Sorry Kindle owners, the new firmware still doesn't support local public libraries
Summary: A few months ago I wrote about the fact that the Amazon Kindle did not support local public library offerings through Overdrive while the Sony Reader did. Since then we have seen the Barnes & Noble Nook and other ebook readers appear that all support local public library content. Local libraries provide books through Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) DRM that allow you to check out ebooks for a period up to 14 days. After hearing about the Kindle firmware update provided yesterday for the 2nd generation Kindle devices with PDF support I was hoping Amazon was finally opening up a bit. That hope was quickly dashed though after doing a bit of research and finding out that ADE is still not supported on the Kindle.
A few months ago I wrote about the fact that the Amazon Kindle did not support local public library offerings through Overdrive while the Sony Reader did. Since then we have seen the Barnes & Noble Nook and other ebook readers appear that all support local public library content. Local libraries provide books through Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) DRM that allow you to check out ebooks for a period up to 14 days. After hearing about the Kindle firmware update provided yesterday for the 2nd generation Kindle devices with PDF support I was hoping Amazon was finally opening up a bit. That hope was quickly dashed though after doing a bit of research and finding out that ADE is still not supported on the Kindle.
With ebook readers like the Nook, Sony Reader, Astek PocketPro, and others moving towards supporting the same content types, including ADE, I am starting to wonder if the Amazon Kindle can continue to stand alone with proprietary content. I am thankful for the Kindle because it drove down new books to a reasonable price and showed others how you could wirelessly browse for and purchase books. Others have now surpassed the Kindle with WiFi and 3G wireless access, the ability to share books across platforms, the ability to read ebooks across platforms, and the ability to let you read unlimited ebooks through your local library system for free. Everyone, but Amazon, seems to be standardizing on ADE PDF and EPUB file formats for a cross platform experience.
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Talkback
Library DRM'ed content
I have no experience with e-books purchased on-line, but the music cartels have shown no creativity whatsoever in selling tracks, albums and other merchandise to fans.
I guess my point is this: Books and music in electronic form are great, but does not provide much in the way of joy of ownership. It is just in a convenient format. If the electronic version is cheap/convenient, I may still want to own the real McCoy and be willing to pay for it. If the brick and mortar retail channel is bypassed, the cost including shipping for say, 5 CD's at a time might be very reasonable and the rights holders may be very happy.
RE: Sorry Kindle owners, the new firmware still doesn't support local public libraries
The problem here may not be Amazon, but Adobe. I seem to remember reading, somewhere, that Adobe's license agreement for ADE states that it can not be installed on devices that support Kindle formats. (That would kinda lock out the Kindle, wouldn't it?)
Matthew, why should Amazon support ADE?
those books. Why should Amazon open up the Kindle and
support ADE as long as it can sell the Kindle the way it is?
And please explain, how others have surpassed the Kindle
with 3G wireless access?
The last time I checked, my Kindle had 3G access, in fact I
just received the latest firmware fully automatic over 3G.
Because many won't buy a Kindle until it does...
I am enthusiastically in favor of ebooks. I own many hundreds of real books but stopped buying more in anticipation of somebody producing an ereader I like. There are only TWO things holding me back from buying one right now. First, I want to be able to use any book I buy on any device I own (PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch, netbooks, laptops, and any ereader devices I buy). Second, I won't pay more than the price of a paperback for ANY ebook, ever. Amazon/Kindle fails on BOTH counts. Not only do they NOT support open cross-platform book formats, they sell MANY of their books for far MORE than the price of a paperback.
So, Kindle may be great for those who are willing to shackle themselves completely to Amazon, but for those of us not willing to give up our freedom of choice, it is an epic fail.
Agree with you except.....
This is digital music all over again. A dollar or more a track? Thanks, but not thanks, not interested. What is the wholesale price of a CD? Subtract manufacturing and packaging costs and we are probably looking at maximum $2-3 per CD.
The problem with this technological revolution is that the rights holders or their agents see this as a potential goldmine: Almost no production and distribution costs, no obsolete inventory, but still trying to charge the same amount per copy.
They can keep it all. Until they become more realistic, I will stay away. If enough people did that, they would come to their senses rather quickly. Not selling anything is not an option for them.
Other sources are available for ebooks on Kindle.
another source, which I read on my Kindle. I agree
with both of your requirements, but while I don't
purchase ebooks from Amazon because of that, it is
possible to purchase ebooks meeting those
requirements, which can be read on the Kindle.
WiFi also supported
RE: Sorry Kindle owners, the new firmware still doesn't support local publi
why change? Competition will exist and you have to keep
an eye on it. But if you have 350,000 books, and the
others combined have 25,000, You have an advantage that
you can afford to enjoy for a while.
You cannot afford to continue to pursue content. But you
can stay within your own business.
The marketplace has not shifted about requiring major
change.
Libraries are evil socialism, paying the big publisher is good capitalism
If only the publisher valued the labor of those who create the good that make the publishers that wealthy.
RE: Sorry Kindle owners, the new firmware still doesn't support local public libraries
RE: Sorry Kindle owners, the new firmware still doesn't support local public libraries
Perhaps you can read the chip...
of the chip in a format I can read. For me, it's
the Kindle 1 (I won't get another Kindle unless
they restore a card slot, as I've never seen a
device with enough built-in storage).
[inadvertent duplicate]
DRM is theft of property rights and $9.99 for an ebook is insanity!
The only reason I bought the kindle above its 9.7" display was the OPEN format support. (pdf mobi txt) I do wish they would add a few more (rtf and epub would be nice)
I don't "buy" ebooks typically. 1st I don't rent books I have a library for that.
Second I refuse to pay MORE MONEY for an ebook where I own Nothing than for a real physical paper book.
Ebooks normalized at $9.99
Real wood paper books are $6 or $7 and I almost NEVER pay full price.
many times I can even get hard backs for less than the paperback price.
The very idea that an ebook is somehow magically worth MORE than the REAL book is just astonishing to me. I would NEVER pay $10 for an ebook.
Until then I use the only true free public library. the internet. works EXACTLY the same was as the brick and mortar public libraries and costs the same so my concious is clear.
When I like a book I goto ... amazon of all places and buy the hardback for usually $4 to $8 shipped and put it on my shelf.
When ebooks are 50 cents to a $1 then I might be interested in them (assuming DRM free) if you want them to be DRM'd I have zero interest your going to have to pay me to take them.