Digital eBooks FAQ

 An author/writer, reader or an online self publisher may have different types of doubts about digital/ electronic books, so that, something like FAQ can bring the advantages from this online screen reading world.

1. What is the benefit of digital eBooks?

Very easy to access, fast reading, sharing and download at anywhere, anytime. Global outreach enables quick problem solving nature especially for reference. Also, no pollution compared to print books. It is very cheap. Full time availability with your smart phone, tab, desktop, laptop or eReader and it replaces the space of bookshelf. thousands of these can be kept in single device for ever.

2. What is the advantages of self publishing author/writer?

Normally big banner companies are marketing their favorite authors or writers for making huge profit. There, newcomers are not well promoted. Thus, self publishing in their own website is a better option thereby he can control the entire things such as online payment, download, making correction etc,. Do you know, some publishers have a self publishing package starting from Rs. 10,000 to 1 lakh!

3. Which software is most suited for Malayalam screen publishing?

Without considering digital rights management (DRM), one malayali can opt MS-Word for it's production.

4. Things to remember with MS-Word

Use page size 6x9 inches for pdf format. Don'f forget to add page number, footer names, paragraph intends to each page as in print book. Allow justified text without breaking the connected words in two line. Choose font size more than print size but never mix different types of fonts together.

5. How can you prepare cover page?

Minimize your luxury cover page for eWorld. Make simple as you can because large size photo cover page requires more time to download, then reader never wait for this, He usually skip to another search pages.

6. About the total page numbers...

We should note that, internet surfing is a fast process where reader has a speedy mind and he is looking for concise, precise subject matter directly hence maximum of 100 pages are good. However, it is not applicable to novels and stories.

7. Why unicode font?

Unicode consortium have a set of numbers alloted for each Malayalam characters that can make  uniform display in almost every device.

8. Some free unicode fonts

Swathantra Malayalam computing S.M.C offers free unicode for the online needs. Meera, Anjali old lipi, Keraleeyam, Dyuthi, Chilanka, Rachana, Raghu are some examples. Clickerala also provides Nila and Kaveri fonts.

9. Default unicode malayalam fonts?

Notosans Malayalam is used in Google Chrome and android while Microsoft Windows applies Kartika from C-DAC.

10. Which is better format option?

World famous format is ePub from IDPF. Amazon have KF-8 and mobi, these all are working properly with English and other leading languages. Even though ePub has fixed and flowing format, this is not popular here.

11. Why should select PDF format for Malayalam eBooks?

In Kerala government official notifications of PSC, lottery and other various departments, PDF is a common file format. That is why our device needs a PDF viewer or reader to download such files. In other words, this format is more user friendly fixed layout digital reading. In which free Adobe reader is the best one.

12. Which device is the best for digital book reading?

No doubt, tab reading is something better than other devices for ordinary people. Kindle devices, iPad, Sony, Kobo eReader is more costlier and no Malayalam support in some devices. Small sized screen of smart phone and handling of laptop is bad. So, book sized light weight tablet is the best option.

13. Can I use ISM font for eWorld?

Intelligent script manager (ISM) are not unicode in nature hence such coding is not applicable to different devices of uniform display. But some publishers have scanned ISM print pages to PDF but font missing may be resulted.

14. Suitable keyboard for unicode typing-

Inscript keyboard is the official one from C-DAC and this is the best choice for a long term typing. If you are a fresher or with small works, then go to Google input tools and download Malayalam kit. Windows also have Malayalam indic language tools for manglish typing of transliteration.

15. Some demerits of digital eBooks?

Piracy, plagiarism, no awards or promotions are some disadvantages. There is no book release function and no advertisements or famous critics. Poor people can't afford any device. 

16. What is future of ePublishing industry?

In 2015, India is now promoting digital text book and advanced types of learning. Kerala is also doing the same way. Thus, we can expect better future of Malayalam digital eBook publishing and online reading. Such author or writer can do better things with this FAQ.