Yep - you are probably right - that is most likely the plan.
Of course there is a flaw in that plan: Kindle (reader and books) is not available here is Europe. So we will stop using Mobipocket but we can't go for Kindle either.
But the Sony reader (not that I have much love to Sony) and with the ePub file format is available in all mayor book stores. High visibility.
The Sony is a nice reader, but the software you have to use to load it is one of the most unstable pieces of crap I've ever had the misfortune of using.
Why am I not surprised! If Sony (and it's subsidiaries) does not learn there lesson in software quality soon I see no hope...
As a Mobipocket Customer I noticed a little more then 5 week ago. There is no reader for the Nokia 5800, the iPhone and whatever else there are in the way of new devices. At first I was surprised - they have to with the times, don't they.
But then I found out that Mobipocket was bought by Amazon and Amazon wants to phase Mobipocket out. You will find several rants from here here in thread if you are interested in details.
Anyway I was suddenly aware that I won't be able to read my eBooks on the next device which did two things:
1) I informed myself about removing DRM - It is possible and I live in a country where it is legal. 2) I don't want to buy any DRM infected books any more.
1) Amazon owns Mobipocket [1]. 2) Over time Mobipocket has developed software readers for 12 devices [2]. 3) The AZW book format - including DRM - is identical with Mobipocket save one byte [3].
First: the DRM has been broken - AZW is the Mobipocket file-format with just one byte changed so a Mobipocket reader software won't accept it. So to break Amazons DRM google for "MobiDeDRM" and "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" - it will be the #1 hit;-).
Now having said that you might notice something: Mobipocket has free to download readers for just about 12 different devices. So if Amazon wanted what you suggest all they had to to is not change that one byte. So in changing that one byte it is a clear signal that that they want there books to be read on Kindle and Kindle alone. And iPhone is just a special exception.
Before you wonder: Amazon owns Mobipocket [1] - so no they won't change there reader to accept Kindle books. In fact Mobipocket has stopped producing new reader software all together.
It is not difficult see the evil masterplan behind: The typical Embrace, Extend, Extinguish plan which is now in the last phase: Mobipocket to be extinguished by not creating new software for todays devices. Amazon even got as far as stopping the finished Mobipocktet iPhone reader. And last not least: not licensing the Mobipocket file format to Sony.
For those who own Mobipocket books - ahh sorry mate you loose. Only by now Amazon has pissed of European customers [2] big time. After all we can't buy Kindle and feel the Mobipocket demise double. And we found out about Sony.
... and you just beat me to it. In fact I am selling open source for smart phones [1] - and it would be great to sell to the Linux market. In fact it is not a shop if you can't charge for the program. Note that - with the GPL - you only really have to give the source to your customers so I could envision a shop where access to forums, source code etc. pp is only available to paying customers.
That was human with the right to override the anti collision system. And enough time on it's hand to do so. Two autopilots would have avoided that crash. So yes it is not that simple.
As an Ada advocate I often get crap answers making Ada down. But your answer is better - you know what you are talking about.
The String point is indeed valid. We have to thank the high integrity guys who wanted language which can be used without heap memory - all data on stack.
Same goes for garbage collection - GC is actually advocated by Ada - but the embedded guys wanted it optional. Note that Ada has a distributed extension as well - which too should offer GC.
And the C interface - well yes it is difficult for a high integrity language it interface with the array is pointer mess and still try to keep up at least a bit integrity -do then remember: most viruses and trojans exploit precisely those C weaknesses which Ada does not like.
A Desktop Ada would be nice which does have garbage collection - and perhaps easier to use string. But it won't happen - it is not cool enough, it's difficult to design and develop and also all new languages seem to be interpreted.
And tasking had been there since the original standard in 1983. Only problem: Ada was always considered heavy weight and difficult. In my opinion both is not true - after all the ISO standard for C and Ada are only a few pages apart in size.
In theory you are right but in praxis there are two thing to consider:
1) not all publishers have contracts with all eBook shops. 2) not all shops carry all file formats.
With my particular example with VPM [1] and Perry Rhodan [2] the net result is that you can get DRM free PDF from one Shop and DRM infected Mobipocket from other Shops. PDF is not suitable for ultra portable devices (i.E. Smart phones) and Mobipocket is dying out. And also not all shops offer subscriptions. After readers have issued concerns VPM is now looking for new eBook options when subscriptions renews are due for issue 2500.
My favourite option option would be Fictionwise multiformat [3]. But that particular combination might fail because VPM is a German publisher and Fictionswise is USA based eBook store.
Martin
PS: note that outside the US we are pretty pissed of with Amazon in general and Kindle in particular.
Actually the Kindle and Mobipocket format and DRM is the same save for a "read in Kindle / Mobipocket only" flag. Google "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" for details.
Of course this only supports your "Vendor-Lock-In" argument and Mobipocket will soon go the way of the Dodo since Amazon halted development of new readers. Now they only have to wait for the hardware to become obsolete.
I see you have not followed the scene. Otherwise you would know that Amazon is the evil one here who did not enters the market as a fair competitor.
