Epub is Not Universal So Stop the BS

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The program which removes DRM from a "Kindle for PC" app is a simple standalone executable program. It doesn't need any kind of run-time framework to support it, and is not a script. It too can be run from anywhere, since it requires no installation. I too have used "ConvertLIT" in the past, but, believe me, the Kindle one is much easier to use .

My mistake, thanks!

I was under the impression that it was tied into the Python script MobiDeDRM and KindlePID things. (I'd say, "I'll go find it," but I'm currently not dealing with DRM at all. But I'll keep it in mind to suggest to other people who are looking at Kindlebooks.)

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Problem is, if people buy an American device (for example the Ipad), they will come across problems. Such as the fact that books bought at your local shop are unable to be read on the Ipad unless you add another reader software on it...

To read any books on an ipad you need to add reader software since ibooks doesn't come pre-installed either.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Problem is, if people buy an American device (for example the Ipad), they will come across problems. Such as the fact that books bought at your local shop are unable to be read on the Ipad unless you add another reader software on it...

Actually, the iPad comes with no software for reading eBooks. So you at least would have to install one app no matter. The txtr app allows using ePub with standard adept DRM. And there is a native iPad version. I have no idea if it also allows PDF with adept DRM.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Why should that matter? As Apple isn't the only bookstore and people will buy books from other bookstores as well. And you won't be able to read those other books, even though they're also in epub...

A real example can be found on the Dutch forum for ebook readers.

Somebody bought an Ipad, and bought books from bol.com (our major online bookstore). But he couldn't read those books, because they used Adobe DRM while the Ibook app from Ipad didn't support it.

You can tell that person to use the txtr app and his eBooks will then be usable on his iPad.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But, with all due respect, it's the buyer's responsibility to find out whether or not the book they are buying can be read on the device they wish to read it on.

They can be used on an iPad with the DRM. The user just needs the correct app to do it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, it's convenient that not only do Amazon sell a good range of eBooks, but that their DRM mechanism is the easiest of all to remove.

Actually, once you have ADE registered and the keyfile generated, stripping the DRM from an adept encrypted ePub is easier then stripping the DRM from a Kindle eBook. With a Kindle eBook, you have you have to have one of the correct versions of KindleForPC. The you have to use Skindle to get the PID and you will need a modified version of MobiDeDRM.py to be able to use the PID as shown by Skindle. So to make sure your azw eBook has properly been stripped, you have to break the DRM twice. And you have to do it rather manually too.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not to go into too much detail, but if you use the "Kindle for PC" app you don't need to worry about PIDs either - DRM removal is totally automated for that, and it works beautifully.

Skindle does not work flawlessly. There are known cases where the resulting eBook will be corrupt. So the only way to make sure your ebook is not corrupt is to do it twice. Once with Skindle and then once with MobiDeDRM.py.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I believe you're right. There is the complicated Python script-based one, which one uses with a "real" Kindle, and then there's the dead simple executable one that one uses with "Kindle for PC". The latter really couldn't be any simpler to use.

But the latter one CAN and sometimes DOES end up with a corrupted eBook.

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Skindle does not work flawlessly. There are known cases where the resulting eBook will be corrupt. So the only way to make sure your ebook is not corrupt is to do it twice. Once with Skindle and then once with MobiDeDRM.py.

Some people don't use Skindle.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, once you have ADE registered and the keyfile generated, stripping the DRM from an adept encrypted ePub is easier then stripping the DRM from a Kindle eBook. With a Kindle eBook, you have you have to have one of the correct versions of KindleForPC. The you have to use Skindle to get the PID and you will need a modified version of MobiDeDRM.py to be able to use the PID as shown by Skindle. So to make sure your azw eBook has properly been stripped, you have to break the DRM twice. And you have to do it rather manually too.

Or you can just use LZSkindle and it's as easy as ConvertLit or Inept (except with LZSkindle you don't have to generate a key).

[Bittybye]

(Deleted comment)

[ATDrake]

As a Mac-using Kindle owner who has yet to get K4PC working under Wine, in my opinion, B&N-DRMed ePubs are the easiest to deal with, both in terms of liberation and conversion, and I hope they become more common.

I've probably just doomed the format by saying that.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Or you can just use LZSkindle and it's as easy as ConvertLit or Inept (except with LZSkindle you don't have to generate a key).

I've got to do some reading up on this...last I knew, the Kindle scripts were ug-ly. So I've avoided buying from Amazon all together.

But if it's really as easy as y'all are saying....

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

As a Mac-using Kindle owner who has yet to get K4PC working under Wine, in my opinion, B&N-DRMed ePubs are the easiest to deal with, both in terms of liberation and conversion, and I hope they become more common.

I've probably just doomed the format by saying that.

There is a thread in the Nook forum here noting that at least one of the agency 5 publishers has stopped releasing new ebooks to B&N due to their possible sale. What a bunch of jerks.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

There is a thread in the Nook forum here noting that at least one of the agency 5 publishers has stopped releasing new ebooks to B&N due to their possible sale.

Ah, Macmillan. The publisher which also doesn't approve of library ebooks because they don't make as much money off of them as paper books, which apparently wear out after a mere 10 uses. At least according to one of their high-level spokespersons, if I'm remembering that News thread accurately.

Too bad they own Tor, because otherwise I'd be able to ignore them entirely.

Speaking of which, at some point Tor decided to monetize some of their free Tor.com stories by removing the downloadable zipped HTML/PDF/ePub/Mobi versions from the site and selling them via Amazon/Sony/B&N/iTunes at 99 cents per pop.

Which is entirely their prerogative, since the actual stories are still available online for now, even if the format isn't as convenient for portable reading.

But it's unnecessarily geo-restrictive, since likely people outside the US/UK/Canada probably can't even get at those versions at all. Or they've an extra $2 Whispernet surcharge on top of the asking price.

I advise anyone who thinks they might want to read the remaining Tor.com stories on their reader to download whatever format they think they might need, while it's still there.