Easiest drm to circumvent

echoleaf · 02-07-2009, 06:53 AM

I'm wondering which drm format is easiest to break. I don't like the idea of being forced to use one device or the possibility of the device switching formats. At the least, I'd like to be prepared for the worst. As I don't own an eReader yet (waiting on Kindle 2 and the Astak updates) this would help decide things. Thanks!

daesdaemar · 02-07-2009, 08:40 AM

Mobi with mobidedrm, IMHO

echoleaf · 02-07-2009, 08:42 AM

Would that include Kindle, since it's a form of Mobi?

daesdaemar · 02-07-2009, 08:51 AM

Don't know that... I have a Sony 505. I'm sure one of the Kindle folks will amble along shortly...

wallcraft · 02-07-2009, 10:50 AM

MOBI and eReader both require Python scripts run from the command line to strip their DRM. LIT requires a C program which you can get as a pre-built binary for the command line, and under Windows there is a GUI (ConvertLIT GUI). Amazon's AZW format is MOBI, and can be made DRM-free with mobidedrm like most other MOBIs. However you can only currently buy from Amazon if you have a Kindle (there are reports that this will change soon), and some Amazon titles are in the TOPAZ format which, like Adobe PDF and ePub, is currently not strippable.

Secure LIT is only down-loadable using Windows Internet Explorer (i.e. you need a Windows PC), but it is the most feature rich of the formats and the most often recommended. MOBI and eReader are ok too, particularly if your current device supports the format and you want DRM-stripping capability for the future. With LIT the ebook is typically immediately format shifted to allow it to be read on your device, because relatively few devices support it directly.

pilotbob · 02-07-2009, 10:51 AM

Mobi (so Kindle azw), MS Reader (lit) and eReader are all equally deDRMable. There is a tool available for each format.

Now, Sony's LRX and Secure Adobe do not have deDRM tools that I have ever seen.

BOb

pdurrant · 02-07-2009, 10:53 AM

Both Mobipocket (.prc/.mobi) and Microsoft reader (.lit) are easy to strip. (not break - you must know the keys with which the files were encoded).

If you're on windows I'd advise going for .lit files, since in general they have the best quality HTML and images, and are easiest to convert to other formats.

If you're not on Windows, obtaining DRMed .lit files is very hard or impossible, so I'd advise going for Mobipocket.

eReader format can also be stripped easily, but has a very specific coding of the text, which can be converted to HTML, but means it's not as convenient as the other two.

Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

I'm wondering which drm format is easiest to break. I don't like the idea of being forced to use one device or the possibility of the device switching formats. At the least, I'd like to be prepared for the worst. As I don't own an eReader yet (waiting on Kindle 2 and the Astak updates) this would help decide things. Thanks!

echoleaf · 02-07-2009, 01:12 PM

Thanks for all this great info! I am on Windows and expect to be so unless Apple reveals a magical way to run Windows programs without virtualizing Windows :-)

I need to find some online sources for LIT files to see what's available. The little research I did showed that MOBI & PDFs were most common, at least for the 15 or so books I checked. For a reader, I've been leaning towards the Kindle due to ease of use & generally better book prices, but I think anything else that does MOBI well would be a likely candidate.

wallcraft · 02-07-2009, 01:26 PM

FictionWise and Books on Board sell Secure LIT ebooks. It is often available for DRM-free "multi-format" ebooks, like those from FictionWise, Baen books, and manybooks.net (although there is then less need to do your own conversion).

echoleaf · 02-07-2009, 01:44 PM

Maybe waiting has been good. The upcoming Astak options seem pretty good too.

Andybaby · 02-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

Thanks for all this great info! I am on Windows and expect to be so unless Apple reveals a magical way to run Windows programs without virtualizing Windows :-)

Ive Heard that Windows Virtrulzation under apple is so complete now that many people who have had it set up for them dont even know the difference between a window in OSX and a window in XP in Virtual.

see this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN9jNNeEd98 I believe you can set up shortcuts too to boot windows programs from the OSX taskbar.

I only find the price of Macs Prohibitive. but many people dont.

pdurrant · 02-07-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

I need to find some online sources for LIT files to see what's available. The little research I did showed that MOBI & PDFs were most common, at least for the 15 or so books I checked. For a reader, I've been leaning towards the Kindle due to ease of use & generally better book prices, but I think anything else that does MOBI well would be a likely candidate.

