Microsoft Press eBooks do not support PPC
Ken Mattern
Here is a copy of an exchange I had yesterday with the people at Microsoft Press about
their new eBook on demand service. Again here is a source of valuable material that
totally bypasses the Pocket PC user. It's not surprising but it still hurts when even
Microsoft won't cross platform support its own products.
It is a little lengthy - sorry about that but I want you to have it all.
This is the order of the messages; first to most recent:
Hi [To microsoft],
I saw your new page regarding Microsoft Press Custom Books. I noted that the
eBooks can be read using Microsoft Reader. Please tell me which DRM level you are using in
the
publication of the eBooks.
Thanks in advance.
Ken
microso...@iuniverse.com wrote:
>
> Dear Ken,
>
> Our Digital Rights are set so that only the computer that downloaded the
> file may read it.
>
> Regards,
> Microsoft Press Custom Books
>
Hi [ To Microsoft],
Does that mean that I am precluded from reading the eBook on my Pocket PC? I
cannot download from the internet to my Pocket PC. If so then it is incumbent on you to
note that on your web site.
We of the Pocket PC community are rather disappointed that we can not get
eBooks, especially manuals, that we can easily read on our Windows CE 3.0 Pocket PCs. If
you set the encryption level to DRM-5 we simply can't do it. If, however, you set the
encryption level to DRM-3 and embed the credit card number of the purchaser on the cover
page they will surely not give the eBook away.
Does you response also indicate that I can't download the book on my networked
computer and transfer it to my notebook so that I can consult the book at a customer
site?
The value of having your publications in electronic format is that I do not have
to carry tons of books. Being able to read them on a Pocket PC, or at worse a notebook
would be ideal when I am supporting my customer.
Please take these thoughts into consideration as you begin to deliver custom
eBooks to your customers.
Thanks
Ken
>Dear Ken,
>
>This is correct, the file cannot be transfered to your Pocket PC or on the
>network.
>
>We appreciate your comments and will evaluate them during this trial
>program.
>
>Regards,
>Microsoft Press Custom Books
Hi [To Microsoft],
If I may be so bold, then there is no point in my even being interested in eBooks from
Microsoft. I have been writing to you from my work office, but I am also a publisher of
eBooks targeting specifically the Pocket PC platform. My web site is very popular because
I provide content for those who understand that there is no value added to reading eBooks
on the desktop computer but that there is true value added to reading eBooks on the Pocket
PC.
In my day job I am publishing technical manuals that can be copied to a Pocket PC and
taken to the field where the user will get the most use of it. You can't carry a desktop
computer to the cockpit of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Pocket PC, obviously, fits
into a pocket and therefore is out of the way.
When it comes to the time where I begin to sell books written by authors who are working
closely with me the Digital Rights Management encryption level will go no higher than
DRM-3. I will embed the purchaser's name and credit card number into the eBook. If they
want to distribute the eBook to their friends they will be hurting themselves much more
than me or my writers. To me that makes more sense than using DRM-5 which drives
knowledgeable customers away.
I suggest that you talk with Barnes & Noble and Amazon to get the reaction from Pocket PC
purchasers regarding DRM-5 and the fact that not only can the user not read the eBook on
their Pocket PC but that if something happens to their computer, they purchase a new one,
etc. That they cannot even transfer the eBook to the new computer. Who is going to
purchase a product that they can not reasonably use? That's like buying a new car only to
learn that I cannot drive it anywhere but in the town where I live.
I strongly urge you to reconsider who your market is and what platforms to target in order
to reach that market. If you read the Microsoft newsgroups on Pocket PCs you will find
that the ability to read eBooks on the Pocket PC is a very popular topic.
In all sincerity
Ken Mattern
CEO ESSPC
http://esspc-ebooks.com
Markus Schweiger, MS-MVP/CE
<ken.m...@kottmann.com> wrote:
>Hi Group,
>
>Here is a copy of an exchange I had yesterday with the people at Microsoft Press about
>their new eBook on demand service. Again here is a source of valuable material that
>totally bypasses the Pocket PC user. It's not surprising but it still hurts when even
>Microsoft won't cross platform support its own products.
Ken, oplease keep us informed about further correspondence that may
occur, It's very interesting.
thx Markus
--
Markus Schweiger
Microsoft MVP - Windows CE
Replies to Newsgroup only, please !
PocketPC/CE Users RheinMain (German) http://www.pocketpc-rheinmain.de
PocketPC/CE Users Ruhr (German) http://www.pocketpc-users.de
MVP information - http://support.microsoft.com/support/mvp
Craig Maxim
Good idea too, about embedding a credit card number.
