I searched the forum and didn't find this even though it was there, so I am just making a post with the instructions right here, hopefully it will be easier for others to find.
Info copied from this thread: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21988&page=2

Problem: your borrowed ebook won't open, you're getting a message "this book is not active yet".

How to set the cybook internal clock so your books will open:

1) In a text editor, create a file with the current date and time in this format:
2008-04-08-10:45 (YYYY-MM-DD-24hour time)
save the file, naming it rtc.dat An example file is attached.
2) Plug your Cybook to your computer through USB and delete all time bomb ebooks from your library (files initially transferred from your public library).
3) Copy the "rtc.dat" file to the Cybook "/system" folder.
4) Unplug your Cybook.
5) When you are back on the "Library", switch off your Cybook.
6) Switch on your Cybook.
7) Plug the USB cable again and copy your public library titles to the Cybook (or to the SD card) "/eBooks" folder.
8) By the way, you can check that the "rtc.dat" was automatically deleted (i.e. taken into account) from the "/system" folder.
9) Unplug, when you are back on the "Library", you should be able to open the public library titles.

This should be a one time procedure to set your system date which will stay coherent thanks to the internal clock battery. (according to bookeen)

Addendum:
There is a wiki page listing some libraries where you can borrow ebooks; if you know of more libraries, you're welcome and encouraged to add your information to the wiki.
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBook_Lending_Libraries

I searched the forum and didn't find this even though it was there, so I am just making a post with the instructions right here, hopefully it will be easier for others to find. And now I've copied it to the troubleshooter forum, maybe I should have put it here to begin with.

Problem: your borrowed ebook won't open, you're getting a message "this book is not active yet".

How to set the cybook internal clock so your books will open:

1) In a text editor, create a file with the current date and time in this format:
2008-04-08-10:45 (24hour time)
save the file, naming it rtc.dat
2) Plug your Cybook to your computer through USB and delete all time bomb ebooks from your library (files initially transferred from your public library).
3) Copy the “rtc.dat” file to the Cybook “/system” folder.
4) Unplug your Cybook.
5) When you are back on the “Library”, switch off your Cybook.
6) Switch on your Cybook.
7) Plug the USB cable again and copy your public library titles to the Cybook (or to the SD card) “/eBooks” folder.
8) By the way, you can check that the “rtc.dat” was automatically deleted (i.e. taken into account) from the “/system” folder.
9) Unplug, when you are back on the “Library”, you should be able to open the public library titles.

This should be a one time procedure to set your system date which will stay coherent thanks to the internal clock battery. (according to bookeen)


If you don't mind, I'd like to post this set of instructions to the NAEB website. Would that be okay?

Derek

It came from a forum poster (several actually, because of the additional fact that you have to modify the date), and from bookeen before that. I just slightly clarified. It's ok with me, but I don't have the authority to give permission for everyone. Maybe you could just link them to this post.

I stickied this thread.

If you don't mind, I'd like to post this set of instructions to the NAEB website. Would that be okay?

Derek

No problem, Derek, posting it to NAEB's website. It is useful information that should be readily and easily available to all Cybook users. Hopefully the thread will become obsolete whenever Bookeen provides the long awaited update.

Hopefully the thread will become obsolete whenever Bookeen provides the long awaited update.

I seem to recall that they told the person who was originally supplied with the instructions that the update would include a UI to set the clock.

I seem to recall that they told the person who was originally supplied with the instructions that the update would include a UI to set the clock.

Yes, that was me, and that is what was implied in their email, so that's why I hope this workaround will be obsolete with the upcoming update.

Thanks, Julie - I couldn't remember who the original info came from.

It says in the first post on this page:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18110&page=2

So bookeen has had this "fixed" since at least January. The fix was to be included in the next update, to be released in the next few weeks.

So the first week of april is at least the third time period they've given for this update.

So bookeen has had this "fixed" since at least January. The fix was to be included in the next update, to be released in the next few weeks.


It was. That was the v538 update they were talking about, which seems to have been released around mid Jan, although not publicised. The bug was fixed in the v538 build.

It was. That was the v538 update they were talking about, which seems to have been released around mid Jan, although not publicised. The bug was fixed in the v538 build.

And yet I bought mine in mid december and it came with the v538 already installed, and of course it doesn't fix the problem. So I'm thinking that they were talking about this update.

And yet I bought mine in mid december and it came with the v538 already installed, and of course it doesn't fix the problem. So I'm thinking that they were talking about this update.

