Overdrive/library & public domain questions

bosun120 · 10-02-2011, 04:22 AM

Hi,

Dunno if this has been asked yet, I was wondering if the Kindle had the ability to, from the device itself w/o having to connect to a computer:

1. Download library ebooks (say using Overdrive system)
2. Download books from public domain websites (Gutenberg, etc.)

I know that some Android ereader apps (Aldiko) have built in access to online catalogs like Goodreads or Gutenberg, and I was wondering if there was something similar or just as easy to use on the Kindle (or any other ereader).

I checked out a Nook Touch in the store and talking with the representative, I got the impression that you needed a separate computer in order to transfer books from Overdrive/Gutenberg catalogs, which does not appeal to me. Also the annotation/note support (especially the search) for the Kindle seems to be better than any other ereader on the market.

Thanks.

JSWolf · 10-02-2011, 04:29 AM

The only eink reader currently able to download eBooks from the library (with Overdrive0 without needing a computer is the Sony Wifi PRS-T1. The Kindle needs a computer to do it.

bosun120 · 10-02-2011, 05:13 AM

Wow r u serious? What about the recent announcement about Overdrive + Kindle?

http://www.overdrive.com/News/OverDr...Library-eBooks

As for PB books, how about using the browser to dl books from the Gutenberg website?

Also, are there any places I can check out the Kindle in person? Im in Socal.

HarryT · 10-02-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun120

Wow r u serious? What about the recent announcement about Overdrive + Kindle?

http://www.overdrive.com/News/OverDr...Library-eBooks

Yes, you can borrow library books, but not directly on the Kindle. You need to use a PC to download the book.

Quote:

As for PB books, how about using the browser to dl books from the Gutenberg website?

Yes, that works fine. You can also download Mobipocket books from our library here at MobileRead. These are generally much better formatted than the PG versions.

Quote:

Also, are there any places I can check out the Kindle in person? Im in Socal.

I don't know where "Socal" is, but if you're in the United States, which you presumably are since you talk about library books, I believe that stores such as Target, Best Buy, etc, stock the Kindle.

odiakkoh · 10-02-2011, 06:37 AM

Socal is short for southern california.

Ive seen live kindles on display at super walmarts. Ive only seen dud displays at target.

Daveoc64 · 10-02-2011, 07:07 AM

To download Project Gutenberg books on the Kindle, I'd recommend the mobile version of the site:

http://m.gutenberg.org/

Much faster and easier to navigate on the device.

monkeyluis · 10-02-2011, 09:36 AM

I loaned a ebook from the library & had it download via wifi. No computer needed to have it transfer.

HarryT · 10-02-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyluis

I loaned a ebook from the library & had it download via wifi. No computer needed to have it transfer.

You're the first person I've heard say that. Others have said that, when you click the "Download" button on the Overdrive web site, the browser tries to open a new window - an operation that the Kindle's web browser doesn't support. Did this not happen with you?

Daveoc64 · 10-02-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're the first person I've heard say that. Others have said that, when you click the "Download" button on the Overdrive web site, the browser tries to open a new window - an operation that the Kindle's web browser doesn't support. Did this not happen with you?

I don't think "monkeyluis" understood what everyone else said.

His post seems to suggest that he thought everyone was saying that you had to copy the book from your computer via USB, not that the initial rental process had to take place on a computer.

monkeyluis · 10-02-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveoc64

I don't think "monkeyluis" understood what everyone else said.

His post seems to suggest that he thought everyone was saying that you had to copy the book from your computer via USB, not that the initial rental process had to take place on a computer.

Yup. I may have misunderstood.

Harry_Y · 10-02-2011, 12:09 PM

It is not really a big deal since I tend to
do all my shopping for books on my PC

teasonc · 10-10-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun120

Hi,
I was wondering if the Kindle had the ability to, from the device itself w/o having to connect to a computer:

1. Download library ebooks (say using Overdrive system)
2. Download books from public domain websites (Gutenberg, etc.)

Kindle Keyboard 3G/WiFi (3.2.1 firmware) does both (Overdrive, Gutenberg). It leverages WiFi for content delivery.

Borrowing a library book from the Overdrive site requires two logins; one to Overdrive, and then one to Amazon (for the delivery of the content).

