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Originally Posted by charmian
re: B&N not updating their e-reader firmware to be compatible with 3.0. True. And you're right, I don't really see what has changed that would convince B&N to change their current system. Also, I don't think it would be Adobe being blamed. It would be Kobo or Sony or whoever the bookstore that sold the book is.
This also does raise the question of what Overdrive will do. If anything, this would be even less in the interest of their primary customer (libraries). Librarians do not want to have to explain to angry patrons why they can no longer use their three year old e-reader to download books.
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Libraries are already hedging their bets by lining up deals with Overdrive competitors (3M Cloud library, Axis 360). They produce tablet apps as well as dedicated devices that you can check out from the library. At least 3M does not use Adobe DRM technology. Overdrive could also transition away from Adobe, starting with their tablet apps. As it is their apps already do not support side loaded ePub with Adobe DRM.
A more 'controlled' distribution system (one where no user ever gets access to an epub file) should be more acceptable to more publishers. (I have not gotten around to checking out the selection for Axis 360, which a couple of my libraries have, but most likely they have some publishers lined up that Overdrive has not got- another reason for libraries to seek out alternatives)
I could see support for personal ereaders going away entirely.