Comments on: Reflowable PDF and DRMed ePub coming for Cybooks, iRexes, Plastic Logic machines and others, in addition to apps such as Stanza—at least when vendors follow through http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:44:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nick Bogaty http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/comment-page-1/#comment-1013101 Nick Bogaty Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:08:04 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/16/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/#comment-1013101 Greg M, Your frustration is why Adobe's Digital Publishing products (Digital Editions, Content Server 4, Reader Mobile 9 SDK) support both PDF and EPUB. We give our partners and end consumers a choice between industry-standard formats: fixed-page (PDF) and reflowable (EPUB). PDF reflow allows for at least a certain amount of usability on small-screen devices for the many many PDFs in existence. This is certainly better than no reflow at all on mobile devices. For publishers specifically targeting mobile devices, we'd obviously recommend EPUB. Greg M,

Your frustration is why Adobe’s Digital Publishing products (Digital Editions, Content Server 4, Reader Mobile 9 SDK) support both PDF and EPUB. We give our partners and end consumers a choice between industry-standard formats: fixed-page (PDF) and reflowable (EPUB).

PDF reflow allows for at least a certain amount of usability on small-screen devices for the many many PDFs in existence. This is certainly better than no reflow at all on mobile devices.

For publishers specifically targeting mobile devices, we’d obviously recommend EPUB.

]]> By: Greg M. http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/comment-page-1/#comment-1013097 Greg M. Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:58:44 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/16/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/#comment-1013097 Well, maybe Adobe will pull off something useable with PDF reflow ability, but as it stands, PDF is still the worst format for reading ebooks on anything other than a desktop, laptop, or perhaps netbook. I’ve read more than 300 short stories and and 150 books in a number of eformats, but not one has been PDF--despite the plethora of free material in that format. My devices have been Compaq and Dell PDAs, then the Kindle. As an ebook format, it is about time to toss the PDF format into rubbish heap of obsolete technology, kind of like floppy drives. At one time computers came the standard 5 1/4 drives, then 3 1/2, then they went away for the most part. The same should be done with the PDF. Well, maybe Adobe will pull off something useable with PDF reflow ability, but as it stands, PDF is still the worst format for reading ebooks on anything other than a desktop, laptop, or perhaps netbook. I’ve read more than 300 short stories and and 150 books in a number of eformats, but not one has been PDF–despite the plethora of free material in that format. My devices have been Compaq and Dell PDAs, then the Kindle.

As an ebook format, it is about time to toss the PDF format into rubbish heap of obsolete technology, kind of like floppy drives. At one time computers came the standard 5 1/4 drives, then 3 1/2, then they went away for the most part. The same should be done with the PDF.

]]> By: Jim Lester http://www.teleread.com/ebooks/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/comment-page-1/#comment-1013063 Jim Lester Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:27:25 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/16/reflowable-pdf-to-be-available-for-cybooks-irexes-plastic-logic-machines-and-others-in-addition-to-apps-such-as-stanza/#comment-1013063 David, It's up to our partners, of course, to decide if, how, and when to provide firmware upgrades for existing hardware. It is also up to them to decide how to communicate their decisions to their customers. However, if I hear anything public, I'll make sure to pass it along. Re: PDF Reflowability. Individual implementations will vary, but they will most likely have the same problems that the Sony Reader has: - A text flow is page terminated at the end of the PDF page. - Misc. reflow line breaks, where users don't expect them (because of the way the PDF was authored). PDF is not the best container for reflowable content, and while we can and will continue to tweak the reflow algorithms, ePub will always be better for reflow. David,
It’s up to our partners, of course, to decide if, how, and when to provide firmware upgrades for existing hardware. It is also up to them to decide how to communicate their decisions to their customers. However, if I hear anything public, I’ll make sure to pass it along.

Re: PDF Reflowability. Individual implementations will vary, but they will most likely have the same problems that the Sony Reader has:
– A text flow is page terminated at the end of the PDF page.
– Misc. reflow line breaks, where users don’t expect them (because of the way the PDF was authored).

PDF is not the best container for reflowable content, and while we can and will continue to tweak the reflow algorithms, ePub will always be better for reflow.

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