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Old 07-19-2015, 02:12 AM   #31
GeoffR
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Maybe Angry Robot? I don't know that they are DRM free though. I haven't paid attention. But some of the smaller publishers like them are DRM free and are usually available at Kobo books (which is where I generally run across them).
Angry Robot is a strange one, they seem to be DRM-free in some countries but not in others.

As a test, where is the DRM-free version of this Angry Robot book available? The DRM-free one is available in New Zealand.

DRM version

DRM-free version
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Old 07-19-2015, 04:29 AM   #32
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There is a need to be careful of the term "open source" which is usually about being able to base your work on its. I suspect what you're looking for is no digital rights management as you have already mentioned. But, a lack of DRM, or a free book, does not imply in any way that its open source. Likewise readers and management tools. Calibre is free, but its not open source. I doubt that any of the ebooks are open source... free, yes. Open source, no.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Phoenix Pick. They have a pay-what-you-want book once a month. It used to be free but theres an option to pay if you wish, or nothing if you don't. You sign up for a newsletter which only comes monthly, alerting new books available and the monthly book.
http://www.phoenixpick.com
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Old 07-19-2015, 08:31 AM   #33
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There is a need to be careful of the term "open source" which is usually about being able to base your work on its. I suspect what you're looking for is no digital rights management as you have already mentioned. But, a lack of DRM, or a free book, does not imply in any way that its open source. Likewise readers and management tools. Calibre is free, but its not open source. I doubt that any of the ebooks are open source... free, yes. Open source, no.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Phoenix Pick. They have a pay-what-you-want book once a month. It used to be free but theres an option to pay if you wish, or nothing if you don't. You sign up for a newsletter which only comes monthly, alerting new books available and the monthly book.
http://www.phoenixpick.com
I didn't read all the responses. I assumed someone mentioned Smashwords. I know there are at least two small publishers on Smashwords that do sci/fi/fantasy and there's at least one cozy imprint (Gemma Halliday). I can't think of the sci/fi ones...something with Gryphon in the publishing name. I'll see if I downloaded any of those books. If they are in my library, I'll be able to note the publisher name.

The problem with Smashwords is the sorting/finding issue and most of those books will be elsewhere also.
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Old 07-19-2015, 08:32 AM   #34
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Angry Robot is a strange one, they seem to be DRM-free in some countries but not in others.

As a test, where is the DRM-free version of this Angry Robot book available? The DRM-free one is available in New Zealand.

DRM version

DRM-free version
I didn't know this, thanks. I am pretty sure the two or three I've bought from them have been DRM free.
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Old 07-19-2015, 12:03 PM   #35
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Originally Posted by kyteflyer View Post
There is a need to be careful of the term "open source" which is usually about being able to base your work on its. I suspect what you're looking for is no digital rights management as you have already mentioned. But, a lack of DRM, or a free book, does not imply in any way that its open source. Likewise readers and management tools. Calibre is free, but its not open source. I doubt that any of the ebooks are open source... free, yes. Open source, no.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Phoenix Pick. They have a pay-what-you-want book once a month. It used to be free but theres an option to pay if you wish, or nothing if you don't. You sign up for a newsletter which only comes monthly, alerting new books available and the monthly book.
http://www.phoenixpick.com
Mostly trying to avoid vendor/format lock in, and DRM wherever possible.
My plan at this point is stick to Android devices, Epub format, and use one or more of the Android ereader software systems like Fbreader.
If I had good eyesight and tons of room to store print books, I might chuck ebooks at this point. Years ago when I moved to ebooks things looked more promising. Now it looks like Amazon Kindle is going to end up with an ebook monopoly, DRM is still going strong, and B&N nook has all but faded away
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Old 07-19-2015, 04:17 PM   #36
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Just curious, if I pick up a Kobo, can I use this without desktop software? Can I set it up without ever using Windows or Mac?
Thanks.
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Old 07-19-2015, 04:22 PM   #37
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Just curious, if I pick up a Kobo, can I use this without desktop software? Can I set it up without ever using Windows or Mac?
Thanks.
Interesting question... setup needs to be done via computer, IIRC. I don't think you can do it otherwise.
Last edited by kyteflyer; 07-19-2015 at 04:23 PM. Reason: Misread question. Deleted long post. LOL!
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Old 07-19-2015, 05:08 PM   #38
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Interesting question... setup needs to be done via computer, IIRC. I don't think you can do it otherwise.
That's not good
Thanks anyway.
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Old 07-19-2015, 05:15 PM   #39
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Kobo setup can be done via WiFi with no need for a computer; the main part of the setup is the logon to the Kobo website, which populates a table in the Kobo database on the device with a userid.

People have manually populated this table, but that would require connection to a computer to perform that step.
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Old 07-19-2015, 06:29 PM   #40
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Calibre is free, but its not open source.
What's this then?
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Old 07-19-2015, 06:32 PM   #41
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Originally Posted by kyteflyer View Post
There is a need to be careful of the term "open source" which is usually about being able to base your work on its. I suspect what you're looking for is no digital rights management as you have already mentioned. But, a lack of DRM, or a free book, does not imply in any way that its open source. Likewise readers and management tools. Calibre is free, but its not open source. I doubt that any of the ebooks are open source... free, yes. Open source, no.
Where do you get that nonsense from?

calibre is not just free, it is open source as well.
It is published under the GPL version 3.

The large button on the main menu at http:/calibre-ebook.com (the one that says "get involved") helpfully points you at the source code: https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre and the development instructions: http://manual.calibre-ebook.com/develop.html
Checking the commit shortlog, calibre has 149 all-time contributors.


calibre proudly supports linux (on the download page), which often (but not always) means open-source...

...but the linux download sub-page gives instructions for performing a source install. Most distros bundle it themselves. Neither of that would be possible if the source code were not published.





It may be worth it to point out that a significant factor behind calibre's popularity is because it is open source. To name but one example, plugboards are a hugely popular feature that was developed by @chaley.
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Old 07-19-2015, 08:08 PM   #42
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Kobo setup can be done via WiFi with no need for a computer; the main part of the setup is the logon to the Kobo website, which populates a table in the Kobo database on the device with a userid.

People have manually populated this table, but that would require connection to a computer to perform that step.
I thought I had head that about the older Touch model, but also had seen posts that you needed PC. So that is good to know.
Thanks.
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Old 07-19-2015, 08:12 PM   #43
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Yes, you are right:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibre_(software)
I know it has been in Linux repositories for ages. Pretty incredible software. Ebooks would be almost useless to me without it.
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Old 07-20-2015, 01:13 PM   #44
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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Phoenix Pick. They have a pay-what-you-want book once a month. It used to be free but theres an option to pay if you wish, or nothing if you don't. You sign up for a newsletter which only comes monthly, alerting new books available and the monthly book.
http://www.phoenixpick.com
The formatting of Phoenix Press books is so bad I won't even get free books from them anymore.
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Old 07-20-2015, 01:40 PM   #45
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Just curious, if I pick up a Kobo, can I use this without desktop software? Can I set it up without ever using Windows or Mac?
Thanks.
I have a Kobo Aura HD and a Kobo H2O and do no have or use any apple or microsoft SW.

The Kobo registration is kept in an sqlite database that can be read and written when the kobo internal drive is mounted as a USB drive on a computer. I did this with linux. If you want to buy books from kobo, I guess you would have to get the database information correct, but most people, including me, just want to get past the registration roadblock.

There are messages in the kobo forum at mobileread that detail the sqlite manipulation.
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