Is Adobe DRM epub endangered?

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

At which point the "other guys" will have a chance to sell, via PC, to Nook customers already trained to wirelessly go straight to B&N's store. Seems like a stacked deck to me.

Plus, let's not forget B&N's deal with Pandigital to hook up *their* reader to B&N's ebook store. If they make other deals like that with other hardware vendors they'll have a huge visibility advantage.

Everybody thinks Nook is gunning for Amazon's business, and they are to an extent, but to a greater extent they are gunning for everybody else's business first. We may not get to a two-player race, but its likely we'll see a three-point-something player race with all the other ADE licensees adding up less than one full-fledged player.

Not a fun place to be if you're one of the "others".

I guess I fall into the "anyone but ADE" camp. I consider ADE to be a virus, and my goal is to never inflict such a virus on any computer or device I use.

So, if I use a Nook (or, in theory, B&N desktop software) to buy a book from B&N, AND I correctly download it such that it is in the B&N epub format, can I read it on both Nook and PC without installing ADE? And if so, that means I can also remove the drm and send it in epub format to any other device I want?

I'm not sure I like the ergonomics of the Nook, but with Fictionwise dying, I'd prefer to have some other non-ADE store to buy from.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by geertm

Link to the Nook faq on the Abobe website:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/digitalp...noble_faq.html

According to the faq there should be a new version of ADE this year supporting B&N epub.

Well, very nice.... when the DRM has been using since early this year or end last year. Another item to love Adobe.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Darqref

So, if I use a Nook (or, in theory, B&N desktop software) to buy a book from B&N, AND I correctly download it such that it is in the B&N epub format, can I read it on both Nook and PC without installing ADE? And if so, that means I can also remove the drm and send it in epub format to any other device I want?

Yes. I don't have a Nook, but I have bought several B&N ebooks and you can get them to a DRM-free ePub state without ever using Adobe products. You don't even need to use the B&N Windows Reader, a simple download over the web now typically give you a (credit card DRMed) ePub. At one time this approach usually gave you a DRMed eReader version, but recently I have always got an ePub. If you do get an eReader ebook, it is still possible to strip the DRM and convert to ePub using Calibre.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Yes. I don't have a Nook, but I have bought several B&N ebooks and you can get them to a DRM-free ePub state without ever using Adobe products.

Yes, indeed, Adobe products are not useful here.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by kjk

That's the question. A few months ago it was Amazon DRM vs. ADE, with "everyone else" supposedly lining up behind ADE. Now its Amazon DRM vs. B&N's Variant vs. Fairplay vs. "everyone else" lined up behind ADE.

Another way of looking at it is that if iPad-like tablets become more common, then the link between bookstore and hardware drops away, so the DRM flavour becomes less important. Kindles buy from Amazon, Nooks buy from B&N, iPads and future tablets can by from either. At that point people just choose on price, and then favoured software.

[JSWolf]

I just make sure that whatever eBooks I buy, I can strip the DRM. So for now, I can strip AZW, ePub (Adept and B&N), & eReader, & PDF (not an eBook format at all). Yes, I can also do Topaz, but the effort is not worth it at all.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just make sure that whatever eBooks I buy, I can strip the DRM. So for now, I can strip AZW, ePub (Adept and B&N), & eReader, & PDF (not an eBook format at all). Yes, I can also do Topaz, but the effort is not worth it at all.

+1. I don't buy an ebook unless I can remove DRM. That way, I'm not tied to any one device/software.

[simplyparticular]

Frankly, I hope B&N's version of ePub DRM wins over ADEPT. ADEPT requires Adobe to maintain their servers. B&N's only requires that the buyer keep track of the credit card used.

Luckily, both are easily stripped, but I got (briefly) caught flat-footed by the Fictionwise/eReader/Agency mess hijackng my cloud bookshelves, so I'm a bit more circumspect now.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

Frankly, I hope B&N's version of ePub DRM wins over ADEPT. ADEPT requires Adobe to maintain their servers. B&N's only requires that the buyer keep track of the credit card used.

-1

Absolutely not. The last thing I want is to have my credit card number embedded in the unlocking mechanism for an e-book.

Second, to date, B&N do not sell e-books outside of the US. Not one. So, if the idea is to make it the "winning standard" ... how does this serve the other 6 billion people who don't happen to reside in the US?

[geertm]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

-1

Absolutely not. The last thing I want is to have my credit card number embedded in the unlocking mechanism for an e-book.

Second, to date, B&N do not sell e-books outside of the US. Not one. So, if the idea is to make it the "winning standard" ... how does this serve the other 6 billion people who don't happen to reside in the US?

The credit card info is only used to generate the encryption. This is a one-way process. It is not possible to use the e-book to generate the credit card number that was used to encrypt the book.

As for becoming the winning standard. B&N as licensed the DRM to Adobe. The B&N DRM will be integrated into the Abobe software. Other bookstores and e-reader devices will be able to use the B&N DRM.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

because of the price war among the better known devices?

Actually I'm more inclined to believe that Adobe DRM is endangered because of the different ePUB DRM that exist. This kind of confusion is going to burn Adobe DRM.

Love it or hate it the Kindle DRM is simple, if you have a kindle device/app it reads kindle books.

=X=

[=X=]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Another way of looking at it is that if iPad-like tablets become more common, then the link between bookstore and hardware drops away, so the DRM flavour becomes less important. Kindles buy from Amazon, Nooks buy from B&N, iPads and future tablets can by from either. At that point people just choose on price, and then favoured software.

Well I have a BB Storm and have been able to read MOBI, eReader, B&N eReader, for close to a year. I can tell you it is a pain to have to switch between apps just to read a book. Or have to download books from different stores as well as managing accounts from different stores.

At one point I had all these apps on my phone, but have since removed all but one, MobiPocket. Now I only deal with the MOBI format.


=X=

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

Frankly, I hope B&N's version of ePub DRM wins over ADEPT. ADEPT requires Adobe to maintain their servers. B&N's only requires that the buyer keep track of the credit card used.

Luckily, both are easily stripped, but I got (briefly) caught flat-footed by the Fictionwise/eReader/Agency mess hijackng my cloud bookshelves, so I'm a bit more circumspect now.

B&N's DRM cannot take over unless all the readers use it and they don't.

[dorino]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

B&N's DRM cannot take over unless all the readers use it and they don't.

And never will; I doubt B&N would let them. They, like Amazon, like having the exclusive proprietary format.

I, personally, feel that DRM should just go away, since it's doing nothing but annoying everyone subjected to it.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by dorino

And never will; I doubt B&N would let them. They, like Amazon, like having the exclusive proprietary format.

Yes they will, or at least will have the potential. Adobe & B&N are partnered on the DRM B&N is using for ePub's (password protection). Adobe has shipped to manufacturers early this year a new SDK which incorporates both types of encryption (ID based and Password based). It's up to device manufacturers to implement it.