Overdrive.com is now rather useless

[Parsley]

I don't mind the Libby website that much (although the mobile experience is definitely better), and I don't use the Overdrive website enough to really notice the changes. What I do deeply resent is that my primary library has broken its integration with Overdrive on my Kobo. And then Adobe breaks the books seemingly half the time.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Parsley

I don't mind the Libby website that much (although the mobile experience is definitely better), and I don't use the Overdrive website enough to really notice the changes. What I do deeply resent is that my primary library has broken its integration with Overdrive on my Kobo. And then Adobe breaks the books seemingly half the time.

I've never seen ADE break any eBooks from Overdrive.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is no way to download content from the Libby site. You have to go to the library's Overdrive site to download content.

I presume the use case is to side load to some other reading software. But it seems there is a download option if you can find it.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by twowheels

You can, but they make it exceedingly frustrating, hiding the option behind multiple buttons -- I have to search for it every time as I forget where it's at, Kindle options are front-and-center, and you have to decline them repeatedly.

Yeah and wonder when they'll kill that option outright

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I pit a ticket in to Overdrive and this is the reply I've received. It does say you can't download loans for offline use.

They might have said that, but I just downloaded a book a few minutes ago and it worked, but they do go out of their way to make it hard to find.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is no way to download content from the Libby site. You have to go to the library's Overdrive site to download content.

Was there ever a way to download content from the main Overdrive site? If so, I have been missing it for years. I use the main Overdrive site to search for the book I want across all of my libraries. Main Overdrive shows me which libraries have it. But to actually check out the book, the main Overdrive site sends me to the individual library site for the actual check out process.

From the individual library site checking out Kindle format or EPUB format is as simple as choosing which of the two presented buttons you click. Sometimes only one button is available if the library only has the book in one format. EPUB is the simpler option IMHO as it simply downloads the ASCM file. You then have to fulfill the ACSM file using Adobe software. The Kindle option sends you to the Amazon website and you do the check out from there. Then you go to your digital content and "Download for USB", then sideload it onto your Kindle. There's probably a simpler process for the Kindle, but the above is the way I've always done it since my Kindle is permanently kept in Airplane Mode and sideloading is the only way I can put books onto it.

Is there some other downloading process that is/was available from the main Overdrive site that is simpler (for us sideload-only folks) that I have been missing? A way where you stay on the main Overdrive site for the entire process without being moved to the individual library site for the actual check out part?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by haertig

Was there ever a way to download content from the main Overdrive site? If so, I have been missing it for years. I use the main Overdrive site to search for the book I want across all of my libraries. Main Overdrive shows me which libraries have it. But to actually check out the book, the main Overdrive site sends me to the individual library site for the actual check out process.

From the individual library site checking out Kindle format or EPUB format is as simple as choosing which of the two presented buttons you click. Sometimes only one button is available if the library only has the book in one format. EPUB is the simpler option IMHO as it simply downloads the ASCM file. You then have to fulfill the ACSM file using Adobe software. The Kindle option sends you to the Amazon website and you do the check out from there. Then you go to your digital content and "Download for USB", then sideload it onto your Kindle. There's probably a simpler process for the Kindle, but the above is the way I've always done it since my Kindle is permanently kept in Airplane Mode and sideloading is the only way I can put books onto it.

Is there some other downloading process that is/was available from the main Overdrive site that is simpler (for us sideload-only folks) that I have been missing? A way where you stay on the main Overdrive site for the entire process without being moved to the individual library site for the actual check out part?

You don't download form the main Overdrive site. You used the main Overdrive site to look up content you are interested in and see if any of your libraries has is.

[Parsley]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've never seen ADE break any eBooks from Overdrive.

If I don't strip the DRM (I'm not comfortable removing DRM from library books), it happens to me quite a lot.

My current library book (nonfiction) has (a) graphics that have been rescaled to unrecognizable proportions and (b) text boxes that do not wrap to the next page, so I need to make the text tiny to actually read them. To be fair, I haven't tried this one without the Adobe DRM, so it could just be a poorly made ebook.

A previous library book (graphic novel) had scaling issues that made it completely unreadable. For that one I did remove the DRM (and converted to kepub), whereupon it worked just fine. I've had multiple other books where the author's name or the cover don't show up correctly or at all, and occasional trouble with the authorization failing on me.

And then there are annoyances like forced justification of the text (I read ragged-right, because imo my Clara is too small for justified text without microtypography), forced linespacing/margins, and the stupidly small footnote links.

I have had essentially none of these problems with overdrive kepubs, despite them also having DRM.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Parsley

If I don't strip the DRM (I'm not comfortable removing DRM from library books), it happens to me quite a lot.



My current library book (nonfiction) has (a) graphics that have been rescaled to unrecognizable proportions and (b) text boxes that do not wrap to the next page, so I need to make the text tiny to actually read them. To be fair, I haven't tried this one without the Adobe DRM, so it could just be a poorly made ebook.



.

I don't think DRM has anything to do with it. A book with DRM removed and one with DRM decrypted have the same content. If it doesn't display directly, either the book is poorly formatted or the reader software doesn't fully support whatever formatting features the book has.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Barty

I don't think DRM has anything to do with it. A book with DRM removed and one with DRM decrypted have the same content. If it doesn't display directly, either the book is poorly formatted or the reader software doesn't fully support whatever formatting features the book has.

ADE just sends it as a straight ePub instead of a kepub.

[kyrilson]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is no way to download content from the Libby site. You have to go to the library's Overdrive site to download content.

Actually, you can. When you go to the book you checked out, and click on Read With..., you'll see Kindle and Libby at the top, but if you scroll down, there is and Other option. Click on that and there will a download option there for a DRM file.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kyrilson

Actually, you can. When you go to the book you checked out, and click on Read With..., you'll see Kindle and Libby at the top, but if you scroll down, there is and Other option. Click on that and there will a download option there for a DRM file.

The information I posted was what I received from Overdrive when I put in a support ticket for the login issue.

[willaful]

Originally Posted by Barty

Yeah and wonder when they'll kill that option outright

I'm having concerns about not being able to send books to my kindle from the website at some point. I really don't want to have Amazon on my phone.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by willaful

I'm having concerns about not being able to send books to my kindle from the website at some point. I really don't want to have Amazon on my phone.

I don't think that'll happen; Amazon is too big. Unless they get into some kind of monetary dispute.