Adobe PDF and EPUB support coming Q4
The Heaven Project ipod I know many of you have been eagerly anticipating Adobe PDF and EPUB support. With the recent commotion around the latest addition to the digital reader family, it might have seem that we have forgotten about this.
Interstate 60 ipod галлереи порно In reality we have been just as eager as you to get the new Adobe PDF engine working on the IREX DR1000S. Although it has been very busy these past months, we feel this is an important step and are committed to release this firmware update later this year in Q4.
IREX has always and continues to promote an open/standard DRM solution. We believe that consumers should be able to purchase books, magazines and newspapers from a variety of stores and should be able to take that content from one device to another.
Unfortunately the relationship of Adobe and Mobipocket DRM’s is an exclusive one, and both can not be supported on one device at the same time. In order to ensure that our customers are not limited in any way from obtaining the content they desire to view on their eReader, we have decided to keep the old firmware with Mobipocket DRM available. This means that you as a customer can decide if you like to run Mobipocket or Adobe DRM on your device.
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If I upgrade the firmware with Adobe, is possible to read Mobipocket eBooks without DRM anyway?
How is it possible for Adobe / Mobipocket to make this exclusive? Aren’t there anti-monopoly laws against that sort of thing? Pity this is so small a market so far, as IMHO this could really use Neelie Kroes’ attention!
“Therefore we have devided to keep the old firmware with Mobipocket DRM available. This means that you as a customer can decide if you like to run Mobipocket or Adobe DRM on your device.”
Yes you are right. “devided”.
For how long do you keep the devided firmware’s supported?
To the programmers: Come on guys hurry up, Q4 is not acceptible bol.com is shipping right now.
We the customers payed good money for ‘the best’ e-reader out there.
I really want to see you succeed but Sony is eating you’re cake right now. Only the programmers can turn the tide.
I say ‘all hands on deck’, or in dutch ’stroop de mouwen op’ and get it out there.
Put it out there in 2 weeks max!!
How hard can it be? it’s just another format to render. If you have to skip the table of contents.
When is the Iliad going to be updated for Secure EPUB use. As Mobipocket format available to UK iliad users are get few and far between.
There are even opensource projects with examples
http://code.google.com/p/epub-tools/
I can’t believe that you missed the bol.com opening,
[...] is een druk dagje met ebook en ereader nieuws. iRex bevestigt dat ePub ondersteuning er aan komt in het 4e kwartaal maar dan (alleen?) voor de iRex DR1000S en [...]
[...] On iRex’s blog today, the company’s community manager wrote: “Unfortunately the relationship of Adobe and Mobipocket DRM’s is an exclusive one, and both can not be supported on one device at the same time. In order to ensure that our customers are not limited in any way from obtaining the content they desire to view on their eReader. Therefore we have decided to keep the old firmware with Mobipocket DRM available. This means that you as a customer can decide if you like to run Mobipocket or Adobe DRM on your device.” [...]
Is this just half good news? I don’t like the comment “decided to keep the old firmware.” I would rather read that you plan to have two firmware paths in which both are updated with the latest bug fixes and enhancements. Otherwise in time the old firmware will get to a point where we won’t want to keep it. At this point we may not have dozens but many dozens of mobipocket books that will no longer be readable.
Is it possible to pull out the DRM piece and allow it to reside on the card. Then you just have one firmware version and we can choose which DRM to use. The firmware can include code that only allows one of the DRM versions to work. Then the only difference with the firmware will be a DRM type control. We then choose which firmware to update to work with the books we own.
@Lodewijk: what makes you conclude that the programmers are ‘to blame’?
@Luigi: No, the only way would be to use FBreader, but that would not have full Mobi support (e.g. no dictionary lookup, tables, and things like that).
@LY: Although maintaining 2 firmware versions (mobi/adobe) is technically probably possible, this is not as easy as it sounds.
The fact that the PDF support of the Mobi device would be very different compared to the Adobe device would trigger a lot of questions.
The Mobipocket and Adobe license agreements restrict our possibilities to distribute a DRM choice solution.
Yesterday I downloaded a number of free ePub files from the Bol.com website and put them on my iLiad. I can read them with FBreader.
With the same device I read Mobipocket (BRM and free) books too.
Very strange that you should choose between the formats.
What about freedom?
