B&N removed download option on all books in "My Nook" library

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Wait a minute - does this mean they've done something to actually prevent it from working even if you manage to download via Nook for PC? Or older downloaded files?

They haven't changed the actual DRM as far as I can tell (I just "safely backed up" newly DL'd copies via Nook for PC and they came through clean) but...? That statement is a bit disconcerting, because it makes this whole thing look like it might be even bigger than it appears to be.

That is the goal. They are trying to disconcert you so you don't realize they haven't actually stopped you from doing anything.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by cromag

It's a hassle, and they're making it much more of a hassle, but I still get gift cards from friends and family who know I like to read.

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Time to convince people to switch to paypal gift cards?

I hate it when people do this. Nook is so 2007.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Apache

How is this different from Amazon? I have to download my Amazon books to Kindle For PC and then load them into Calibre and convert them to epub.
Apache

Because B&N was popular for a while specifically because they *weren't* Amazon.

Now they have betrayed their trust and showed that they are merely a substandard Amazon.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by Apache

How is this different from Amazon? I have to download my Amazon books to Kindle For PC and then load them into Calibre and convert them to epub.
Apache

My fear is that this is the beginning of some larger change under the hood. As it is, I use NOOK for PC almost exclusively to download my books. I occasionally used the download button if I didn't want to reboot to Windows or something, but losing the download button is, for me, a minor annoyance. If I could be convinced that losing the download button is the only relevant change, I wouldn't worry about it and would go back to spending a bunch of money on B&N ebooks. As it is, though, I think I'll be waiting to see what settles out.

[Sarcasma]

I rarely shop at B&N after going through a ridiculously long wait for them to refund my money on a defective ebook. However, just this week I bought a book in order to use up the credit that had been sitting on my account. Today I saw this thread mentioned on Mobileread's FB. I immediately tried to get my latest purchase d/l into Nook for PC, as I have with other BN purchases in the past. No dice. Got hold of a polite CS guy at BN, who had me delete my original install of the Nook for PC application and reinstall from a link to a version that hasn't been updated since Nov 2011. Still wasn't able to d/l the latest book. I have it on my phone via the Nook app, and on my Kindle Fire (also via the Nook app), but it ticks me off that I'm not able to pull an Epub copy to add to my Calibre backup library. Interestingly, the CS guy had to go check with someone else to learn that d/l to PC is no longer allowed by BN. So they're not even telling their own people about this s**t!

This thread has been very helpful in offering alternative ideas to get my books into Calibre, so thank you very much to everyone who has posted suggestions. I'm so furious at BN right now, I can't see straight. It's like they are DETERMINED to drive themselves out of business! They just keep making one bone-headed decision after another. No doubt Amazon is cheering and lighting cigars with $100 bills.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by cromag

It's a hassle, and they're making it much more of a hassle, but I still get gift cards from friends and family who know I like to read.
...

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I hate it when people do this. Nook is so 2007.

Well, I have to cut 'em some slack. The folks I'm thinking of are even older than I, and probably don't know that I'm not buying "real" books.

Heck, they still call them "Gift Certificates!"

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

As long as you have the current information which is the name on the account and the credit card number, it will work to remove the DRM.

If you read my post carefully, you'd see that I already know that much. My concern is that the statement quoted specifically said that sideloading B&N-purchased content won't work.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I'd think Kobo is worse, since a KEPUB-only book is impossible to use elsewhere. At least B&N only requires you to use the Android app or an e-ink Nook, before sideloading.

I don't buy much from Kobo so I'm not aware of how pervasive the kepubbing is at this point. But from the way it looks, I think B&N are going to be moving to device IDs or similar, which will kill sideloading altogether and pretty much tie them up. When you warn people that sideloading won't work at all (even if it currently does) that's a pretty clear sign that things are getting locked down.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

That is the goal. They are trying to disconcert you so you don't realize they haven't actually stopped you from doing anything.

Yeah, I don't think they have done anything yet in that regard. I think they are just preparing people for "what is to come". Removing the download links was the first step. I'm not disconcerted, my stuff was already safe - today's downloads via Nook for PC was just an added measure. I am, however, rather fascinated by their apparent determination to spiral downhill even faster than they already were.

[oj829]

Originally Posted by taustin

Only if they haven't kept current on downloading copies. In which case, they'd have been screwed regardless. This cannot possibly affect my archives.

Yeah - my workflow has long been to 'tool' any title while the credit card is still warm, regardless of retailer. I've never doubted that ANY of these miserable SOBs would simply flick a switch one day and I'd only have "my" books as long as their servers and DRM system stayed up.

[melmac]

This makes me sad and hopping mad at the same time! Barnes and Noble was the first store that I geo jumped with at the time it was the easiest place to do it(before they added in IP checking) Due to that reason I purchased a lot of books with them. I then discovered how to do it at other places but B&N was always my first so close to the heart and now well.. Now I want to rally up the towns people and pitchforks !!

