Overdrive syncing (or not)?

WilburMcG · 02-23-2015, 11:06 AM

As a new ebook reader I have enjoyed free ebooks from my local library via Overdrive. I have the Overdrive app on my iPad where I read the most, but occasionally open the book on a Windows PC at work and read on my breaks. Supposedly Overdrive syncs to keep your place but I can't ever get the Windows browser view to work. I have to go hunt down where I left off.

Am I using it wrong? Is there a better way to read these on my Windows PC that will keep it sync'd witth my Overdrive app?

Purple Lady · 02-23-2015, 01:08 PM

The Overdrive app syncs using an account you sign up for within the app. I don't see anywhere in the website to sign into your account, so it looks like you can't sync between the app and the web.

One thing I did notice is that when you read on the web you can search within the book. The Overdrive app for Android doesn't have that which is ridiculous. I started reading in another app on my tablet and wanted to switch to Overdrive app, but I couldn't because I couldn't search for a word to find my place. The book has main chapter TOC links and the main chapters can be hundreds of pages so I couldn't find my place that way. Does the iPad app have search?

WilburMcG · 02-23-2015, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

The Overdrive app syncs using an account you sign up for within the app. I don't see anywhere in the website to sign into your account, so it looks like you can't sync between the app and the web.

I do sign in to the web part. it forces me to sign in via my sponsoring library (using my library card). I assume it knows who I am this way?

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 01:50 PM

No that is your local library account, not an OverDrive ADE account.

WilburMcG · 02-23-2015, 04:51 PM

I am not sure what other Overdrive account I am supposed to have. To read my book (at least on my PC) I:

go to my library's website
follow the link to Overdrive
enter my library card #
select book in my Overdrive 'Bookshelf'
click Read In My Browser

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 05:01 PM

That is not an OverDrive account, and that DEFINITELY isn't an OverDrive App account.

You cannot sync anything between OverDrive Read and the OverDrive Media Console. They are two fundamentally different systems.

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 05:05 PM

http://app.overdrive.com <-- All supported devices. Links. Downloads. Read this. Like now.

pidgeon92 · 02-23-2015, 05:17 PM

I just watched the Overdrive Read video, and it should work the way you're expecting it to work. You should be able to open the book in your web browser after you log into your library account, then close the ebook, and when you open the ebook on your iPad it should open to the correct page, assuming your iPad is connected to the internet.

Purple Lady · 02-23-2015, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilburMcG

I am not sure what other Overdrive account I am supposed to have. To read my book (at least on my PC) I:

go to my library's website
follow the link to Overdrive
enter my library card #
select book in my Overdrive 'Bookshelf'
click Read In My Browser

The Overdrive account I was talking about is in the Overdrive app. I checked the link from eschwartz and it says it syncs between tablets and phones only. In order to do that syncing it uses the account in my screen print. There is no login for that Overdrive account on your library Overdrive website.

pidgeon92 · 02-23-2015, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

The Overdrive account I was talking about is in the Overdrive app. I checked the link from eschwartz and it says it syncs between tablets and phones only. In order to do that syncing it uses the account in my screen print. There is no login for that Overdrive account on your library Overdrive website.

The video for Overdrive Read distinctly says otherwise, at about 1:57. It should work. That said, I've downloaded a book onto my Overdrive app on my iPad, read a dozen pages, tried opening it in Overdrive Read on my iMac, and it didn't sync. I feel there is a step missing somewhere in their explanation, or this feature plain doesn't work. I'm going to keep messing with it.

Purple Lady · 02-23-2015, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

The video for Overdrive Read distinctly says otherwise, at about 1:57. It should work. That said, I've downloaded a book onto my Overdrive app on my iPad, read a dozen pages, tried opening it in Overdrive Read on my iMac, and it didn't sync. I feel there is a step missing somewhere in their explanation, or this feature plain doesn't work. I'm going to keep messing with it.

The video says you can use Overdrive Read from another device and have it sync, not sync with the Overdrive app.

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 06:08 PM

Really, how do they connect your OverDrive App account to your library login then?
I didn't watch the video though. (I am on my ereader.

)

I did note with interest that it should be supported on Windows 8 devices, also there is a Windows program (as in, not Metro) which apparently does something.