Amazons evil master plan is of course is bog standard: buy the competition (Mobipocket, Stanza) and the Embrace (Kindle file format is the same as Mobipocket), Extent (with a useless "Read on Kindle / Mobipocket only flag) and Extinguish (don't create new Mobipocket software and wait for the hardware to become obsolete). Kim Possibles Dr.D has more inspiring plans.
Anyway: I as a European - who can not even buy Kindle - welcome any stiff competition to Amazon.
The problem is that both the Shop and the Publisher need to agree on DRM free. I know of at least one publisher which does not insist on DRM yet Mobipocket.com still add DRM to the books anyway. Of course Mobipocket is owned by Amazon which might explain it. And yes: Amazon has more then one eBook store.
Well, I take it you mean 85% of the market Amazon targets. But Kindle only sells in the US. But you know what: We living outside the US are not an-alphabets! We can read as well. I would guess that Google will go for the World market. And there Kindle becomes unimportant.
Amazon is not the only eBook store in existence. And while Amazon is a international company there eBooks are only sold in the the US. You should consider other eBook stores. I suggest Fictionwise.
The original article seem to focus entirely on a Amazon vs Google battle. But in that article is missing one point: Kindle is not available outside the US. That is: you need an USA registered Credit Card with a USA address to buy one. Yes there are work around - but why should I support a flawed business model.
So for me living outside the US I had to look else where for for eBooks. And if you do you will soon notice that there are better eBook reader then Kindle and that there are better eBook shops then Amazon. Amazon is largely capitalising there good name here. In fact currently it is more like Amazon vs the rest of the world.
For me there is no doubt who is going to win in the long run. While USA is a large marked but it does only represent 5% of human population. Well, unless Amazon changes there business model that is.
Slashdot Mirror
But that way you support a flawed business model. Better use iTunes+ (Music) or Fictionwise Multiformat (Books) both of which are DRM free.
Welcome to 2009. Top news: iTunes dropped DRM.
Yep - you are probably right - that is most likely the plan.
Of course there is a flaw in that plan: Kindle (reader and books) is not available here is Europe. So we will stop using Mobipocket but we can't go for Kindle either.
But the Sony reader (not that I have much love to Sony) and with the ePub file format is available in all mayor book stores. High visibility.
The Sony is a nice reader, but the software you have to use to load it is one of the most unstable pieces of crap I've ever had the misfortune of using.
Why am I not surprised! If Sony (and it's subsidiaries) does not learn there lesson in software quality soon I see no hope...
Martin
As a Mobipocket Customer I noticed a little more then 5 week ago. There is no reader for the Nokia 5800, the iPhone and whatever else there are in the way of new devices. At first I was surprised - they have to with the times, don't they.
But then I found out that Mobipocket was bought by Amazon and Amazon wants to phase Mobipocket out. You will find several rants from here here in thread if you are interested in details.
Anyway I was suddenly aware that I won't be able to read my eBooks on the next device which did two things:
1) I informed myself about removing DRM - It is possible and I live in a country where it is legal.
2) I don't want to buy any DRM infected books any more.
Well done Amazon.
Martin
Main reason I became a Mobipocket user was the Symbian OS reader. Or where else do you fund Dune which weights less then 200g.
I beg to disagree here
1) Amazon owns Mobipocket [1].
2) Over time Mobipocket has developed software readers for 12 devices [2].
3) The AZW book format - including DRM - is identical with Mobipocket save one byte [3].
So if Amazon wanted more software readers one call at Mobipocket and a week later they would have some. Which is probably the way they got the iPhone reader: http://www.teleread.org/2008/12/04/is-amazon-sitting-on-the-mobipocket-iphone-client-after-all/
Martin
[1] http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3833
[2] http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp
[3] http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/mobipocket-books-on-kindle.html
As I said one post above: Done already.
First: the DRM has been broken - AZW is the Mobipocket file-format with just one byte changed so a Mobipocket reader software won't accept it. So to break Amazons DRM google for "MobiDeDRM" and "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" - it will be the #1 hit ;-).
Now having said that you might notice something: Mobipocket has free to download readers for just about 12 different devices. So if Amazon wanted what you suggest all they had to to is not change that one byte. So in changing that one byte it is a clear signal that that they want there books to be read on Kindle and Kindle alone. And iPhone is just a special exception.
Before you wonder: Amazon owns Mobipocket [1] - so no they won't change there reader to accept Kindle books. In fact Mobipocket has stopped producing new reader software all together.
It is not difficult see the evil masterplan behind: The typical Embrace, Extend, Extinguish plan which is now in the last phase: Mobipocket to be extinguished by not creating new software for todays devices. Amazon even got as far as stopping the finished Mobipocktet iPhone reader. And last not least: not licensing the Mobipocket file format to Sony.
For those who own Mobipocket books - ahh sorry mate you loose. Only by now Amazon has pissed of European customers [2] big time. After all we can't buy Kindle and feel the Mobipocket demise double. And we found out about Sony.
Martin
[1] http://www.mobipocket.com/
[2] http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520
Donation does not work all that well. But I am fully in favour for a Shop where the author can charge for his work.