@Henk: FBReader is also available on the DR1000S. If you don’t mind the limitations of the open source MOBI and EPUB implementations inside FBReader, that is a solution to read EPUB.
But if you purchase books, they are almost always using some form of DRM. Most popular are Mobipocket (AZW, PRC, MOBI) and Adobe (PDF, EPUB). The license agreements of the closed source software that decrypts these formats are not compatible, so they cannot be used on the same device (unless you are Amazon and you own Mobipocket).
DRM is against survival of humanity, DRM on books is plainly not acceptable at all, I’ll keep on not paying for 0s and 1s of books written by dead people
For music these days even the RIAA admits DRM is dead. For books we have to go through it all again from the start
.
Dear Irex,
I have been complained arround about battery issue on the latest model (DR1000S) and about the anouncement I would like to answer if there will be any inprovement about baterry life, as far as I know the APM is about to be ready, for the Mobipocket you guys are about keep availiable? I guess it is really important information for our custumers in advance.
I would like to take this space to say I have been persuiting every little information about the APM implementation for the DR1000S and I really like to hear any official news from you guys.
Gustavo Campos
[...] a recent blog entry iRex announces that in the fourth quarter of 2009 they will provide support for Adobe PDF and epub. [...]
@Matthijs: The programmers can build a new firmware release without mobipocket but with adobe.
The hardware is fine. Although a deletebutton would be nice though.
Great that iREX announces that they support customers an make sure that their products will stay up tot date and in Q4 will be updated to ePUB compatibility. At least for the 1000S.
No word about the group of early adapters that are using the Iliad model. Technicially it should no problem tot implement ePUb on the Iliad (instead of Mobipocket or in the same way providing two ROM-solutions).
Dear all, I want to buy my first ereader. My impression was that iREX has the superior product, but that the European standard may become ePUB. I mailed iREX but didnot get an answer. Would you have an advice whether I should buy an iREX priduct, or should wait, or should start with Sony?
Wij hebben onlangs twee ILIADS gekocht om tijdens onze wereldreis boeken te kunnen lezen.Beide type ER0150. In de markt gekozen voor de duurste versie e-readers. Groot was en is onze verontwaardiging dat u zo laconiek omgaat met de onmogelijkheid om ePub boeken op de ILIADS te lezen. Er wordt aan gewerkt zegt u.
Ik vind dat u naar uw klanten verplicht bent binnen een paar weken tot een oplossing te komen, en wel voor alle modellen. Anders had u mij de ILIAD die ik op nota bene gisteren 4 september 2009 via UPS geleverd heb gekregen op mijn adres in Sacramento CA, niet mogen verkopen !
De oplossing om dan maar met twee verschillende versies te werken voor Adobe and Mobipocket is niet acceptabel. Er zijn platforms waar ze beide geinstalleerd kunnen worden (op je PC, of mini PC). Dit is dus geen hard- of sofware probleem, maar zal te maken hebben met IREX’s deals met beide partijen. Die mag niet over de ruggen van gebruikers uitgevochten worden. Ik heb digitale boeken voor beide formats en wil die lezen kunnen. Overstappen naar Adobe betekent dat de Mobipocket boeken niet maar leesbaar zijn. Ik ben al eerder tegen het probleem aangelopen maar dan andersom. Dit gaat om een strijd tussen een aantal firma’s over e-boek-standaarden en daar zou een hardware device in princiepe niks mee te maken hebben. Dit heeft meer uitleg nodig dan dat korte bericht boven deze commentaren. U verkoopt een device met allemaal beloftes en als een vroege gebruiker hebben we lang met heel onstabiele software gewerkt en beloftes die met nauwlijks nagekomen worden. Ik adviseer niemand om een e-reader te kopen zolang dit niet opgelost wordt. E-boeken hebben de toekomst, maar niet op deze manier. Ik weet nu precies waar ik naar moet gaan kijken voor mijn volgende e-reader en dat zal geen Irex zijn (kleur of niet) als dit niet SNEL opgelost wordt.
Ook ik ben enorm boos. Begon met de Iliad en vorig najaar de 1000S aangeschaft. Inmiddels heb ik voor meer dan € 3.000 Nederlandstalige Mobipocketboeken op dit apparaat. Van mijn vaste leverancier Ebook.nl vernam ik dat inderdaad de Nederlandse ebook uitgevers aan het overstappen zijn naar epub. Ik mag toch hopen dat Irex de software dusdanig aanpast dat beide formaten te lezen zijn. Anders was dit inderdaad mijn laatste Irex.