To clarify: Gen3's started SHIPPING with v538 from some time in December (yours must have been one of the first to have it), but it was only made available as an UPGRADE for older machines from about the end of Jan.

In the older build v476, the real-time clock of the Gen3 didn't preserve the date when the machine was switched off; in v538 it does. What build 538 doesnt have is a user interface to set the date, which is why it has to be done using a file. Once you've set it, though, it should "stay" set, and library books should work OK. The forthcoming update should provide a user interface to set the clock without having to go through all the fuss with the file.

So they partly fixed it. Their fix only made it so another required fix would finally work.

Yes, that's right. The firmware update made the Gen3 store the date, then they came up with the file method of actually setting the date.

Hi First time post here..BTW great site and very well informed opinions and view points..truly enjoy the site

My question is with ref to above..Can i use the Sony Reader to read borrowed books from the Los Angeles Public Library system..? or th ebuilt in DRM would prevent that? I think the ebooks from the Public Library are in Adobe PDF. Or shouldI look at Cybook to read borrowed books?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Welcome to the fray AAL!

I'll tell you what I know. I've read that no eInk reader can read a DRM'd pdf file. Normal sized pdf files can be hard or impossible to read on a smaller screen anyway. Cybook can read DRM prc files. I don't have a sony so I don't know about them, maybe you could ask in the sony forums and get a good response.

Hi First time post here..BTW great site and very well informed opinions and view points..truly enjoy the site

My question is with ref to above..Can i use the Sony Reader to read borrowed books from the Los Angeles Public Library system..? or th ebuilt in DRM would prevent that? I think the ebooks from the Public Library are in Adobe PDF. Or shouldI look at Cybook to read borrowed books?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

The Adobe PDFs probably have DRM, so you would not be able to read them on a Sony Reader. Even if they didn't have DRM, you wouldn't like the experience of trying to read them on the Sony.

The Cybook is much better with library ebooks.

The reason I was looking into how to read a library book on my cybook is because I had been looking into online libraries. My local library probably won't even know what an ebook is for another 20 years, so I was looking for something widely available. Maybe this thread is a good place to list libraries people can use.

This is the best one I've seen so far, KnowBetter Lending Library. Limited selection but better than Fictionwise and apparently dedicated to growing. $19.95/year. Limited use available for free. Works with your fictionwise account.
http://www.libwise.com/knowbetter/

There is also a lending library at Fictionwise, only available to their buywise club members (about $30/year but has other benefits). Very limited selection.
http://www.libwise.com/fll/

Both the CyBook and the iRex iLiad will read MobiPocket format library books. There's no dedicated book reader which will read DRM-protected PDF files - you'd need something like a Tablet PC for that.

Maybe this thread is a good place to list libraries people can use.


There's actually an existing thread on the subject here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22051). Probably best to add new sources to that thread.

Are sony books even available at libraries? Other formats? Or is it all prc and pdf?

No, because the Sony format doesn't have a "date limited" DRM mechanism like MobiPocket and PDF do. Library books need to "expire".

Here, I've made a wiki page for libraries. Desperately in need of additional input.
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/EBook_Lending_Libraries

Thank you - that's very useful. One minor suggestion - might it be a good idea to specify whether each library provides MobiPocket or PDF format books (or both)?

Thank you Cmbs for the information

Thank you Cmbs for the information

You're welcome. :)

Thank you - that's very useful. One minor suggestion - might it be a good idea to specify whether each library provides MobiPocket or PDF format books (or both)?

Actually that is in there for most pages. Some are not forthcoming with their formats unless you have an account. Also Microsoft Reader and Palm eReader is sometimes mentioned. Remember PDA's are mobile too!

Dale

Actually that is in there for most pages. Some are forthcoming with their formats unless you have an account. Also Microsoft Reader and Palm eReader is sometimes mentioned. Remember PDA's are mobile too!

Dale

The reason I thought that only Mobi and PDF were supported is that - AFAIK - they are the only DRM formats which have date expiration. Do some libraries supply eBooks which don't expire?

The reason I thought that only Mobi and PDF were supported is that - AFAIK - they are the only DRM formats which have date expiration. Do some libraries supply eBooks which don't expire?

Some university libraries do although we may decide to shift them off of this page for that reason. I believe both MS and eReader do have expiring license capability but I will have to recheck this now that you bring it up.

