Touch Micro SD Card not supporting DRM?

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 05:11 AM

Looking at the Touch manual it states

"You can’t add DRM-protected books using a microSD card."

Does this mean that if I use Calibre to add books to the SD card ans they are DRM, (as they all are), then the KT will not recognise them?

Can't believe only non DRM books can be on the SD card.

Thought I should say that it's not the quantity of books, rather that if I have to do a factory reset when away from home I do not want to lose all of my books.

Thanks,

Steve

murg · 08-13-2012, 06:04 AM

You actually read the manual?

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 06:23 AM

This one little bit about SD cards, before I bought one, (SD card that is), yes.....

JD Gumby · 08-13-2012, 07:51 AM

The external card is not considered part of the device, therefore can't really be taken into account for DRM authorization, which is tied to the device when you create your Adobe Digital Editions account (you'll note if you use ADE that it won't let you drag & drop to your card, only to the Kobo itself; ADE also won't show anything that wasn't added to the device by the program itself).

If you want to transfer those books to a different device, you'll have to hook that device up to ADE, authorize, then drag & drop 'em from the ADE interface.

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 10:59 AM

Er, I think I understand that.

So how do I put eBooks onto the SD card and be able to read them?

Thanks,

Steve

PeterT · 08-13-2012, 11:03 AM

Well.... If the SD Card does not support usage of DRM then maybe you put DRM free books on the SD Card!

Try Googling on Apprentice Alf, but then remember, we can't discuss DRM removal OR Apprentice Alf's tools here.

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 11:15 AM

OK thanks for that.

Think it's a bit duplicitous of Kobo to state use of SD card to increase memory without stating that DRM books can't be used on it.

Steve

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 11:44 AM

Can I store the books on the SD card, then import them to the Kobo when I want to read them without using a computer?

I haven't got an SD card yet to play around with.

JD Gumby · 08-13-2012, 01:07 PM

No. You pretty much have to use Adobe Digital Editions to place the DRMed ePub (which includes DRMed ePubs downloaded [.ascm files, actually - Adobe would then download the actual ePub] via the Web from Kobo, if you don't want to use the Kobo desktop software or sync your device with Kobo) on your device. Some books on Kobo have DRM-free versions. *THOSE* you could download manually from your account page on Kobo's site, place them on your microSD card, and have no problem reading them on

In short: there is no way to put DRMed ePubs on your microSD card and have them be readable by any model of Kobo ereader.

(it may be different with Android devices - I hear that later versions of Android make no distinction between the internal card and external cards, because Google loves making things more complicated than they need to be :/, but even there you would NOT be able to transfer the card between different devices and have the files be readable)

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 01:12 PM

Starting to understand why DRM is such a mess.....

Unbelievable that I cannot store a book I have purchased where I want to store it.

Joe563 · 08-13-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

In short: there is no way to put DRMed ePubs on your microSD card and have them be readable by any model of Kobo ereader.

This is not correct. I have purchased DRMed ePubs from both the Sony store and BooksOnBoard and have put them on both my Kobo original and my Kobo Touch and I can read them. I used Windows Explorer to transfer the ePubs to the microSD card. It is only true that you cannot use ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) to place DRMed ePubs on a microSD card.

Chocky · 08-13-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe563

This is not correct. I have purchased DRMed ePubs from both the Sony store and BooksOnBoard and have put them on both my Kobo original and my Kobo Touch and I can read them. I used Windows Explorer to transfer the ePubs to the microSD card. It is only true that you cannot use ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) to place DRMed ePubs on a microSD card.

So even if I got an eBook from Waterstones and had to use ADE to get them on my KT, I can use Windows Explorer to just move them to the SD card and then be able to read them from there?

Thanks,

Steve

Joe563 · 08-13-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocky

So even if I got an eBook from Waterstones and had to use ADE to get them on my KT, I can use Windows Explorer to just move them to the SD card and then be able to read them from there?

Thanks,

Steve

The process I use is to create the ePub file from the downloaded ACSM file using ADE and then use Windows Explorer to copy the ePub to the microSD card. The copying can be done either directly when your KT is attached to your computer via the USB cable or indirectly by using your computer's card reader. In principle, you should also be able to use Calibre to transfer the ePub to your KT. Finally, I suspect that moving an ePub from the Kobo main memory to the microSD card might cause problems but since I have not tried that I do not have a definitive answer.

Chocky · 08-14-2012, 09:36 AM

Thanks to PeterT all sorted now.

