ILAT Digest - 5 Jan 2012 to 6 Jan 2012 (#2012-6)

[Willem Larsen]

Phil,

For our new book on Language Hunting we're using a "free" ebook publishing
service that has been great so far, LeanPub:

http://leanpub.com

You can check out how we've used it here:

http://leanpub.com/languagehunterskit

What's great about their service is they automatically publish your
manuscript into those 3 formats, ePub, .pdf, and MOBI. And it's free - they
simply take a small cut of what you charge your readers to download a copy.
You can email a copy of the .pdf to lulu.com to make a hard

They also encourage authors to publish "works in progress"; this means you
can get immediate benefit from an unfinished, in-progress work. Readers can
see what you have so far and use it, give feedback, and so on. Leanpub
updates the eBook files whenever you make a change. This means your readers
have constantly updated versions they are able to read on their desktops.

Best of luck -

Willem
-- 
Willem Larsen
President, Language Hunters
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Become a Language Hunter, and help to heal the global endangered language
crisis.
http://www.languagehunters.org
@fluencygame #langhunt


On 2012 Ian. 5, at 14:26, eddie avila wrote:

Here is another paid option: http://bookbrewer.com/home

(formerly Printcasting). I have not used it myself, but it might be an
option should the person want some of the options offered.

For something simple, I think using a PDF reader is an easy way to go. I
use GoodReader to read PDF documents on iOS.


On Jan 5, 2012, at 6:43 AM, Slavomír Čéplö wrote:

Hi Phil,

there are currently three formats that dominate the ebooks market:

1. PDF
Advantages: nearly universal support, embeds images, embeds fonts.
Disadvantages: does not support reflow/text resize by default.
Software: Adobe and many many others.

2. EPUB (default format for iBooks)
Advantages: supported by vast majority of eink readers and iOS and
Android apps, open, xml-based, utf-8 support, seamless reflow/text
resize.
Disadvantages: not supported by Kindle, limited support for embedding
images, unsuitable for content with specific formatting requirements
(tables, equations).
Software: Calibre (see Claire's message) supports conversion of text
files, but some manual steps have to be done to create tables of
content. There is a number of commercial tools (Adobe InDesign, Quark
XPress, Scrivener, Pages) and services (Lulu > iBooks) which can be
used to create epub files, but all you really need is an xml editor
and a zip packer.

3. MOBIPOCKET 7 (essentially the same format used by Kindle).
Advantages: xhtml-based, seamless reflow/text resize, supported by
Kindle hardware and apps.
Disadvantages: closed (owned by Amazon), most likely moribund, limited
support for non-ASCII alphabets, limited support for images.
Software: Calibre can convert between mobipocket and other formats,
Kindle Publisher Tools .

A fourth format can be added to this list, though I have not yet had
any experience with it:

4. KINDLE FORMAT 8
Advantages: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000729511
Disadvantages: closed (owned by Amazon) tbd
Software: Kindle Publisher Tools.

As always, it all very much depends on the nature of the final product
and the mode of distribution (DRM, non-DRM, iBooks, Kindle) and the
device (Android/iOS hardware, eink reader). For a straight-up book
with text and some illustrations, epub would probably be the best
choice. Something more interactive, possibly including audio and
video, is best handled by native Android/iOS apps.


On Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 06:16, Phillip E Cash Cash
<cashcash at email.arizona.edu> wrote:

Greetings in the new year,


I received an inquiry from a tribal member on creating eBooks or

electronic publications for language learning, etc..  I assume here

that it is to be used for current electronic devices (like iPhones,

tablets, android-devices, etc).  As always, I would be glad to pass on

your suggestions & insights.


Phil

UofA



-- 
Willem Larsen
President, Language Hunters
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Become a Language Hunter, and heal the global endangered language crisis.
 http://www.languagehunters.org
@fluencygame #langhunt







-- 
Willem Larsen
President, Language Hunters
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Become a Language Hunter, and heal the global endangered language crisis.
http://www.languagehunters.org
@fluencygame #langhunt
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