Comments on: Amazon’s Kindle press release: No mention of Mobipocket by name—raising compatibility issues, alas

By: Isabelle Fetherston

Isabelle Fetherston — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:27:56 +0000

Mike, thank you for the information on the fonts. I received an email back from Amazon.com that said that the font sizes were 7, 9, 11, 17, and 20. I am surprised that they chose the 7 point, since I can’t get Microsoft Word to even use a font size less that 8. I would have been happier if they had left out the 7 point and added a 28 point for people who have low vision – or perhaps allowed the reader to scale the text to whatever size they preferred.

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:50:19 +0000

>>>There are reports on MobileRead that AMZ is EXACTLY MOBI, but tied to the (unknown) PID of the kindle.

But that brings up this issue: What of people who have already bought DRMed Mobi? Must they now pay again for the AMZ-wrapped version?

Someone asked about the fonts. From BoingBoing:

>>>

By: Alan Wallcraft

Alan Wallcraft — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:56:06 +0000

There are reports on MobileRead that AMZ is EXACTLY MOBI, but tied to the (unknown) PID of the kindle. In any case, there is no doubt that Amazon could support DRMed MOBI on the Kindle if they wanted too. I don’t know if there are any publishers who use .MOBI format by refuse to pay an Amazon tax for .AMZ. This looks like the iPod all over again.

By: Brian Carnell

Brian Carnell — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:52:39 +0000

“No DRMed Mobi? WTF is up with that?!”

People shouldn’t buy DRMed ebooks. I’ve ordered a Kindle but don’t plan on buying a single book ever through Amazon. Buy them from Baen and elsewhere and convert to non-DRMed Mobipocket FTW.

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:48:27 +0000

Kindle Store Gotcha:

http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Tinkers-Jack-Taylor/dp/B000FC0YXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1195497911&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Tinkers-Novel/dp/B000PC10Z2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1195497911&sr=1-2

It’s the SAME BOOK!

But Sony has to go yell at St. Martin’s now:

http://ebooks.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/035/871/400000000000000035871.html

Sony’s price is HIGHER!

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:36:35 +0000

Here is the weak underbelly of dedicated ebook reading devices:

http://www.amazon.com/Autism-Preparing-for-Adulthood/dp/B000OI1A3O/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1195496008&sr=1-18
– ONE book — $88 in Kindle and new paper formats

http://www.amazon.com/Autism-Preparing-Adulthood-Patricia-Howlin/dp/0415115329/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195496162&sr=8-1
– used paperback edition, *half price* (probably less if it hits ebay…)

(There is another autism book for $119 in Kindle format!)

It is simply insane to price the print and electronic editions the same. Suicidal.

By: Isabelle Fetherston

Isabelle Fetherston — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:16:47 +0000

I have emailed customer service at Amazon to ask for information about the text sizes. They advertise 6 sizes, but they don’t tell us the exact font sizes. I am curious about how they compare in size to the font of large print books. Does any one know the exact font sizes?

By: Mike Cane

Mike Cane — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:04:55 +0000

Good God! No DRMed Mobi? WTF is up with that?! (I know: publishers twisting their arms for Even More DRM! Just like NBC/Universal tried to twist Steve Jobs’ arm on the issue.)

But really, go look at the marketing vids amazon has put up for the Kindle. A really killer job!

http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-kindle/dp/B000FI73MA

I’d have to fondle one beforehand. And I still have Qs. But they are making some excellent noises in their pitch.

By: Brian Carnell

Brian Carnell — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:00:16 +0000

I think they’re just hiding the Mobipocket compatibility because it involves hooking the Kindle up to a PC:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200137060

I ordered one and should have it tomorrow. I’ll let you know for sure.

By: Gerry Manacsa

Gerry Manacsa — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:22:49 +0000

From the Kindle User’s Guide:

The computer file formats that you can read or listen to on your Kindle are listed below:

Kindle (.AZW)
Text (.TXT)
Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC)
Audible (.AA)
MP3 (.MP3)

Tip: Mobipocket files must have no Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection applied to be readable on your Kindle. If you purchased a Mobipocket file from a Mobipocket retailer, you will not be able to open the file on your Kindle.

It can also support automated conversion via email of a few other formats:

In addition to the file formats listed above, you can also convert other personal documents to read on your Kindle. The supported file formats are listed below:

Microsoft Word (.DOC)
Structured HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
GIF (.GIF)
PNG (.PNG)
BMP (.BMP)
Compressed ZIP (.ZIP)

It’s pretty amazing (and not in a good way!) that it doesn’t support Amazon’s own DRM’d MobiPocket, PDF or any other ebook format.

By: Tony Rabig

Tony Rabig — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:15:24 +0000

The Kindle is on Amazon’s web site now, and it looks like we have yet another proprietary format, and that even DRM MobiPocket titles can’t be read on the Kindle. From a quick search of a few authors’ titles, I see nothing that says that a lot of titles are available here that weren’t already available from other ebook vendors.

Barring changes there, it looks like I may be saving my 400 bucks.

Bests to all,

–tr