Overdrive sends you to Amazon, which I would suppose is the step most people could not complete, who said it doesn't work.

It does work, but you have to disable JavaScript (in the WebKit browser) for that step to complete correctly.

Otherwise, the WebKit browser will choke, and produce an error dialog that states something about 'multiple windows' that it cannot open.

Disabling JavaScript for that one step is helpful, there.

DreamWriter · 10-10-2011, 02:05 PM

There are also lots and lots of free public domain books at Amazon here. Many aren't as well-formatted as the free ebooks available here at MobileRead, but it's another option.

RDaneel54 · 10-10-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teasonc

Kindle Keyboard 3G/WiFi (3.2.1 firmware) does both (Overdrive, Gutenberg). It leverages WiFi for content delivery.

Borrowing a library book from the Overdrive site requires two logins; one to Overdrive, and then one to Amazon (for the delivery of the content).

Overdrive sends you to Amazon, which I would suppose is the step most people could not complete, who said it doesn't work.

It does work, but you have to disable JavaScript (in the WebKit browser) for that step to complete correctly.

Otherwise, the WebKit browser will choke, and produce an error dialog that states something about 'multiple windows' that it cannot open.

Disabling JavaScript for that one step is helpful, there.

This didn't work for me. I just went through the whole process on my K3 wifi/3g, including disabling JavaScript just before clicking on the link that sends to Amazon. The K3 opened a window that said, "Web Browser could not open this link because opening multiple windows is not supported."

tubemonkey · 10-10-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teasonc

It does work, but you have to disable JavaScript (in the WebKit browser) for that step to complete correctly.

How do you disable JavaScript?

10-02-2011, 04:22 AM	#1
bosun120 Member Retired Posts: 23 Karma: 40 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Android	Overdrive/library & public domain questions Hi, Dunno if this has been asked yet, I was wondering if the Kindle had the ability to, from the device itself w/o having to connect to a computer: 1. Download library ebooks (say using Overdrive system) 2. Download books from public domain websites (Gutenberg, etc.) I know that some Android ereader apps (Aldiko) have built in access to online catalogs like Goodreads or Gutenberg, and I was wondering if there was something similar or just as easy to use on the Kindle (or any other ereader). I checked out a Nook Touch in the store and talking with the representative, I got the impression that you needed a separate computer in order to transfer books from Overdrive/Gutenberg catalogs, which does not appeal to me. Also the annotation/note support (especially the search) for the Kindle seems to be better than any other ereader on the market. Thanks.

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10-02-2011, 04:29 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The only eink reader currently able to download eBooks from the library (with Overdrive0 without needing a computer is the Sony Wifi PRS-T1. The Kindle needs a computer to do it.

10-02-2011, 05:13 AM	#3
bosun120 Member Retired Posts: 23 Karma: 40 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Android	Wow r u serious? What about the recent announcement about Overdrive + Kindle? http://www.overdrive.com/News/OverDr...Library-eBooks As for PB books, how about using the browser to dl books from the Gutenberg website? Also, are there any places I can check out the Kindle in person? Im in Socal.

10-02-2011, 06:37 AM	#5
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	Socal is short for southern california. Ive seen live kindles on display at super walmarts. Ive only seen dud displays at target.

10-02-2011, 07:07 AM	#6
Daveoc64 Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 21142 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Kindle Oasis 3 (LTE)	To download Project Gutenberg books on the Kindle, I'd recommend the mobile version of the site: http://m.gutenberg.org/ Much faster and easier to navigate on the device.

10-02-2011, 09:36 AM	#7
monkeyluis Banned Posts: 725 Karma: 656644 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: iPad "3", Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, iPhone 4S	I loaned a ebook from the library & had it download via wifi. No computer needed to have it transfer.

10-02-2011, 12:09 PM	#11
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	It is not really a big deal since I tend to do all my shopping for books on my PC

10-10-2011, 02:05 PM	#13
DreamWriter Books are brain food. Posts: 2,950 Karma: 4836916 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Paperwhite · Fire HD6/HD8/HD10 · Galaxy Tab A7	There are also lots and lots of free public domain books at Amazon here. Many aren't as well-formatted as the free ebooks available here at MobileRead, but it's another option.

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