Jetbook Lite DRM compatiblity?

[JeePea]

This post is something of a duplicate from one I did in the .14K firmware found thread, but I just wanted people to know that the .14m firmware that was just was just released seems to have solved the DRM and font size problems previously reported with .14i and .14k, at least for pdb files. Take a look at the last few posts in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...803#post705803

BTW, here is the link to that new firmware which has been released according to heffe2001.

ftp://custftp:FQSswyvGQ20So@ftp.ecta...Lite_0.14m.exe

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by JeePea

This post is something of a duplicate from one I did in the .14K firmware found thread, but I just wanted people to know that the .14m firmware that was just discovered (not officially released) seems to have solved the DRM and font size problems previously reported with .14i and .14k. Take a look at the last few posts in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...803#post705803

BTW, here is the link to that new firmware but use at your own risk:

ftp://custftp:FQSswyvGQ20So@ftp.ecta...Lite_0.14m.exe

I will try .14m version

[heffe2001]

Originally Posted by JeePea

This post is something of a duplicate from one I did in the .14K firmware found thread, but I just wanted people to know that the .14m firmware that was just discovered (not officially released) seems to have solved the DRM and font size problems previously reported with .14i and .14k. Take a look at the last few posts in this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...803#post705803

BTW, here is the link to that new firmware but use at your own risk:

ftp://custftp:FQSswyvGQ20So@ftp.ecta...Lite_0.14m.exe

Just wanted to clarify, this IS official firmware, not discovered. The link was sent to me by tech support.

[JeePea]

Thanks for the confirmation that .14m a released version. I've updated my message above to reflect this information.

[Ron46]

Thanks to all in this community for being in hot persuit on these firmware issues. I think the Jetbook Lite is a great machine, perhaps with a chance for market dominance due to its price, its fast page transitions without the flash, and never having to worry about prying the unit open to replace a burned out Li-Ion battery. But all of it's imperfections are software/firmware issues, and I hope that communities like this keep Ectaco on the ball.

Everyone else in the industry went like lemmings down the Visiplex screen road, and I think this screen is way better, especially in reduced light. But I could surely appreciate a few more font choices, a little tighter line spacing, a better dictionary etc., and that additional functionality can only come with firmware updates.

[JeePea]

There is yet another firmware version available for the JBL, .i14n on the ectaco server. I haven't had time to try it out so I don't know what changes it might have. The only big change that people are looking for is support for DRMed epub files, so maybe this has it.

FWIW, I had my first freeze up on my Jetbook Lite with the .14m version last night. It may have been unrelated to any change in the firmware, it's hard to tell. I'll flash to the .14n later tonight and check it out. Here's the link to the new firmware. At this point I don't know how 'official' it is, perhaps someone else does, meaning use at your own risk:

ftp://custftp:FQSswyvGQ20So@ftp.ecta...Lite_0.14n.exe

[coconur]

Originally Posted by JeePea

There is yet another firmware version available for the JBL, .i14n on the ectaco server.

Boy, the upgrades are coming fast and furious, aren't they? :-)

I had tried a drm pdb file (ereader) from fictionwise.com while I was still on .14k, and it worked fine except the font was fuzzy. Last night I flashed to .14m and the fuzziness was gone from that book -- plus a sample drm pdb file from Books on Board, which hadn't worked at all under .14k, now works fine under .14m.

Hopefully, version n is an attempt at unlocking adobe epub, then I'll be able to borrow ebooks from the library. At least for now, I'm a *very* happy camper. I'm able to get a few new realeases just in time for my trip. I'll try n (or q, or whatever it will be up to) when I get back. :-)

[JeePea]

Last night when I tried DRMed PDB with the .14m firmware, I loaded couple of books but didn't read them. I've just discovered over on the Ectaco forum that the DRMed pdb loses a couple of lines at the end of each page in portrait mode. It was suggested that rotating to landscape mode brings the lines back, which it does, even when you switch back to portrait. This is also the case with the .14n firmware. You do have to give Ectaco credit, they are working feverishly trying to fix these bugs. Maybe we'll see another new firmware version or two tomorrow.

[JeePea]

For the .14n firmware, I've discovered that the trick of putting a DRMed pdb file into landscape mode to correct the problem with missing lines only seems to work with some ebooks. The one that worked for me was a pdb from Barnes and Noble; the ones I had from ereader.com did not work. The only way to get them to display properly was to use the smallest, microscopic font. I also found that the settings context menu for the DRMed pdb file lacks the ability to change from fully justified to left alignment. Hopefully Ectaco is aware of these short comings and will fix the firmware properly.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

However, you have already confirmed that 0.14i does not work for B&N ePubs. It probably does work for eReader ebooks with DRM, e.g. from FictionWise.

I can confirm that DRM eReader books from fictionwise work fine as do none DRM eReader books.

The EReader driver, like the PDF driver, does not allow Find or Dictionary however.

[heffe2001]

I just heard from tech support that the devices being sold at CES have v0.15 for the lite pre-installed, and the regular Jetbook has the v0.34c pre-installed (as mentioned earlier on the forums here). They will both be released next week once everyone gets back from CES (no date mentioned, but I'd guess the 11th or 12th).

I haven't heard if everything is fixed on the units and if the regular JB gets drm now, but I did ask (haven't gotten a reply back yet though).

You may also want to contact tech support about getting on the firmware mailing list, as they plan on sending out notifications of newer firmware as they become available.

** Current word is, v0.15 fixes the missing words/text, and v0.34c adds DRM capabilities to the regular Jetbook. So to me it looks like if we're all just a bit more patient, we'll all be happy campers sometime early next week .

[infi]

Originally Posted by heffe2001

I just heard from tech support that the devices being sold at CES have v0.15 for the lite pre-installed, and the regular Jetbook has the v0.34c pre-installed (as mentioned earlier on the forums here). They will both be released next week once everyone gets back from CES (no date mentioned, but I'd guess the 11th or 12th).

I can confirm this. My Jetbook (normal, not Lite) just arrived literally 3 hours ago, and I was having a hassle trying to update it to 0.33g (the latest on their site) until I bothered to look at the version, and it indeed came preloaded with 0.34c

I ordered it from NewEgg.com on Dec 28, so at least that batch appears to be from the same factory run as CES, with the new firmware. Haven't tested DRM yet though, as I don't even have any books with it (yet).

Also, hi! I registered to say this, and to thank mobileread and everyone active in these forums for the great info; I used the site quite a bit to make my decision on the JB.

[Kris777]

I almost don't read DRMed books but I would like to check v0.15 firmware and see how it works.

[silverraven]

This may be a stupid question, but does the Lite do library books (in the US)? My library has ADE epub and pdf books availale.
S

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by silverraven

This may be a stupid question, but does the Lite do library books (in the US)? My library has ADE epub and pdf books availale.
S

Not if all it has on it is eReader for DRMed eBooks. And if that's the case, then I do have to say that overall, that's a really bad business decision. One of the benefits of ePub (with DRM) is that you can borrow library books if your library supports Overdrive and ePub. But your reader also has to support ePub (with DRM).