Any interest in Kobo Desktop for Linux?

[rford]

Originally Posted by tajreed

No luck after installation. "cannot open shared object file: libzip.zo.1 no such file or directory.

That is found in the libzip1 package. if you are running on amd_64 you will have to download the i386 package and extract it to /lib32

I found that Ubuntu 10.04 recognizes the Kobo as an Owen oscilloscope when it is in upgrade mode. ???

Also the upgrade would not work when plugged into a usb2 port, only when plugged into a usb1 hub.

[windowsrefund]

How is this software licensed?

[timlegge]

Originally Posted by windowsrefund

How is this software licensed?

A mixture of licenses. There was a thread about tha months ago and kobo posted the source for a number of things. The app itself is closed source.

[taming]

Although it appears somewhere on the website, the license info is also toward the end of the user guide.

[tajreed]

That did it. Works fine now.

[HarryH]

I have tried the earlier linux version of the desktop app.. recently I installed Ubuntu 10.04 and 10.10 the version I have does not work at all... the files are installed , but nothing happens when I click on the icon start the program .. where can I get an updated version

Harry

[3d0g]

Originally Posted by HarryH

I have tried the earlier linux version of the desktop app.. recently I installed Ubuntu 10.04 and 10.10 the version I have does not work at all... the files are installed , but nothing happens when I click on the icon start the program .. where can I get an updated version

Harry

Same d/l link as before (posted one page back too).

[windowsrefund]

Originally Posted by timlegge

A mixture of licenses. There was a thread about tha months ago and kobo posted the source for a number of things. The app itself is closed source.

I think you probably mean to say that the program is non-free software. That said however, I have no desire to use it or even see it released out into the void. The last thing our community needs is yet another piece of freedom-restricting software. I'll stick with Calibre on my GNU/Linux box.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by windowsrefund

I think you probably mean to say that the program is non-free software. That said however, I have no desire to use it or even see it released out into the void. The last thing our community needs is yet another piece of freedom-restricting software. I'll stick with Calibre on my GNU/Linux box.

I'm not sure how you can say that this software is freedom-restricting.

NOTHING out there says that EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION FOR LINUX needs source supplied!

Attitudes like that are frankly idiotic!

[timlegge]

Originally Posted by windowsrefund

I think you probably mean to say that the program is non-free software. That said however, I have no desire to use it or even see it released out into the void. The last thing our community needs is yet another piece of freedom-restricting software. I'll stick with Calibre on my GNU/Linux box.

No, what I meant to say was that the software is proprietary but "closed source" was easier to type on my iPad (an evil device).

I don't need a lecture on FOSS. I have a copy of The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Free as in Freedom and Free Software, Free Society: Selected Essays of Richard M. Stallman (which is autographed by, and I bought in person from, RMS himself).

While others argue about the terms, I have contributed to the success of Free Software in my own small way. My code is out there if you care to look...

Kobo has done Linux user's a favour by releasing a Linux version of the desktop which allows syncing book marks across devices. As I stand in line in a grocery store finishing a book on my iPhone that I started on my Kobo I could really care less which license made it possible.

RMS might want his books back but I still respect everything he stands for even as I ignore some of it.

Tim

[windowsrefund]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm not sure how you can say that this software is freedom-restricting.

Software that is distributed via licenses that restrict the user's ability to modify, use for any purpose, and redistribute is freedom-restricting. Of course, in order to understand this, you first need to understand what is meant by the use of the word, freedom. You may want to study up on that before spewing your uneducated blurbs all over public forums. You can find the information readily available on either the FSF or GNU websites.

Originally Posted by PeterT

NOTHING out there says that EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION FOR LINUX needs source supplied!

Who says, you?

I think I'm in a much better position to determine what I want and what I need.

[windowsrefund]

Originally Posted by timlegge

No, what I meant to say was that the software is proprietary but "closed source" was easier to type on my iPad (an evil device).

No, what you *meant* to say is that the software is non-free. There's no need to use the market friendly term "open source" that was created by Eric Raymond in order to trick decision makers into using Free Software.

