The Official eBook & eReader Thread
03-26-11, 06:49 PM
#401
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Capitol of the Empire! Center of all Commerce and Culture! Crossroads of Civilization! NEW ROME!!!...aka New York City
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
03-27-11, 10:17 AM
#402
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Do you do library books on yours?
Here is why I ask. On paper it sounds like a great feature... but in application I found it to be pretty disappointing. Many public library systems don't have much of an ebook collection. The other much larger problem is when they buy a book for that collection it can only be checked out to one person at a time (typically for 2 weeks). That means they have to buy multiple copies to allow a decent turnover. Also, those patrons often let it auto-check in when the 14 days expire versus a popular paper book might be returned early. End result is that for a popular ebook the wait list might literally be over a year long while the paper version could be had in a month or two.
Another big problem is the publishers putting ebooks into the library system. One of the major publishers is restricting an ebook to 26 checkouts and then the library has to buy a new copy. That alone is going to heavily stifle growth on that front because it becomes a poor investment.
As for epub and DRM - that really only applies if you are buying specifically from Borders or B&N. Amazon matches or beats both those sites pretty often on book prices so I don't see it as a big deal.
So if library use is a big deal to you I highly recommend going to your local library and seeing what their ebook collection is like. Try putting one of the popular ones on hold and read it on your PC and see what the hold time is like.
Here is why I ask. On paper it sounds like a great feature... but in application I found it to be pretty disappointing. Many public library systems don't have much of an ebook collection. The other much larger problem is when they buy a book for that collection it can only be checked out to one person at a time (typically for 2 weeks). That means they have to buy multiple copies to allow a decent turnover. Also, those patrons often let it auto-check in when the 14 days expire versus a popular paper book might be returned early. End result is that for a popular ebook the wait list might literally be over a year long while the paper version could be had in a month or two.
Another big problem is the publishers putting ebooks into the library system. One of the major publishers is restricting an ebook to 26 checkouts and then the library has to buy a new copy. That alone is going to heavily stifle growth on that front because it becomes a poor investment.
As for epub and DRM - that really only applies if you are buying specifically from Borders or B&N. Amazon matches or beats both those sites pretty often on book prices so I don't see it as a big deal.
So if library use is a big deal to you I highly recommend going to your local library and seeing what their ebook collection is like. Try putting one of the popular ones on hold and read it on your PC and see what the hold time is like.
04-03-11, 10:43 AM
#403
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Vichy America
Posts: 13,533
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/anwy2MPT5RE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Plugging your book in a forum you've contributed to five times in the last two years is real spammy. If you want to promote your work, put a link in your sig and post interesting, on-topic comments.
Plugging your book in a forum you've contributed to five times in the last two years is real spammy. If you want to promote your work, put a link in your sig and post interesting, on-topic comments.
04-03-11, 10:53 AM
#404
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Tulsa, OK, USA
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Plugging your book in a forum you've contributed to five times in the last two years is real spammy. If you want to promote your work, put a link in your sig and post interesting, on-topic comments.
04-11-11, 05:24 PM
#405
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
So there's a advertising sponsered kindle edition out now...$25 off the regular price to see an ad on the screensaver page.
04-11-11, 08:07 PM
#406
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
However, I am intrigued by the special offers:
Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
Receive special offers directly on your Kindle. Examples include:
$10 for $20 Amazon.com Gift Card
$6 for 6 Audible Books (normally $68)
$1 for an album in the Amazon MP3 Store (choose from over 1 million albums)
$10 for $30 of products in the Amazon Denim Shop or Amazon Swim Shop
Receive special offers directly on your Kindle. Examples include:
$10 for $20 Amazon.com Gift Card
$6 for 6 Audible Books (normally $68)
$1 for an album in the Amazon MP3 Store (choose from over 1 million albums)
$10 for $30 of products in the Amazon Denim Shop or Amazon Swim Shop
04-11-11, 10:55 PM
#408
Moderator
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Me too. Hopefully they are available to those of us with "premium" kindles.The regular version was hacked almost immediately to show custom screensavers, so it shouldn't take long.
Last edited by Groucho; 04-11-11 at 11:32 PM.
04-12-11, 08:28 AM
#410
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
So you save $25 and then have to get ads not only as screensavers, but at the bottom of your home page ...... forever!
If they key your ads to your book purchases, that could get pretty annoying ..... buy a book about retirement planning, and start getting ads for Depends!
If they key your ads to your book purchases, that could get pretty annoying ..... buy a book about retirement planning, and start getting ads for Depends!
04-12-11, 08:38 AM
#411
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 5,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
What's the big deal about ads as screensavers? When my screensaver is on that means I'm not using my Kindle and since I have a cover I rarely have to look at them.
04-12-11, 11:38 AM
#412
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Maumelle, AR
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
If I read the page correctly, on the Kindle with wifi only is available with "special offers." I guess this also explains why Amazon has never opened up the Kindle to screensaver apps. They've had plans for a screensaver.
04-12-11, 04:40 PM
#413
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Is there any way to turn a non-special offer kindle into a special offer kindle?
If they gave me a $25 amazon credit for e-books, I'd install a software update that would show ads.
If they gave me a $25 amazon credit for e-books, I'd install a software update that would show ads.
04-13-11, 06:29 PM
#414
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Don't know if this is common knowledge, but the ipad has a free Overdrive app to read library epubs. I was blown away =)
04-16-11, 01:16 PM
#417
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
The ads only show up on the screen saver and the bottom of the home page. I don't spend much time looking at either. It would be a much bigger deal if the ads were showing up in the middle of a book.
