Bookshop.org, the online platform supporting independent bookstores, has launched its own e-book store and reading app, offering a direct competitor to Amazon's Kindle ecosystem. This allows customers to purchase e-books while still financially supporting their chosen local bookstore. The app provides basic e-reader functionality, including customizable fonts and backgrounds, and purchases are fulfilled by Ingram Content Group, a major book distributor. Bookshop.org aims to provide an ethical alternative for digitally-minded readers who want to support local businesses.
The blog post details how to create audiobooks from EPUB files using the Kokoro-82M text-to-speech model. The author outlines a process involving converting the EPUB to plain text, splitting it into smaller chunks suitable for the model's input limitations, generating the audio segments with Kokoro-82M, and finally concatenating them into a single audio file. The post highlights Kokoro's high-quality, natural-sounding speech and provides command-line examples for each step, making the process relatively straightforward to replicate. It also emphasizes the importance of proper text preprocessing and segmenting to achieve optimal results and avoid context loss between segments.
Commenters on Hacker News largely discuss alternative methods and tools for converting ebooks to audiobooks. Several suggest using pre-trained models available through services like Google Cloud or Amazon Polly, noting their superior quality compared to the Kokoro model mentioned in the article. Others recommend exploring open-source solutions like Coqui TTS. Some commenters also delve into the technical aspects, discussing different voice synthesis techniques and the importance of pre-processing ebook text for optimal results. A few raise concerns about the potential misuse of AI-generated audiobooks for copyright infringement or creating deepfakes. The overall sentiment leans towards acknowledging the author's ingenuity while suggesting more robust and readily available solutions for achieving higher quality audiobook generation.
Summary of Comments ( 65 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43056526
Hacker News commenters generally expressed skepticism about Bookshop.org's e-reader and ebook app. Several questioned its viability against the entrenched Amazon Kindle ecosystem, citing the lack of device integration and limited ebook selection. Some doubted the profitability for independent bookstores, given the small percentage they receive per sale. Others pointed to existing alternatives like Kobo and library ebook programs. A few commenters were more positive, viewing the move as a principled stand against Amazon, but even they acknowledged the uphill battle Bookshop.org faces. There was also discussion of the technical challenges involved in DRM and ebook formats, with some suggesting an open platform would be more appealing. The overall sentiment seemed to be that while the initiative is laudable, its success is far from guaranteed.
The Hacker News post "Bookshop.org launches Kindle alternative, sends e-book sales to local bookstores" generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters expressing skepticism and raising concerns about the viability and impact of Bookshop.org's new e-reader and ebook store.
A recurring theme was doubt about whether Bookshop.org's offering could genuinely compete with the established dominance of Amazon and its Kindle ecosystem. One commenter pointed out the network effects and deep integration of Amazon's services, suggesting that overcoming this would be a significant hurdle. Another commenter expressed skepticism about the profitability of the venture, questioning whether the margins would be sufficient to sustain the business and effectively support independent bookstores. This commenter also highlighted the high switching costs associated with moving away from the Kindle ecosystem, including the loss of existing libraries and the convenience of Amazon's platform.
Several commenters discussed the potential implications for independent bookstores. Some viewed Bookshop.org's move into ebooks as a positive step, offering a way for these stores to participate in the digital market. Others expressed concern that it might not significantly alter the overall landscape or provide substantial benefits to struggling bookstores. One commenter argued that the convenience of Amazon remained a major factor, and that consumers might not be sufficiently motivated to switch platforms solely to support independent stores.
Technical aspects of the e-reader and app were also discussed. Commenters questioned the choice of Adobe DRM and its potential impact on user experience. The lack of information about supported formats and device compatibility was also noted. One commenter expressed a preference for open formats and DRM-free ebooks.
Some commenters focused on the broader implications for the book industry. One suggested that the initiative could be seen as a way for independent bookstores to "stay alive", while another raised concerns about the potential for antitrust issues if Amazon were to perceive Bookshop.org as a threat.
Finally, there was some discussion about the ethical considerations of supporting Amazon versus independent bookstores, with some commenters arguing that consumer choices play a significant role in shaping the market and supporting local businesses.