Since its launch in 2007, EPUB has been poised to become the ebook format file of choice, with The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) — a US trade group that aims to streamline publishing — declaring EPUB should be the sector’s standard. Well, it’s all about consumer choice and freedom. There are plenty of other places you can buy ebooks beyond the Kindle store. This not only includes other large retailers like Kobo and Barnes & Noble, but also purchasing them directly from publishers themselves. The latter in particular is important because, as The Verge pointed out, authors may get a bigger cut from these transactions. While Calibre is a wonderful tool, it’s a step too far for most people. For example, I can’t imagine my parents ever downloading the software and using it to convert an ebook they bought elsewhere. Technically, you should be able to download an ebook in the popular format and easily send it to your Kindle, all without the need for third-party conversion. Good, right? Well, yes — but also no. While the company has made it easier to put other company’s ebooks on Kindle devices, it’s not any easier to do the reverse. But, of course, that’s what the company wants. The Kindle is a popular device because it makes the digital reading experience so seamless. Features like Whispersync (where you can move smoothly between a digital novel and an audio one), the ease of purchasing on the Kindle Store, and being able to read across multiple devices make the service ideal for most people.