Dale

Thank you all very much for your help.

Nate, you suggested that Cybook is better for the library ebooks..is that because Library ebooks are in Mobi format or does Cybook handle PDF's better..can Cybook handle DRM/protected PDF's? If it is because of the Mobi format than the Kindle should work well with Library ebooks.

I checked the Link to the NYC library and they have books both in PDF and Mobi format. Also the Los Angeles Public Library system has ebooks in PDF's.

It's because of the mobi format.

PDF files have the page size pre-determined when they are made. If you're trying to view a regular paper size page on a small screen, the whole page will be displayed and it can be very very small text. It can be very hard or impossible to read. I can read some pdf files on my cybook and others I can't. The ones I can read, I have to view in landscape and I see only the top half or bottom half of the page at a time.

Feedbooks provides pdf files specifically sized for reading devices and they work perfectly on my cybook, but that's not what you're going to find at the library.

If you're looking to buy a portable device to read pdf library books you should be looking at something with a larger screen, and something that can read a DRM protected pdf. Harry suggested a Tablet PC.

I guess you missed it when I said I have read that NO EINK READER reads DRM protected pdf files. The cybook doesn't. The files from the library most likely are DRM protected. So to read pdf files from a library you're going to have to use a desktop, laptop, or some other similar device. They are not very good for portable devices, unless specifically made to size for the screen.

Mobipocket files have text that flows so it will fit itself to the screen, regardless of size. It also allows you to change font size. CYBOOK and ILIAD read DRM protected mobipocket files, which is most likely what your library has available. I'm not positive, but I don't think the kindle reads DRM protected mobipocket files. I think any kind of portable pc on which you can run the mobipocket reader should allow you to read DRM protected mobi ebooks.

I checked the Los Angeles Public Library website and they don't have any pdf or mobipocket ebooks available. It's only music, video, or e-audiobook.

edit:
Aapparently I'm wrong about pdf's being read on small screens. DRM pdf's don't work on e-Ink devices, but they will work on handheld pc's and the text may reflow. Read the following posts to learn more.

I'm not positive, but I don't think the kindle reads DRM protected mobipocket files.

It won't read them as they stand, but igorsk has written a small python script which modifies the DRM header such that the Kindle will read it. The Kindle uses a slightly modified form of Mobi DRM which requires a small "tweak" to a "standard" Mobi file in order to be read.

It won't read them as they stand, but igorsk has written a small python script which modifies the DRM header such that the Kindle will read it. The Kindle uses a slightly modified form of Mobi DRM which requires a small "tweak" to a "standard" Mobi file in order to be read.

It would be interesting to check that this fix still honors the time limited DRM used on Library books. It would be nice if Kindle supported library books.

Dale

I'm 99.9% sure that it will do. Perhaps igorsk could confirm?

I check books out of the library and read them all the time. The library I use has books in Mobipocket and PDF format. I read the Mobipocket books on my Cybook and I read the PDF books on my Pocket PC (I can also read the Mobipocket books on my Pocket PC)

Both types of books have the same kind of "time bomb" DRM on them - after 21 days the books will not open. I had to activate my Pocket PC through Adobe's website before I could read the PDF books on it. The Pocket PC handles the PDF books very well because the books are all tagged, which means they reflow to fit the Pocket PC's screen size.

The Cybook does not handle DRM for PDF formatted books, nor does it recognized tagged PDF files, so no PDF files reflow to fit the Cybook screen.

I didn't know any pdf files would flow. So pdf files in libraries will reflow? Is that something a person could generally assume? If so, that opens a whole world of portable reading I was unaware of.

It would be interesting to check that this fix still honors the time limited DRM used on Library books. It would be nice if Kindle supported library books.

Dale

I just tried it. Igorsk's kindlefix.py chokes on the library ebook. Oh, well.

I didn't know any pdf files would flow. So pdf files in libraries will reflow? Is that something a person could generally assume? If so, that opens a whole world of portable reading I was unaware of.

You can check any PDF file to see if it has been tagged by viewing it's document properties (File > Document Properties > what does Tagged PDF show?)

If a book is not tagged, it won't reflow to fit a screen. Every library book, as well as every purchased PDF book, I've read has been tagged, so they reflowed to my smaller Pocket PC screen. I've attached a screen shot from my Pocket PC of a PDF book.

You can check any PDF file to see if it has been tagged by viewing it's document properties (File > Document Properties > what does Tagged PDF show?)

