Sony PRS-350 + Ubuntu Lucid + DRMed book from Kobo = Success!

fossie · 12-08-2010, 02:44 PM

There are a few threads on the web about transferring DRMed books to the Sony reader on a Linux machine. Folks seem to be reporting varying levels of success. This is what worked for me:

The hardware: Sony PRS-350 aka Pocket Edition

The software: Ubuntu Linux 10.04 Lucid Lynx + Wine 1.2 + Adobe Digital Editions 1.7.2 (ADE) + Sony's Library software 3.3 + calibre 0.7.32

The bookstore: Kobo

The process:
1 Borrow, beg or steal a Windows XP machine.
2 Download and install ADE on it.
3 Plug in the reader.
4 Once mounted, go to the SETTINGS directory and run the Install thingy (for the Sony library software).
5 Run ADE
6 Authorize your PC (the tiny arrow next to "Library" has the authorize option)
7 Authorize the reader
8 Exit, unplug, shut down and leave the building (you could probably uninstall your mess first, you only need it this once anyway)
9 Start your Ubuntu machine
10 Download the Sony Library software (from the web this time - on my machine the SETTINGS folder never mounted on Ubuntu)
11 Install it under wine. I don't know if this is necessary but do it anyway, just in case.
12 Download ADE for Windows and install it under wine as well
13 Run ADE
14 Authorize your machine (no need to do the reader again, just the PC)
15 Go to Kobo, register an account and buy a book (the paid ones all have DRM)
16 Click "Download EPUB" to get the tiny acsm file
17 Drag & drop the acsm file on the ADE window. This should download the actual EPUB file.
18 Close ADE
19 Install calibre (NOT through the repositories, it's an old version that doesn't recognize the Sony 350. Go to the website and download the latest version)
20 Run calibre
21 Click on "add book" and find the "my digital editions" folder (should be in your home folder)
22 Click "open" to import it
23 CTRL+D to get the metadata if it's not there already (on my machine the metadata doesn't import with the book it seems)
24 Plug in the Sony
25 Once detected in calibre, select the book and click "send to device"
26 When completed, eject and disconnect the device

All done. Find a hammock, sunny spot and a glass of wine. Hope this helps.

astra · 12-09-2010, 07:29 AM

I think it is easier to download the ebook from darknet.

elemenoP · 12-09-2010, 08:26 AM

I'm confused. Kobo books are "legal" on the Sony (via ADE or Sony Reader software). Is the problem adding linux into the mix?

eP

Bookworm_Girl · 12-09-2010, 10:10 AM

fossie, welcome to MobileRead! These instructions are great. It is the first thread where I have seen the process steps mapped so clearly.

Many people have been struggling with ACSM files (whether from Kobo, their library or another ebookstore) and getting ADE setup on LINUX. I don't use LINUX, but I like to follow the threads out of interest. There wasn't a Mac version of Reader Library until last December (and ADE for Mac isn't compatible with the Sony ereaders) so until recently Mac users also had to follow a similar convoluted process.

elemenoP · 12-09-2010, 02:55 PM

Ah! I'm on a mac but I've only had my reader for a short time so I'm glad I missed all that mess!

eP

Bookworm_Girl · 12-09-2010, 03:23 PM

See steps 1-8 to authorize your ereader on a Windows PC? When the 505 came out it was before Sony used the EPUB format. Then there was a firmware update to work with EPUBs and ADE. Well there is an ADE for Mac version, but it doesn't recognize the Sony readers like it does a Nook for example. So how are you supposed to authorize it? Took awhile for people to figure out go find a PC somewhere to do that step. The new Reader Library Mac version release coincided with the 300/600/900 models. Sony with that version integrated the ADE authorization into their software to eliminate the find a PC somewhere step. Every once in awhile you will see a Mac user buy a used 505 and post a thread that they can't figure out to make it work with ADE. Now you know the history and what to suggest. I have Windows XP installed in boot camp on my Mac. I also have VMware Fusion virtual desktop software. For a long time I managed my library on the PC side. Many people don't have that option.

