Open eBook
Encyclopedia
Open eBook or formally, the Open eBook Publication Structure (OEBPS), is a legacy e-book
format "based primarily on technology developed by SoftBook
Press" and on XML
; it has been superseded by the EPUB
electronic publication standard.
Open eBook is a ZIP file
plus a Manifest file
. Inside the package a defined subset of XHTML
may be used, along with CSS
and Dublin Core
metadata. The default file extension is .opf (OEB Package Format).
E-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
format "based primarily on technology developed by SoftBook
SoftBook
SoftBook, "The Intelligent Reading System," was one of the first dedicated electronic book readers. It was released in 1998 by SoftBook Press, Inc...
Press" and on XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
; it has been superseded by the EPUB
EPUB
EPUB is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum...
electronic publication standard.
Open eBook is a ZIP file
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
plus a Manifest file
Manifest file
On the Java platform, a Manifest file is a specific file contained within a JAR archive. It is used to define extension and package-related data. It is a metadata file that contains name-value pairs organized in different sections. If a JAR file is intended to be used as an executable file, the...
. Inside the package a defined subset of XHTML
XHTML
XHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
may be used, along with CSS
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation semantics of a document written in a markup language...
and Dublin Core
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata terms are a set of vocabulary terms which can be used to describe resources for the purposes of discovery. The terms can be used to describe a full range of web resources: video, images, web pages etc and physical resources such as books and objects like artworks...
metadata. The default file extension is .opf (OEB Package Format).
Specification release history
- September 2007 — Open Publication Structure (OPS) 2.0, EPUBEPUBEPUB is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum...
. Released, supersedes the OEBPS 1.2 - August 2002 — OEBPS 1.2 Recommended Specification Released
- June 2001 — OEBPS 1.0.1 replaces OEBPS 1.0
- September 1999 — Open eBook Publication Structure (OEBPS) 1.0 released
Reader software
- SoftBookSoftBookSoftBook, "The Intelligent Reading System," was one of the first dedicated electronic book readers. It was released in 1998 by SoftBook Press, Inc...
- Adobe Digital EditionsAdobe Digital EditionsAdobe Digital Editions is ebook reader software from Adobe Systems built using Adobe Flash. It is used for acquiring, managing and reading eBooks, digital newspapers, and other digital publications. The software supports PDF, XHTML , and Flash-based content...
- FBReaderFBReaderFBReader is a free and open source e-book reader for GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows, and other platforms.It was originally written for the Sharp Zaurus and currently runs on many other mobile devices, like the Nokia Internet Tablets, as well as desktop computers...
— GPL e-book reader for Unix/Windows computers. - Lexcycle StanzaLexcycle StanzaLexcycle Stanza is a freeware program for reading eBooks, digital newspapers, and other digital publications. The software supports the eBook formats EPUB, eReader, MS LIT, Amazon Kindle, Mobipocket, and PalmDoc, as well as general document formats HTML, PDF, MS Word, and Rich Text Format...
- MobipocketMobipocketMobipocket SA is a French company incorporated in March 2000 which produces Mobipocket Reader software, an E-Book reader for some PDAs, phones and desktop operating systems....
- Openberg Lector — crossplatform reader released under the GPL and based on MozillaMozillaMozilla is a term used in a number of ways in relation to the Mozilla.org project and the Mozilla Foundation, their defunct commercial predecessor Netscape Communications Corporation, and their related application software....
platform - WordPlayer — eBook reader for Android (Google) Phone OS
Reader devices
- SoftBookSoftBookSoftBook, "The Intelligent Reading System," was one of the first dedicated electronic book readers. It was released in 1998 by SoftBook Press, Inc...
, 1998 - Sony ReaderSony ReaderThe Sony Reader is a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony. It uses an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, is viewable in direct sunlight, requires no power to maintain a static image, and is usable in portrait or landscape orientation.Sony sells e-books for the Reader...
— As of 7/24/2008 the Sony Reader PRS-505 supports the EPUB file format with the release of Sony eBook Library version 2.2.00.18100 and Reader firmwareFirmwareIn electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
version 1.1.00.18040 - Intel ReaderIntel ReaderThe Intel Reader is a portable, handheld assistive technology device that allows users to take a photo of printed material and have it read back to them aloud....
- Apple iPad
- Nook Reader
- Kobo eReaderKobo eReaderThe Kobo eReader is an e-book reader produced by Toronto-based company Kobo Inc. The original version was released in July 2010 and was marketed as a minimalist alternative to the more expensive e-book readers available at the time. , fifty-eight percent of Kobo Inc is owned by Indigo Books & Music...