Microsoft is going to lose with this extremist attitude. They may please
some publishers with an eBook (or Music file) that comes complete with armed
thug pointing a gun at your head to insure you do not share it with anyone,
but the marketplace will go around them entirely and they will lose in the
end. I have already decided that I will not purchase the XP operating
system, because of the insane process they have come up with for verifying
registered users, and I will not upgrade and complicate my life with a newer
Media Player either, if it forces me to have licensing for songs, which are
easily lost by simply transferring CF cards in your PocketPC. It is so
frustrating (and I have traditionally been a Microsoft admirer) that I will
do whatever I have to, in order to make my life as simple and easy as
possible, that includes switching everything and anything I have to,
including my desktop operating system to save myself grief. I would rather
listen to new and unknown artists than ones forcing severe encryption
methods on us, same for books, same for portable devices and operating
systems. If Microsoft continues this insanity, then other groups will merely
step into the void they create, and Microsoft will have personally boosted
their competitors into prime time and an ideal situation. We got computers
to make our lives more productive and enjoyable and easier, not to
COMPLICATE it unnecessarily. I know I am not alone in these sentiments, and
I have reached my limit. Suddenly my music doesn't function together well,
my books will not be able to be carried with me on the device of MY choice,
and I won't be able to use Office one day without the telephone being
operable and someone answering at Microsoft? This is nuts. It is like a
cancer slinking through every aspect of Microsoft's products. Cancers are
meant to be excised when possible, not tolerated so that everyone dies a
slow death together.
"Ken Mattern" <ken.m...@kottmann.com> wrote in message
news:3B0283F2...@kottmann.com...
Ken Mattern
That's why I have been continuing this conversation. I would prefer that you consider
these issues while it is still a trial program. Implementation of Pocket PC support is
much easier to accomplish before the program is finalized.
If it's not too much to ask, I would like to be kept up to date on your perspective on
these issues.
There are people begging for Microsoft Manuals which can be read on the Pocket PC. I hope
there will be good news for them.
Ken Mattern
CEO esspc
http://esspc-ebooks.com
microso...@iuniverse.com wrote:
>
> Dear Ken,
>
> Thank you for your email. We understand the concerns you have and the case
> you've made for Pocket PC use. Please understand that at this time, the
> Microsoft Press Custom Books program is a trial only. At the end of this
> period, we will take all comments received (there have been many) and
> evaluate them for possible implementation into a permanent program.
>
> Sincerely,
> Microsoft Press Custom Books
Beverly Howard
As one who has been reading e-text when mobile starting with an HP200LX, it is
interesting to find that it appears to be becoming less accessable with the
passage of time.
The main periods that I, personally, have available to read, is during lunch
and before sleep, both ideal for mobile readers, but, to date only a handful
of manuals that I needed to read were available as etext... but not readable
with handheld devices, hence remained unpurchased, and unread.
These forums show that you have a significant installed base plus the
interest. Know that the feelings engendered by ingnoring or abandoning a
currently viable platform will be long remembered.
Beverly Howard
Beverly Howard
But, IMHO, not visibly. It should display the passport name and other details
with the information that the credit card number is embedded and retreivable
by those with original rights to the .lit file.
Beverly Howard
Ken Mattern
Did you send a copy of your message to: microso...@iuniverse.com?
You should.
Let's make some noise!
Ken
--
Ken Mattern
Computer Engineer
Kottmann, Inc.
513 Sparkman Dr.
Huntsville, AL. 35816
256-726-9226
256-694-5459
Craig Maxim
"Beverly Howard" <B...@BevHoward.com> wrote in message
news:3B029BA9...@BevHoward.com...
Visibility is an issue, but that is what makes it viable, is the prospect
that some general acquaintance or even stranger, could see your credit card
number if you gave them your book. The way to protect yourself if using such
licensing measures would have to be to password protect your PDA itself.
Another possible solution would be an eBook that downloads with encryption
that opens by inputting the credit card number you used to purchase the book
with. This way it would not be visible, but knowledge of the credit card
number would still be required to "see" the book's contents. This comes with
it's own problems, like having to keep records of credit cards because you
change them or get new ones, but at least it is better than having the
credit card number in plain view, and you still get the benefit of
connecting the book to knowledge of your personal credit cards. And of
course this is all fine for personal use, but probably not for corporate or
scholastic use.
--
贩贩贩贩┊孱g /\/\遄頼贩贩贩贩
Beverly Howard
Beverly
Jerry S. Justianto
Beverly Howard
number... make distributed copies carry the trail back to he who made the
original purchase for copytright violation action.
I fully understand the idea that having the card number visible will promote
caution, but on the other hand, it's asking the reader to put up a multi
thousand dollar bond and place it at risk for the simple right to read.
It's not that far from some of the other analogies such as handcuffing the
book to the only legal reader.