When are the content suppliers going to learn that the harder you make it to legitimately acquire media the more likely people will source it from 'other' places. They've had plenty of past examples to learn from music, videos etc *headshake* I had better get off this rant as I'm just wasting my breathe they're too busy building fences to realise that the majority just want to give them their money

I do implore everyone in this thread to send an email, facebook, or tweet or better still all 3 while it won't change their minds(too hard what with them being buried in the sand) but at the very least they will know exactly how much they've ticked off their customers.

RIP B&N

[oj829]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I'd think Kobo is worse, since a KEPUB-only book is impossible to use elsewhere. At least B&N only requires you to use the Android app or an e-ink Nook, before sideloading.

I've successfully used [deleted] on kepubs, so I still buy from Kobo without worrying about the occasional KEPUB library bomb. But that solution relies on use of the Kobo desktop app, and I got the impression from a few comments in this thread that Kobo is getting rid of the desktop app. I've always hated it, so I guess the lesson is: "Be careful what you wish for."

[DBDigital]

I am in total shock at this. One of the REASONS I went with B&N at the start (Nook Classic) was because of the sideloading ability and I could back up my books. I knew that if B&N went down, I would still have the content I paid for.

I never thought they would pull this stunt, especially when they are not doing well at all. Sure they have made some mistakes, but I thought they were actually learning and on the possible upswing. Well this shows I was wrong. Dead wrong. They are going down and fast. I don't see nook lasting another year.

The thing is if they are trying to block backing up, that is one of the largest things anyone with a computer will tell you to do. Glitches happen and OFTEN. Here is a example I recently had a Nook Classic (love the first device the most for simple reading) reset itself for no reason. Factory reset, it went back to v1.2 of the software when it had 1.6. Wiped out everything stored on it as well. Sure I have a backup BUT if it was a nook color, nook NT, Nook HD, Simple Touch, etc I wouldn't have been able to back up those books (well unless you rooted).

Again this is really really surprising. Especially considering the music industry changed removing DRM for the most part, yet they have learned NOTHING. Here we are with books and they are trying the same ole things again. Doubt I will be buying any more nooks after this. Might still get books until Nook for PC stops working, and I shall make sure everything is backed up. But the hardware no way. I don't like their new tablet, nor the Nookglow without a SD card slot.

Just when you think they can't screw things up any more, they do it again.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by melmac

T

I do implore everyone in this thread to send an email, facebook, or tweet or better still all 3 while it won't change their minds(too hard what with them being buried in the sand) but at the very least they will know exactly how much they've ticked off their customers.

RIP B&N

They have sand in their ass?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by oj829

I've successfully used obok on kepubs, so I still buy from Kobo without worrying about the occasional KEPUB library bomb. But that solution relies on use of the Kobo desktop app, and I got the impression from a few comments in this thread that Kobo is getting rid of the desktop app. I've always hated it, so I guess the lesson is: "Be careful what you wish for."

I've heard of [deleted]. I've also heard it is the kind of thing where you really do have to ask if it worked. Also somewhat hard to find?

The Amazon/B&N/ADE tools are all easily found and used, so [deleted] was never viewed as important. Until things changed.

And B&N is still better in comparison.

[gojisube]

When I saw this thread, I realized some of the free ebooks I had at BN were no longer on my PC. Most likely slipped my mind to download them in to Adobe Digital Editions. I haven't gotten any ebooks from BN in over 2 years, so I figured it would be interesting to find out what type of answers I'd get from BN. I had a most wonderful time using the BN chat to ask how I was supposed to download and transfer an ebook to my Pocketbook.

After first getting disconnected while being transferred from book to NOOK chat, the second person, after asking for the order number for the ebook (the order status only goes back 18 months and the book was from 2012), gave the pat answer about no longer offering sideloading since 9/17/14 and quickly signed off. I then signed back in and pasted her response as my question, and surprisingly got the same person. After I asked again how to download, she proceeded to give instructions on how to delete the adobe folder from my NOOK (which I've never had), and then how to find NOOK for PC on my computer (which I didn't have) and finally how to transfer from NOOK for PC to my NOOK. I realized she was telling me I needed NOOK for PC.

While still chatting I searched bn.com for NOOK for PC, and could only find the Windows 8 app. While she was searching for the information for me, I found the link in this thread, downloaded and installed it, and got the meager number of BN ebooks I have downloaded before she ever gave me an answer. Turns out I had never downloaded 8 of the 14 titles I had at BN.

It was much fun, and I highly recommend it for the giggles.

[crich70]

Sarcasma: No doubt Amazon is cheering and lighting cigars with $100 bills.

Why be cheap? Bezos can probably afford to light his cigars with $1000.00 bills at the least with how wealthy he is.