Harry Potter ebooks! Really! - Page 11

JSWolf · 03-27-2012, 04:17 PM

It is easy enough to remove the text based watermarks and the image based watermarks. Changing the filenames is trivial too. Someone's going to do it and it will get around.

anamardoll · 03-27-2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH

Hi,

You are kidding yourself. They are indeed watermarked in many ways. You might want to check out the company booxtream to get an idea of what is going on. Remember, it need not be your name, it can be any identifiable string that can be tied back to you.

I am actually in favour of social drm like this, I wish everyone used it and removed the silly company specific DRM crap we see now.

Well, I'm not "kidding" myself -- everything I've said so far has been *just what I have found*. So please dial back the aggressive tone? Thanks.

I'm not in favor of watermarking as social DRM because I know how laughably easy it would be to hack a person's computer, grab their Calibre library, and upload it to a torrent. And I know how impossibly hard it would be to prove that it wasn't *the owner* who did the uploading.

I went ahead and bought the books because I'm very excited to read them. But I'll be watching the de-watermarking efforts with interest.

AnemicOak · 03-27-2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

A person on the Amazon forums figured out a way to purchase a UK version of the books if you live in the US:

-SNIP-

Thanks for posting that, I was able to get the UK versions with no problems.

howyoudoin · 03-27-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Well, I'm not "kidding" myself -- everything I've said so far has been *just what I have found*. So please dial back the aggressive tone? Thanks.

I'm not in favor of watermarking as social DRM because I know how laughably easy it would be to hack a person's computer, grab their Calibre library, and upload it to a torrent. And I know how impossibly hard it would be to prove that it wasn't *the owner* who did the uploading.

I went ahead and bought the books because I'm very excited to read them. But I'll be watching the de-watermarking efforts with interest.

That's a very good point. I hadn't thought of that.

AndrewH · 03-27-2012, 04:33 PM

I'd prefer the British text, but I really love Mary GrandPré's illustrations. Oh, the horror of making a decision!

murraypaul · 03-27-2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

Yeah, that's true. But it's possible that the only options made available to Pottermore were Amazon DRM or no DRM at all. Watermarking might not have been an option made available by Amazon at all (and it never will be, because Amazon wouldn't be able to lock-in customers to their reader with this sort of DRM).

The Amazon copies have the same watermarking ("This book is watermarked and was acquired by user ...") as the ePub ones.

ProfCrash · 03-27-2012, 04:41 PM

Are the illustrations different in the UK version? I am going to have to decide tonight. I was leaning towards the UK version, I have the US versions in hardback, but who knows.

AnemicOak · 03-27-2012, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

My guess is that Amazon (for instance) has refused to implement the watermarking method, and so Pottermore has no option but to opt for the DRming.

The Amazon copies I just downloaded are watermarked with a user ID just like the ePubs.

EDIT: Oops, murraypaul beat me to it.

AnemicOak · 03-27-2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Are the illustrations different in the UK version? I am going to have to decide tonight. I was leaning towards the UK version, I have the US versions in hardback, but who knows.

The UK versions don't have illustrations (the only graphics they contain are the cover, Hogwarts crest and Pottermore logo).

I agree Mary GrandPré's illustrations (and covers) are very nice, but I wanted the UK texts more than I wanted the illustrations my HC's have.

pdurrant · 03-27-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Are the illustrations different in the UK version? I am going to have to decide tonight. I was leaning towards the UK version, I have the US versions in hardback, but who knows.

The only "illustrations" in the UK versions are the Hogwarts coat of arms on the title page, and the Pottermore logo.

Justin Nemo · 03-27-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

What versions are they in? Both American and British?

You had them translated into American?

carpetmojo · 03-27-2012, 05:39 PM

After all the huffin' 'n puffin', I dont think they're too badly priced, the bundle particularly.

palex481 · 03-27-2012, 05:43 PM

Yes, it's late in coming. Yes, she was stupid to wait for so long before releasing these as e-book versions. But the real key thing is here, the distribution. I wish this distribution method would pick up with other e-books. I'm tired of "Well, I bought this book in iBooks so I can only read it on Apple devices".

I actually prefer iBooks app to Amazon Kindle app on the iPad, but I buy everything through Amazon these days because at least I know I can read it on my iPad, iPhone, or Kindle and they all sync up bookmarks. The same is not true with iBooks purchases as they are locked to Apple devices only.

The revolutionary thing about this is I could read this book on an iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Sony, Computer, or any other device I want simply for a single $7.99 fee. If only we could be so lucky with other major books. The whole locking of books to one platform thing is really going to shoot us in the foot later on down the road.

lfeuln · 03-27-2012, 05:46 PM

Agree - for the first time I have a book linked with *both* Nook and Kindle (perfect for the new iPad since the Nook retina update's not out), plus a copy downloaded to my hard drive, and still have "5 downloads" left. Pretty great IMO.

JSWolf · 03-27-2012, 05:52 PM

So we can download in multiple formats and have them linked to multiple shops? So I could have them at Sony, B&N & Amazon?

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03-27-2012, 04:17 PM	#151
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,590 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It is easy enough to remove the text based watermarks and the image based watermarks. Changing the filenames is trivial too. Someone's going to do it and it will get around.

03-27-2012, 04:33 PM	#155
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	I'd prefer the British text, but I really love Mary GrandPré's illustrations. Oh, the horror of making a decision!

03-27-2012, 04:41 PM	#157
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Are the illustrations different in the UK version? I am going to have to decide tonight. I was leaning towards the UK version, I have the US versions in hardback, but who knows.

03-27-2012, 05:39 PM	#162
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	After all the huffin' 'n puffin', I dont think they're too badly priced, the bundle particularly.

03-27-2012, 05:43 PM	#163
palex481 Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 53 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Yes, it's late in coming. Yes, she was stupid to wait for so long before releasing these as e-book versions. But the real key thing is here, the distribution. I wish this distribution method would pick up with other e-books. I'm tired of "Well, I bought this book in iBooks so I can only read it on Apple devices". I actually prefer iBooks app to Amazon Kindle app on the iPad, but I buy everything through Amazon these days because at least I know I can read it on my iPad, iPhone, or Kindle and they all sync up bookmarks. The same is not true with iBooks purchases as they are locked to Apple devices only. The revolutionary thing about this is I could read this book on an iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Sony, Computer, or any other device I want simply for a single $7.99 fee. If only we could be so lucky with other major books. The whole locking of books to one platform thing is really going to shoot us in the foot later on down the road.

03-27-2012, 05:46 PM	#164
lfeuln Member Posts: 17 Karma: 43798 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Quebec Device: iPhone, Retina iPad Mini, Nook Simple Touch	Agree - for the first time I have a book linked with both Nook and Kindle (perfect for the new iPad since the Nook retina update's not out), plus a copy downloaded to my hard drive, and still have "5 downloads" left. Pretty great IMO.

03-27-2012, 05:52 PM	#165
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,590 Karma: 130140792 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So we can download in multiple formats and have them linked to multiple shops? So I could have them at Sony, B&N & Amazon?

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