eReader SCOOP!!! on TeleRead

[llasram]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So all I can say to Stanza is go away. We don't need you. We don't want your new DRM. We don't want your nonsense. We just want to do away with DRM, not add to the problem.

As I read the article and press-release, all Stanza is doing is acquiring the rights to display eReader books encrypted with eReader's DRM. It's Fictionwise/eReader who is discussing supporting EPUB with a new encryption scheme.

Which while I agree is bad, but is also kind of interesting. I wonder if they're planning to use the encryption methodology specified by the EPUB OCF spec or roll their own. The OCF-proscribed scheme is fairly broken in that it requires encryption prior to compression (oops), which may matter if they're still planning to support devices with strong storage-space constraints.

Either way, if they use their current algorithm to perform the encryption itself, it should be fairly easy to de-DRM, which is the main thing I care about and would finally allow EPUB to replace LIT as my format of choice for purchasing books.

[VillageReader]

One reason I never really liked the eReader DRM was that you need to remember the credit card number you used. Which is great if the card number never changes because the card was lost, or the bank survives forever, or, or, well, you get the picture. Just an expansion of a clunky idea imo.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by VillageReader

One reason I never really liked the eReader DRM was that you need to remember the credit card number you used. Which is great if the card number never changes because the card was lost, or the bank survives forever, or, or, well, you get the picture. Just an expansion of a clunky idea imo.

i admit that i've never really understood this system. my credit card expires every few years and i get a new one, with a new number*. so that means every few years (2 ? 3 ? 5 ? i can't remember. it's expiring this january, if i remember i'll check the new one when i get it) i would have to update all of my books with the new credit card number ? or else keep track of all of the old credit card numbers ? if it changes every 2 years (supposing no loss or theft requiring a new one before the regular expiration date) that could get out of hand rather quickly.

*and this is not taking into account the fact that banks, as villagereader says, are not forever ; i had 4 different banks in 6 years at one point because the first bank was bought by a different bank which was then bought by a different bank which then changed its name.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

my credit card expires every few years and i get a new one, with a new number*.

That's weird. When my credit cards expire I get new ones, same number but different expire date and CVC code.

Although Citibank has changes our numbers a few times... once to convert our account to a new type (I didn't get why this need a new number) and once when some retailer reported all the numbers they stored were compromised.

Actually, for security reasons vendors should NOT store your CC number... it should be a requirement for security. Of course, that would make "1 click" type stores not possible.

I just went to eReader.com entered my new CC number and redownloaded the one ebook I had bought from them. It worked fine.

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

i'm almost positive it's a different number (i'll tell you for sure in january ). i've never bought an ereader book but imagine i was their best customer and had hundreds ; so, every two years, i have to enter a new cc number and redownload EVERYTHING ? that seems *really* annoying.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i'm almost positive it's a different number (i'll tell you for sure in january ). i've never bought an ereader book but imagine i was their best customer and had hundreds ; so, every two years, i have to enter a new cc number and redownload EVERYTHING ? that seems *really* annoying.

No, you don't "have" to do that. Once you unlock a book on a device it is unlocked for good. Also, I think eReader saves that info and trys it on other books automatically. So, you would just need to keep track of previous numbers used incase you need to re-unlock a book... or unlock it on another device.

It's better than mobipockets which you HAVE to go and redownload everything if you get a new device. And, also you are limited to 4 devices.

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

No, you don't "have" to do that. Once you unlock a book on a device it is unlocked for good. Also, I think eReader saves that info and trys it on other books automatically. So, you would just need to keep track of previous numbers used incase you need to re-unlock a book... or unlock it on another device.

It's better than mobipockets which you HAVE to go and redownload everything if you get a new device. And, also you are limited to 4 devices.

BOb

you mean if i put a book on my liseuse, it stays unlocked there ? but what if i take it off to make room for new books (keeping an archive copy on my pc), and then 2 years later i want to read it again ? if my cc has changed in between, i can't use the old book ? or if i get a new liseuse in between, i can't read the book on the new device ?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

you mean if i put a book on my liseuse, it stays unlocked there ?

Yes.

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

but what if i take it off to make room for new books (keeping an archive copy on my pc), and then 2 years later i want to read it again ? if my cc has changed in between, i can't use the old book ?