haiyeekayakee · 12-10-2010, 05:25 AM

Great work and a great first post, Fossie

I run Mint myself so this would be just as applicable, however I don't do drm

12-08-2010, 02:44 PM	#1
fossie Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 114 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	Sony PRS-350 + Ubuntu Lucid + DRMed book from Kobo = Success! There are a few threads on the web about transferring DRMed books to the Sony reader on a Linux machine. Folks seem to be reporting varying levels of success. This is what worked for me: The hardware: Sony PRS-350 aka Pocket Edition The software: Ubuntu Linux 10.04 Lucid Lynx + Wine 1.2 + Adobe Digital Editions 1.7.2 (ADE) + Sony's Library software 3.3 + calibre 0.7.32 The bookstore: Kobo The process: 1 Borrow, beg or steal a Windows XP machine. 2 Download and install ADE on it. 3 Plug in the reader. 4 Once mounted, go to the SETTINGS directory and run the Install thingy (for the Sony library software). 5 Run ADE 6 Authorize your PC (the tiny arrow next to "Library" has the authorize option) 7 Authorize the reader 8 Exit, unplug, shut down and leave the building (you could probably uninstall your mess first, you only need it this once anyway) 9 Start your Ubuntu machine 10 Download the Sony Library software (from the web this time - on my machine the SETTINGS folder never mounted on Ubuntu) 11 Install it under wine. I don't know if this is necessary but do it anyway, just in case. 12 Download ADE for Windows and install it under wine as well 13 Run ADE 14 Authorize your machine (no need to do the reader again, just the PC) 15 Go to Kobo, register an account and buy a book (the paid ones all have DRM) 16 Click "Download EPUB" to get the tiny acsm file 17 Drag & drop the acsm file on the ADE window. This should download the actual EPUB file. 18 Close ADE 19 Install calibre (NOT through the repositories, it's an old version that doesn't recognize the Sony 350. Go to the website and download the latest version) 20 Run calibre 21 Click on "add book" and find the "my digital editions" folder (should be in your home folder) 22 Click "open" to import it 23 CTRL+D to get the metadata if it's not there already (on my machine the metadata doesn't import with the book it seems) 24 Plug in the Sony 25 Once detected in calibre, select the book and click "send to device" 26 When completed, eject and disconnect the device All done. Find a hammock, sunny spot and a glass of wine. Hope this helps.

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12-09-2010, 07:29 AM	#2
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I think it is easier to download the ebook from darknet.

12-09-2010, 08:26 AM	#3
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I'm confused. Kobo books are "legal" on the Sony (via ADE or Sony Reader software). Is the problem adding linux into the mix? eP

12-09-2010, 10:10 AM	#4
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	fossie, welcome to MobileRead! These instructions are great. It is the first thread where I have seen the process steps mapped so clearly. Many people have been struggling with ACSM files (whether from Kobo, their library or another ebookstore) and getting ADE setup on LINUX. I don't use LINUX, but I like to follow the threads out of interest. There wasn't a Mac version of Reader Library until last December (and ADE for Mac isn't compatible with the Sony ereaders) so until recently Mac users also had to follow a similar convoluted process.

12-09-2010, 02:55 PM	#5
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Ah! I'm on a mac but I've only had my reader for a short time so I'm glad I missed all that mess! eP

12-09-2010, 03:23 PM	#6
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	See steps 1-8 to authorize your ereader on a Windows PC? When the 505 came out it was before Sony used the EPUB format. Then there was a firmware update to work with EPUBs and ADE. Well there is an ADE for Mac version, but it doesn't recognize the Sony readers like it does a Nook for example. So how are you supposed to authorize it? Took awhile for people to figure out go find a PC somewhere to do that step. The new Reader Library Mac version release coincided with the 300/600/900 models. Sony with that version integrated the ADE authorization into their software to eliminate the find a PC somewhere step. Every once in awhile you will see a Mac user buy a used 505 and post a thread that they can't figure out to make it work with ADE. Now you know the history and what to suggest. I have Windows XP installed in boot camp on my Mac. I also have VMware Fusion virtual desktop software. For a long time I managed my library on the PC side. Many people don't have that option.

12-10-2010, 05:25 AM	#7
haiyeekayakee Member Posts: 23 Karma: 524 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS650	Great work and a great first post, Fossie I run Mint myself so this would be just as applicable, however I don't do drm

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