Library offerings = major Kindle turning point, imo

[andrys]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Some Kindles have WiFi, others do not, and of course not everybody has access to WiFi. It would be an error to put in place any mechanism which only worked over WiFi.

Harry,
I agree, and that's why USB transfers are the other option. (I think allowing people to pay for 3G library transfers would be another option though.)

As I said, and it is true, all current-model Kindle 3's (ALL four models) *do have* WiFi. They've existed in the world since August of 2010. They are the current "Kindles" vs the coming Sony T1.

cfo had said:

Also, when you get re-directed from the library's site to Amazon, it specifically says that library books cannot be sent to a Kindle via 3G. It has to be either WiFi or side-loaded. Again, all of this is specific for the new announcement for public libraries, so I hope you no longer confuse yourself on this issue.

Wow. That 'confuse yourself' thing was 100% wrong.

Again, every single current "Kindle" model is called Kindle 3, is now over-one-year old, and comes with WiFi. (Read on re older models of anything.)

This was all in context vs a *coming Sony* that's not even in the hands of regular customers yet. So I'm equating the latest technology of both makers.

The owners of any -older- Kindles without WiFi AND, also, any -older- Sonys without WiFi will have to resort to USB transfers.

Harry, When you point out "some" - you're right, although you're referring to older models and the same would have to go for older Sonys.

Current Kindle 3 and soon-SonyT1-owners will be in luck with this library mechanism. No USB transfers via computer will be needed. And Sony will have the least painful method because they've prepared extremely simple, image-free pages for the transfer process. (Maybe that's one reason they didn't change their Sony for iPad apps the way BN, Amazon, and Kobe did.)

- Andrys

[andrys]

Originally Posted by carld

I'm daydreaming a bit here, but it would be nice to have a free Kindle app that connected you directly one or more Overdrive libraries of your choice, no navigating by browser or anything. Simply click on the app and your current library screen appears on your Kindle. Of course they'd have to work out the download problem, but that's easy stuff.

Carl,
I'll bet we will see that someday. It just makes too much sense.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by andrys

If a 'new window' pop-up message appears and stops the Kindle process on a link, could you let me know where it happens?

Andrys, the problem occurs right after you check out at OverDrive, when you click on the next button, which is "Get for Kindle." At that point, it tries to open a new window and displays the error message: "Web Browser could not open this link because opening multiple windows is not supported."

This is the entire process:

Sign into your account at OverDrive
Click on a book
Add to Cart
Click on "Proceed to checkout"
Click on "Confirm Check Out"
Click on "Get for Kindle" (this is where it gets hung up)

When you order an OverDrive book on a computer, after you click on "Get for Kindle" you are forwarded to Amazon's webpage that says "Get Your Public Library Loan." Then you choose whether to have the book delivered to your computer or your Kindle (just like when you buy a book there). The final step at Amazon is to press the "Get Library Book" button.

This library book borrowing process must have been tested on a Kindle—you would think! I have only mediocre HTML skills and even I know how to code a page to open in the same browser window. Perhaps they had to do it for site security reasons. I don't know.

[andrys]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Andrys, the problem occurs right after you check out at OverDrive, when you click on the next button, which is "Get for Kindle." At that point, it tries to open a new window and displays the error message: "Web Browser could not open this link because opening multiple windows is not supported." . . .

DreamWriter (great name)
Thanks for the info on where it occurs. I'll report it and hope
they can fix this one too.l

Click on "Get for Kindle" (this is where it gets hung up)

A 2nd thing I want to check is whether the current stop to the redirect to Amazon due to the new-window browser call stops the book from appearing on the Amazon servers. If it winds up there, at least we know that until that new-window call is fixed, we can order with it.

At that point we can still have it deposited to the Kindle via WiFi.

I'll also write Overdrive, since their programming is calling the new-window to see if they can change that so Amazon doesn't have to.

This library book borrowing process must have been tested on a Kindle—you would think!

You'd think!

I have only mediocre HTML skills and even I know how to code a page to open in the same browser window. Perhaps they had to do it for site security reasons. I don't know.

It wouldn't likely be for site security. Probably it would be so it would let people stay on the current Library page and look around some more after they've sent that request to Amazon. Once the Amazon delivery is finished, the person is plopped right back down on the library to look around more.

The 'same browser window' is usually the way things are done. Maybe they just want people to see a little new window with their big one still in the background...

