The best way to buy a copy of TimeSplash is to use the button below. You get it straight from the publisher's book shop in seven different ebook formats, none of them with DRM, for just US$5.50. (If you're not used to buying ebooks, see 'Ebooks Eplained' below.)
| Lyrical Press Bookstore | Available now |
| Amazon Kindle Store | Available now |
| Mobipocket eBooks | Available now |
| Fictionwise | Available now |
| Library.com | Available now |
| Sony Connect | coming soon |
| Apple iBook Store | coming soon |
| Barnes & Noble.com | coming soon |
An ebook is simply a file - just like a word processor file - that contains the text of a book. You are probably used to reading all kinds of documents on your computer, and you will know that they come in different 'formats' - different types of file that are read by different 'applications' (programs). Ebooks are just the same. They mostly come in several popular formats:
| Format | About this format |
|---|---|
| PDF is an extremely common format which is found all over the Web and is read on desktop and laptop computers with Adobe Reader (you most likely have this already on your computer, if not get yours free). You can also read PDF files on most handheld devices (e.g. PDAs and smartphones) and ebook readers (including the Kindle). | |
| EPUB | For almost all ebook readers, apart from the Kindle, EPUB is the standard format for ebooks. If you have a Nook, or a Sony ebook reader, for example, this is the format for you. |
| PRC & MOBI | The Kindle, from Amazon, is the world's most popular ebook reader and it reads PRC files, MOBI files and PDF files. If you don't have a Kindle, you can get a program called Kindle for PC (download it for free) to run on your computer as well as on some smartphones (e.g. the Apple iPhone) and other mobile devices. |
| LIT | For those using Microsoft Reader (free from Microsoft) on a portable computer or other device, LIT is the Microsoft ebook format. |
| HTML | Many people are unaware that you can get ebooks in HTML - the same format that web-pages are written in. With HTML, you can read your book in a Web browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer, which you already have (or you couldn't be reading this!) Most small devices, like PDAs, smartphones, and netbooks, have Web browsers so with no additional software, you could start reading ebooks in HTML. |
| RTF | RTF is a 'portable' word processor format - meaning it can be read by most word processors and some ebook readers. If you like reading in your favourite word processor, this may be the choice for you. |
| TXT | The simplest format for ebooks is a plain TXT file. This can be read by any word processor - even very simple ones like Notepad - as well as many ebook readers. You get only very primitive formatting though so TXT is not always a good reading experience. |
| Other formats | There are many other formats (e.g. LRF for Sony readers, PDB or Pal Doc, for Palm reading devices, but the ones listed above are by far the most popular. If you buy TimeSplash from the Lyrical Press Bookstore, you will get a package of seven files including: PDF, EPUB, PRC, LIT, LRF, and HTML (for PC and raw). However you intend to read TimeSplash, you should be covered! |