Harry Potter ebooks! Really!

Hatgirl · 03-27-2012, 08:07 AM

Good grief, they're finally here: Harry Potter ebooks.

Anyone want to take the plunge and find out what this "watermarking" actually entails? As in, can I transfer my ebook to all 4 bazillion ereading devices I own (I have a problem) and will it break Calibre?

teh603 · 03-27-2012, 08:15 AM

If the "whole collection" bundle is the price it looks like, its also going to be competitive against the secondary market. I think I paid $75 for the five hardbacks I didn't already have.

elemenoP · 03-27-2012, 08:19 AM

Looks like you can download the epub and also sign in to your Kindle account and get it on your Kindle. (or maybe you can do one or the other, I'm not sure.) So maybe they DID manage "one format to rule them all." Nice! We'll see how it works!

eP

anamardoll · 03-27-2012, 08:19 AM

I bought the first one. The download screen looks like (attached) and gives you the option to "link" to a store account. For the moment, I declined to link to B&N since I don't know what that means -- I opted for direct download, which gives you an epub.

It's running via epub preview in Calibre; I searched for my name and found nothing. (Yay.)

Booting it up in Sigil, no mention of my name there either. Nor the last four digits of my credit card.

Dare I hope they gave up on the watermarking entirely?

Very exciting. I'm off to buy the rest!

ETA: Not sure how I feel about that Remaining Personal Downloads: 7 thing at the top, though.

Phogg · 03-27-2012, 08:21 AM

Good for Rowling.
I hope she sells a lot. A bit more than I am willing to pay, but I got more cheep than a flock of baby chickens.

anamardoll · 03-27-2012, 08:23 AM

Went ahead and linked it now that I've done the direct download.

I'm so happy, I want to cry.

anamardoll · 03-27-2012, 08:29 AM

And it has illustrations!! *happy tears*

MikeB1972 · 03-27-2012, 08:33 AM

Had a punt to see how it works.

Nice, all it does is adds a line to the copyright page, fully visible - didn't even try to hide it (Its basicaly a encrpted string, I assume if you know the encryption key it will give them your username.

Well, a type of DRM I have no problem with at all, fully editable in Sigil and the pirates can take about 20 seconds to remove the paragraph, still it should discourage casual sharing over facebook etc as it's easy to track if not removed - so I'd give it a win for the stated purpose of DRM

The Exif info on the image has a strange description as well (so probably linked to your account), And If I were them I would have embedded some info in the pixels as well.

Formatting looks good.

howyoudoin · 03-27-2012, 08:33 AM

What versions are they in? Both American and British?

CallOfCth'reader · 03-27-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

It's running via epub preview in Calibre; I searched for my name and found nothing. (Yay.)

If it's there, I don't think it will be so obvious that a search will find it. That would defeat the object.

frostschutz · 03-27-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

What versions are they in? Both American and British?

Yes, both, but you have to buy them separately, and they may not be willing to sell them to you. For example I am not allowed to buy the US version.

Quote:

This edition of the book is not available in your country. Please choose another book language.

It's magic!

Greg Anos · 03-27-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I bought the first one. The download screen looks like (attached) and gives you the option to "link" to a store account. For the moment, I declined to link to B&N since I don't know what that means -- I opted for direct download, which gives you an epub.

It's running via epub preview in Calibre; I searched for my name and found nothing. (Yay.)

Booting it up in Sigil, no mention of my name there either. Nor the last four digits of my credit card.

Dare I hope they gave up on the watermarking entirely?

Very exciting. I'm off to buy the rest!

ETA: Not sure how I feel about that Remaining Personal Downloads: 7 thing at the top, though.

If you're really curious what's "under the hood" so to speak, you can explode the epub annd look at the individual file with a Hex editor (no joke intented). I use HexEdit 3.0. It's free, and it really, really, works. (RSE approved).

anamardoll · 03-27-2012, 08:38 AM

Ah, the previous poster was right -- it's in the Copyright page.

It's just not your name (looks like a GUID) -- so much for the "personalized editions" they were tweeting about this morning.

