More on TechnologyTell: Gadget News | Apple News
At least 16 e-reader devices support or will support ePub via Adobe Digital Editions
August 13, 2009 | 9:07 am
|
By David Rothman
At least 16 e-readers now support or will support ePub via Adobe Digital editions, and Adobe has compiled a nice, handy list.
Besides Sony (“four devices”), the vendors include Astak (three), BeBook (two), Bookeen (at least one—see Christine’s comment), COOL-ER (one—shown here in various colors), Elonex (one), Hanlin (two), Irex (one) and Neolux (one).
On top of the Sony’s eBook Store’s forthcoming adoption of ePub—not to mention the Sony Reader’s ability to read ePub in the first place—this is good news for standards white hats.
The only fly in the ointment is that Adobe-DRMed ePub is really a proprietary format in effect. As noted separately, I’m more than a little grouchy at the New York Times tech section for downplaying this fact. The section is generally stellar, but when it comes to e-book standards coverage, the NYT is about on par with Judy Miller reporting on “weapons of mass destruction.”
(Via Adobe’s Nick Bogaty, as well as Electric Book Works.)
|
Previous
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
Comments:
Bookeen doesn’t have two readers that support epub, only one.
Thanks for the info, Christine. Just back from a visit to the Bookeen site. Actually the Opus has ePub listed, and unless I missed something, I see that the Gen3 doesn’t. So I’ll just say “at least one” and change the headline. Adobe may have been premature in saying two. Thanks. David
Several of these devices are not actually available with ADE yet. Some are new devices shipping by the end of the month (Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-600, Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro, perhaps BeBook Mini), some have no announced shipping date for the device and/or its ADE firmware (Bookeen Gen3, iRex DR1000S, Astak Mentor). However, they all have mobile ADE licenses and Adobe may even have each device running mobile ADE in their labs (because this is apparently part of Adobe’s licensing requirement).
OK, Alan, “support or will support” is the up there now. Thanks very much. David
“The following devices and mobile phone applications are compatible with Adobe’s open, cross-platform solution for eBooks and other digital publications.”
Doesn’t that sound like Adobe is taking credit for epub? Or are they strictly referring to pdf?
“The devices support PDF and EPUB content, either unprotected or protected . . .”
Cybook Gen 3 does read non-drm pdf files, but it does a terrible job of it. I don’t think I’ve ever read a pdf book on my Cybook, because it’s too difficult.
It doesn’t support epub at all, and I have the latest firmware update (from Sept. 2008).
Knowing this, it makes me think it’d be wise to question Adobe’s assertion that all these readers are good for reading pdf and epub before buying.
Christine, I couldn’t agree more with your concerns, and I appreciated your mentioning the current status of the Gen3. Let’s hope there’s an update from Bookeen.
As for Adobe and ePub, we do need for give Adobe credit for encouraging the IDPF to do the standard. But credit NOT for blurring the distinction between the standard per se and Adobe-DRMed ePub.
Thanks,
David