You can find free sample books in most formats at http://www.fictionwise.com/ Just click the free eBooks link, and then choose the format you're looking for in the drop down menu.

They have at least one of secure Mobipocket and Microsoft Reader and lots of Secure eReader at the moment (the Harlequin romances).

pilotbob · 02-07-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoleaf

Thanks for all this great info! I am on Windows and expect to be so unless Apple reveals a magical way to run Windows programs without virtualizing Windows :-)

There are very few windows programs that don't have a Mac counterpart. Either a Mac version of that specific app, or a similar (and usually better) native Mac option.

The main fault in the offerings is games. Very few PC games run on Macs... even though some of the more popular ones do. But, I much prefer my XBox 360 for gaming to a PC.

BOb

phenomshel · 02-07-2009, 02:13 PM

.lit has been easiest for me, and I'm a command line dummy.

echoleaf · 02-07-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

Ive Heard that Windows Virtrulzation under apple is so complete now that many people who have had it set up for them dont even know the difference between a window in OSX and a window in XP in Virtual.

It still requires running a second OS at the same time. I did that with Linux and some programs (namely Adobe products) ran much worse. Thus I went back to Windows, got a new computer with Vista and will be going back to XP shortly.

What would be truly magical if somehow the virtualization doesn't require 2 OS's to run at the same time.

02-07-2009, 06:53 AM	#1
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	Easiest drm to circumvent I'm wondering which drm format is easiest to break. I don't like the idea of being forced to use one device or the possibility of the device switching formats. At the least, I'd like to be prepared for the worst. As I don't own an eReader yet (waiting on Kindle 2 and the Astak updates) this would help decide things. Thanks!

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02-07-2009, 08:40 AM	#2
daesdaemar Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 4282 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florida Device: Sony 505, Kindle 3, iPad 3	Mobi with mobidedrm, IMHO

02-07-2009, 08:42 AM	#3
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	Would that include Kindle, since it's a form of Mobi?

02-07-2009, 08:51 AM	#4
daesdaemar Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 4282 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florida Device: Sony 505, Kindle 3, iPad 3	Don't know that... I have a Sony 505. I'm sure one of the Kindle folks will amble along shortly...

02-07-2009, 10:50 AM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	MOBI and eReader both require Python scripts run from the command line to strip their DRM. LIT requires a C program which you can get as a pre-built binary for the command line, and under Windows there is a GUI (ConvertLIT GUI). Amazon's AZW format is MOBI, and can be made DRM-free with mobidedrm like most other MOBIs. However you can only currently buy from Amazon if you have a Kindle (there are reports that this will change soon), and some Amazon titles are in the TOPAZ format which, like Adobe PDF and ePub, is currently not strippable. Secure LIT is only down-loadable using Windows Internet Explorer (i.e. you need a Windows PC), but it is the most feature rich of the formats and the most often recommended. MOBI and eReader are ok too, particularly if your current device supports the format and you want DRM-stripping capability for the future. With LIT the ebook is typically immediately format shifted to allow it to be read on your device, because relatively few devices support it directly.

02-07-2009, 10:51 AM	#6
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Mobi (so Kindle azw), MS Reader (lit) and eReader are all equally deDRMable. There is a tool available for each format. Now, Sony's LRX and Secure Adobe do not have deDRM tools that I have ever seen. BOb

02-07-2009, 01:12 PM	#8
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	Thanks for all this great info! I am on Windows and expect to be so unless Apple reveals a magical way to run Windows programs without virtualizing Windows :-) I need to find some online sources for LIT files to see what's available. The little research I did showed that MOBI & PDFs were most common, at least for the 15 or so books I checked. For a reader, I've been leaning towards the Kindle due to ease of use & generally better book prices, but I think anything else that does MOBI well would be a likely candidate.

02-07-2009, 01:26 PM	#9
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	FictionWise and Books on Board sell Secure LIT ebooks. It is often available for DRM-free "multi-format" ebooks, like those from FictionWise, Baen books, and manybooks.net (although there is then less need to do your own conversion).

02-07-2009, 01:44 PM	#10
echoleaf Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 236 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Bebook, Cybook or eSlick?	Maybe waiting has been good. The upcoming Astak options seem pretty good too.

02-07-2009, 02:13 PM	#14
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	.lit has been easiest for me, and I'm a command line dummy.

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