Buying from Sony ebook store

kiwipippa · 02-21-2011, 01:55 AM

There seems to be a reasonable selection of ebooks at the Sony store, but I can't figure out what format they are in. I thought that Sony was epub but the store says you need special software to download and read the books - and it isn't ADE (it's "Reader Library Software"). Info about the book doesn't state the format like kobo or other stores does.

Does anyone know how this works - do you get an epub that can be put on your kobo (via calibre if poss) or does Sony use some other kind of DRM that makes life difficult, in which case I won't purchase from there.

Thanks

ATDrake · 02-21-2011, 02:11 AM

Sony uses ADE-DRMed ePub†. They just make you buy and download everything via their horrible reader software app interface.

You should have no problems using it as-is on your Kobo, or stripping it for reading elsewhere later.

† They used to do their own DRM format called LRX or something like that, but they switched over to ePub some time ago and haven't looked back since.

SolRaven · 02-21-2011, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Sony uses ADE-DRMed ePub†. They just make you buy and download everything via their horrible reader software app interface.

You should have no problems using it as-is on your Kobo, or stripping it for reading elsewhere later.

† They used to do their own DRM format called LRX or something like that, but they switched over to ePub some time ago and haven't looked back since.

Yeah, they don't sell any LRX anymore and books that I bought in their old LRX format can only be re-downloaded in ePub format.

I figured the reason for the software is that they were doing the same thing that Amazon was doing. You couldn't even buy Kindle books unless you owned a Kindle. They were verifying that you owned a Sony Reader, but since they've scrapped their proprietary format, it makes no sense for them not to, also, scrap their software buying process. Weird.

kiwipippa · 02-21-2011, 02:23 AM

Thanks for this. I'll download the reader ap and give it a go.

02-21-2011, 01:55 AM	#1
kiwipippa Fanatic Posts: 578 Karma: 613022 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo glo, kobo touch (dead), kindle touch, android phone	Buying from Sony ebook store There seems to be a reasonable selection of ebooks at the Sony store, but I can't figure out what format they are in. I thought that Sony was epub but the store says you need special software to download and read the books - and it isn't ADE (it's "Reader Library Software"). Info about the book doesn't state the format like kobo or other stores does. Does anyone know how this works - do you get an epub that can be put on your kobo (via calibre if poss) or does Sony use some other kind of DRM that makes life difficult, in which case I won't purchase from there. Thanks

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02-21-2011, 02:11 AM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Sony uses ADE-DRMed ePub†. They just make you buy and download everything via their horrible reader software app interface. You should have no problems using it as-is on your Kobo, or stripping it for reading elsewhere later. † They used to do their own DRM format called LRX or something like that, but they switched over to ePub some time ago and haven't looked back since.

02-21-2011, 02:23 AM	#4
kiwipippa Fanatic Posts: 578 Karma: 613022 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo glo, kobo touch (dead), kindle touch, android phone	Thanks for this. I'll download the reader ap and give it a go.

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