Here is a quick overview of some popular digital formats for publishing content such as eBooks, and digital readers that can be used with them.
Popular Digital Formats
- EPUB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB)
- PDF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF)
- Plan Text
- HTML
With all of these formats there is DRM and non-DRM. DRM standard for Digital Rights Management, and it has access controls built into for controlling access to only those who paid for the content. Non-DRM content is just a piece of data (e.g. a file) that can be distributed and accessed by anyone.
There are also proprietary formats used in online books stores such as:
- Amazon Kindle: AZW
- Sony Reader BBeB format
Popular Digital Readers
- Amazon Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reader-Wifi-Graphite/dp/B002Y27P3M)
- Sony Reader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Reader#PRS-350)
- Kobo eReader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobo_eReader)
- Barnes & Noble Nook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnes_%26_Noble_Nook)
Different readers support different formats. Wikipedia has a good article to compare the differences: “Comparison of e-book readers” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book_reader).
You can also use non-reader specific devices to read e-books such as the iPad, iPhone, or a PC. Users just need software on these devices that support the various digital eBook formats.
For example, Apple publishes a free application called iBooks (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8#) that can be used on the iPhone or iPad to read books in PDF or EPub format.