Originally Posted by timlegge

I don't need a lecture on FOSS. I have a copy of The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Free as in Freedom and Free Software, Free Society: Selected Essays of Richard M. Stallman (which is autographed by, and I bought in person from, RMS himself).

Good. Then please show some respect and use the proper terminology when discussing this very important aspect of our lives. Having read Richard's work, you know our choice of words is critical in terms of the ideas we convey. Why on earth would anyone consciously choose to use the watered down market friendly term "open source" that was created in order to shift the focus from ethics over to pragmatism?

Originally Posted by timlegge

While others argue about the terms, I have contributed to the success of Free Software in my own small way. My code is out there if you care to look...

I don't know what you're getting defensive about or why you feel you have something to prove. You could put all the code out there you want to but if your language is teaching people to simply value pragmatic side effects that are sometimes achieved via Free Software (better and cheaper), then you're really doing the movement no favors. We don't need people to value features, security, and pricepoints since these things are 100% subjective and subject to marketing budgets. Any vendor lockin company can provide these things. What they can not do however, is get away with attacking my freedoms 0-3 if I am first aware of them, and secondly, prepared to defend them. This of course, all starts with education.

Originally Posted by timlegge

Kobo has done Linux user's a favour by releasing a Linux version of the desktop which allows syncing book marks across devices. As I stand in line in a grocery store finishing a book on my iPhone that I started on my Kobo I could really care less which license made it possible.

Nobody is doing anybody any favors by subjecting our society to yet anther piece of freedom-restricting bits. I'm sorry that you (despite all your exposure) have no respect for your own freedoms but that does not give you the right to disrespect mine or anyone else's in this community.

Originally Posted by timlegge

RMS might want his books back but I still respect everything he stands for even as I ignore some of it.

I'm not sure why you'd think Richard would want his books back. Anyway, it sounds like you really could care less about freedoms 0-3. As a sysadmin, I come across many a "technical" person who likes to show how informed they are by throwing names like Richard Stallman and Eric Raymond. If you can't grasp such a simple thing as a firm appreciation for something that is as black and white as freedom, then I'm personally not impressed at all because I know a person like you values convenience far more.

[HarryH]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

Same d/l link as before (posted one page back too).

3D0g

Thanks for the info , did an install and still not luck not any error messages ,here is my install info

/Downloads$ sudo dpkg -i kobo-desktop.deb
(Reading database ... 187365 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace kobo-desktop 1.8-1 (using kobo-desktop.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement kobo-desktop ...
Setting up kobo-desktop (1.8-1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for python-gmenu ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/desktop.en_CA.utf8.cache...
Processing triggers for python-support ...


What do you suggest I do now ??? the files were dated Dec 14


Harry

[timlegge]

@windowsrefund I used to be a lot like you but I became tired of caring for everyone else. After a while people would just roll their eyes when I talked about the importance of free software. People stop asking for your opinion on things when they already know your answer and you get less chances to influence things.

As I get older I no longer give a damn what other people do as long as I don't have to fix their computer. If you have the energy and passion to try to make people who don't understand, and likely won't care once you explain it, the importance of free software then go ahead.

All the best.

[windowsrefund]

@timlegge,

Again, I'm sorry you do not value your freedom. I'm also sorry that you appear to dislike working with technology as much as you do. Of course, If I traded my freedom away for a little convenience, I would probably develop the same attitude over time and lash out at others who force me to look at my own lack of conviction. In other words, I understand. That said, I'm also confident that the road you've chosen will lead you back to the good fight eventually. Given enough time, you'll get burned (again) just as you have before. It always happens when empowerment is traded away.

Anyway, let's get this thead back on track. If anyone from Kobo's development team is reading this, I just want to say that I have no interest in any wares that are distributed under a non FSF approved license. I run GNU/Linux because it is a Free Software operating system that respects my freedom to use for any purpose, modify, and redistribute the software. I have no intention of bastardizing my system by installing software that does not respect these same freedoms. When Kobo development releases software that respects these freedoms via a suitable license, I'll be more than happy to evaluate it and weigh in on the potential technical and pragmatic benefits.