KOBO launches 3 new devices: Mini, Glow ereaders & Arc Tablet

[tubemonkey]

The new Kindles are a bust for me, so now I want to see the Kobo Mini. That one's a definite possibility if it'll fit in my shirt pocket comfortably.

[Jane12]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Kobo has never supported B&N's version of Adobe DRM in the past so until we hear official word I'm going to assume they still don't.

Originally Posted by TimW

Adding compatibility would be adding a competitor for ebooks.

Another way to look at it: Nook owners might be tempted to switch to a Kobo reader if they knew they wouldn't lose their Nook library. And once they've got a Kobo reader, they'd probably start buying Kobo books, no?

On another note, do Kobo readers work with Dropbox? I've searched the forums and found some posts suggesting that they do, but it's not entirely clear to me.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Another way to look at it: Nook owners might be tempted to switch to a Kobo reader if they knew they wouldn't lose their Nook library. And once they've got a Kobo reader, they'd probably start buying Kobo books, no?

You're right, and that's EXACTLY why B&N does not want their format to work on Kobo readers. You are assuming that the problem lies on Kobo's end: that they don't want to support that format, when I believe the problem lies on B&N's end: they don't want other readers to support their format, so they made it proprietary.

eP

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

You're right, and that's EXACTLY why B&N does not want their format to work on Kobo readers. You are assuming that the problem lies on Kobo's end: that they don't want to support that format, when I believe the problem lies on B&N's end: they don't want other readers to support their format, so they made it proprietary.

Any reader manufacturer can support B&N's version of the DRM if they're using the latest Adobe RMSDK as long as they choose to enable that support.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Any reader manufacturer can support B&N's version of the DRM if they're using the latest Adobe RMSDK as long as they choose to enable that support.

Isn't B&N's DRM tied to the credit card associated with your B&N account? So how would that work? Kobo would pass a request to B&N for my credit card number?

eP

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Isn't B&N's DRM tied to the credit card associated with your B&N account? So how would that work? Kobo would pass a request to B&N for my credit card number?

eP

The CC is the Key to open the book (you plug it into the reader), no contact with B&N's servers are required.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Isn't B&N's DRM tied to the credit card associated with your B&N account? So how would that work? Kobo would pass a request to B&N for my credit card number?

The eBook file is encoded with a key based on the credit card number.
You enter your credit card number into the reader to decode the file.
That is the advantage of the B&N DRM system, there is no server involved in authorisation or decoding.

[elemenoP]

Oh I see, thank you! I never knew that other companies could use B&N's DRM if they chose to. I guess I'm off to rail against Sony now!

eP

[Jane12]

Think of the CC# as a password. The reason B&N uses it is because they figure you're unlikely to share your credit card number with friends, which makes it a reasonably secure password.

Adobe Digital Editions 1.8 (which has been in beta for months) opens B&N books just fine. The first time you attempt to open a Nook book, ADE 1.8 asks for your "password," which is based on your user name and CC#. Input your name and those 16 digits, and the book opens. The same goes for any device or app that uses the latest Adobe RMSDK and has enabled password-based Adobe DRM (such as Bluefire Reader for iOS, Ectaco's jetBook Lite, Pandigital Novel). No pesky ascm files and content servers to contend with. Just download the epub from the vendor, and you're good to go.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

You're right, and that's EXACTLY why B&N does not want their format to work on Kobo readers. You are assuming that the problem lies on Kobo's end: that they don't want to support that format, when I believe the problem lies on B&N's end: they don't want other readers to support their format, so they made it proprietary.

eP

Umm, no. B&N and Adobe developed this form of DRM to obviate the need for ADE or desktop software to move DRM content to the Nook, not to lock people in (there are dozens of apps and devices that will read B&N DRM content). They wanted a user experience more akin to Kindle, which also does not require desktop software for side-loading, much less creating a user account with a third party.

If Kobo doesn't implement the authentication dialog that would allow B&N content to open on Kobo (and I don't know if they have or not), it is because they don't consider that to be a high priority for their users.

Sony has evidently decided to disallow B&N content on their devices for reasons known only to them. Since PRS-T1, their devices don't even work with ADE. But you still need to authorize with an AdobeID.

To me there's no reason for any vendor to NOT implement the authentication, apart from sheer laziness. And it is not clear why more vendors don't choose to use the 'pass-hash' DRM themselves after all this time. It is more convenient for users, as they are not required to have an Adobe ID and use ADE to side-load content that they have purchased.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Umm, no. B&N and Adobe developed this form of DRM to obviate the need for ADE or desktop software to move DRM content to the Nook, not to lock people in (there are dozens of apps and devices that will read B&N DRM content). They wanted a user experience more akin to Kindle, which also does not require desktop software for side-loading, much less creating a user account with a third party.

That is not correct B&N acquired this DRM scheme when it acquired Fictionwise, Fictionwise acquired this DRM from eReader when they acquired eReader... the list goes on but I'll stop here. What B&N did was to license this scheme to Adobe so Adobe could include this DRM scheme in their Adobe DRM system. B&N then turned around and licensed Adobe's DRM so B&N could have compatibility with other Adobe DRM ePUBs and access to its own DRM ePUB. However B&N never licensed it's DRM scheme to any other manufactures.
So in effect B&N devices are compatible with every Adobe ePUB DRM vendor while no one else is is compatible with their eBooks. It helps makes their devices more attractive ans subtly locking them into their store.

=X=

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

The eBook file is encoded with a key based on the credit card number.
You enter your credit card number into the reader to decode the file.
That is the advantage of the B&N DRM system, there is no server involved in authorisation or decoding.

Also, you don't run into Adobe's 6 device limit some may reach. With B&N there is no technological limit.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Think of the CC# as a password. The reason B&N uses it is because they figure you're unlikely to share your credit card number with friends, which makes it a reasonably secure password.

Or you can take their Nook enter your cc# and hand it back to them.

[meeera]

Something I haven't seen anywhere yet: is there likely to be any problem using sideloaded fonts on the Kobo Glo? I wouldn't have thought so, but I wanted to check.

[=X=]

I've been doing some research on the Vox Arc. Quite an impressive device compares well to the new KFire 2, though it is a bit pricier.

One thing that I really like is the tapestry look nice and optimized fro those of us who use 7" tablets primarily for reading.

Goodreader had a good review on the device. (Kobo Vox Arc Review)