Variable Framerate Rx Beta Release
I released beta version 1.8.11.19 of Variable Framerate Rx today. If no bugs crop up within the next week, the version will be promoted from beta to stable status. I have no plans for future versions at this time so don't expect any major updates.
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TeBC Closing?
The Ebook Community group on Yahoo may be closing. In case it does, Marion Gropen has set up an alternate group eBook Issues.
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Ebooks - The Thorn In Many Sides
One sore spot of mine is ebooks.
Forget the rants about literacy rates falling, lack of time to read, Kindle is the best reader we have and so on. They are all just empty excuses to explain away why paper books are failing. Let's keep it simple major publishers - if you want people to read make reading accessible on all levels:
While some may declare ePub as THE format, I disagree. The problems with ePub are not surprisingly the same ones as with OEB - a rose by any other name??? While ePub may see an uptake in adoption by major players and voices, it still blissfully ignores input from independent publishers (read: small and insignificant by them) as well as programmers. ePub may change its' name but it cannot change its' destiny - as an interchange format instead of a distribution format.
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Forget the rants about literacy rates falling, lack of time to read, Kindle is the best reader we have and so on. They are all just empty excuses to explain away why paper books are failing. Let's keep it simple major publishers - if you want people to read make reading accessible on all levels:
- Have subjects, fiction, authors that people want to read in ebook format before the paper editions.
- Why does the ebook version cost equal or more than the paperback version? Could this be because the recycled paper used for the book is significantly less expensive than a few milliwatts of electricity used by the ebook during its entire use-life?
- Don't strangle our reading habits with DRM that annoys us and that any 3rd grader can crack.
- Forget about dedicated reading devices for ebooks because the majority of us already use cellphones and laptops for reading. Anyone whining about this issue is doing exactly that - whining.
- Publicly available fiction (original, fan, etc.) has been around since the public dawn of the internet and still survives because it provides hassle-free reading. Look beyond your own petty fiefdom and get a clue.
Sometimes I really wonder if the best thing for paper books would be to stop publishing them.
As for ebooks, the best thing that could happen would be a format that is:- Truly open, non-proprietary, and unencumbered by IP concerns.
- Free of steering by major players.
- Supported by developer libraries, examples, etc.
- Durable so that it survives the creator company
- Still useable decades from now by any reading or editing software.
- Works on any device because it is device/platform/OS independent.
While some may declare ePub as THE format, I disagree. The problems with ePub are not surprisingly the same ones as with OEB - a rose by any other name??? While ePub may see an uptake in adoption by major players and voices, it still blissfully ignores input from independent publishers (read: small and insignificant by them) as well as programmers. ePub may change its' name but it cannot change its' destiny - as an interchange format instead of a distribution format.
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A New Beginning
Few may remember Fic Sprout. From 2002-2005, I created several freeware publishing tools for the LIT format as well as other utilities. Due to health reasons, I pulled the plug on Fic Sprout and spent my able moments lurking in the indie pub groups, trying to stay abreast of changes there, and also on the programming side of things as well. Though improving, I am taking my time about getting back into either area of interest. Especially as new software releases by major players in Oct/Nov, which I won't get into, may have long-term changes on application design. This is my round-about way of saying that Fic Sprout is returning.
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