The GPL is pretty clear here: Only your customers have the right to access the source code.
I think you need to come to terms that free is not gratis.
Martin
... and you just beat me to it. In fact I am selling open source for smart phones [1] - and it would be great to sell to the Linux market. In fact it is not a shop if you can't charge for the program. Note that - with the GPL - you only really have to give the source to your customers so I could envision a shop where access to forums, source code etc. pp is only available to paying customers.
Martin
[1] http://fx-602p.krischik.com/
That was human with the right to override the anti collision system. And enough time on it's hand to do so. Two autopilots would have avoided that crash. So yes it is not that simple.
As an Ada advocate I often get crap answers making Ada down. But your answer is better - you know what you are talking about.
The String point is indeed valid. We have to thank the high integrity guys who wanted language which can be used without heap memory - all data on stack.
Same goes for garbage collection - GC is actually advocated by Ada - but the embedded guys wanted it optional. Note that Ada has a distributed extension as well - which too should offer GC.
And the C interface - well yes it is difficult for a high integrity language it interface with the array is pointer mess and still try to keep up at least a bit integrity -do then remember: most viruses and trojans exploit precisely those C weaknesses which Ada does not like.
A Desktop Ada would be nice which does have garbage collection - and perhaps easier to use string. But it won't happen - it is not cool enough, it's difficult to design and develop and also all new languages seem to be interpreted.
Martin
Well there is a non interpreted i.E. compiled language where the language designers did not shy away from tasking:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ada_Programming/Tasking
And tasking had been there since the original standard in 1983. Only problem: Ada was always considered heavy weight and difficult. In my opinion both is not true - after all the ISO standard for C and Ada are only a few pages apart in size.
Martin
In theory you are right but in praxis there are two thing to consider:
1) not all publishers have contracts with all eBook shops.
2) not all shops carry all file formats.
With my particular example with VPM [1] and Perry Rhodan [2] the net result is that you can get DRM free PDF from one Shop and DRM infected Mobipocket from other Shops. PDF is not suitable for ultra portable devices (i.E. Smart phones) and Mobipocket is dying out. And also not all shops offer subscriptions. After readers have issued concerns VPM is now looking for new eBook options when subscriptions renews are due for issue 2500.
My favourite option option would be Fictionwise multiformat [3]. But that particular combination might fail because VPM is a German publisher and Fictionswise is USA based eBook store.
Martin
PS: note that outside the US we are pretty pissed of with Amazon in general and Kindle in particular.
[1] http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabel-Moewig
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Rhodan
[3] http://forum.perryrhodan.net/index.php?showtopic=17183
But does not do reflow which is needed for ultra portable devices - like mobile phones.
Actually the Kindle and Mobipocket format and DRM is the same save for a "read in Kindle / Mobipocket only" flag. Google "Kindle Mobipocket conversion" for details.
Of course this only supports your "Vendor-Lock-In" argument and Mobipocket will soon go the way of the Dodo since Amazon halted development of new readers. Now they only have to wait for the hardware to become obsolete.
I see you have not followed the scene. Otherwise you would know that Amazon is the evil one here who did not enters the market as a fair competitor.
Amazons evil master plan is of course is bog standard: buy the competition (Mobipocket, Stanza) and the Embrace (Kindle file format is the same as Mobipocket), Extent (with a useless "Read on Kindle / Mobipocket only flag) and Extinguish (don't create new Mobipocket software and wait for the hardware to become obsolete). Kim Possibles Dr.D has more inspiring plans.
Anyway: I as a European - who can not even buy Kindle - welcome any stiff competition to Amazon.
The problem is that both the Shop and the Publisher need to agree on DRM free. I know of at least one publisher which does not insist on DRM yet Mobipocket.com still add DRM to the books anyway. Of course Mobipocket is owned by Amazon which might explain it. And yes: Amazon has more then one eBook store.
I forgot to mention: If you capitalising your good name then you have less "good name" afterwards:
http://www.mobipocket.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15520
Only one example of an article I did myself - If you look true the forum you will find several dozed similar articles.
Well, I take it you mean 85% of the market Amazon targets. But Kindle only sells in the US. But you know what: We living outside the US are not an-alphabets! We can read as well. I would guess that Google will go for the World market. And there Kindle becomes unimportant.
Amazon is not the only eBook store in existence. And while Amazon is a international company there eBooks are only sold in the the US. You should consider other eBook stores. I suggest Fictionwise.
The original article seem to focus entirely on a Amazon vs Google battle. But in that article is missing one point: Kindle is not available outside the US. That is: you need an USA registered Credit Card with a USA address to buy one. Yes there are work around - but why should I support a flawed business model.
So for me living outside the US I had to look else where for for eBooks. And if you do you will soon notice that there are better eBook reader then Kindle and that there are better eBook shops then Amazon. Amazon is largely capitalising there good name here. In fact currently it is more like Amazon vs the rest of the world.
For me there is no doubt who is going to win in the long run. While USA is a large marked but it does only represent 5% of human population. Well, unless Amazon changes there business model that is.
Well, we had two choices open. We can't blame Satan that choose the fast but difficult option.