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Rejoice! Apple's iBookstore will be using the international standard EPUB format
Our fantastically white-and-shiny sister blog, TUAW, has just published a guide all about the EPUB ebook format. This will be of most interest to Apple fans who are planning to buy an iPad, because it's the file format that the iBookstore will use.Even if you're not planning on getting an iPad, EPUB is the format used by all major ebook readers (except the Kindle), so the guide is probably worth reading anyway!
EPUB is based on an international standard and is intended to be the ebook format -- to that end, it supports just about everything, including the possibility to implement a custom DRM scheme to satisfy publishers.
The TUAW guide lists a few great Mac apps for making EPUB files (including the delightful open-source and cross-platform Sigil), but Windows-only options are slim pickings, unless you fancy forking out some serious dollars for Adobe's InDesign.
You don't need a fancy device to read EPUB files, though. There are literally tons of readers -- give Stanza [iTunes link] a go if you're using an iPhone or iPod Touch, or Bookworm for an awesome web-based EPUB reader.
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsPonTelonFeb 1st 2010 11:07AM
It's worth noting that Stanza allows you to convert other formats(including .docs) into Epub. It's been a lifesaver on my EZreaderPro, since it CAN read a variety for formats, but reads Epub the best. :)
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 1st 2010 11:20AM
Cool! Thanks for the tip.
I must get my hands on an iPhone or iPod Touch some day...
PonTelonFeb 1st 2010 11:26AM
I was talking about the Windows version, not the iPhone version. :)
milrtime83Feb 1st 2010 11:19AM
"to that end, it supports just about everything, including the possibility to implement a custom DRM scheme to satisfy publishers. "
Of course they will use a proprietary DRM that locks you into using only apple devices, there isn't too much to rejoice about.
PonTelonFeb 1st 2010 11:28AM
Call me a wishful thinker, but they don't on music(anymore). I don't see why they would not want to sell books to everyone that can run ePub(pretty much everything but a Kindle) instead of only their iPad users.
uw00jFeb 1st 2010 11:52AM
Sorry guys. The ePub on iBookstore is going to have DRM. So no iBookstore books will be on your other eReaders.
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 1st 2010 11:55AM
Nooo!
WISHFUL THINKING DAMNIT!