If a book is not tagged, it won't reflow to fit a screen. Every library book, as well as every purchased PDF book, I've read has been tagged, so they reflowed to my smaller Pocket PC screen. I've attached a screen shot from my Pocket PC of a PDF book.

Actually ActiveSync will automatically tag PDF files when they are moved to the device. It does a pretty good job but not quite as good as the smart tagging done in Adobe Framemaker or professional Acrobat versions. Once Activesync has added the tagging the file can be moved around and the tagging will not be lost.

Dale

So are you two saying that generally speaking a person could read borrowed library pdf files on a smaller screen like some kind of hand held pc? I really thought you needed a large screen like a laptop, and this is good to know if I'm understanding correctly. I keep wondering why in the world libraries would choose only pdf files when they're so very not portable, but apparently they are portable. Yes?

'Course, now I can add it to the list of things the cybook ought to be able to do. ;)

Actually ActiveSync will automatically tag PDF files when they are moved to the device. It does a pretty good job but not quite as good as the smart tagging done in Adobe Framemaker or professional Acrobat versions. Once Activesync has added the tagging the file can be moved around and the tagging will not be lost.

Dale

Yes there is an option in ActiveSync that will automatically tag PDF files, but unfortunately, there is no feature in Windows Mobile Device Center (the syncing software that is used on Vista computers), so the only way to tag those files is if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer (I've never used Adobe Framemaker). Unfortunately, you can't tag protected files, but like I said before in my earlier reply, all the library books I've checked out are already tagged and so they reflow just fine on my pocket pc. I recently got a UMPC, which has a 7 inch screen, and tagged PDF files work fine on that too.

There are some problems using Adobe Reader for Pocket PC to read DRM protected books:

Sometimes the online activation for the device fails. I have only been able to activate one (out of 4) pocket pcs.

You can only use Adobe Reader 7 (or Adobe Acrobat 7) on your computer if you hope to transfer DRM books to a Pocket PC. The newer Adobe Reader 8 and Adobe Acrobat 8 use Adobe's Digital Editions software (a separate application) and there is no way to move PDF files to Pocket PCs.

Yes there is an option in ActiveSync that will automatically tag PDF files, but unfortunately, there is no feature in Windows Mobile Device Center (the syncing software that is used on Vista computers), so the only way to tag those files is if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer (I've never used Adobe Framemaker). Unfortunately, you can't tag protected files, but like I said before in my earlier reply, all the library books I've checked out are already tagged and so they reflow just fine on my pocket pc. I recently got a UMPC, which has a 7 inch screen, and tagged PDF files work fine on that too.

There are some problems using Adobe Reader for Pocket PC to read DRM protected books:

Sometimes the online activation for the device fails. I have only been able to activate one (out of 4) pocket pcs.

You can only use Adobe Reader 7 (or Adobe Acrobat 7) on your computer if you hope to transfer DRM books to a Pocket PC. The newer Adobe Reader 8 and Adobe Acrobat 8 use Adobe's Digital Editions software (a separate application) and there is no way to move PDF files to Pocket PCs.

Between Microsoft and Adobe they are trying to kill the only good eBook features PDF files have it would seem.

Dale

So are you two saying that generally speaking a person could read borrowed library pdf files on a smaller screen like some kind of hand held pc? I really thought you needed a large screen like a laptop, and this is good to know if I'm understanding correctly. I keep wondering why in the world libraries would choose only pdf files when they're so very not portable, but apparently they are portable. Yes?

'Course, now I can add it to the list of things the cybook ought to be able to do. ;)

Reflow is a good and essential feature of PDF but is not very well supported outside of Adobe. (The only product outside of Adobe that I know that can reflow a PDF is PalmPDF). Is does let you read PDF files on smaller devices. On PPC devices the reader itself is about 8 Meg so it is a complicated program. However it is not perfect. It sometimes really messes up when images are merged into the text but in those cases you can temporarily turn reflow off and pan around in the data to read it. Reflow will not work at all if the eBook is made of images such as books made from scanned images often are.

Dale

I was looking at some pdf's I have and some say tagged:no and still they will reflow. So I'm still quite confused about it all. If it would save it in reflow mode, I could put it on my cybook like that. But it won't (or at least I can't figure out how).

Reflowing doesn't work on a Cybook. The Cybook does not recognize the tags and it does not have an option to reflow PDF documents.