WilburMcG · 02-23-2015, 06:22 PM

So....it appears the iPad app knows who I am because I have a login I created. But the Windows browser access through my library doesn't require this same ID. They both have my library ID in common, and require it, but somehow do not sync even though both my app and windows access use the same Bookshelf!

I do see a Windows app listed, perhaps I will give that a try and see if it syncs better.

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 06:30 PM

Logging into the library on the app is not for syncing, it is for checking out the book. The book is then sent to the app, which uses a different system altogether.

49Kat · 02-23-2015, 08:02 PM

I use Overdrive on three Apple devices. The help section says, "When you signed in, your progress and bookmarks in books and videos are automatically saved to the cloud so you can pick up where you left off on other devices. Just sign in on each device you want to use."

I am signed into the same account on 3 devices, books downloaded, and the sync doesn't work for me.

02-23-2015, 11:06 AM	#1
WilburMcG Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: iPad	Overdrive syncing (or not)? As a new ebook reader I have enjoyed free ebooks from my local library via Overdrive. I have the Overdrive app on my iPad where I read the most, but occasionally open the book on a Windows PC at work and read on my breaks. Supposedly Overdrive syncs to keep your place but I can't ever get the Windows browser view to work. I have to go hunt down where I left off. Am I using it wrong? Is there a better way to read these on my Windows PC that will keep it sync'd witth my Overdrive app?

02-23-2015, 04:51 PM	#5
WilburMcG Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: iPad	I am not sure what other Overdrive account I am supposed to have. To read my book (at least on my PC) I: go to my library's website follow the link to Overdrive enter my library card # select book in my Overdrive 'Bookshelf' click Read In My Browser

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02-23-2015, 01:08 PM	#2
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	The Overdrive app syncs using an account you sign up for within the app. I don't see anywhere in the website to sign into your account, so it looks like you can't sync between the app and the web. One thing I did notice is that when you read on the web you can search within the book. The Overdrive app for Android doesn't have that which is ridiculous. I started reading in another app on my tablet and wanted to switch to Overdrive app, but I couldn't because I couldn't search for a word to find my place. The book has main chapter TOC links and the main chapters can be hundreds of pages so I couldn't find my place that way. Does the iPad app have search?

02-23-2015, 01:50 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	No that is your local library account, not an OverDrive ADE account.

02-23-2015, 05:01 PM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	That is not an OverDrive account, and that DEFINITELY isn't an OverDrive App account. You cannot sync anything between OverDrive Read and the OverDrive Media Console. They are two fundamentally different systems.

02-23-2015, 05:05 PM	#7
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	http://app.overdrive.com <-- All supported devices. Links. Downloads. Read this. Like now.

02-23-2015, 05:17 PM	#8
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I just watched the Overdrive Read video, and it should work the way you're expecting it to work. You should be able to open the book in your web browser after you log into your library account, then close the ebook, and when you open the ebook on your iPad it should open to the correct page, assuming your iPad is connected to the internet.

02-23-2015, 06:08 PM	#12
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Really, how do they connect your OverDrive App account to your library login then? I didn't watch the video though. (I am on my ereader. ) I did note with interest that it should be supported on Windows 8 devices, also there is a Windows program (as in, not Metro) which apparently does something.

02-23-2015, 06:22 PM	#13
WilburMcG Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: iPad	So....it appears the iPad app knows who I am because I have a login I created. But the Windows browser access through my library doesn't require this same ID. They both have my library ID in common, and require it, but somehow do not sync even though both my app and windows access use the same Bookshelf! I do see a Windows app listed, perhaps I will give that a try and see if it syncs better.

02-23-2015, 06:30 PM	#14
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Logging into the library on the app is not for syncing, it is for checking out the book. The book is then sent to the app, which uses a different system altogether.

02-23-2015, 08:02 PM	#15
49Kat Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 1309104 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: BC,Canada/NV, USA Device: iPad 9th Gen, iPhone 11, Paperwhite 10th Gen.	I use Overdrive on three Apple devices. The help section says, "When you signed in, your progress and bookmarks in books and videos are automatically saved to the cloud so you can pick up where you left off on other devices. Just sign in on each device you want to use." I am signed into the same account on 3 devices, books downloaded, and the sync doesn't work for me.

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