Transcript Ebooks

Ebooks
Challenges
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Devices
Technologies: Formats and Tools
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Microsoft and Adobe
MS Reader and Glassbook
Distribution and Pricing
User Acceptance
Ebook Issues
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Getting content into ebooks
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Working with Publishers
Encouraging Authors to Self-Publish
Selling ebooks
Ebooks vs Web Content
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Advantages
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No advertising
Packaged content
Ownership
Immediate Delivery
Faster and Cheaper
Disadvantages
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Less interactivity
You pay
Readers Are Not Web
Browsers
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Readers
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Minimalist interface designed for reading
Content downloaded to client
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May be stored on server.
Built-in ecommerce functionality
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Authentication
Access control
Encryption/Decryption
Basic Content Models
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Individual Books for download
Libraries available by Subscription
Reading Devices
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Specialty Hardware
Software
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PC
Palm and PocketPC
Gemstar
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Bought RocketBook and Softbook
Publisher of TV Guide
REB1100 and REB1200
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RCA will manufacture
and distribute the
devices under license
from Gemstar.
1100: 17 oz. B&W,
$299
1200: 33 oz. VGA, $699
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Touch screens
Comes with modem.
See demo at RCA page.
SGML and PDF
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SGML and PDF – Why We Need Both
Open Ebook
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XHTML & CSS
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Debate over HTML vs. XHTML
Standardized Metadata
Package Manifest
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Complete list of all files
Microsoft Reader
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Software reader for PCs and PocketPCs
ClearType
Uses OpenEbook format for source
Windows Platform only
Different version for PocketPC and PC.
Creating an Ebook for MS
Reader
Reader Example
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Tool: ReaderWorks by Overdrive
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Two Years at Web Review
Lexus and the Olive Tree
NightKitchen
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Created by Bob Stein of Voyager fame.
Tools for creating ebooks
Ebook Reader
See nightkitchen.com
Adobe, PDF and Acrobat
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Emphasizing Page Fidelity
Adobe Determined to Become Major
Player
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Adobe’s Ebooks Central
Adobe White Paper on Ebooks
CoolType Technology
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Color anti-aliasing
Example: Octavo Books
Glassbook Reader
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PDF Reader
Acquired by Adobe
Appears to be
merging with
Acrobat
Demo
O’Reilly Network Example
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Used Adobe Acrobat 4.0 and pointed it
at pages we set up for AvantGo
demo
Publisher Issues
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Rights Management
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Encrypted content
Comparisons to Napster and Mp3
Systems are perhaps too restrictive
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I couldn’t copy text in Friedman’s book.
Should I be able to share it?
Distribution
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Publishers
Bookstores
Just not much volume.
Devices -- Rights Management
Gemstar: Protection by reduced functionality
 “Unlike a dedicated eBook, PCs and
PDAs provide the ability to load hacking
software designed to circumvent any
copyright protection system. … Securing
content is inherently difficult as general
purpose devices do not provide a
trusted base for applications since they
were not designed from the beginning
with security in mind." “
Distribution
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BarnesandNoble
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Amazon
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Glassbook and MS Reader
MS Reader Only
Ebook Specialty Shops
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MightyWords (formerly Ematter)
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“Vanity Cyberpresses”
Library Model
Essentially Server-Side Ebooks
 Books24x7
 ITKnowledge
 NetLibrary
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Aggregate large number of books
Subscription pricing
Safari
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O’Reilly Technical Library and Book
Catalog
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Subscription ($9.95 for 5 books)
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“pay a flat monthly fee based on the number of
books you've subscribed to. But you can modify
your subscription over time. Every month, you
can swap out some (or all) of your titles and
swap in replacements.”
Searching is Free
Split-window: TOC and Pages
User Acceptance
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The big question?
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Who wants ebooks?
Non-Traditional Ebook
Applications
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Preservation
Out of Print
Textbooks
Field Manuals