi eBooks. That is, does Amazon’s contract demand pubs approve *both* K and Mobi versions of each book?

Amazon is setting itself up for a nice Restraint of Trade suit by the FTC/DoJ. With this new Administration — which is digital savvy — one can hope that day arrives soon!

(Sorry if this is posted 2x. Teleread is burpy!)

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006025 David Rothman Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:29:37 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006025 Hi, Alan. Great news re Calibre rescuing the Kindle owners re ePub. <blockquote>The Kindle can read DRM-free MOBIs generated from DRM-free ePubs by Windows MobiPocket Reader [update: I meant converted ePub]. The Reader does not always succeed in converting the ePub and does not always do a good conversion, but any resulting MOBI should be readable on the Kindle.</blockquote> Does this mean the Kindle can read ePub from the latest Mobipocket Windows Desktop at times? See See http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23466 . <blockquote>"The latest Windows MobiPocket Reader does not recognize a Kindle connected via USB."</blockquote> So there <em>is</em> a problem in practical terms? Why do you think it can't? Is that deliberate as you see it? Either way, this does not reflect well on Amazon. Conversion per se and the USB connection should <em>both</em> work reliably. Thanks, David Hi, Alan. Great news re Calibre rescuing the Kindle owners re ePub.

The Kindle can read DRM-free MOBIs generated from DRM-free ePubs by Windows MobiPocket Reader [update: I meant converted ePub]. The Reader does not always succeed in converting the ePub and does not always do a good conversion, but any resulting MOBI should be readable on the Kindle.

Does this mean the Kindle can read ePub from the latest Mobipocket Windows Desktop at times? See See http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23466 .

“The latest Windows MobiPocket Reader does not recognize a Kindle connected via USB.”

So there is a problem in practical terms? Why do you think it can’t? Is that deliberate as you see it? Either way, this does not reflect well on Amazon. Conversion per se and the USB connection should both work reliably.

Thanks,
David

]]> By: Alan Wallcraft http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/comment-page-1/#comment-1006022 Alan Wallcraft Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:12:07 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/21/mobipocket-now-running-on-blackberrys-storm-and-bold-but-what-about-the-iphone-time-for-amazon-to-call-off-its-dirty-tricks-with-e-book-formats/#comment-1006022 The Kindle can read DRM-free MOBIs generated from DRM-free ePubs by Windows MobiPocket Reader. The Reader does not always succeed in converting the ePub and does not always do a good conversion, but any resulting MOBI should be readable on the Kindle. Calibre has an "any2mobi" command in beta test that already does a better ePub to MOBI conversion than MobiPocket's tools. It should be fully integrated into Calibre within a month. The latest Windows MobiPocket Reader does not recognize a Kindle connected via USB. So the Reader can't be use to manage the Kindle's ebooks. Once again, Calibre comes to the rescue with a recent upgrade that allows it to manage DRM-free ebooks on a Kindle via USB. The Kindle can read DRM-free MOBIs generated from DRM-free ePubs by Windows MobiPocket Reader. The Reader does not always succeed in converting the ePub and does not always do a good conversion, but any resulting MOBI should be readable on the Kindle.

Calibre has an “any2mobi” command in beta test that already does a better ePub to MOBI conversion than MobiPocket’s tools. It should be fully integrated into Calibre within a month.

The latest Windows MobiPocket Reader does not recognize a Kindle connected via USB. So the Reader can’t be use to manage the Kindle’s ebooks. Once again, Calibre comes to the rescue with a recent upgrade that allows it to manage DRM-free ebooks on a Kindle via USB.

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