> the ducks : streaming, as in netflix, amazon video , spotify, quboz, ... is for making encrypted content viewable/listenable, yet at the same time making it hard to steal. the streamed data is encrypted and must be decrypted for playback within a trusted app or device.
I admire the Netflix model which seems to be
let's make it so cheap and so easy to access that there's no reason to want to steal it, though it's annoying when they drop a show from their catalogue while you are still only part way through it. Having to now buy Law & Order on DVD is so backwards
Streaming can be done for books; both overdrive and google books offer it, but they are big enough to run the encryption & server infrastructure, and provide the client apps. I don't see that appearing in a calibre content server any time soon. also, both of those services also allow download + read offline.
so your post#5 was spot on
http://help.overdrive.com/customer/p...overdrive-read
Can I use OverDrive Read without an internet connection?
Yes. On most devices, select Offline Access from the OverDrive Read menu, then the cloud icon to cache (download) an eBook so you can read it offline. Make sure to also bookmark the eBook in your browser or save the eBook's URL so you can get back to it in your browser once you're offline.
and for google:
To read Google Play books when you're not connected to the Internet, you'll need to download them to your device.
On your mobile device
To download books to read them offline:
Make sure you’re connected to the Internet.
Open the Google Play Books app.
Touch the book you want to download.
Once the book has finished downloading to your device, you can read it anywhere even when you don't have an Internet connection.
download & play offline option is also available in spotify premium and in amazon prime video. I have not tried the latter but i see it offered.