Kobo Plus now available in US & UK

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

An rather interesting claim that sideloading does not hurt anything since it all evens out in the end which at best, is a unproven theory and likely a total fallacy. You can believe whatever you want to help you sleep at night. Just don't expect the rest of us to join in your delusions.

...

Well, that is disappointing, all of us who may consider trying it are devastated by your disapproval.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by John F

How do you feel about people stripping DRM from licensed ebooks?

Licensed books as in "every ebook you 'purchase'"? If so, that is a horse of a different color.

Purchasing a licensed book, the author gets paid when you make your one time purchase.

In a subscription model like Kobo Plus or Kindle Unlimited, the author only gets paid when you read their book. And the service has to have some way to know that the book was read.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Licensed books as in "every ebook you 'purchase'"? If so, that is a horse of a different color.

Purchasing a licensed book, the author gets paid when you make your one time purchase.

In a subscription model like Kobo Plus or Kindle Unlimited, the author only gets paid when you read their book. And the service has to have some way to know that the book was read.

But I want to know if I can download a Kobo Plus eBooks, strip the DRM, and side load it back to my Kobo (using Calibre so Kobo thinks it's the same eBook) so I can fix the formatting.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by John F

How do you feel about people stripping DRM from licensed ebooks?

I think that I have made it clear over the years that I have no issues with stripping DRM from ebooks you have purchased for the purpose of making backups. I was burned twice by companies dropping their support for their DRM—my horrible example is Microsoft since I did have a fair number of .lit format ebooks which I hastily stripped the DRM from using ConvertLIT after Microsoft set the drop dead date for their DRM servers. The other company disappeared with much less notice or fanfare and I ended up purchasing 7 or 8 replacement ebooks.

I do have issues with stripping DRM from ebooks which are loans whether from the public library, Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus or other sources for ebook loans. I agree with Apprentices Alf and Harper that that is odious behaviour.

I am very iffy on the topic of stripping DRM from epubs to allow conversion to a Kindle supported format. If reading library books was that important, selecting a device that can only borrow ebooks from a limited selection of libraries in the United States was not a bright move. If nothing else, I've seen too many times where an converted ebook has not been deleted after the loan period expires.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But I want to know if I can download a Kobo Plus eBooks, strip the DRM, and side load it back to my Kobo (using Calibre so Kobo thinks it's the same eBook) so I can fix the formatting.

As far as I am aware, that is not possible at this time. I can see a few ways that it might be done but not something I want to get involved in.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by John F

Well, that is disappointing, all of us who may consider trying it are devastated by your disapproval.

I'm pretty certain that my sleep is not going to be bothered by thoughts of those who might be 'devastated' by my disapproval. I have to admit that your post was one of the most disingenuous justifications for ebook piracy I've read in quite a while. Trying to use the it doesn't hurt anyone justification is risible.

[BrandonGiesing]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I don’t know. Haven’t tried it yet. I can say that it doesn’t work with Obok. When I was backing up some purchases last night, I noticed my Kobo Plus books all had green, open locks. Those are usually reserved for non DRM books or when books are open in the desktop app database still. As I suspected, the book can’t be stripped of DRM, which is a good thing, TBH. Kobo Plus can’t succeed if it encourages rampant piracy. Sure, that might encourage people to sign up, but publishers would pull out.

Not sure what you might have done differently, but it worked immediately for me when I tested it. Of course, I immediately deleted the book cause I don't want to pirate Kobo Plus books but it definitely did work just like any other Kobo book.

[BrandonGiesing]

Originally Posted by Cootey

Also, one’s Kobo Plus borrows can be seen in My Books with its own filter now.

Interesting, I borrowed a few and there's no filter on my device at all, only OverDrive and Dropbox show up. On the latest Sage firmware, 4.35.20400.

Also notably, the Kobo Plus page on Discover throws a network error, eBooks, Audiobooks, Overdrive, Wishlist, etc. all load fine and I can still borrow and see what are Kobo Plus books if I find it one of those other places.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by BrandonGiesing

Interesting, I borrowed a few and there's no filter on my device at all, only OverDrive and Dropbox show up. On the latest Sage firmware, 4.35.20400.

Equally interesting. I went to My Books => Books and there are multiple options in the filter dropdown menu. From the image attached, they include All, eBooks, Unread, Reading, Finished, Purchased, Kobo Plus, Imported and Downloaded.

Are you looking under the More option?

Originally Posted by BrandonGiesing

Also notably, the Kobo Plus page on Discover throws a network error, eBooks, Audiobooks, Overdrive, Wishlist, etc. all load fine and I can still borrow and see what are Kobo Plus books if I find it one of those other places.

Again, in Discover, I only see 4 items, eBooks, Audibooks, Kobo Plus and OverDrive. No errors trying to open any of the four.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I think that I have made it clear over the years that I have no issues with stripping DRM from ebooks you have purchased for the purpose of making backups. I was burned twice by companies dropping their support for their DRM—my horrible example is Microsoft since I did have a fair number of .lit format ebooks which I hastily stripped the DRM from using ConvertLIT after Microsoft set the drop dead date for their DRM servers. The other company disappeared with much less notice or fanfare and I ended up purchasing 7 or 8 replacement ebooks.

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

I do have issues with stripping DRM from ebooks which are loans whether from the public library, Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus or other sources for ebook loans. I agree with Apprentices Alf and Harper that that is odious behaviour.

I am very iffy on the topic of stripping DRM from epubs to allow conversion to a Kindle supported format. If reading library books was that important, selecting a device that can only borrow ebooks from a limited selection of libraries in the United States was not a bright move. If nothing else, I've seen too many times where an converted ebook has not been deleted after the loan period expires.

Are you sure you are getting enough sleep?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by John F

Whatever helps you sleep at night.


Are you sure you are getting enough sleep?

I suspect that I am not the person suffering from a lack of sleep. OTOH, ad hominem attacks tend to say more about the attacker than anyone else.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I suspect that I am not the person suffering from a lack of sleep. OTOH, ad hominem attacks tend to say more about the attacker than anyone else.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But I want to know if I can download a Kobo Plus eBooks, strip the DRM, and side load it back to my Kobo (using Calibre so Kobo thinks it's the same eBook) so I can fix the formatting.

I think if you want to do all that, Kobo Plus just isn't for you.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by John F

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think if you want to do all that, Kobo Plus just isn't for you.

I didn't know it could be done using Kindle Unlimited and two Kindles. But the answer is that you do it.

If I had a Kobo Plus, this is something I would try.