Sony Reader Library software - nervous about installing

Larksong · 02-05-2011, 02:24 PM

I have a Sony PRS-505, which I love. I have ADE for purchasing books (& downloading free promo books) from Kobo & Borders, and I have Calibre for managing my e-book collection and uploading it to my PRS-505. So far, this has worked just fine.

The Sony bookstore has some books that I would like, both free and for sale, which are not available through Kobo or Borders. Or, sometimes, they offer a free or promotional price copy when neither Kobo nor Borders does. So I'd like to be able to buy/download books from Sony.

I'd like to continue using Calibre to manage the collection and move books onto my Reader, but I gather that the Sony Reader Library software launches automatically as soon as I plug my 505 into the computer. Which brings up two concerns:

1) Does the Sony Library software start syncing to my 505 automatically, and is there a way I can disable that function?

And 2) Does the Sony Library software allow Sony to see what I already have on my reader? (Because while I'm not an advocate of piracy per se, I might have some titles of, um, questionable legitimacy on my Reader -- books I already own in hard copy.)

Anything you can tell me will be appreciated!

Bookworm_Girl · 02-05-2011, 03:29 PM

Hi, Larksong. I have both Reader Library and calibre installed on my Mac.

There is a preference in Reader Library that you can set so that it doesn't automatically launch Reader Library when you plug your Sony into your computer via USB. I highly recommend turning off the autolaunch.

You can use the Reader Library software without having your ereader attached via USB. So you could purchase whatever books you want from the Sony ebookstore and download them to your computer. You can then import them into your calibre library and use calibre to send them to your 505 just like you are used to doing.

In other words, it is possible to use Reader Library without ever having it scan or see your 505 if you are worried about that. Just turn off "autolaunch" in preferences and don't attach your 505 via USB when Reader Library is open.

Larksong · 02-05-2011, 03:32 PM

Thank you so much, Bookworm_Girl! That's helpful and reassuring.

Bookworm_Girl · 02-05-2011, 03:41 PM

Just make sure that when you set-up the Reader Library software that you use the same ADE account ID and password when prompted that you use with ADE for your Kobo and Borders books. Some people have run into issues because they used different email addresses for ADE and the Sony software.

Ripplinger · 02-05-2011, 03:48 PM

Also when I installed the Sony Reader software, one of my "monitoring for useless crap" programs brought up the message that the Sony Reader wanted to make itself an auto-start program, meaning everytime you booted up your PC, Sony Reader would also start up. Make sure you do not allow that, or find where it starts up from and stop it. There's absolutely no reason why any reader software needs to be running nonstop on your system hogging resources.

But I run only Calibre now to maintain my library and to transfer everything to my reader. I have downloaded some books through the Sony Reader also and there's no conflict. Just don't have them both running at the same time is the only caution I've heard.

If you want to keep Calibre and your reader in sync, once you get the purchased book on your reader and shut down Sony software, disconnect reader, then start Calibre, plug in your reader, and you'll be able to transfer from the reader to your Calibre library. I haven't run into any DRM issues yet, but like Amazon I suspect some books do not have DRM and possibly the ones I selected are free of it.

Bookworm_Girl · 02-05-2011, 03:53 PM

You can have both calibre and Reader Library open at the same time. I do that often. The key is that problems can occur if you have your ereader connected via USB at the same time and both Sony and calibre are trying to scan its memory which can potentially cause a conflict and corrupt data.

Larksong · 02-05-2011, 05:18 PM

Ah. Useful information, all of it.

I've successfully downloaded a book to my computer using the Sony Reader Library software. Now to see whether I can upload it via Calibre and read it on my 505.

Pomtroll · 02-06-2011, 03:27 PM

This has been very helpful info Bookworm_ Girl. Thanks.

02-05-2011, 02:24 PM	#1
Larksong Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Sony PRS-505	Sony Reader Library software - nervous about installing I have a Sony PRS-505, which I love. I have ADE for purchasing books (& downloading free promo books) from Kobo & Borders, and I have Calibre for managing my e-book collection and uploading it to my PRS-505. So far, this has worked just fine. The Sony bookstore has some books that I would like, both free and for sale, which are not available through Kobo or Borders. Or, sometimes, they offer a free or promotional price copy when neither Kobo nor Borders does. So I'd like to be able to buy/download books from Sony. I'd like to continue using Calibre to manage the collection and move books onto my Reader, but I gather that the Sony Reader Library software launches automatically as soon as I plug my 505 into the computer. Which brings up two concerns: 1) Does the Sony Library software start syncing to my 505 automatically, and is there a way I can disable that function? And 2) Does the Sony Library software allow Sony to see what I already have on my reader? (Because while I'm not an advocate of piracy per se, I might have some titles of, um, questionable legitimacy on my Reader -- books I already own in hard copy.) Anything you can tell me will be appreciated!

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02-05-2011, 03:29 PM	#2
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	Hi, Larksong. I have both Reader Library and calibre installed on my Mac. There is a preference in Reader Library that you can set so that it doesn't automatically launch Reader Library when you plug your Sony into your computer via USB. I highly recommend turning off the autolaunch. You can use the Reader Library software without having your ereader attached via USB. So you could purchase whatever books you want from the Sony ebookstore and download them to your computer. You can then import them into your calibre library and use calibre to send them to your 505 just like you are used to doing. In other words, it is possible to use Reader Library without ever having it scan or see your 505 if you are worried about that. Just turn off "autolaunch" in preferences and don't attach your 505 via USB when Reader Library is open.

02-05-2011, 03:32 PM	#3
Larksong Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Sony PRS-505	Thank you so much, Bookworm_Girl! That's helpful and reassuring.

02-05-2011, 03:41 PM	#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	Just make sure that when you set-up the Reader Library software that you use the same ADE account ID and password when prompted that you use with ADE for your Kobo and Borders books. Some people have run into issues because they used different email addresses for ADE and the Sony software.

02-05-2011, 03:48 PM	#5
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Also when I installed the Sony Reader software, one of my "monitoring for useless crap" programs brought up the message that the Sony Reader wanted to make itself an auto-start program, meaning everytime you booted up your PC, Sony Reader would also start up. Make sure you do not allow that, or find where it starts up from and stop it. There's absolutely no reason why any reader software needs to be running nonstop on your system hogging resources. But I run only Calibre now to maintain my library and to transfer everything to my reader. I have downloaded some books through the Sony Reader also and there's no conflict. Just don't have them both running at the same time is the only caution I've heard. If you want to keep Calibre and your reader in sync, once you get the purchased book on your reader and shut down Sony software, disconnect reader, then start Calibre, plug in your reader, and you'll be able to transfer from the reader to your Calibre library. I haven't run into any DRM issues yet, but like Amazon I suspect some books do not have DRM and possibly the ones I selected are free of it.

02-05-2011, 03:53 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	You can have both calibre and Reader Library open at the same time. I do that often. The key is that problems can occur if you have your ereader connected via USB at the same time and both Sony and calibre are trying to scan its memory which can potentially cause a conflict and corrupt data.

02-05-2011, 05:18 PM	#7
Larksong Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Sony PRS-505	Ah. Useful information, all of it. I've successfully downloaded a book to my computer using the Sony Reader Library software. Now to see whether I can upload it via Calibre and read it on my 505.

02-06-2011, 03:27 PM	#8
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	This has been very helpful info Bookworm_ Girl. Thanks.

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