On September 22, Adobe will release new versions of its two e-book distribution tools: its server system, Content Server 4; and its lightweight desktop client for buying, reading and managing e-books, Digital Editions. Major new features of the Content Server update include support for EPUB files and the Sony Reader; flexible DRM; support for both retail sales and library lending; and a distributed system, meaning a few features are handled by Adobe's systems and the rest by the consumer's server.
These updates stem from Adobe's current three-pronged approach of making e-books available on what the company calls “3 screens”: PCs and laptops; dedicated reading devices; and smartphones. Digital Editions was mostly updated to support the new Content Server, and is a key component of Adobe's plans. According to Adobe sales manager Tom Prehn, “Digital Editions is meant to be our solution for immersive reading.” It's designed so the screen can be easily resized, with text and art reflowing to fit the new size. The initial version of the free software was released about a year ago; Adobe has had about two million downloads since then, according to Prehn. The new version is only four megabytes and can be downloaded quickly and easily.