Anyway, thanks much for that detailed step-by-step.

- Andrys

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by andrys

As I said, and it is true, all current-model Kindle 3's (ALL four models) *do have* WiFi. They've existed in the world since August of 2010. They are the current "Kindles" vs the coming Sony T1.

But, purely for the sake of accuracy, it should be noted that the Kindle DX does not have WiFi.

[cicsos2]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Say you go on vacation and you don't have access to a computer, but you do have wifi access. If you have a Sony WiFi PRS-T1, you can still get your eBooks from the library when they are ready. But if you have a Kindle, you are well and truly screwed. You will then have to go to the back of the waiting list as you need a computer to get library eBooks for the Kindle. So when you end up going to the back of the line, you'll wish you had a T1 instead of a Kindle.

Well, if your Kindle has WIFI then you do NOT need access to a computer. However, if you had said that if you have a K2 (i.e. a 3G only) then you would be correct.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by cicsos2

Well, if your Kindle has WIFI then you do NOT need access to a computer. However, if you had said that if you have a K2 (i.e. a 3G only) then you would be correct.

You can't check out library books on a wifi Kindle. You need a computer.

[Ron.]

I want to check out a book just too try it, i feel left out

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Ron.

I want to check out a book just too try it, i feel left out

Where are you?

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Where are you?

a place without library ebooks :P


I signed up the the Philidelphia free library a few days ago, waiting on the card at the moment.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Ron.

a place without library ebooks :P


I signed up the the Philidelphia free library a few days ago, waiting on the card at the moment.

A card in the mail? Can't they email your card number and PIN?

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

A card in the mail? Can't they email your card number and PIN?

apparently yes http://libwww.freelibrary.org/register/getcard1.cfm

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Ron.

apparently yes http://libwww.freelibrary.org/register/getcard1.cfm

Well I hope it's only 5 days so you can start getting some books. Hang in there.

[Ron.]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Well I hope it's only 5 days so you can start getting some books. Hang in there.

it's OK I'm just curious to try it out, I have plenty to read already

[andrys]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But, purely for the sake of accuracy, it should be noted that the Kindle DX does not have WiFi.

Harry,
Sure! If the understanding is we go back over a year to the next to last Kindle model released and we go back and talk about what last year's Sony couldn't do. The comparison has to be to the same things if a general statement is made (which you didn't do).

The sentence that was presented here said something like When the Sony T1 comes out, of what use will be the Kindle when people are on vacation stuck with no WiFi capability. As for finding a computer, I could always find one when travling in the most remote areas, but any older e-reader without WiFi Will have a hard time of it relative to the newest units with WiFi (which are already pronounced Old by the press due to one-year-old being senior-citizen time for e-devices)

In other words, to go backwards when making comparisons with a new model due soon from another manufacturer -- is odd when the same comparison isn't made for the older models the Sony. What are all those Sony users w/o wireless at all, to do We're all somewhat screwed with older devices.

And, as pointed out, we're talking in this thread about the real world new ability to get a loaned library file onto the most current Kindle model that has WiFi (since Aug 2010) on all 4 variants *without having to use a USB cable* as has been needed by most or all dedicated e-readers so far.

Another advantage, new this month, is that it doesn't need the additional software for loans that the others do (ADE) while doing the USB stuff. That's been the difference (for this month).

When Sony's T1 model is out and when it's working well, then they will be due kudos for doing what might be the next super convenient thing with library loaning -- not requiring a USB cable or Adobe Digital Edition and adding a dedicated connection (or simple web browser pre-linked connection) used for library access in both directions, wisely taking advantage of the simplest image-free pages possible. (People will still want to use the computer to see the books at their library.)

For this week, we've had a First. And when the new Sony gets in consumer hands and works fine, that'll be the next first.

Until then, my DX Graphite is not even listed as "latest generation" on Amazon anymore and was out about 2 months before the Kindle 3 and I've felt forever that they should update that model since it has a great screen. (Update the hardware for a WiFi chip and the software, for sure, to improve PDF features).

As you also pointed out, when we're not around a WiFi network, with any e-readerl by any maker, we'll need to do a wired transfer after finding a computer. But a USB transfer's been used for years and it's not that bad (except for the Adobe dance) in an 'emergency' ?

I think we're pretty much in agreement on this. The OverDrive websites should be simplified though, or they should do a mobile-device optimized version.