Beverly Howard
Craig Maxim
"Ed Hansberry, MS-MVP/CE" <pock...@att.spambegone.net> wrote in message
news:elh5gt8rebhgk0sue...@4ax.com...
> I like PeanutPress's method. You must type in your CC# to open the
> ebook on a device the first time, but the CC# is not displayed. I've
> never seen PeanutPress books passed around.
That is what I was just talking about, I wasn't aware that was the method
Peanut Press used. I only recently tried Peanut Press (oops, now Palm
Reader) but only had a free book there to try it out with. No question, that
makes a heck of allot more sense than armed guards sitting on top of your
bookshelf.
Ken Mattern
In this trial period, we do not have any plans for changes to the program.
If we continue with the Custom Books program, and make changes, they will be
posted on the website.
Ken Mattern
Don't hold your breath. :-o
--
Beverly Howard
If we continue with the Custom Books program, and make changes, they will be
posted on the website.<<
Pretty typical for large ponderous entities... by the time any hint of an
offering reaches the consumers, policy and intent is so set in stone that it
is no longer subject to any influence by those who are ultimately expected to
finance the venture.
Beverly Howard
Satish
lunch and before sleep<<
..and don't forget restrooms.
There is no point of eBooks if you cannot use it with PPC.
Satish
"Beverly Howard" <B...@BevHoward.com> wrote in message
news:3B029AEF...@BevHoward.com...
Leon Schell
> I like PeanutPress's method. You must type in your CC# to open the
> ebook on a device the first time, but the CC# is not displayed. I've
> never seen PeanutPress books passed around.
Good idea, just let's hope they don't find out about that AMEX one time CC#
and pass their e-Books around along with that number.
Leon
Beverly Howard
this thread and my (over?) reaction to their obvious inattention
to messages they receive.
Beverly Howard
===========
>> Dear Ken, <<
Nope... Wrong! ...but, IMHO, indicative of the level of attention
that PocketPC
users have gotten to date with respect to MSReader content.
Please don't make the assumption that he's the only one who is
speaking up,
although he speaks for a great many people.
>> survey <<
In addition to your survey, consider a search through the
microsoft.public.pocketpc forum(s) on the words "ebook" "drm"
".lit" "MSReader"
etc.
It's painfully obvious to PocketPC owners that content providers
are _not_
listening to us, and, the irony is, we are ready and willing to
pay for _usable_
content!
_Beverly_ Howard
microso...@iuniverse.com wrote:
>
> Dear Ken,
>
> We log all comments and take them seriously. There is a survey
at the end
> of the custom book process that will allow you to provide
feedback on the
> Microsoft Press Custom Books service.
>
> Regards,
> Microsoft Press Custom Books
>
Alain
I agree with you about CC numbers. Mine is in eWallet, encrypted, that's it.
A
"Ed Hansberry, MS-MVP/CE" <pock...@att.spambegone.net> wrote in message
news:elh5gt8rebhgk0sue...@4ax.com...
Jerry S. Justianto
:(
Thanks for the expensive human experiment.
Who move my cheese?
Jerry
"Ken Mattern" <ken.m...@kottmann.com> wrote in message
news:3B029AE2...@kottmann.com...
news.netcologne.de
Sami
"Craig Maxim" <craig...@rabun.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:#sC3LXh3AHA.1484@tkmsftngp03...
Peter Fry
All temporary credit cards are in a consecutive block of numbers that we
deny.
Ed is absolutely correct (and quite perceptive, I might add :) ). The credit
card number is passed into a one-way destructive algorithm that is used as
the key for encryption. We don't store your credit card number anywhere on
the device. That would be a VERY bad idea. These devices are small, and get
lost/stolen reasonably frequently.
-peter fry
palm digital media group
"Ed Hansberry, MS-MVP/CE" <pock...@att.spambegone.net> wrote in message
news:gjh6gtgnnfm1a0dnl...@4ax.com...
> "Alain" <are...@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>
> >Ed, what does PeanutPress do after the book is opened the first time?
> >
> >I agree with you about CC numbers. Mine is in eWallet, encrypted, that's
it.
>
> The CC# is used to open the book. The PalmReader then formats the
> book for your PDA. A 300K book takes about 30 seconds on an iPAQ.
> That is it. Never happens again unless you move the book to another
> device or hard-reset your device. AFAIK, there is no way to get the
> CC# out of the book. I doubt it is in there. They probably do a OWH
> at the server and put the hash number in the book. Then PalmReader
> does the same OWH to verify you are the right owner.
> --
> _____________________________________
> Ed Hansberry
> Microsoft MVP - Windows CE www.pocketpc.com
> What is an MVP? - http://support.microsoft.com/support/mvp
> ActiveSync problems? -
http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/howdoi/activesync.asp