This has been an interesting exchange. I have to say, I like my iRex 1000s. I knew when I bought it I’d be making compromises when it came to formats, because that’s always the case.
Personally, I like the mobi format, but it’s a lot easier to get pdfs.
I intend to focus on accumulating whatever tools I can to convert from one format to another.
As far as DRM and other similar schemes are concerned – they’re all about squeezing out as much profit as possible, and they’re morally objectionable. I agree with a fair price for a decent product, but beyond that – the marketers have to expect a backlash.
The comment (@Lodewijk) – How hard can it be? – made me laugh.
As a programmer, nearly every time I’ve heard that question it was from a sales or manager type and the problem was unbelievably complex. Never assume where the unknown is concerned (although that doesn’t apply here, it’s still a valid warning).
A recommended software section (for format conversions, editing, etc.) would be handy on this site.
@Dennis
In reply to “How hard can it be”, But there is a little bit of truth in it. There are opensource implementations to look at. So there is no unknown, there are reference implementations and even shipping products.
It’s not that they are asked to do something new like a colordisplay which has never been done. It’s a fileformat not? Which should not be too big of a problem.
Choice is good, but how long before there are no more updates to the iliad hardware platform considering I find it more portable than the new larger version?
@Joop Ketel et al.
Please write in english, there are much more people out there, interested in your comments …
I can observe that the lack of follow-up and developments, and the unrespected promises are the same for the DRS1000 than for the iLiad, whose owners were betrayed and left by iRex…
I am glad Q4 is close enough.
What about the maintenance of the first Iliad’s? I haven seen any firmware upgrade since 2007. Too much concentration on your newer models means you are just dumping the old users.
Where Adobe wants to exclude Mobipockets (huge) libraries, the battle of the large parties, there will be two losers; 1. A small Dutch company which had astonishing possibilities. 2. The buyers of an Iliad up to now.
We can just dump our Mobipocket bookshelfs – which we paid in full – and are obliged to buy again from the new DRM supplier. This market smells odd.
Fortunately the DRM of mobipocket books can be removed.
All themobipocktet books I bought i have stripped of DRM so I can convert to another format (pdf, txt etc.). This makes me independant of the whims of the ebook shop and gives me the freedom to read MY book on any device.
In My opinion, people will be more willing to buy DRM-free books at a price that is significantly lower than the paper version.
Further; Wouldn’t it be great if the older iliads were updated with the “new Irex reader” software…..
What are your plans regarding dictionary look-up for epub? I mean, it might not be included in the next firmware update, but us it a priority?
For me, the dictionary lookup would be the only, but crucial, reason to the ‘old’ firmware. I don’t have any DRM’d files and can easily convert.
@H.D. Gelderloos
It’s not adobe that is making these drm restrictions its mobipocket that won’t allow multiple drm on the one device.
Could someone comment about the PDF support please? Is it possible to increase/reduce the font size in PDFs? Is it possible to zoom in/out in PDFs?
Many thanks!
Hi,
I can only support and rephrase what has been asked but not answered before: have you abandoned the iLiads? Will there be e.g. EPUB support for the iLiad (2nd)? Those were not cheep devices and at least mine is still in excellent working order, so it would be nice if it still had a bit of future left as well…
also, is there a release date for the DR800SG?
My 1000 DR100 does not connect anymopre via USB… no connexion at all…. is it possible the USB connexion has a problem with this model?
@Collin
Allright, I noticed that Amazon (Mobipocket) is actually blocking the negotiations. Still, we bought some books did n’t we? For at least a lifetime. Changes in software, firmware, supplier or DRM should not affect that “reader rights”.
About time the readers stand up. E-books should be cheaper and the licenses guaranteed.
Guess I’ve missed the clue or didn’t dig deep enough on this site: can an Iliad 2nd edition work with the bol.com epub format? I like the 8″ screen more than Sony’s 6″, but am anxious to know if I can buy/read books at all…
Help me out!
Hi,
I am glad to read that we as customer can decide if we like to run Mobipocket or Adobe DRM on our device.
Since June this year, I am the proud owner of an iLiad ER 0141 and I am a real bookworm. My problem is that I only can read German. So the most interesting ebooks in Mobipocket for me I have read in a few weeks and it seems that new German ebooks will not appear so fast as I can read.
