Different e-book formats: blessing or a hassle – Part 1

For readers, the experience should be simple: buy a digital book and read it on any device and even give it to friends and family members, as it can be done with a paper book. However, it is not always the case. Different file formats and encryptions (DRM) to prevent copy infringements complicate the purchase of digital books. However, despite the fact that there are numerous file formats to prevent piracy, it is still easy to get a pirated book on the tablets.

EPub (Electronic Publication) is the standard format for electronic books. The advantage is that it adapts to any screen of e-book readers. But not all books are published in ePub. Kindle uses the Mobi file system that can only be read on the application from Amazon, the largest distributor of digital books on the planet. The iPad and iPhone use ePub files, but it has an encryption system to prevent piracy if not purchased on iTunes, the Apple store, and prevents reader on other devices. The iPad has more reader base because, according to industry estimates, it has sold around one million units in Europe since it was released in 2010.

The digital content consultant Alberto Vicente ( Anatomiadered.com) believes that you can draw an analogy between MP3 and ePub, “especially as the MP3 has become the most popular audio format, but not alone. ePub is somewhat like the same. The PDF format is great for some readers and offers the users of Kindle to read books of various other formats through its applications.”

However, the industry still bets on applications that have multi-format adaptability. Xavier Sola, director of Casadellibro.com, said that Tagus, book reading application is the result of this demand in the market.

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Posted by Usman Khalid on Feb 10 2012. Filed under Sci-Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.