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Powell's Q&A, Q&A | June 29, 2009
By Janna Cawrse Esarey
Describe your latest project. The Motion of the Ocean: 1 Small Boat, 2 Average Lovers, and a Woman's Search for the Meaning of Wife is the true...
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eBook Terms and Definitions
- Adobe Acrobat: A computer program used for displaying PDF files, not encrypted eBook files. more info
- PDF: Portable Document Format. An electronic document that must be read with the Adobe Acrobat computer program. more info
- eBook: “eBook” is short for “electronic book.” eBooks can be downloaded and read on an electronic device like a desktop or notebook computer. eBooks are versatile, portable, and convenient. more info
- DRM: This acronym stands for Digital Rights Management, a technology used to protect digital products from copyright infringement. When a customer buys a DRM-protected eBook, the eBook is encrypted specifically for that customer. To view the eBook, the customer must activate his or her reader software, a process that verifies the identity of the software owner and provides an electronic key for decrypting the encrypted files. more info
- Download: To transfer a file or files from a remote computer to the user's computer. more info
- Adobe Reader: Free software that is used to read all e-docs as well as Adobe eBooks. more info
- Microsoft Reader: Microsoft Reader is Microsoft's free software for reading eBooks. The software is available for computers running Microsoft's operating systems, as well as handheld devices that run Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system. The soon-to-be-released eBookman by Franklin will come with Microsoft Reader. The Reader works with .LIT files and supports ClearType (a technology designed for improving readability on LCD screens). more info
- Activation: An activated Reader is necessary to open a Microsoft eBook. What is Activation? The process requires a Microsoft Passport. Click here to view steps for registering a Microsoft Passport
- Operating System: A computer program that controls the components of a computer system and facilitates the operation of applications. Windows Me, Windows XP, Linux, and MacOS are common operating systems. more info
- Browser: Software that allows you to “surf” the Internet. Netscape, Mosaic, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer are examples of web browsers. A browser provides an easy-to-use interface for accessing the information on the World Wide Web. more info
- Microsoft Passport: Microsoft Passport Network is a “universal-login” service provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account. Many of these websites are Microsoft services such as Hotmail, the .NET Messenger Service, or MSN subscriptions, but there are also several other companies affiliated with Microsoft that use it, such as RadioShack. Users of Hotmail or MSN are automatically assigned a Microsoft Passport that corresponds to their accounts. more info
- PDA: “Personal Digital Assistant,” or PDA, is a term for any small, mobile handheld device that provides computing and information storage-retrieval capabilities for personal or business use, often for keeping schedule, calendar, and address book information handy. more info
- Cookies: Small text files stored on your computer when visiting a website, cookies record preferences for that particular site's usage. Cookies are also common in shopping cart applications in order to remember visitors as they move throughout product pages. more info
- ActiveSync: ActiveSync is communications software that your Pocket PC uses to “talk” to your computer. You probably installed it when you first got your Pocket PC. If you didn't, or if you're not sure, review the documentation you received with your Pocket PC. more info
- Palm Operating System: Palm OS is the type of operating system used by Palm/Handspring-type PDAs. more info
- Temporary Internet Files: Temporary Internet Files are, in fact, the cache of websites you've visited through Internet Explorer. This means that when you load a web page with Internet Explorer, it is saved on your computer, so that if you later decide to open the same page again, it will open much faster. Temporary Internet Files improve speed of web browsing and also make possible so-called “off-line browsing,” which gives you the ability to open web pages from the cache even when you are not connected to the Internet. more info
- Adobe Digital Editions: Currently in its BETA testing phase, Adobe Digital Editions (DE) is a simple program designed just for reading DRM-protected eBooks. Digital Editions users will receive a black screen on which they can view their eBook purchases and open each one to read. Adobe Digital Editions does not support printing or notations. more info
- ebx.etd file: This is the transfer file that you will initially receive when you click on the download link that we provide to you. It contains the permissions necessary to view the document, but not the document itself. You should save the ebx.etd file and then double-click to open the book. The access codes in the ebx.etd file will allow the computer to connect to the host site and the book will begin to download.
- Firewall: A firewall is a hardware or software solution to enforce security policies. In the physical security analogy, a firewall is equivalent to a door lock on a perimeter door or on a door to a room inside of the building—it permits only authorized users such as those with a key or access card to enter. A firewall has built-in filters that can disallow unauthorized or potentially dangerous material from entering the system. It also logs attempted intrusions. more info
- Flash Plug-in: The Flash Plug-in enables you to view documents that have been created using Macromedia Flash software. This accessory is necessary to complete the download for Adobe Digital Editions. The plug-in can be downloaded for free from the Macromedia website. Download and installation time is around 1 minute with a 56K modem. more info
- ActiveX Control: ActiveX is a technology developed by Microsoft. With an ActiveX-enabled browser (i.e., Internet Explorer only), ActiveX controls can be downloaded as part of a web document to add functionality to the browser. Many applications require the ActiveX controls to be turned on, or else the applications won't work. more info
- Application: A fancy word for a program that was designed to perform a specific function. more info
- Adobe Forums: These are helpful sites to visit when you're stumped. You can find reference to just about any problem that you encounter. It may take a bit of detective work. In fact, the easiest way to get right to the heart of the matter is to Google your issue. Try to be as precise as possible, especially with error messages. click here
- Encryption: A method used to translate digital information into a code that cannot be accessed without the necessary secret password or key that decrypts it, i.e., the ebx.etd file. more info
- .LIT: Short for "Literature," .LIT is Microsoft's new eBook format for its Microsoft Reader software. Microsoft Reader files will end with .lit. This is helpful when searching for eBook document files on a PDA. more info
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