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View Full Version : All About the iBook Standard

Jeff Campbell
02-01-2010, 06:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/31/all-about-epub-the-ebook-standard-for-apples-ibookstore/' target='_blank'>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/31/all-...les-ibookstore/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Overlooked in much of the hype about the iPad announcement earlier in the week was a comment by Steve Jobs in the Keynote presentation where he mentioned that the iBooks app for iPad would take advantage of the popular EPUB format for electronic books. Since we're all going to get a lot more familiar with this format in the near future, we felt it would be a good time to provide our readers with more information about EPUB."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1264972452.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>And provide info they do, giving a complete run down on all you ever wanted to know about ePub standards and what your options are. Well, almost complete, since it still isn't clear how, or if the Amazon.com Kindle store will work with this new device. I'm hoping that Amazon.com continues with their Mac platform Kindle Reader like they have for the iPhone, then I'm pretty sure that I will be buying one of these. But if they don't, since the Barnes &amp; Noble Nook uses the same standard as this device, I may just switch up my book buying to Barnes &amp; Noble. And if it sounds like I'm trying to rationalize buying an iPad, well you may just be right.&nbsp;</p>
doogald
02-01-2010, 07:01 PM
Be careful about the Nook books, though. Apple is reportedly using a different DRM from the Adobe DRM that wraps Nook books (as well as other ebook devices that use ePub.) I assume that Apple is using Fairplay instead, but Adobe says that Apple is not using their DRM.
ptyork
02-01-2010, 08:11 PM
Be careful about the Nook books, though. Apple is reportedly using a different DRM from the Adobe DRM that wraps Nook books (as well as other ebook devices that use ePub.) I assume that Apple is using Fairplay instead, but Adobe says that Apple is not using their DRM.

You beat me to it. A publishing standard is one thing. But since all books out of the public domain will likely be DRM'd, you will not be able to take your Nook books to the iPad or vice-versa. Unless of course you also use the B&N reader app for the iPhone...then at least you get the one-way transfer...kind of. And since the iPad has no shared file system, I've no doubt that the only way a book gets into your library is via the iTunes store. Time (and future reviews) will tell.