Comments on: $159 E Ink e-book gizmo with eReader and other formats on the way from Astak? http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:23:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joseph Gray http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764408 Joseph Gray Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:02:05 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764408 If you look at the dictionaries that you can buy for use with MS Reader, those dictionaries are nothing more than specially formatted versions of a LIT ebook file. The same applies to Mobipocket dictionaries being a specially formatted Mobi ebook. It is this "special formatting" which needs to be defined if epub readers are to have dictionary support. One easy method of adding dictionary support to epub reading systems would be to simply adopt one of the existing dictionary formats. As to the user interface part, the epub spec already spells out what features are either required or optional on the reading end of things (but not HOW to implement them). This would also have to be done if dictionary support is added. There would of course be some variabilty as to how specific reading systems handled the exact mechanics of the lookup. So, yes, you are missing something. the specs do address some aspects of the "reading system". epub (OPS more correctly) is not just about a file format. If you look at the dictionaries that you can buy for use with MS Reader, those dictionaries are nothing more than specially formatted versions of a LIT ebook file. The same applies to Mobipocket dictionaries being a specially formatted Mobi ebook. It is this “special formatting” which needs to be defined if epub readers are to have dictionary support.

One easy method of adding dictionary support to epub reading systems would be to simply adopt one of the existing dictionary formats.

As to the user interface part, the epub spec already spells out what features are either required or optional on the reading end of things (but not HOW to implement them). This would also have to be done if dictionary support is added. There would of course be some variabilty as to how specific reading systems handled the exact mechanics of the lookup.

So, yes, you are missing something. the specs do address some aspects of the “reading system”. epub (OPS more correctly) is not just about a file format.

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764312 Marcus Sundman Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:02:21 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764312 I mean, epub dictionary format, sure, but epub lookup mechanism??? I mean, epub dictionary format, sure, but epub lookup mechanism???

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764307 Marcus Sundman Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:00:14 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764307 > Hopefully some standard dictionary [...] lookup > mechanism will be added to [epub] I'm sorry, what does epub have to do with lookup mechanisms? I thought epub was a file format, and that dictionary lookup was purely user-interface related. Am I missing something? > Hopefully some standard dictionary [...] lookup
> mechanism will be added to [epub]

I’m sorry, what does epub have to do with lookup mechanisms? I thought epub was a file format, and that dictionary lookup was purely user-interface related. Am I missing something?

]]> By: Joseph Gray http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764253 Joseph Gray Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:47:27 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764253 I definitely agree on the dictionary support. I like being able to lookup a strange word while I am reading. That is one thing that I think really needs to be added to the next version of epub. Hopefully some standard dictionary format and lookup mechanism will be added to the spec before someone else develops a proprietary alternative. I definitely agree on the dictionary support. I like being able to lookup a strange word while I am reading.

That is one thing that I think really needs to be added to the next version of epub. Hopefully some standard dictionary format and lookup mechanism will be added to the spec before someone else develops a proprietary alternative.

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764248 Mike Cane Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:40:14 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764248 $159 would really, really send everyone scrambling. It would also put pressure on ebook pricing. "Wait, you want me to pay ten percent of my device cost for *one* book?" $159 would really, really send everyone scrambling.

It would also put pressure on ebook pricing.

“Wait, you want me to pay ten percent of my device cost for *one* book?”

]]> By: M-K http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-764081 M-K Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:55:55 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-764081 Must come with a built-in dictionary. Consider the PD Webster 1913 available from Project Gutenberg. One of the joys of the Hiebook (how's that for a blast from the past?) has been being able to tap a word on the screen, and pop up a detailed dictionary definition. As a sales promotion, the device should probably come loaded with 1,000-10000 free PG titles; consult their most downloaded lists to decide which ones. Must come with a built-in dictionary. Consider the PD Webster 1913 available from Project Gutenberg. One of the joys of the Hiebook (how’s that for a blast from the past?) has been being able to tap a word on the screen, and pop up a detailed dictionary definition.

As a sales promotion, the device should probably come loaded with 1,000-10000 free PG titles; consult their most downloaded lists to decide which ones.

]]> By: Marcus Sundman http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-763967 Marcus Sundman Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:59:45 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-763967 > The Li-ion battery will last ten years Yeah, right. If you store it at 0 degrees C and at 50% load, then I believe that it'll last 10 years. But c'mon, a normal lithium battery is dead as a doornail in way less than 10 years. > The Li-ion battery will last ten years

Yeah, right. If you store it at 0 degrees C and at 50% load, then I believe that it’ll last 10 years. But c’mon, a normal lithium battery is dead as a doornail in way less than 10 years.

]]> By: Cat Faber http://www.teleread.com/drm/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/comment-page-1/#comment-763905 Cat Faber Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:23:21 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/04/14/159-e-ink-e-book-gizmo-with-ereader-on-the-way-from-astak-a-security-camera-seller/#comment-763905 Potentially very cool, if true, and if you don't have to have a Windows box to use it. Potentially very cool, if true, and if you don’t have to have a Windows box to use it.

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