Borders Desktop and Kobobooks.com integration?

[monkeylytics]

I have a Kobo app on my ipad and smartphone. They're tied to the same email address so I can read the same book on different devices.

But when I load Borders Desktop for my Kobo eReader, there doesn't seem to be a way to tie my accounts together. Borders Desktop forces you to create a Borders account which has no knowledge of my Kobo account. So, I can't easily read my purchased ebook on my Kobo ereader through my Borders Desktop. I guess I was expecting more integration between the Kobo-derived services.

Is this how things are supposed to work?

[SameerH]

Unfortunately this is true. Are you able to download the Borders iphone and iPad apps? This won't get your Kobo books, but you'll have a nice ecosystem to play within.

If that doesn't hit the proverbial spot, please email me shasan at kobobooks dot com and I'll try to get something going for you, it might take some work.

[monkeylytics]

Originally Posted by SameerH

Unfortunately this is true. Are you able to download the Borders iphone and iPad apps? This won't get your Kobo books, but you'll have a nice ecosystem to play within.

Hey Sameer,

Actually I have the Kobo reader on the iPad and Shortcovers on my HTC Hero (can't seem to find Kobo in Market though...). So, I'm more integrated with Kobobooks than I am with Borders.

I use Adobe Digital Editions on my laptop to download the epub and then load it manually into my Kobo so I have a decent workaround.

But it'd be nice if the Kobo partners shared a common backend for Kobo ebooks. The instructions manual from the Kobo reader that I bought from Borders says to load the Borders software. But since Kobo has apps on other devices (I downloaded the Kobo app for my ipad for instance), those are going through Kobobooks.

From a user perspective, what's really in my head is "Kobo", not Borders. I know the distribution channels want their branding and what not, but you might introduce unnecessary fragmentation and confusion by keeping the service separate for each distribution channel. Ie, why can't I manage the ebook I buy from Wal-Mart, Borders, and Kobobooks in the same interface and across devices? That's the Kobo pitch isn't it?

If that doesn't hit the proverbial spot, please email me shasan at kobobooks dot com and I'll try to get something going for you, it might take some work.

I appreciate the offer. My workaround with ADE is ok although not ideal. But you guys might do better if Kobo is the ecosystem rather than the partners. The scalability of having each Kobo distribution partner have its own ecosystem might have some scalability issues from a user perspective. I don't buy all my books from Borders so why would I focus on a Borders app for all my Kobo ebooks?

[artificial]

Originally Posted by monkeylytics

But you guys might do better if Kobo is the ecosystem rather than the partners.

It would be better for Kobo, and better for the end-user, but I don't think Borders would like that idea very much!

[tajreed]

I was able to log into the Border software with the same screen name and password as used at KOBO. And my Library showed up.

[nefferbea]

How did that work? I did the same, and all that showed up on the Borders library were the 5 free ebooks that came with the Borders Desktop download. The books I've bought from Kobo weren't there.

[monkeylytics]

Originally Posted by artificial

It would be better for Kobo, and better for the end-user, but I don't think Borders would like that idea very much!

Yeah, but If I buy a Kobo epub book from Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart is going to have the Kobo eReader advertised on it...but I already had a Kobo eReader I bought from Borders, I'm going to be miffed when I find out the stuff isn't integrated. For better or worse, the common Kobo brand is going to set user expectations for a certain amount of integration.

Kobo could still allow its partners to customize certain aspects of the app (or web interface control for that matter) if they allowed their partners to feed content into it. For instance, showcase stuff at the site like video, community, retention programs, etc. But Kobo could still coordinate the ebook management on the backend. Maybe both sides can win.

The Kobo Coalition would be better banding together and differentiating on the experience for the consumer instead of trying to artificially "own" the consumer, fragmenting themselves, and not reaching critical mass. You can get away with it if you have market dominance, but Kobo isn't there.

[techie42]

Originally Posted by monkeylytics

Yeah, but If I buy a Kobo epub book from Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart is going to have the Kobo eReader advertised on it...

That is a good point. What version od the Kobo software does come with the Walmart Kobo?

[tajreed]

Nefferbea-my mistake. I also could only get the five free books, none that I had purchased.

[NickWilliams]

How about letting me download the kobo desktop app from the kobo website? I don't want to be stuck with whatever desktop version happens to come with my e reader. Let me pick which one I want to use. I refuse to use the Borders desktop that came with my unit. I would rather do without than install their app and create a new account.