[jpravetz]

In support of unencumbered formats, think about how Apple became dominant. iPod/iTunes initial success + music labels insistence on DRM, lead to lack of content portability, lead to device lock-in, lead to iPod dominance, lead to music labels loosing power.

This is different from Kindle, where they write a player for every platform. But is what you get if you sell through Apple's store for Apple's reader.

O'Reilly wins with their deals. I buy books I wouldn't otherwise.

I bet broadcasters are glad Apple wasn't around when the first TVs were manufactured.

[rsl7]

the iPod didn't become dominant due to device lock-in.

[mikecane]

That's correct. People could rip their CDs and also use MP3s they already had. The Kindle wouldn't even allow Amazon's own MobiPocket books that had Mobi DRM on them to be read! And, of course, neither the Kindle hardware nor software for platforms can read ePub.

[jpravetz]

You can get any content onto an iPod, but you can't take the DRM-protected content bought thru iTunes anywhere else, including streaming with Slimserver, etc. And people now presumably have a large collection of content that is managed the iTunes-way, with a significant subset that is DRM protected. Meaning you're locked to Apple's devices.

[nika]

Amazon writes a player for every platform because the kindle format is a proprietary one created by amazon.

Apple doesn't have to write a player for every platform because epubs are an open standard.

[jpravetz]

Yes ePub is open. But Apple's DRM is not an open standard. I assume they are adding DRM to content sold thru their book store?