CallOfCth'reader · 03-27-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

If the "whole collection" bundle is the price it looks like, its also going to be competitive against the secondary market. I think I paid $75 for the five hardbacks I didn't already have.

I just checked out the e-book bundle price, and all I can say is wow. I'm definitely going to get it.

MikeB1972 · 03-27-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anamardoll

And it has illustrations!! *happy tears*

Interesting, the direct download from the site does not have those illustrations.

03-27-2012, 08:07 AM	#1
Hatgirl Addict Posts: 296 Karma: 955301 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-T2, Kindle (7th Gen)	Harry Potter ebooks! Really! Good grief, they're finally here: Harry Potter ebooks. Anyone want to take the plunge and find out what this "watermarking" actually entails? As in, can I transfer my ebook to all 4 bazillion ereading devices I own (I have a problem) and will it break Calibre?

03-27-2012, 08:19 AM	#4
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	I bought the first one. The download screen looks like (attached) and gives you the option to "link" to a store account. For the moment, I declined to link to B&N since I don't know what that means -- I opted for direct download, which gives you an epub. It's running via epub preview in Calibre; I searched for my name and found nothing. (Yay.) Booting it up in Sigil, no mention of my name there either. Nor the last four digits of my credit card. Dare I hope they gave up on the watermarking entirely? Very exciting. I'm off to buy the rest! ETA: Not sure how I feel about that Remaining Personal Downloads: 7 thing at the top, though. Attached Thumbnails

03-27-2012, 08:23 AM	#6
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Went ahead and linked it now that I've done the direct download. I'm so happy, I want to cry. Attached Thumbnails

03-27-2012, 08:29 AM	#7
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	And it has illustrations!! happy tears Attached Thumbnails

03-27-2012, 08:38 AM	#13
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	Ah, the previous poster was right -- it's in the Copyright page. It's just not your name (looks like a GUID) -- so much for the "personalized editions" they were tweeting about this morning. Last edited by anamardoll; 03-27-2012 at 08:44 AM.

03-27-2012, 08:15 AM	#2
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	If the "whole collection" bundle is the price it looks like, its also going to be competitive against the secondary market. I think I paid $75 for the five hardbacks I didn't already have.

03-27-2012, 08:19 AM	#3
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Looks like you can download the epub and also sign in to your Kindle account and get it on your Kindle. (or maybe you can do one or the other, I'm not sure.) So maybe they DID manage "one format to rule them all." Nice! We'll see how it works! eP

03-27-2012, 08:21 AM	#5
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	Good for Rowling. I hope she sells a lot. A bit more than I am willing to pay, but I got more cheep than a flock of baby chickens.

03-27-2012, 08:33 AM	#8
MikeB1972 Gnu Posts: 1,222 Karma: 15625359 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Device: BeBook,JetBook Lite,PRS-300-350-505-650,+ran out of space to type	Had a punt to see how it works. Nice, all it does is adds a line to the copyright page, fully visible - didn't even try to hide it (Its basicaly a encrpted string, I assume if you know the encryption key it will give them your username. Well, a type of DRM I have no problem with at all, fully editable in Sigil and the pirates can take about 20 seconds to remove the paragraph, still it should discourage casual sharing over facebook etc as it's easy to track if not removed - so I'd give it a win for the stated purpose of DRM The Exif info on the image has a strange description as well (so probably linked to your account), And If I were them I would have embedded some info in the pixels as well. Formatting looks good.

03-27-2012, 08:33 AM	#9
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	What versions are they in? Both American and British?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Harry Potter eBooks to be officially sold	pilotbob	News	169	07-23-2011 01:01 PM
Does anyone have the Twilight or Harry Potter ebooks?	Heather56	Amazon Kindle	4	03-02-2011 08:14 PM
Where can I buy Harry Potter ebooks to read on my onyx boox?	nitrocuadam	General Discussions	4	04-16-2010 05:14 AM
Harry Potter	happy_terd	Lounge	1	01-21-2010 02:18 PM
J.K. Rowling Publishes Harry Potter Ebooks on Smashwords (April Fool)	anurag	News	34	04-10-2009 11:35 AM