Will try on next DRM book purchase to see if using Windows Explorer works for me.

Thanks again,

Steve

Chocky · 08-15-2012, 04:03 AM

I also asked Kobo support and they cam back pretty quickly stating,

"As for all your third party books, you should be able to place them on an SD cards.
We at Kobo do not make SD cards -- you will have to purchase one at an electronic store.

The SD card should state what file formats are good on it.
If it does not, please just ask someone who works there, and they should know.

I see no reason why DRM books should not work on it."

So there you go.

Steve

08-13-2012, 05:11 AM	#1
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Micro SD Card not supporting DRM? Looking at the Touch manual it states "You can’t add DRM-protected books using a microSD card." Does this mean that if I use Calibre to add books to the SD card ans they are DRM, (as they all are), then the KT will not recognise them? Can't believe only non DRM books can be on the SD card. Thought I should say that it's not the quantity of books, rather that if I have to do a factory reset when away from home I do not want to lose all of my books. Thanks, Steve Last edited by Chocky; 08-13-2012 at 05:24 AM.

08-13-2012, 01:07 PM	#9
JD Gumby Cynical Old Curmudgeon Posts: 1,085 Karma: 8495696 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Kobo Arc, HTC Desire C	No. You pretty much have to use Adobe Digital Editions to place the DRMed ePub (which includes DRMed ePubs downloaded [.ascm files, actually - Adobe would then download the actual ePub] via the Web from Kobo, if you don't want to use the Kobo desktop software or sync your device with Kobo) on your device. Some books on Kobo have DRM-free versions. THOSE you could download manually from your account page on Kobo's site, place them on your microSD card, and have no problem reading them on In short: there is no way to put DRMed ePubs on your microSD card and have them be readable by any model of Kobo ereader. (it may be different with Android devices - I hear that later versions of Android make no distinction between the internal card and external cards, because Google loves making things more complicated than they need to be :/, but even there you would NOT be able to transfer the card between different devices and have the files be readable) Last edited by JD Gumby; 08-13-2012 at 01:09 PM.

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08-13-2012, 06:04 AM	#2
murg No Comment Posts: 3,240 Karma: 23878043 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Australia Device: Kobo: Not just an eReader, it's an adventure!	You actually read the manual?

08-13-2012, 06:23 AM	#3
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	This one little bit about SD cards, before I bought one, (SD card that is), yes.....

08-13-2012, 07:51 AM	#4
JD Gumby Cynical Old Curmudgeon Posts: 1,085 Karma: 8495696 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Kobo Arc, HTC Desire C	The external card is not considered part of the device, therefore can't really be taken into account for DRM authorization, which is tied to the device when you create your Adobe Digital Editions account (you'll note if you use ADE that it won't let you drag & drop to your card, only to the Kobo itself; ADE also won't show anything that wasn't added to the device by the program itself). If you want to transfer those books to a different device, you'll have to hook that device up to ADE, authorize, then drag & drop 'em from the ADE interface.

08-13-2012, 10:59 AM	#5
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Er, I think I understand that. So how do I put eBooks onto the SD card and be able to read them? Thanks, Steve

08-13-2012, 11:03 AM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,505 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Well.... If the SD Card does not support usage of DRM then maybe you put DRM free books on the SD Card! Try Googling on Apprentice Alf, but then remember, we can't discuss DRM removal OR Apprentice Alf's tools here.

08-13-2012, 11:15 AM	#7
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	OK thanks for that. Think it's a bit duplicitous of Kobo to state use of SD card to increase memory without stating that DRM books can't be used on it. Steve

08-13-2012, 11:44 AM	#8
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Can I store the books on the SD card, then import them to the Kobo when I want to read them without using a computer? I haven't got an SD card yet to play around with.

08-13-2012, 01:12 PM	#10
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Starting to understand why DRM is such a mess..... Unbelievable that I cannot store a book I have purchased where I want to store it.

08-14-2012, 09:36 AM	#14
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	Thanks to PeterT all sorted now. Will try on next DRM book purchase to see if using Windows Explorer works for me. Thanks again, Steve

08-15-2012, 04:03 AM	#15
Chocky Addict Posts: 359 Karma: 162138 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo Touch	I also asked Kobo support and they cam back pretty quickly stating, "As for all your third party books, you should be able to place them on an SD cards. We at Kobo do not make SD cards -- you will have to purchase one at an electronic store. The SD card should state what file formats are good on it. If it does not, please just ask someone who works there, and they should know. I see no reason why DRM books should not work on it." So there you go. Steve

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