Adobe Digital Editions 1.8 preview now available

[tomsem]

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/digitaleditions1-8/

The focus of this release is 'accessibility' - ability to work with screen readers such as JAWS (Windows) and VoiceOver (Mac).

Note that it does not offer all of the features of the previous version: no annotation or printing, and does not support loading of content onto eReaders via USB. Adobe intends to add these back in a future release.

I just installed the Mac version. It appears now to be a native app (not AIR-based) and has conventional application and context menus (and uses half the memory and no CPU cycles when 'idle'). Numerous shortcut keys are defined for both Library and Reading (including one to toggle display of page numbers shown in the margin). This should be a relief to those who have found ADE's interface to be, let us just say, 'unusual'.

I haven't tried it with VoiceOver yet but will report back when I have.

This version shares the Adobe ID authorization of a previously installed copy of ADE 1.7 (which you'll want to leave on there if you want to transfer content to an eReader via USB).

Most likely the underlying ePub / PDF rendering code is the same, as there's no mention of changes or bug fixes in the release notes, beyond "some transparency rendering features are not supported". Does it still support embedded SWF? Don't know yet. Still no B&N DRM support apparently. Correction: B&N ebooks can now be opened.

[update: actually, it looks like there is a new ePub rendering engine, as hyphenation is supported. Perhaps it is the same, or nearly so, as what's in the latest RMSDK used by Nook et al.]

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by tomsem

[update: actually, it looks like there is a new ePub rendering engine, as hyphenation is supported. Perhaps it is the same, or nearly so, as what's in the latest RMSDK used by Nook et al.]

That is very likely. I seem to remember Jim Lester saying a while ago that the next desktop release (ADE) would be based on the mobile version (RMSDK), but I can't find the post (so perhaps it was someone else who said this). There are several other desktop apps using RMSDK. The best is probably Nook Study.

[Fbone]

Have you tried to open a B&N ebook? Adobe claims to support it.

This preview enables assistive technology users to read protected eBooks, including books offered via Overdrive through many public libraries and books purchased through online book sellers such as Barnes and Noble.

[Jim Lester]

I have tried B&N books with ADE 1.8 Mac, and it does work. You will get asked for your username and password, which for B&N is your name and full CC# (all 16 digits).

ps. ADE always used RMSDK for rendering content... the question is which version.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

I have tried B&N books with ADE 1.8 Mac, and it does work. You will get asked for your username and password, which for B&N is your name and full CC# (all 16 digits).

ps. ADE always used RMSDK for rendering content... the question is which version.

Does it still balk at spaces in the name field, for B&N unlocking data?

Luck;
Ken

[Jane12]

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

I have tried B&N books with ADE 1.8 Mac, and it does work. You will get asked for your username and password, which for B&N is your name and full CC# (all 16 digits).

Cool! Does this mean that once device support is added, it will be possible to transfer B&N books to Sony Readers, Kobo Readers, and other non-B&N ereaders that support ADE DRM?

Is it possible to transfer B&N books now via drag-and-drop? I.e., if you open a B&N book in ADE 1.8, can you then go to the ADE folder then manually drag-and-drop the "unlocked" B&N book to a properly authorized Sony Reader or Kobo Reader? Or does that transfer have to occur via ADE to work?

Thanks!

[MrsJoseph]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Cool! Does this mean that once device support is added, it will be possible to transfer B&N books to Sony Readers, Kobo Readers, and other non-B&N ereaders that support ADE DRM?

Is it possible to transfer B&N books now via drag-and-drop? I.e., if you open a B&N book in ADE 1.8, can you then go to the ADE folder then manually drag-and-drop the "unlocked" B&N book to a properly authorized Sony Reader or Kobo Reader? Or does that transfer have to occur via ADE to work?

Thanks!

That's a good question! My Kobo has been giving me fits and I've thought about buying a new Nook STR but ...

[Jim Lester]

Originally Posted by Jane12

Cool! Does this mean that once device support is added, it will be possible to transfer B&N books to Sony Readers, Kobo Readers, and other non-B&N ereaders that support ADE DRM?

This will depend...

1.) As you noted - Adobe doesn't have device support in the preview version of ADE 1.8

2.) Adobe when they implement device support will need to support transfer of the 'passhash' (the results of 'hashing' your username and password) to the device.

3.) The device in question will need to have a version of RMSDK of 9.1 or greater. (I think this rules out some of the Sony Readers, BTW).

If all three happen, then yes. It will be interesting to see what Adobe does.

[Ken Maltby]

Just for consideration the Ectaco Jetbook Lite has used the Adobe Reader Mobile 9.1.1
since their 0.16e firmware update, and it will unlock and read B&N epub files - without
need of ADE involvement. All you need to do is place the infected file into the folder
you wish of the device's internal memory or the SD card and when the file is selected
from the JBL's eBook menu, for the first time, you will need to enter the unlocking data.
All subsequent ebooks, that use the same unlocking data, will open without having to
enter the unlocking data.

I would hope that it will work as well on any other device using the same reading
software.

Luck;
Ken

P.S. One of the greatest features of the "Social DRM" scam is that it is not tied to
the device or a number of "Authorizations", so why add ADE into the mix, when it's
not needed.

[charleski]

1.8 still doesn't support IDPF Font-mangling, only the 16bit Adobe version. This continued split in the standard is a seriously bad idea and needs to be fixed.

[eping]

1.8 needs .Net framework 3.5 sp1 on Windows!
I can't find where Adobe states this on their web page,
only a warning comes out when I already downloaded it
and want to install it.

[Hellmark]

That's really common anymore. I guess they figure that so much needs .net, that you'd already have it. Part of why I like Linux, I can quickly find exactly what is needed for any app I install.

[Jim Lester]

Originally Posted by eping

1.8 needs .Net framework 3.5 sp1 on Windows!
I can't find where Adobe states this on their web page,
only a warning comes out when I already downloaded it
and want to install it.

According to Google http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/cc378097

Sorry for the terseness. I'm using my phone in the backwoods of Maine so I haven't tested the link either.

[Jim Lester]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Does it still balk at spaces in the name field, for B&N unlocking data?

Luck;
Ken

I didn't check but I'm pretty sure I left the space in. IIRC spaces are auto removed during the hash computation.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Jim Lester

According to Google http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/cc378097

Sorry for the terseness. I'm using my phone in the backwoods of Maine so I haven't tested the link either.

Yes, that is the correct download link.