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

[dandelioncottage]

From the moderator of the Nook Talk Forum at Barnes & Noble Book Clubs on the B&N site:

Re: What happened to Download option in My Nook? [ New ]
an hour ago

Hi all,

Sorry for the confusion and any inconvenience this may cause. As you see by now, the ability to download from the NOOK® website and then sideload certain NOOK eBooks has been discontinued. This was done as part of a recent security update.

However, content that has previously been downloaded can continue to be sideloaded to NOOK devices. Also, you can continue to access all of your purchased content through the NOOK Library® on any NOOK device or Free NOOK Reading App™ as you've always been able to do.

Additionally, customers can also continue to sideload other supported file formats.

Hope this helps!

- Alex

[Ripplinger]

That is the dumbest reason ever. They let you download it to your Nook readers and to your PC using their software. That means it's on your computer and readers already to do whatever they want with and move it wherever they want.

How exactly do they think they made anything secure? Do they really think people are that stupid as to not be able to find a book on their computer or their reader and then sideload it where they want?

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Do they really think people are that stupid as to not be able to find a book on their computer or their reader and then sideload it where they want?

Heh. My thoughts, too. Sounds like a big heaping, steaming pile of publisher placation to me.

"Security update", my a$$.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by dandelioncottage

However, content that has previously been downloaded can continue to be sideloaded to NOOK devices.

Unless of course your pc died and you lost the download then you are just out of luck.

[Blossom]

I think the best thing we can do about this is to let our voice be heard I wouldn't call and do it or email it needs to be public like their Nook Facebook page and Twitter pages. Make sure you let them know they've lost you as a customer. If some media could carry the story the better as they did this quietly without warning.

I've been thinking about this. If this was some other store it wouldn't matter but this is B&N not some small ebook store. It's always been Kindle vs Nook. If we let them get away with this then more stores could follow this pattern to where you will be left with app or device reading only.

Right now you can sideload but I am sure this is only a step before they fix it to where you no longer can.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Heh. My thoughts, too. Sounds like a big heaping, steaming pile of publisher placation to me.

"Security update", my a$$.

"Security update" would make sense if they'd discovered there was a way to download stuff you haven't paid for. And, given that this is B&N, that's entirely possible.

More likely it has to do with upcoming changes to DRM, though.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by taustin

"Security update" would make sense if they'd discovered there was a way to download stuff you haven't paid for. And, given that this is B&N, that's entirely possible.

More likely it has to do with upcoming changes to DRM, though.

I can understand them wanting to protect their product against someone downloading a book without properly paying for it, but making such a change in how paying customers can access their purchases like they did without saying anything to their customers is just wrong. I mean they can send out emails regarding bargains that the customer might like to buy with no trouble so why couldn't they send out a special email to their customers or put something up on the home page that tells about it? Preferably before they made the change so people would know about it. That would have been the courteous thing to do. I remember a few yrs back when Amazon pulled books off (I think it was 1984) that people had bought not realizing the seller didn't have the right to sell that particular title. People were outraged that something they had paid for legally was taken away from them. Granted the situation is a bit different here, but still the principle of courtesy is the same.

[khalleron]

Well, they never DID move my Fictionwise purchases over, so this doesn't affect me personally (hah!) but I certainly wouldn't be buying ebooks from them anymore.

More business for Kobo and Google Books, I reckon.

[Blossom]

I left them a goodbye letter on their Facebook page. A few others have too. The more the better. I also told them I am boycotting their physical books (yes some of us still buy those) and their B&M store as well.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by crich70

I can understand them wanting to protect their product against someone downloading a book without properly paying for it, but making such a change in how paying customers can access their purchases like they did without saying anything to their customers is just wrong. I mean they can send out emails regarding bargains that the customer might like to buy with no trouble so why couldn't they send out a special email to their customers or put something up on the home page that tells about it? Preferably before they made the change so people would know about it. That would have been the courteous thing to do. I remember a few yrs back when Amazon pulled books off (I think it was 1984) that people had bought not realizing the seller didn't have the right to sell that particular title. People were outraged that something they had paid for legally was taken away from them. Granted the situation is a bit different here, but still the principle of courtesy is the same.

I think you are unfamiliar with the profound incompetence that B&N can show at times, in virtually all aspects of their business. Assuming my wild-assed speculation is correct (and I don't think it is), the following would be the result:

First, it interferes with legitimate customers' using their purchases.

Second, the unannounced nature of the change has seriously damaged their relationship with their customers.

Third, as the Greasmonkey script shows, it doesn't actually stop you from downloading squat.

But it has the earmarks of a panic stricken, hastily thrown together fix to a problem they just discovered. It's plausible that's the "security fix" they're referring to, but highly unlikely.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by taustin

I think you are unfamiliar with the profound incompetence that B&N can show at times, in virtually all aspects of their business. Assuming my wild-assed speculation is correct (and I don't think it is), the following would be the result:

First, it interferes with legitimate customers' using their purchases.

Second, the unannounced nature of the change has seriously damaged their relationship with their customers.

Third, as the Greasmonkey script shows, it doesn't actually stop you from downloading squat.

But it has the earmarks of a panic stricken, hastily thrown together fix to a problem they just discovered. It's plausible that's the "security fix" they're referring to, but highly unlikely.

I think they just don't want to support the platform, period. It's always been a bit buggy and they probably figure/hope/stupidly guess that it "forces" people to buy a device. I know the one time I downloaded it, it was nothing but problems. That's not to say that it never worked, but it's not a money maker for them. So any excuse to deep-six it. I'm sure some marketing person somewhere thinks it is a brilliant move. NO one bothers to ask customers how they may or may not use a feature/app. Couple that with publishers who keep trying to LIMIT options and potty mark/lock documents, and you have this sort of things happen. And don't get me wrong. I am first in line when it comes to being against piracy/illegal file sharing. But you have to let the customer actually access and use the product or you've lost the war before you started any kind battle.

[Purple Lady]

I just found this on bn.com -
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook...-faq/379003486

Where are my NOOK Books stored?
Your purchased NOOK Books and free samples are stored online in your NOOK Library. You can access them at any time by signing in to your BN.com account. From there, you can download them any time to your handheld device or computer. Visit your NOOK Library

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I just found this on bn.com -
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook...-faq/379003486

And this too

Can I access my NOOK Books while traveling?
You can download NOOK Books from your NOOK Library that have already been purchased. You will not be able to purchase NOOK Books if you are traveling outside of the United States.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I think they just don't want to support the platform, period.

If you're referring to the desktop app, I'd like to point out two things:

1) It hasn't been supported (though, contrary to popular belief, it is still available) for almost three years, and

2) It still works to download looks from your library, and has been completely unaffected by this.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by taustin

If you're referring to the desktop app, I'd like to point out two things:

1) It hasn't been supported (though, contrary to popular belief, it is still available) for almost three years, and

2) It still works to download looks from your library, and has been completely unaffected by this.

I didn't think it was available anymore because I couldn't find it on their site under reading apps. I know now that you can find it with a Google search.