To me, this is kind of like many apps for iOS or Android. You can get the cheap or free version with ads, or pay to avoid them. The only difference is that the ads in many games or other apps are sometimes much more intrusive. Plus ads are even starting to show up in the paid apps.
04-16-11, 05:51 PM
#419
DVD Talk Hero
04-16-11, 07:53 PM
#420
Banned by request
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
If they're going to put it in ads for the lifetime of the device, it should be $100 off. They'd make the money back.
04-17-11, 10:44 PM
#421
Suspended
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Can the kindle read other ebook formats? I read it was hacked and my Wife wants to read all the books I bought on my iPad. Stupid me, I should have purchased from Kindle the entire time (even the App is nicer then Apple's iBook).
And why do some call it the Kindle 3 when the current ones are Kindle 2 on Amazon.com (and retailers)?
And why do some call it the Kindle 3 when the current ones are Kindle 2 on Amazon.com (and retailers)?
Last edited by Gizmo; 04-17-11 at 10:56 PM.
04-18-11, 03:26 AM
#422
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
The current one is Kindle 3 on Amazon and retailers. Amazon will label older generations and not have a label for the current one (i.e. iPod Touch).
It can't read other book formats but you can convert them with Calibre (it CAN read PDF but it sucks at it). The problem is that Apple closes up their formats, I'm not sure if you can even extract the book files without jailbreaking.
It can't read other book formats but you can convert them with Calibre (it CAN read PDF but it sucks at it). The problem is that Apple closes up their formats, I'm not sure if you can even extract the book files without jailbreaking.
04-19-11, 08:37 AM
#423
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Maumelle, AR
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Go here - http://www.mobileread.com/forums/index.php
It's an invaluable resource of all things ereader. You'll find forums dedicated to the all the ereaders and to the software (such as Calibre) that enhances them.
It's an invaluable resource of all things ereader. You'll find forums dedicated to the all the ereaders and to the software (such as Calibre) that enhances them.
04-19-11, 08:39 PM
#424
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Yeah, mobileread is the place to go for e-reader discussion. I frequent there now. They aren't allowed to discuss DRM stripping though.
Gizmo -
AFAIK the Apple ibook DRM hasn't been broken...but I could be wrong.
Search up Apprentice Alf's blog for removing DRM.
From Alf:
"There’s currently no way to remove DRM from ebooks using Apple’s Fairplay DRM scheme, used on most ebooks bought at Apple’s iBooks ebook store."
But he retired a few months ago (that post was from January), so maybe there have been advances that I'm not aware of.
I detest DRM and avoid buying books with it at all cost. On the rare occasions I buy it (normally from B&N since they do Epubs) I liberate it of DRM immediately.
If the DRM was removed, you could convert epub to mobi for use on the Kindle really easily (and vice versa) - Apple uses standard epub with proprietary DRM on it.
Gizmo -
AFAIK the Apple ibook DRM hasn't been broken...but I could be wrong.
Search up Apprentice Alf's blog for removing DRM.
From Alf:
"There’s currently no way to remove DRM from ebooks using Apple’s Fairplay DRM scheme, used on most ebooks bought at Apple’s iBooks ebook store."
But he retired a few months ago (that post was from January), so maybe there have been advances that I'm not aware of.
I detest DRM and avoid buying books with it at all cost. On the rare occasions I buy it (normally from B&N since they do Epubs) I liberate it of DRM immediately.
If the DRM was removed, you could convert epub to mobi for use on the Kindle really easily (and vice versa) - Apple uses standard epub with proprietary DRM on it.
Last edited by GreenMonkey; 04-19-11 at 08:44 PM.
04-20-11, 08:26 AM
#425
Moderator
Re: The Official eBook & eReader Thread
Amazon announces Kindle Library Lending via OverDrive:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....678&highlight=
Great news for Kindle owners.
(NASDAQ: AMZN)-- Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
"We're excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps."
Customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"We're doing a little something extra here," Marine continued. "Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced."
With Kindle Library Lending, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
No glare even in bright sunlight
Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Real Page Numbers - easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle."
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users. To learn more about Kindle go to www.amazon.com/kindle.
"We're excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries," said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. "Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps."
Customers will be able to check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. If a Kindle book is checked out again or that book is purchased from Amazon, all of a customer's annotations and bookmarks will be preserved.
"We're doing a little something extra here," Marine continued. "Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we're extending our Whispersync technology so that you can highlight and add margin notes to Kindle books you check out from your local library. Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them, perfectly Whispersynced."
With Kindle Library Lending, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle and Kindle books, including:
Paper-like Pearl electronic-ink display
No glare even in bright sunlight
Lighter than a paperback - weighs just 8.5 ounces and holds up to 3,500 books
Up to one month of battery life with wireless off
Read everywhere with free Kindle apps for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone
Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Real Page Numbers - easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Amazon is working with OverDrive, the leading provider of digital content solutions for over 11,000 public and educational libraries in the United States, to bring a seamless library borrowing experience to Kindle customers. "We are excited to be working with Amazon to offer Kindle Library Lending to the millions of customers who read on Kindle and Kindle apps," said Steve Potash, CEO, OverDrive. "We hear librarians and patrons rave about Kindle, so we are thrilled that we can be part of bringing library books to the unparalleled experience of reading on Kindle."
Kindle Library Lending will be available later this year for Kindle and free Kindle app users. To learn more about Kindle go to www.amazon.com/kindle.
Great news for Kindle owners.