kobobooks.com Review

ladyoflorien · 09-05-2014, 06:20 PM

There are now books in the Kobobooks store that can only be downloaded using Kobo's proprietary reader software. I am in the process of getting a refund for Andy Weir's "The Martian" and John Scalzi's "Lock In" because first, I don't like being forced to use specific software and second, their helpdesk is worse than useless. The support staff at Kobobooks will tell you that your reader does not support the epub3 format which has nothing to do with the issue and the staff won't let you get a word in edgewise to correct them. To test, you can load the kobobooks reader software on your computer, download an excerpt, and then open that file in any reader product you like such as Calibre or on your eReader. I will purchase the ebooks again from a retailer, such as Google, that so far isn't trying to force me to use software specific to their brand. I will never buy a book from Kobobooks again.

PeterT · 09-05-2014, 06:35 PM

This is not new... This has been an ongoing issue for at least a year, if not two now.

Originally one could tell fairly easily what format a book was in via the website however, when the site was redesigned the easy means ceased to exist.

One option that often does work is to use an optional tool from Apprentice Alf to strip the DRM from Kobo kEpubs, and then apart from the multitude of <span>s they contain they are readable as DRM free ePubs.

Marbles · 09-05-2014, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

This is not new... This has been an ongoing issue for at least a year, if not two now.

Originally one could tell fairly easily what format a book was in via the website however, when the site was redesigned the easy means ceased to exist.

One option that often does work is to use an optional tool from Apprentice Alf to strip the DRM from Kobo kEpubs, and then apart from the multitude of <span>s they contain they are readable as DRM free ePubs.

That is true however with the new epubs from Kobo you can't even get them to the point that you can strip the DRM. They do not go to adobe you can only download to your kobo ereader or tablet app.

PeterT · 09-05-2014, 07:29 PM

Thats why I said an "Optional tool" from Alf that handled material downloaded via Kobo Desktop .....

AnemicOak · 09-05-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbles

That is true however with the new epubs from Kobo you can't even get them to the point that you can strip the DRM. They do not go to adobe you can only download to your kobo ereader or tablet app.

You can de-DRM them and clean them to make an ePub file just fine. It's slightly more involved than and Adobe DRM'd ePub, but not that much.

RZetlin · 09-05-2014, 08:35 PM

All I can say is obok.

Marbles · 09-05-2014, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

You can de-DRM them and clean them to make an ePub file just fine. It's slightly more involved than and Adobe DRM'd ePub, but not that much.

Could you pm me so that I can find put how this is done. Thanks. And sorry that I misspoke in my earlier post.

AnemicOak · 09-05-2014, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbles

Could you pm me so that I can find put how this is done. Thanks. And sorry that I misspoke in my earlier post.

Google "Apprentice Alf" and "obok". The comments section of Alf's blog has more info.

Sharkus · 09-06-2014, 11:20 AM

I have had a look at the two mentioned books, and the CA / US geo versions seem to be ePub3, and these don't provide the downloadable Adobe DRM version of the book. As to why, I have asked before and I cannot remember the exact answer, and I don't want to cause confusion by adding any speculation.

Interestingly, it does look like other Geo's get a non ePub3 version of the book, as they do list the Adobe DRM download option. It's a different publisher so perhaps that is why?

As has been mentioned, the "old" store did used to display the download options in the eBook Information section, and the "new" store does not display that information.

I have mentioned this a couple of times, as it does frustrate me, and it's not always guaranteed that the download is not present because the book is ePub 3, it could also be due to it being FXL (Fixed Layout - think comic books / read-along books). I was told that it is under investigation, but for obvious reasons I cannot say any more than that.

doubleshuffle · 09-06-2014, 11:24 AM

About a year ago I complained to Kobo about the missing book format information in the new store and was told it would soon be brought back. LOL.

ShellShock · 09-06-2014, 03:02 PM

A few days ago I did a Kobo survey they emailed to me, and I made sure to mention that the web site should list the ebook format.

AnemicOak · 09-06-2014, 08:19 PM

They've known its an issue for folks since they launched the new site. There was a post on their blog about the new design when it launched, but instead of addressing all the comments about the format thing they just deleted them instead.

doubleshuffle · 09-10-2014, 04:34 PM

Now here's a weird case, which makes me think that Kobo are pushing their kepubs.

It's a German book that is offered by the publisher as a DRM-free epub - yet Kobo has it only as a kepub. Listen up, Kobo: this is a lost sale for you, and of an expenisve and non-discountable book to boot. Time to stop the kepub BS!

DNSB · 09-10-2014, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubleshuffle

Now here's a weird case, which makes me think that Kobo are pushing their kepubs.

It's a German book that is offered by the publisher as a DRM-free epub - yet Kobo has it only as a kepub. Listen up, Kobo: this is a lost sale for you, and of an expenisve and non-discountable book to boot. Time to stop the kepub BS!

I take it that you purchased the ebook and then found there was no epub download link in your library?

