Comments on: SCOOP! eReader format licensed to Lexcycle, eReader coming to new platforms, and more!

By: Mary Lee

Mary Lee — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:16:51 +0000

I do hope they do something. I have decided to get the new sony reader touch coming out at the end of this month, as it reads the largest filetypes. Problem is it doesn’t read ereader. I love Fictionwise and used to buy all my books there when I read on my palm, but so many of the books I find I want are in ereader or microsoft format, neither of which will work on the Sony. I actually look forward to them making them in ePub format, which I hear is most likely to be the ebook standard in the near future.

By: Felix Torres

Felix Torres — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:39:09 +0000

On re-reading the story within the context of March 09, one aspect of the announcement jumps out at me: Fictionwise’s stated intent to wrap epub in their drm. Given the recent cracking of the inept adobe scheme, might B&N convince the publishers that their social DRM makes more sense than the leaky sieve Adobe is peddling?
I’m no fan of DRM but ereader’s approach merely discourages illegal publishing without seriously encroaching on fair use. I can live with that, as I have no desire or intent of depriving people of their proper due. I just want to be able to read an ebook I buy on any device I might choose.

By: Joseph Gray

Joseph Gray — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:47:42 +0000

It is good that Fictionwise is making Mobi-only ebooks available in another format. It is even better that they are moving to epub (although with DRM). I understand why some people still think DRM is necessary, although I don’t agree.

For myself, I will continue to only purchase DRM-free ebooks. I can’t see financially supporting a system that I hate, even if this means that I have to do without some selections. There are enough DRM-free ebooks to keep me reading for years. Hopefully, DRM will go away before I run out of things to read

By: Chris Meadows

Chris Meadows — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:53:03 +0000

Mary, there have been reports that Fictionwise is working on bringing eReader to e-ink devices too. Details are scarce so far, but it's encouraging that they're working on it.

By: Mary Lee

Mary Lee — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:24:45 +0000

I have been looking at getting an eink ebook reader and am a little lost. I have a palm and have always used fictionwise, but not sure if fictionwise is now at all compatible with all the ereaders out there. None that I know of have the secure ereader software. Kindle will not convert DRM Mobi books, so if I bought mobi, I could not load it on the kindle. It seems the fictionwise is trying to make a change over to mostly ereader ebooks, which is not good for the new wave of eink readers flooding the market… meaning not good for fictionwise. Maybe I am missing something, but does anyone know how eink readers and the ereader format will or won’t work together?

By: Scott Pendergrast

Scott Pendergrast — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:47:37 +0000

Miki, as I said to you in our newsgroup, I wasn’t responding to you — I was responding to someone else who specifically asked where to get help: our newsgroup or our support system. My response was that it is best to use our support system.

We’re continuing to work on our systems as well as work better with our suppliers and publishers. We’re definitely making progress! Thanks.

By: Miki

Miki — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:58:51 +0000

Well, the answer from the Fictionwise Yahoo group was “the two sites use different databases” and “don’t clutter this group with support tickets”.

So, if any of your readers find more book examples where the book is on eReader.com, but not available in the same format at Fictionwise.com, they should send it to Fictionwise’s “help/support” email address.

And they shouldn’t expect anything beyond a canned response.

By: Miki

Miki — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:39:10 +0000

I found another book on eReader, but not available in that format at Fictionwise…”Untouched” by Anna Campbell. I sent an email to the Fictionwise Yahoo group, as well as the Fictionwise customer service link. Let’s see if I get an answer from either.

By: Alan Wallcraft

Alan Wallcraft — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:49:18 +0000

Kevin: ereader2html is the “non-approved” app you are looking for. It strips the DRM, but I don’t think a non-approved application that format shifted from DRMed eReader to DRMed MOBI would be any different from a legal (DMCA) standpoint.

When eReader has a Linux version, it going to be interesting to see if it can be added to EInk devices that support DRMed MOBI. This will have to be done without any assistance from the device vendor (because they have all signed MOBI-only DRM contracts with Mobipocket). At a minimum, I would expect this to work if the device is reflashed with the OpenInkPot open source firmware for EInk readers. This would lose DRM-ed MOBI but gain DRMed eReader (and eventually ePub).

By: Kevin Kingdon

Kevin Kingdon — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:26:48 +0000

As an owner of a large library of eReader, DRM-shackled titles (purchased when my Palm was the only game in town), I want to 1) add an eReader application to my Cybook, or 2) convert eReader books to the MobiPocket format (I’ll even accept keeping the DRM-shackles). What I will not do is buy the same electronic book again. I would not feel the least bit guilty about using a non-approved application to convert eReader to something I can use on my Cybook.