And this is why DRM stinks....

[RainingLemur]

Originally Posted by Phogg

It may suck but you have to be pretty damned braindead for it to be a surprise.

HEY. I may be braindead... But. Uh. Was there a surprise?

On-topic - That sucks, but not too unexpected.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by caleb72

On the other hand - I didn't know that B&N had a blackberry reader app. Is it available outside of U.S.?

I could use a good epub reader on my Blackberry. I have Overdrive, but it doesn't have a search function which is a bit of a showstopper for me.

The BlackBerry App only reads eReader (pdb) format. B&N bought out Fictionwise, who bought eReader.. They've inherited the app and aside from skinning it did very little to the app.

If you go to the link I posted I believe some folks have listed alternative eReaders
=X=

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by =X=

The BlackBerry App only reads eReader (pdb) format. B&N bought out Fictionwise, who bought eReader.. They've inherited the app and aside from skinning it did very little to the app.

If you go to the link I posted I believe some folks have listed alternative eReaders
=X=

So the real issue is not DRM, which is the same for both BN eReader and BN Epub formats, but rather a change in the format itself. DRM just makes it more difficult to format shift, although eReader format has always been a bit wonkey. I've had some old Fictionwise books come out looking weird as an epub, even after fiddling with the encoding.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

This is annoying behavior on B and N's part, but how is shutting off the download feature of one of their apps (while still allowing them to be downloaded on a computer and sideloaded) related to DRM? The DRM free books that you can occasionally find on B and N would also need to be sideloaded.

+1

That's what I was thinking - this doesn't really have anything to do with DRM, since the inconvenience is just as great if you don't have DRM.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

So the real issue is not DRM, which is the same for both BN eReader and BN Epub formats, but rather a change in the format itself. DRM just makes it more difficult to format shift, although eReader format has always been a bit wonkey. I've had some old Fictionwise books come out looking weird as an epub, even after fiddling with the encoding.

No the issue is DRM. DRM prevents the ability to format shift an eBook and also from any ebook reader from viewing an eBook.

Right now the BB has several readers that read ePUB, PDB, and even Adobe DRM. But only one app that reads B&N's DRMed Books. Since B&N has dropped BB support they no longer have an eReader to read B&N books.


=X=

[Indio777]

Originally Posted by Phogg

You know you can migrate those, right?

Yes you can, but it can take time.

I am currently engaged in converting my tapes to a digital format (figure my LPs are more stable, so I can wait to do those, plus I still have a turntable), but as I said time-consuming for best results. I have several hundred. Sigh.

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by =X=

No the issue is DRM. DRM prevents the ability to format shift an eBook and also from any ebook reader from viewing an eBook.

Right now the BB has several readers that read ePUB, PDB, and even Adobe DRM. But only one app that reads B&N's DRMed Books. Since B&N has dropped BB support they no longer have an eReader to read B&N books.


=X=

Dropping support does not equal removing the app. They can still read their books on the app. They just can't download the books directly or purchase new ones. If there are other ereading apps on BB that support eReader DRM, the B and N books should work on those as well. The DRM is the same. At any rate, as long as the user has a back up copy of the B and N eReader app, a back up copy of their book, and knows their user name and password, they will not be locked out of their purchases, even if they have to get a new BB. The same cannot be said of adobe DRMed books or Kindle books or mobipocket books if the servers supporting those DRM schemes are shut down. For example, if I had not taken care to liberate the mobipocket books I purchased from Cyberread, I would not be able to access them right now because that ebook store has gone out of business. Fictionwise can go out of business and I will still be able to access my eReader books, because I have copies of their PC and android apps (and an android app that reads eReader DRMed books unofficially).

[astrodad]

And how is this a DRM issue? B&N offer apps for so many other platforms (PC, MAC, iOS, Andriod, etc.) that you still have plenty of options to get content. Even then, the books you download from B&N will still work on your device.

[BillSmithBooks]

Originally Posted by astrodad

And how is this a DRM issue? B&N offer apps for so many other platforms (PC, MAC, iOS, Andriod, etc.) that you still have plenty of options to get content. Even then, the books you download from B&N will still work on your device.

Because it is telling customers they have to buy an entirely different device after releasing an app promising that they could read the books they have on the device they already own.

If you cannot easily format-shift your books and stops supporting the device they sold you books for, they have been dishonest with you and have every reason to stop doing business with them.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by astrodad

And how is this a DRM issue? B&N offer apps for so many other platforms (PC, MAC, iOS, Andriod, etc.) that you still have plenty of options to get content. Even then, the books you download from B&N will still work on your device.

It's not really, but it does require the customer to purchase or use a different device. But if the DRM were not on the files they could possibly be read by other apps.

[pietvo]

Originally Posted by kennyc

It's not really, but it does require the customer to purchase or use a different device. But if the DRM were not on the files they could possibly be read by other apps.

Or some other people could write a new application, for example an open source application. With the DRM this is probably not allowed, although it would be possible when the DRM has been broken.