You can unlock it again... but you have to use the CC# that is was encrypted with. However, I think eReader software will try the numbers that you have used in the past. (Someone with eReader on a PDA will need to confirm this.)

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

or if i get a new liseuse in between, i can't read the book on the new device ?

Yes you can read it... once again, as long as you know the CC# it was encrypted with.

With eReader think of it as being "password" protected. Your CC#/Name is the password. it will work with that book on any device... and the devices will cache that password and try it first on new books before prompting you for the "password".

BOb

[Robotech_Master]

Originally Posted by VillageReader

One reason I never really liked the eReader DRM was that you need to remember the credit card number you used. Which is great if the card number never changes because the card was lost, or the bank survives forever, or, or, well, you get the picture. Just an expansion of a clunky idea imo.

No, you don't.

You used to, years ago I think, but they will now allow you to relock every single book in your library to a new number simultaneously with a simple command on their website.

For more info, see here.

[zelda_pinwheel]

okay, this seems to be approximately how i understood it... thanks for the explanation. it still seems like a rather cumbersome method to me ; too many variables. i rarely have a stretch of 2 years without 1. a new cc number and / or 2. reformat my computer, so i would lose the preferences from the ereader app... but then, it's moot for me anyway because when i buy a drm book i break the drm right away, specifically to avoid troubles like this. unbroken drm just means it's a disposable book, i think ; too easy to get locked out, no matter the format, for one reason or another.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by llasram

As I read the article and press-release, all Stanza is doing is acquiring the rights to display eReader books encrypted with eReader's DRM. It's Fictionwise/eReader who is discussing supporting EPUB with a new encryption scheme.

Which while I agree is bad, but is also kind of interesting. I wonder if they're planning to use the encryption methodology specified by the EPUB OCF spec or roll their own. The OCF-proscribed scheme is fairly broken in that it requires encryption prior to compression (oops), which may matter if they're still planning to support devices with strong storage-space constraints.

Either way, if they use their current algorithm to perform the encryption itself, it should be fairly easy to de-DRM, which is the main thing I care about and would finally allow EPUB to replace LIT as my format of choice for purchasing books.

I did misread things. But regardless, we don't need new DRM for ePub. And having eReader support ePub with a new DRM scheme might be really bad for Mobile DE. Let's just hope that it tanks big tme.

[Robotech_Master]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I did misread things. But regardless, we don't need new DRM for ePub. And having eReader support ePub with a new DRM scheme might be really bad for Mobile DE. Let's just hope that it tanks big tme.

I can't imagine why it would tank.

After all, eReader is the only currently-supported encryptable commercial e-book format for the iPhone (thanks to Amazon allegedly sitting on the official Mobipocket iPhone client) and—along with Mobi—one of the two "big" such formats for other platforms. They're the format that Fictionwise pushes, since Fictionwise owns it, and Fictionwise is store and software provider all in one. They're not dependent on anybody else for their money except consumers.

The only way it could "tank" is for Fictionwise to go entirely out of business.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I did misread things. But regardless, we don't need new DRM for ePub. And having eReader support ePub with a new DRM scheme might be really bad for Mobile DE. Let's just hope that it tanks big tme.

Are you a shill for Adobe? Why should they be the only one?

Dale

[GntlmnBndt]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I did misread things. But regardless, we don't need new DRM for ePub. And having eReader support ePub with a new DRM scheme might be really bad for Mobile DE. Let's just hope that it tanks big tme.

Why? Fictionwise is offering a less restrictive DRM, and what sounds like a feasible software migration to cover most major platforms, including a nice variety of portables. Tell me again, why are you cheering for Mobile DE?

In any case, it is still DRM, so whichever you choose, the lesser evil is the best you can hope for. Not really worth getting over excited, one way or another.

The Bandit

[JSWolf]

Teh problem is we need LESS DRM, not more. And to make multiple DRM scehems available for a given format is not going to help. In fact, it might actually cause more problems then it solves. If we have readers that have Mobile DE in them and want to read some ePub eBook but it has eReader DRM, we are screwed. Basically, more DRM is bad. Less DRM is good. This is more DRM. What it means is the Tower of eBable just got a bit higher.