Is sideloading as simple as a drag-n-drop?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

According to https://www.eff.org/pages/reader-privacy-chart-2012

The Kobo "seems to have the capability to keep track of book searches because it indicates that it shares those searches with third parties".

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

If Kobo has a way to track my book searches within my own library when the WiFi is turned off, I'd like to know how they do it.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Are you sure? If you are going to use a fake email address you should be certain that no one actually has it.

I have one fairly generic email address that other people have used to sign up for services from time to time. When I get a notification of that I use password reset to gain access to the account and delete it. (Except for one time that it was a dating site and instead of deleting I had fun rewriting the user’s profile and interests.)

You are wicked and devious. I love it.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

I don't see that distinction anywhere. I'm assuming if they make a business and have privacy agreements and sell your info to third parties, they are gathering something. Don't know, not affected.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

If Kobo has a way to track my book searches within my own library when the WiFi is turned off, I'd like to know how they do it.

Oh, it's probably tracking, just waiting for you to turn on the wifi so it can send out it's little info packet about your reading habits.

Personally, now I'm interested in seeing what my Onyx does when it goes online. I'll report back what I find.

[sjfan]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Are you sure? If you are going to use a fake email address you should be certain that no one actually has it.

Yes. That's easy to do, also: there are a number of reserved addresses (example.com, example.net and example.org, for instance) that can never be legitimately registered. So using email addresses along the lines of user@example.com or user@example.net should be safe in this respect.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Ok interest peaked. Please name me one hardware that came with services and failed completely.

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Perhaps the most famous example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CueCat

Never head of it.

I would have thought

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIVX

would be more famous. Those turned into doorstops after the business failure. Kobo e-readers do not require Kobo to stay in business in order to work.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Kobo e-readers do not require Kobo to stay in business in order to work.

Thanks to people knowing sqlite.

If you didn't know about altering the DB and brought one on ebay after they go out of business, then what?

Good call on the Divx thing too, I had forgotten about that.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

I don't see that distinction anywhere. I'm assuming if they make a business and have privacy agreements and sell your info to third parties, they are gathering something. Don't know, not affected.

I can't help it if the EFF (an organization I support) isn't clear enough for you. Nonetheless, it is true.

Oh, it's probably tracking, just waiting for you to turn on the wifi so it can send out it's little info packet about your reading habits.

Aside from my initial setup, I never turn on WiFi on any of my e-readers. I do wear enough of a tin-foil hat that I prefer to sideload even when I bought from B&N and read on a Nook. Though I admit, I mainly turn off WiFi because it feels unnecessary to me since I'm going to Alf all my books anyway and likely edit them, so may as well sideload.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I can't help it if the EFF (an organization I support) isn't clear enough for you. Nonetheless, it is true.

Well, I would prefer to not take someone's word for it and I read pretty good and the EFF was pretty clear and I don't see anything that says

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

anywhere. If it's so clear, where are you getting that info?

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Aside from my initial setup, I never turn on WiFi on any of my e-readers. I do wear enough of a tin-foil hat that I prefer to sideload even when I bought from B&N and read on a Nook. Though I admit, I mainly turn off WiFi because it feels unnecessary to me since I'm going to Alf all my books anyway and likely edit them, so may as well sideload.

Yea if you are using a nook, you probably don't ever want to turn on wifi even if you are sideloading if you care about your privacy.

Same source:

https://www.eff.org/pages/reader-privacy-chart-2012


Barnes & Noble tracks purchases made from a logged-in Barnes & Noble account, including through the Nook store. It also collects information, including “sideloaded content,” through the device’s interaction with the Internet.

Of course, if you never use wifi, it's moot.

Personally I don't mind wifi, as it's sometimes is useful to transfer books without attaching to a PC. I am the same however as I only turned on my wifi on my new device to set the time. I will be very interested in testing for myself what my Onyx does once it gets an IP.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Thanks to people knowing sqlite.

If you didn't know about altering the DB and brought one on ebay after they go out of business, then what?

The sqlite thing convinces the Kobo device that it is registered. Mine works fine and has never had wifi turned on. I'm pretty sure that devices actually registered with Kobo never have to connect to a Kobo web site in order to continue to work.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

According to https://www.eff.org/pages/reader-privacy-chart-2012

The Kobo "seems to have the capability to keep track of book searches because it indicates that it shares those searches with third parties".

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

If Kobo has a way to track my book searches within my own library when the WiFi is turned off, I'd like to know how they do it.

Originally Posted by sealbeater

If it's so clear, where are you getting that info?

I'm getting the info by knowing what is possible. If you aren't connected to the internet, it is not possible for Kobo to track your searches, etc.

Yea if you are using a nook, you probably don't ever want to turn on wifi even if you are sideloading if you care about your privacy.

Same source:

https://www.eff.org/pages/reader-privacy-chart-2012


Barnes & Noble tracks purchases made from a logged-in Barnes & Noble account, including through the Nook store. It also collects information, including “sideloaded content,” through the device’s interaction with the Internet.

Of course, if you never use wifi, it's moot.

With that last sentence, you are getting dangerously close to agreeing with me.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'm getting the info by knowing what is possible. If you aren't connected to the internet, it is not possible for Kobo to track your searches, etc.

Well, that's not really what you said.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

You have no idea if the device itself is keeping track of your reading habits.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

With that last sentence, you are getting dangerously close to agreeing with me.

My only point is that I don't reward companies for spying on me or requiring me to register my hardware. You can do whatever you like.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Well, that's not really what you said.

I guess:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

To be clear, that would be book searches in the Kobo store done using WiFi or using the Kobo app or desktop program.

If Kobo has a way to track my book searches within my own library when the WiFi is turned off, I'd like to know how they do it.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Aside from my initial setup, I never turn on WiFi on any of my e-readers. I do wear enough of a tin-foil hat that I prefer to sideload even when I bought from B&N and read on a Nook.

and

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I'm getting the info by knowing what is possible. If you aren't connected to the internet, it is not possible for Kobo to track your searches, etc.

just weren't clear enough.

The thing is, I do agree with you overall. In the words of number 6, "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own…"

I just don't mind registering or fake registering so I can use the device.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Of course, if you never use wifi, it's moot.

By the way, thank you for using 'moot' So many people say something is a 'mute point' I'm worried it's going to become standard usage.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I guess:





and



just weren't clear enough.

I responded to that.

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Oh, it's probably tracking, just waiting for you to turn on the wifi so it can send out it's little info packet about your reading habits.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The thing is, I do agree with you overall. In the words of number 6, "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own…"

I just don't mind registering or fake registering so I can use the device.

That's perfectly fine. I do mind. Luckily we both have a choice. For now.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

By the way, thank you for using 'moot' So many people say something is a 'mute point' I'm worried it's going to become standard usage.

Doing my best to keep the English language alive!