Re: Ebook Readers
 

I've read specifications for the Palm eReader DRMed format, and how to decrypt them (with the key, of course), and how the key is determined (hint - it involves your credit card number).

I see no reason why it couldn't be implemented. Except that some company may decide to sick their attack lawyers on you. Not that you're likely doing anything wrong, but that may not stop them from trying to dissuade you.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

if this is official information would you please give a link?

Re: Ebook Readers
 

Google is your friend:
http://www.chromakinetics.com/REB1200/palmsecure.htm

desiv

Re: Ebook Readers
 

Thanks a lot!!

Re: Ebook Readers
 

Wish I had seen your post long ago. It would have saved me a LOT of time and grief. Thus far, I have purchased 3 gadgets to use as ebook readers: The Nokia 770, ebookwise 1150, and the Cowon A2 PMP. Much to my dismay, I am unable to download any of the Adobe pdf or Mobipocket ebooks from my local library on to any of them. Library ebooks are encrypted which does not prevent me from reading them on my WinXP PC or my Mac, but I can’t take them out of the office.

I know a little about the law and I cannot see how it can be illegal to convert a file to make it downloadable to one's own handheld device for the sole purpose of reading the book that is freely checked out to Palm owners. Not to mention the hardcover book loaning-library's intent to make books freely available for loan. Without the proper bad intent (to steal the books and distribute them) how can the law be broken?

Frankly, I am willing to risk it and I take sole responsibility here: Would you please let me know what programs are available to strip the DRM from Adobe ebooks that I obtain from my library? Or, can an encrypted book be converted despite the DRM protection? If so, how? I would greatly appreciate it. I am sure this problem will go away in the near future but I am tired of waiting for sanity to set in.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

MobileRead.com can help you here. They discuss eBooks and the devices that can be used to read them.

It is not illegal for you to remove DRM for the purposes of allowing you to read your legally purchased media. Note that it's probably a violation of something for you to remove DRM from you "borrowed" library eBooks.

Here's where the law gets interesting: It's illegal for someone to tell you how to remove DRM - that includes distributing a program to remove DRM. In the U.S. that's the DMCA. Most other countries have DMCA-like laws passed (I understand that in the U.K., for example, it's illegal to rip your CDs to MP3s).

So I am. What I do is avoid DRM completely. If it has DRM, it's not worth anything and I won't pay money for it.

There are gobs of DRM-free eBooks ranging from public domain works (like Gutenberg and Munsey's) as well as companies that sell non-DRM copyrighted eBooks like Fictionwise.

Of course, you won't get any so-called Best Sellers at these sites, but it's amazing how many good works are available for little or no cost without DRM.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

Look at the alt e-books newsgroups and you will find many illegitimately copied books.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

I went to the memoware site and would like to know how you know what file will work on the N800? It looks like a lot of different formats. Thank you for your help.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

If you go on the FBReader website and look for the "Where to get e-books" section, you'll find out that they recommend the "Plucker" format.

Re: Ebook Readers
 

Those of you interested in ebooks shoud not miss reading about Calibre, which does a lot of revolutionary things with ebook conversions; for example, it makes it possible to read full issues of newspapers such as the LA Times without seeing ANY advertising whatsoever. I'm not saying that is good, but it is significant and interesting.

Google "calibre epub" and it should get you to this cool and fast-developing project.