Nook DRM confusion...?

Wolf3 · 09-19-2011, 10:34 PM

Both because I'm rather mad at Amazon at the moment, and because my understanding was that Barnes & Noble's DRM didn't involve activation (and because I just got 10% off!) I just bought a new eInk Nook...

And...I'm confused. I bought my first book, but on both the Nook and my iPad, I have to activate the reader. I was hoping to try to NOT enter my info to test this out-see if I could load the book, and have the book prompt me to enter my username/password (email + CC number, as I understand it)...but instead both devices are requiring that I activate with B&N first.

So...was I mistaken? Does this work just like Amazon? Or is it that technically it can be unlocked with just a username/password, using Adobe Digital Editions?

Regarding the unit itself, I still like the Kindle interface better-I wish this had better hardware buttons! WAY too hard to push. (And not that I use it much, but what happened to the browser? The Kindle 3 caught up to the Nook 1...and then the 2 seems to be missing it). BUT all that said it's not bad either, and...possibly the "publisher's defaults" makes books use the fonts and formatting that the real book does? If so, that's very cool and a big step above what Kindle can do!

user_none · 09-20-2011, 09:21 AM

The DRM used by Nook books sold by B&N do not require an activation server. They can be unlocked with your name and credit card number. However, the Nook itself requires registration with your B&N account regardless if you are even going to be reading DRMed books.

Wolf3 · 09-20-2011, 09:30 AM

Okay...so dumb question, if the books don't require activation but the Nook and Nook programs do, where can you use Nook books that would have you punch in your username/password?

I'm sure I've seen store displays with the Nook 1 where there were books on them that I couldn't actually open-that would prompt for that info (which is also why I figured you could have that info permanently entered on your Nook...or not, and it would just prompt you for that).

At least theoretically B&N doesn't use activation, which is cool! Wish the Nook 2 had better buttons, but other than that my first reading experience on it last night was pretty good

Ron. · 09-20-2011, 09:40 AM

it has a browser, kind of hidden... open the search and type in a url from there..

Jim Lester · 09-20-2011, 10:04 AM

You can test it out with ADE 1.8, which you can find at labs.adobe.com ( ADE 1.7 won't work.)

Also if you have a smart phone (either Android or iOS) you can try using Bluefire Reader to read your books (assuming you don't want to use the nook apps)

Note that password in this case will be all 16 digits of the Credit Card number you have associated with your account with B&N.

Wolf3 · 09-20-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron.

it has a browser, kind of hidden... open the search and type in a url from there..

Huh! I'll give that shot tonight, thanks! (I did actually find a use for having a browser, kind of... There's a series that was recommended to me, and Baen (the publisher) gives away the first couple books in the series, I guess, and you can download them on the Kindle, and I presume Nook, directly from the site, which is kind of cool!)

user_none · 09-20-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf3

..., I guess, and you can download them on the Kindle, and I presume Nook, directly from the site, which is kind of cool!)

Nope. The reader can't open anything you download. The browser isn't publicly accessible for a reason.

Wolf3 · 09-20-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

You can test it out with ADE 1.8, which you can find at labs.adobe.com ( ADE 1.7 won't work.)

Also if you have a smart phone (either Android or iOS) you can try using Bluefire Reader to read your books (assuming you don't want to use the nook apps)

Note that password in this case will be all 16 digits of the Credit Card number you have associated with your account with B&N.

Thanks! I'll give that a shot with Bluefire...I just sort of want to confirm to myself that that actually works (even though I plan on just using the Barnes & Nobile programs and Nook).

I'm really philosophically opposed to activation, so I'm sure I would have started with a Nook to begin with back in 2009, but it wasn't announced until after I bought my original Kindle 2. Makes me feel better buying books from Barnes and Noble if I can actually use them without activation if need be!

Quote:

Originally Posted by user_none

Nope. The reader can't open anything you download. The browser isn't publicly accessible for a reason.

Oh...well, I guess I can download it on my PC and sideload it then (for some unknown reason I'm not at all annoyed syncing my iPod with my computer, and prefer that, but am annoyed every time I have to grab my cable for my Kindle/Nook LOL!)

DiannaInVA · 09-20-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf3

I'm really philosophically opposed to activation, so I'm sure I would have started with a Nook to begin with back in 2009, but it wasn't announced until after I bought my original Kindle 2. Makes me feel better buying books from Barnes and Noble if I can actually use them without activation if need be!

Why not just remove the DRM? Some people do that so they can re-format their purchased books (or read them using other software). Though don't ask how it can be done. You'll have to search the net to find that out.

Doug Pardee · 09-20-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf3

I'm really philosophically opposed to activation, so I'm sure I would have started with a Nook to begin with

Without activation, a NOOK is pretty much the same as most other EPUB readers. The big value-add of NOOK is that you can access the B&N e-book store wirelessly: searching, browsing, buying, and downloading. Also wireless updates of newspapers and magazines, if you're into that kind of thing.

Activation isn't a big deal. You're basically telling your NOOK what your B&N account ID and password are so that it can log in to your account and synchronize. B&N does keep a list of NOOKs that are activated on each account, but that's about it.

user_none · 09-20-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Without activation, a NOOK is pretty much the same as most other EPUB readers. The big value-add of NOOK is that you can access the B&N e-book store wirelessly: searching, browsing, buying, and downloading. Also wireless updates of newspapers and magazines, if you're into that kind of thing.
Activation isn't a big deal. You're basically telling your NOOK what your B&N account ID and password are so that it can log in to your account and synchronize. B&N does keep a list of NOOKs that are activated on each account, but that's about it.

