OSX Support & DRM Nonsence

hudsong · 09-28-2007, 08:51 PM

Will the Cybook work on OSX? I didn't see any Q/A about this when I searched, though I may have missed it.

delphidb96 · 09-28-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudsong

Will the Cybook work on OSX? I didn't see any Q/A about this when I searched, though I may have missed it.

Should. If you can run Mobipocket Desktop Reader under it, you should be able to register the Cybook. I've not got a Mac to be sure, but we will be testing just that as soon as possible. Until then, it's just a guess.

Derek

wallcraft · 09-29-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Should. If you can run Mobipocket Desktop Reader under it, you should be able to register the Cybook.

MobiPocket is aggressively Windows-centric on the desktop. They have no software at all for OSX or Linux. This means that you can't used MobiPocket Desktop Reader to manage your secure .mobi files (which need an ID from each device you want to read the file on encoded into the file's DRM). However, you can manually register your devices. Once the .mobi (.prc) file has been generated for your device ID it is just a file and can be handled like other files.

The Cybook isn't only for DRM-infested .mobi books, and the normal way to transfer any content from any desktop machine to the Cybook is via USB - with the Cybook showing up as a USB filesystem. For some devices (I'm not sure if this will include the Cybook) MobiPocket Desktop Reader also manages the transfer of .mobi files to the device - but it isn't doing anything that can't be done manually.

Finally, some file formats that MobiPocket (not Cybook) advertises as "supported" by their reader software actually gets translated into a .mobi file by Windows-only software (MobiPocket Desktop Reader or MobiPocket Desktop Creator). In this case, third party software may be able to do an equally good job of the translation - and are your only option on non-Windows machines.

JSWolf · 09-29-2007, 12:44 AM

How do you find out what the PID is for your Cybook Gen3?

delphidb96 · 09-29-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How do you find out what the PID is for your Cybook Gen3?

We'll find out shortly. I've got two Secure Mobipocket ebooks -1 Fictionwise purchase and 1 Mobipocket purchase - that I'm hoping to read on my Cybook as soon as I get the proper updated firmware. No, I don't know what the process is or what the status of implementing the 'register of the Cybook' is.

Sorry.

Derek

hudsong · 09-29-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

MobiPocket is aggressively Windows-centric on the desktop. They have no software at all for OSX or Linux. This means that you can't used MobiPocket Desktop Reader to manage your secure .mobi files (which need an ID from each device you want to read the file on encoded into the file's DRM). However, you can manually register your devices. Once the .mobi (.prc) file has been generated for your device ID it is just a file and can be handled like other files.

The Cybook isn't only for DRM-infested .mobi books, and the normal way to transfer any content from any desktop machine to the Cybook is via USB - with the Cybook showing up as a USB filesystem. For some devices (I'm not sure if this will include the Cybook) MobiPocket Desktop Reader also manages the transfer of .mobi files to the device - but it isn't doing anything that can't be done manually.

Finally, some file formats that MobiPocket (not Cybook) advertises as "supported" by their reader software actually gets translated into a .mobi file by Windows-only software (MobiPocket Desktop Reader or MobiPocket Desktop Creator). In this case, third party software may be able to do an equally good job of the translation - and are your only option on non-Windows machines.

Ok, so since I won't be using the DRM'd "Mobi" books, but I will be using PDFs/RTF files, it sounds like the Cybook will be usable as if it were just any other USB device with storable memory (ipod, flash drive etc etc)?

HarryT · 09-29-2007, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudsong

Will the Cybook work on OSX? I didn't see any Q/A about this when I searched, though I may have missed it.

I believe that it just appears as a USB mass storage device. Should work fine with Mac, Linux, whatever.

JSWolf · 09-29-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

We'll find out shortly. I've got two Secure Mobipocket ebooks -1 Fictionwise purchase and 1 Mobipocket purchase - that I'm hoping to read on my Cybook as soon as I get the proper updated firmware. No, I don't know what the process is or what the status of implementing the 'register of the Cybook' is.

Sorry.

Derek

So how do you purchase a MobiPocket format book now for your Cybook? Either you have to know your PID or you have to have software to allow you to make the purchase. If you are using MobiPocket Desktop for Windows, then there is a place that shows your reading devices and their PID. Plug in the Cybook and have a look and see if it shows. If it shows, then I know for sure you can use a MAC or Linux to purchase Mobi format books from some vendors at least.

HarryT · 09-29-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So how do you purchase a MobiPocket format book now for your Cybook? Either you have to know your PID or you have to have software to allow you to make the purchase. If you are using MobiPocket Desktop for Windows, then there is a place that shows your reading devices and their PID. Plug in the Cybook and have a look and see if it shows. If it shows, then I know for sure you can use a MAC or Linux to purchase Mobi format books from some vendors at least.