Also I tried to use the FBReader, but somehow I have not got it right. Probably I understood something wrong, because of my problem with the English language.
I’ve been wondering if I separate myself from my iLiad, but as I read your article, I am happy.
For me, now there are only two questions: When can I change my iLiad to ebup format? And how?
Are you able to help me already?
Hi,
IRex is a spin off of Philips! It looks that Irex is making a bit the same mistake as Philips in the past, regarding the video system. V2000 (Philips) was better as VHS (Sony), from the technical point of view. But Philips was not able to make a sales success out of it. As long as epub format is not supported by IRex readers for sure I will not buy an IRex reader. And I want to have an ereader in a couple of weeks. To me IRex is a slow acting company, maybe also a bit arrogant.
Q4 is already halfway, and I haven’t seen the epub support. When will arrive?
I bought such an expensive reader in the hope of being able to read everything. It’s already december. Why aren’t more resources put in to help give us the update for epub support.
I was hoping it would be ready long before the holiday season, and epub/adobe pdf support is the only thing standing between me and this reader. I certainly don’t want to spend (a lot of) good money on promises only. I’m surprised, new ereaders are coming to the streets on almost a weekly basis, virtually all with epub/pdf support. I agree with Ash above, is Irex giving this enough attention?
Hello Mr.irex-1000s,
What is the actual status of file format’s ?
I’m planning to buy an ereader for christmas
and as far I can see you SHOULD BE THE BEST !!!
Regards,
Teus Groeneveld
Hello,
for Christmas I bought an irex iliad 2nd edition. I was told that it supports pdf format and know I´m really disappointed when I bought an ebook adobe pdf and tried to read it on my iliad and it doesn´t work because of DRM.
The offer of good and new books in mobipocket is really poor.
Is there any chance to get epub and adobe pdf support for the iliad irex in the next future. If not, I´ve to look, if I can sell this reader again.
And we are the last days of the year, so end Q4…..
When can we expect the update ?
Can you also update the Irex oompanion software, because I still van’t merge documents with handwritten comments on all pc’s. And this was one of the issues why I bought the ‘biggest and best’ E-reader.
At this moment I really feel sorry I bought this reader, because other manufacturers went much faster with their Product Development.
@eRJee: I agree, I´m disappointed too. People buy this very expensive product because they expect to get what iRex promises.
iRex proudly announces in February 2009 that it contracts the Adobe technology.
Six months later (August 2009) iRex announces that it is “eager” to release the support, and is “committed” to release this update in Q4.
Words… but still no update.
I don’t know about iRex, but when I’m committed to my customers, I make damn sure I deliver!
Sorry, but this is pretty standard behavior for iRex,I don’t think they have ever delivered on anything on time and as promised. The very least they could do is publish an update and an apology. Rumor has it they are focusing on getting it working on the DR800 before converting it to the DR1000. If this is true, it shows where their priorities are!
Also, I am still awaiting the “days” of use from the full power management. All in all, pretty poor.
Ok, the deadline (Q4) has come and gone. I can be patient – I would rather wait and have the Epub support be issue free. As a courtesy though, Irex should provide us with the new target deadline. Irex – please post status, silence is not acceptable.
I suspect the delays are legal issues with third line forcing, product being fit for use as purchased and anti competition.
iRex will not be in a position to compensate owners in some legal jurisditions where their plans are on the edge of consumer laws.
Imagine if someone gets a case up and they have to replace books in a new format because they do not “fully” support the “old” format as expected by existing owners who hold extensive e-libraries.
I hope Irex includes Epub dictionary lookup because in my experience with the current mobipocket incarnation..the dictionary lookup is buggy…it tends to crash the viewer after a while..some sort of memory managment bug???i don’t know. I hope the problem is sorted out.
deep hidden on irex-website
With a sleek and lightweight design you can take the iRex Digital Reader almost anywhere – and with plenty of memory to store you ou will have all your paperwork and documents at hand. The chargeable built in Lithium Ion battery has sufficient power to last for days.
*Adobe PDF and EPUB support will be available via firmware update for all owners of a DR1000S (End Q1 2010).
Ok, so now I read that the new DR800 supports ePub. Why don’t they patch the older readers so they can do the same? Common at least post or mail your customers an update.
if you want to read DRM epub ebook on other device, using epub pdf converter