Free eBooks
What software is used?
What software is used?
You can read most online books with a conventional web browser. To read some books, however, you must download proprietary software, usually free, that delivers a more book-like interface. The major players include Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader and Microsoft Reader. The newest version of MS Reader can read aloud. Another new software product, the TK3 Reader, has limited use in art and poetry publication. TK3 demonstrates the enhanced life of e-texts.
Libraries need a single reader software standard so that all ebook platforms and devices can read the same e-text file. However, the use of a single standard has the potential to reduce competition, so publishers and technical companies are opposed. A standard format does in fact exist: the Open eBook Publication Structure, currently HTML/XML based. And publishers do in fact produce text in this format, but the text is then translated into proprietary formats before sale. As a result, no one ebook device or platform can access or read the standard format.
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What's New Last update 03/16/2011 Sue Chen chens@scc.losrios.edu
