Overdrive supported on older devices (sort of)

[bgalbrecht]

I hadn't noticed this mentioned anywhere, so maybe I just missed it. I just bought a Clara HD, and I still have my Glo HD, so I was surprised that after I linked my Clara HD to Overdrive, and checked out a book from the Overdrive website, it downloaded it to the Glo HD when I synced it. The Glo HD is still running 4.8.11073. It doesn't allow me to search for books on Overdrive from the Glo HD, but now I will be able to easily read library books from either reader. Yay!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I hadn't noticed this mentioned anywhere, so maybe I just missed it. I just bought a Clara HD, and I still have my Glo HD, so I was surprised that after I linked my Clara HD to Overdrive, and checked out a book from the Overdrive website, it downloaded it to the Glo HD when I synced it. The Glo HD is still running 4.8.11073. It doesn't allow me to search for books on Overdrive from the Glo HD, but now I will be able to easily read library books from either reader. Yay!

That is normal since the library book is added to your Kobo library and would sync to other ereaders using the same account.

[rosalita]

This is probably (almost certainly) a dumb question, but is there any way to sync one's Kobo library to Overdrive without having one of the newer readers on which it is enabled? I just have a Glo HD and would love to have my Overdrive books sync to it even if I couldn't use it to browse for library books and check them out.

I saw some older threads (from 2016) that seemed to think adding the capability to older Kobo models was just a matter of time, but I don't think it's happened yet? Or is this another one of those features like "Never Turn Off" that I've completely missed?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by rosalita

This is probably (almost certainly) a dumb question, but is there any way to sync one's Kobo library to Overdrive without having one of the newer readers on which it is enabled? I just have a Glo HD and would love to have my Overdrive books sync to it even if I couldn't use it to browse for library books and check them out.

I saw some older threads (from 2016) that seemed to think adding the capability to older Kobo models was just a matter of time, but I don't think it's happened yet? Or is this another one of those features like "Never Turn Off" that I've completely missed?

The 4.10.x firmware has added full OD support to the recent devices. That's everything released since the Aura ONE. Unfortunately, it doesn't include the Glo HD.

If you can borrow one of the devices with full support, you can sign into your Kobo account on it, setup the OD and library account. This will link the library to your Kobo account. Then signout of the account on the device. After that, books borrowed using OD from the library should sync to any device signed in on that Kobo account. Of course, the problem with this is finding someone willing to let you play with their ereader.

[rosalita]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The 4.10.x firmware has added full OD support to the recent devices. That's everything released since the Aura ONE. Unfortunately, it doesn't include the Glo HD.

If you can borrow one of the devices with full support, you can sign into your Kobo account on it, setup the OD and library account. This will link the library to your Kobo account. Then signout of the account on the device. After that, books borrowed using OD from the library should sync to any device signed in on that Kobo account. Of course, the problem with this is finding someone willing to let you play with their ereader.

Yes, that's always the trick, getting someone else to let me play with their Kobo! Sadly, I don't know anyone else in real life who has a Kobo, so I'm out of luck there. It does make the new Clara and Forma even more attractive, though my Glo HD works splendidly in every other respect. For that reason, if I end up buying a new one it would probably be the Forma just to add a larger screen size to my portfolio.

Thanks for your quick response!

[Mrs_Often]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The 4.10.x firmware has added full OD support to the recent devices. That's everything released since the Aura ONE. Unfortunately, it doesn't include the Glo HD.



If you can borrow one of the devices with full support, you can sign into your Kobo account on it, setup the OD and library account. This will link the library to your Kobo account. Then signout of the account on the device. After that, books borrowed using OD from the library should sync to any device signed in on that Kobo account. Of course, the problem with this is finding someone willing to let you play with their ereader.

Aahh interesting, so the OD-Kobo account link is kept in the account itself, not in the (newer) ereaders. I wonder why Kobo don't just implement an account linking option on their website, similar to the way you can link your Kobo account to other vendor accounts (like Walmart for instance)... ?

[rosalita]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Aahh interesting, so the OD-Kobo account link is kept in the account itself, not in the (newer) ereaders. I wonder why Kobo don't just implement an account linking option on their website, similar to the way you can link your Kobo account to other vendor accounts (like Walmart for instance)... ?

Wouldn't that be great?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Aahh interesting, so the OD-Kobo account link is kept in the account itself, not in the (newer) ereaders. I wonder why Kobo don't just implement an account linking option on their website, similar to the way you can link your Kobo account to other vendor accounts (like Walmart for instance)... ?

I wonder how many people will buy a cheap Aura Edition 2 at Walmart just to transfer the Overdrive feature to their other readers?

[Mrs_Often]

Hah yes, fair point.

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I wonder how many people will buy a cheap Aura Edition 2 at Walmart just to transfer the Overdrive feature to their other readers?

Since this is not an advertised feature, probably none. I'm not sure what Walmart's return policy is, if someone is looking for a cheap way to enable it, they could order any Kobo reader, check it out for a couple of days to see if it's as good as the reader they already have, and return it if they don't like it. The Clara HD is about $20 more than the Aura for someone picking up the Clara HD at the store, and the better screen probably worth the extra $20.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

Since this is not an advertised feature, probably none. I'm not sure what Walmart's return policy is, if someone is looking for a cheap way to enable it, they could order any Kobo reader, check it out for a couple of days to see if it's as good as the reader they already have, and return it if they don't like it. The Clara HD is about $20 more than the Aura for someone picking up the Clara HD at the store, and the better screen probably worth the extra $20.

I was thinking more of someone who already had a high-end (pre-Overdrive) Kobo, who just wanted to add the ability to download books to it via the Aura (Edition 2). I never consider it fair to "borrow" a product and then return it for refund.

I'm not sure if I understand exactly how this works. If you log in to Overdrive via the Overdrive enabled Kobo, will Overdrive books available for lending appear in your other Kobos? — or do you actually have to borrow the book from Overdrive first, and then they'll appear in the Library of your other Kobos?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm not sure if I understand exactly how this works. If you log in to Overdrive via the Overdrive enabled Kobo, will Overdrive books available for lending appear in your other Kobos? — or do you actually have to borrow the book from Overdrive first, and then they'll appear in the Library of your other Kobos?

The connection between your OD account and Kobo account is on the servers. But, there is no way make this connection except on the devices. Once the connection is made, a book borrowed from OD is added to your Kobo library and should sync to all the devices or apps using the Kobo account.

[i_m_sherlocked]

I think you would have to check out the book from Overdrive onto the newer kobo, then the loan cascades to your other (older) kobos via kobo syncing across their servers.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by i_m_sherlocked

I think you would have to check out the book from Overdrive onto the newer kobo, then the loan cascades to your other (older) kobos via kobo syncing across their servers.

Not sure if it is the same elsewhere but with my local library, when I put a book on hold with automatic checkout enabled, it syncs to my Kobo ereader collection when it comes off hold whether I placed the hold from an ereader or the library webpage.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

Since this is not an advertised feature, probably none. ...

But most people who already have a Kobo will know that the Aura (Edition 2) has Overdrive built-in. And Walmart does mention it in their comparison chart, so it's not completely unadvertised.