Except you cannot use a Nook (touch, I don't know about the others) without registering it with B&N. Activation is required otherwise you can't even use the device. Not everyone likes being tracked.

Wolf3 · 09-20-2011, 02:19 PM

Nice! I just tried out Bluefire, and it does indeed open my first Nook book! Even though it's third party software. Even though it's not connected to the internet. (Heck, I suppose someone ELSE could theoretically make an eReader intended to be used with B&N's store! Sounds like Sony's readers OUGHT to work for it, but have artificially disabled it...)

*sigh* I have yet another annoying question...is there a limit to the number of Nooks you can have on your account?

I feel a LOT better about buying Nook stuff versus all the competitors that use activation!

Thanks for all the info guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Without activation, a NOOK is pretty much the same as most other EPUB readers. The big value-add of NOOK is that you can access the B&N e-book store wirelessly: searching, browsing, buying, and downloading. Also wireless updates of newspapers and magazines, if you're into that kind of thing.

Activation isn't a big deal. You're basically telling your NOOK what your B&N account ID and password are so that it can log in to your account and synchronize. B&N does keep a list of NOOKs that are activated on each account, but that's about it.

Yeah, but I mean theoretically the software on a Nook COULD let you use it without the device being activated with B&N by just prompting you for the username/password when you open a book...which SEEMED to be what happened with the Nook 1s that I saw at Best Buy (Maybe that's changed for the Nook 2?)

geertm · 09-20-2011, 02:32 PM

You can skip registration on both the Nook Color and the Nook touch (requires just a certain sequence of touches or pressed keys).
Just google "skip registration <Nook Color/Nook Touch>".

Wolf3 · 09-20-2011, 02:41 PM

That would be cool, though I can't find a solution in the first page of Google hits. (Not that I'd probably actually WANT to do that, but it would be nice to know it's not a brick even if the B&N service went away, or I lost internet access.)

geertm · 09-20-2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf3

That would be cool, though I can't find a solution in the first page of Google hits. (Not that I'd probably actually WANT to do that, but it would be nice to know it's not a brick even if the B&N service went away, or I lost internet access.)

Nook Color:
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Factor...Box_Experience

Nook Touch:
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...62630#U1162630

09-19-2011, 10:34 PM	#1
Wolf3 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 386 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook 2, Kindle 3, iPad 2, iPod 4	Nook DRM confusion...? Both because I'm rather mad at Amazon at the moment, and because my understanding was that Barnes & Noble's DRM didn't involve activation (and because I just got 10% off!) I just bought a new eInk Nook... And...I'm confused. I bought my first book, but on both the Nook and my iPad, I have to activate the reader. I was hoping to try to NOT enter my info to test this out-see if I could load the book, and have the book prompt me to enter my username/password (email + CC number, as I understand it)...but instead both devices are requiring that I activate with B&N first. So...was I mistaken? Does this work just like Amazon? Or is it that technically it can be unlocked with just a username/password, using Adobe Digital Editions? Regarding the unit itself, I still like the Kindle interface better-I wish this had better hardware buttons! WAY too hard to push. (And not that I use it much, but what happened to the browser? The Kindle 3 caught up to the Nook 1...and then the 2 seems to be missing it). BUT all that said it's not bad either, and...possibly the "publisher's defaults" makes books use the fonts and formatting that the real book does? If so, that's very cool and a big step above what Kindle can do!

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09-20-2011, 09:21 AM	#2
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	The DRM used by Nook books sold by B&N do not require an activation server. They can be unlocked with your name and credit card number. However, the Nook itself requires registration with your B&N account regardless if you are even going to be reading DRMed books.

09-20-2011, 09:30 AM	#3
Wolf3 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 386 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook 2, Kindle 3, iPad 2, iPod 4	Okay...so dumb question, if the books don't require activation but the Nook and Nook programs do, where can you use Nook books that would have you punch in your username/password? I'm sure I've seen store displays with the Nook 1 where there were books on them that I couldn't actually open-that would prompt for that info (which is also why I figured you could have that info permanently entered on your Nook...or not, and it would just prompt you for that). At least theoretically B&N doesn't use activation, which is cool! Wish the Nook 2 had better buttons, but other than that my first reading experience on it last night was pretty good

09-20-2011, 09:40 AM	#4
Ron. Evangelist Posts: 448 Karma: 864744 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3, LookBook, Nook Simple Touch	it has a browser, kind of hidden... open the search and type in a url from there..

09-20-2011, 10:04 AM	#5
Jim Lester Evangelist Posts: 416 Karma: 14682 Join Date: May 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Device: Nook HD, Nook for Windows 8	You can test it out with ADE 1.8, which you can find at labs.adobe.com ( ADE 1.7 won't work.) Also if you have a smart phone (either Android or iOS) you can try using Bluefire Reader to read your books (assuming you don't want to use the nook apps) Note that password in this case will be all 16 digits of the Credit Card number you have associated with your account with B&N.

09-20-2011, 02:32 PM	#13
geertm Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kobo Aura One	You can skip registration on both the Nook Color and the Nook touch (requires just a certain sequence of touches or pressed keys). Just google "skip registration <Nook Color/Nook Touch>".

09-20-2011, 02:41 PM	#14
Wolf3 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 386 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Nook 2, Kindle 3, iPad 2, iPod 4	That would be cool, though I can't find a solution in the first page of Google hits. (Not that I'd probably actually WANT to do that, but it would be nice to know it's not a brick even if the B&N service went away, or I lost internet access.)

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