What I have noticed is that the last three ebooks that had the version in content.opf set to 3.0 were only offered as .kepub.epub presumably to use the epub3 compliant ACCESS renderer. The last one I picked up was a non-DRMed freebie and the only epub3 feature I could find was that it lacked the toc.ncx file and had a toc.xhtml file. Other than missing the TOC, it worked happily with DLReader on my PC. The other two did make use of epub3 features so some excuse there though the latest rendition of DLReader (based on the RMSDK code base) handles text direction and a few other epub3 features.

Regards,
David

JSWolf · 09-10-2014, 07:27 PM

All of the recent ePub 3 eBooks I've seen don't actually need to be ePub 3. There's nothing in them that cannot be done 100% as ePub 2. I don't know why publishers have to move to ePub 3 (when they don't need any ePub 3 features) when it would be better for comparability with older software to stay ePub 2.

If Kobo is automatically making a kepub when the system sees the eBook is ePub 3, then we are going to see a lot of lost sales there because of the increase of ePub 3 being made.

09-05-2014, 06:20 PM	#1
ladyoflorien Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Device: Kobo Aura One	kobobooks.com Review There are now books in the Kobobooks store that can only be downloaded using Kobo's proprietary reader software. I am in the process of getting a refund for Andy Weir's "The Martian" and John Scalzi's "Lock In" because first, I don't like being forced to use specific software and second, their helpdesk is worse than useless. The support staff at Kobobooks will tell you that your reader does not support the epub3 format which has nothing to do with the issue and the staff won't let you get a word in edgewise to correct them. To test, you can load the kobobooks reader software on your computer, download an excerpt, and then open that file in any reader product you like such as Calibre or on your eReader. I will purchase the ebooks again from a retailer, such as Google, that so far isn't trying to force me to use software specific to their brand. I will never buy a book from Kobobooks again.

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09-05-2014, 06:35 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,509 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	This is not new... This has been an ongoing issue for at least a year, if not two now. Originally one could tell fairly easily what format a book was in via the website however, when the site was redesigned the easy means ceased to exist. One option that often does work is to use an optional tool from Apprentice Alf to strip the DRM from Kobo kEpubs, and then apart from the multitude of <span>s they contain they are readable as DRM free ePubs.

09-05-2014, 07:29 PM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,509 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Thats why I said an "Optional tool" from Alf that handled material downloaded via Kobo Desktop .....

09-05-2014, 08:35 PM	#6
RZetlin Addict Posts: 383 Karma: 3461302 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura One, Kobo Glo, Kobo Aura HD (RIP)	All I can say is obok.

09-06-2014, 11:20 AM	#9
Sharkus Evangelist Posts: 444 Karma: 2269648 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo: Original, WiFi, Touch, Aura, Aura H20, MiniGloHD ;) iOS app	I have had a look at the two mentioned books, and the CA / US geo versions seem to be ePub3, and these don't provide the downloadable Adobe DRM version of the book. As to why, I have asked before and I cannot remember the exact answer, and I don't want to cause confusion by adding any speculation. Interestingly, it does look like other Geo's get a non ePub3 version of the book, as they do list the Adobe DRM download option. It's a different publisher so perhaps that is why? As has been mentioned, the "old" store did used to display the download options in the eBook Information section, and the "new" store does not display that information. I have mentioned this a couple of times, as it does frustrate me, and it's not always guaranteed that the download is not present because the book is ePub 3, it could also be due to it being FXL (Fixed Layout - think comic books / read-along books). I was told that it is under investigation, but for obvious reasons I cannot say any more than that.

09-06-2014, 11:24 AM	#10
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	About a year ago I complained to Kobo about the missing book format information in the new store and was told it would soon be brought back. LOL.

09-06-2014, 03:02 PM	#11
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,178 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	A few days ago I did a Kobo survey they emailed to me, and I made sure to mention that the web site should list the ebook format.

09-06-2014, 08:19 PM	#12
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	They've known its an issue for folks since they launched the new site. There was a post on their blog about the new design when it launched, but instead of addressing all the comments about the format thing they just deleted them instead.

09-10-2014, 04:34 PM	#13
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Now here's a weird case, which makes me think that Kobo are pushing their kepubs. It's a German book that is offered by the publisher as a DRM-free epub - yet Kobo has it only as a kepub. Listen up, Kobo: this is a lost sale for you, and of an expenisve and non-discountable book to boot. Time to stop the kepub BS!

09-10-2014, 07:27 PM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,741 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	All of the recent ePub 3 eBooks I've seen don't actually need to be ePub 3. There's nothing in them that cannot be done 100% as ePub 2. I don't know why publishers have to move to ePub 3 (when they don't need any ePub 3 features) when it would be better for comparability with older software to stay ePub 2. If Kobo is automatically making a kepub when the system sees the eBook is ePub 3, then we are going to see a lot of lost sales there because of the increase of ePub 3 being made.

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