Mobi haven't yet released a version of the Desktop Reader which supports the CyBook; it'll be supported in the next release.

On most versions of the MobiPocket Reader, the device ID is shown in the "Help/About" menu item. On the iLiad, the device itself generates a text file containing the ID from the MAC address.

delphidb96 · 09-29-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So how do you purchase a MobiPocket format book now for your Cybook? Either you have to know your PID or you have to have software to allow you to make the purchase. If you are using MobiPocket Desktop for Windows, then there is a place that shows your reading devices and their PID. Plug in the Cybook and have a look and see if it shows. If it shows, then I know for sure you can use a MAC or Linux to purchase Mobi format books from some vendors at least.

Well... First thing is that I've already *registered* my WinPC and my Dell PocketPC with Mobi and Fictionwise. So I'm just waiting for Mobi (which I hope will happen soon) to add Cybook to its list and post a 'registration' software plugin for the Cybook.

And, yes, to answer an earlier post, the Cybook appears as a USB removable mass-storage device when I plug it in. No need to run a special application.

Derek

hudsong · 09-29-2007, 09:20 PM

That's great, seems much more elegant than the Sony's required software.

HarryT · 09-30-2007, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Well... First thing is that I've already *registered* my WinPC and my Dell PocketPC with Mobi and Fictionwise. So I'm just waiting for Mobi (which I hope will happen soon) to add Cybook to its list and post a 'registration' software plugin for the Cybook.

Hi Derek,

Are you sure that the MobiPocket ID of the CyBook isn't displayed anywhere within the CyBook itself? That's where I would have expected to see it? It's not in a file somewhere, or on an "About" menu?

andym · 09-30-2007, 04:08 AM

Hudsong

I have Mobipocket on a pda with OSX on my laptop. The Mobipocket PDA software told me what the PID of the device was - I then went to their website and registered it. It took as long as it takes to fill in the form to set up an account. It would be exzpect that Mobipocket on the CyBook would work in the same way. But if you're concerned why don't you contact Bookeen direct at : contact@bookeen.com

delphidb96 · 09-30-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Hi Derek,

Are you sure that the MobiPocket ID of the CyBook isn't displayed anywhere within the CyBook itself? That's where I would have expected to see it? It's not in a file somewhere, or on an "About" menu?

That's a good question. The answer is "I don't know". And the reason I don't know is there is no "About" menu on the Cybook - at least not in version 0.91 of the firmware. I've gone through the files I *can* access while it's hooked up and I can't find anything like that. Of course, I'm not a Mobi 'expert' and I could be staring at it in one or two of the files without even recognizing it for what it may be.

Derek

wallcraft · 09-30-2007, 01:08 PM

On the iLiad the PID is in a file named Mobipocket_PID.txt in the root directory that is exported via USB. This file is created the first time the iLiad MobiPocket Reader is opened.

On the Pepper Pad 3 (running a version of the same Java-based reader as the iLiad) the PID is under the "settings" top level menu tab in the reader.

09-28-2007, 08:51 PM	#1
hudsong Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Razr	OSX Support & DRM Nonsence Will the Cybook work on OSX? I didn't see any Q/A about this when I searched, though I may have missed it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ePub & PDF decryption on Mac OSX	edembowski	ePub	195	02-25-2011 04:13 AM
Which devices support B&N DRM	bill_mchale	Which one should I buy?	7	08-24-2010 11:18 AM
Removing adobe DRM for Mac Osx	dombev	Amazon Kindle	2	05-28-2010 12:40 AM
Sony ereader & Mac OSX	brockman	Introduce Yourself	10	07-24-2009 03:37 PM
Help with HandStory & Mac OSX!	daught	Reading and Management	7	01-22-2004 12:44 PM

09-29-2007, 12:44 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,621 Karma: 145864263 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	How do you find out what the PID is for your Cybook Gen3?

09-29-2007, 09:20 PM	#11
hudsong Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Razr	That's great, seems much more elegant than the Sony's required software.

09-30-2007, 04:08 AM	#13
andym Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 793 Join Date: Oct 2006	Hudsong I have Mobipocket on a pda with OSX on my laptop. The Mobipocket PDA software told me what the PID of the device was - I then went to their website and registered it. It took as long as it takes to fill in the form to set up an account. It would be exzpect that Mobipocket on the CyBook would work in the same way. But if you're concerned why don't you contact Bookeen direct at : contact@bookeen.com

09-30-2007, 01:08 PM	#15
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	On the iLiad the PID is in a file named Mobipocket_PID.txt in the root directory that is exported via USB. This file is created the first time the iLiad MobiPocket Reader is opened. On the Pepper Pad 3 (running a version of the same Java-based reader as the iLiad) the PID is under the "settings" top level menu tab in the reader.

Advert

Advert