OverDrive and ebooks from Library

[Jerri]

I was disappointed to realize that I cannot borrow and read my local library's selection of e-books via OverDrive? Any ideas if or when the iPad will be compatible? Alternate methods of converting these e-books to a format that the iPad will recognize and allow me to read?

Thanks,

Jerri

 

[iPadCharlie]

Whenever you buy an "ePub" that is copyright protected, the publisher incorporates some sort of DRM (Digital Rights Management) into the file. Among other things, it determines what devices can and can not be used to read the file. In other words, if you buy a book from Amazon, it can only be read with a Kindle device or with the Kindle software or app.

The OverDrive system uses Adobe Digital Editions. The DRM system Adobe uses is called ADEPT (Adobe Digital Experience Protection Technology) and it uses Flash-based technology. If you are not aware of this, Apple mobile devices (iPhone, Ipod and iPad) can not use Flash. (This is a topic severely beaten to death on this forum and elsewhere!) Therefore, it is unlikely that you will ever be able to check out a library book with the OverDrive system as long as they use Adobe Digital Editions.

The good news is that it is technologically possible to "unwrap" the ADEPT from Adobe Digital Editions thus making them a "generic" ePub that can be read on just about any reading app. Is this legal? I am not a lawyer, but I am sure the lawyers at Adobe have a very definite opinion on this!

By doing some diligent searching on the Internet, you should be able to find out how to do this.

 

[weed099]

If your library uses Overdrive there is now a way to read them on the iPad. A new app called BlueFire Reader the can use the DRM format from Overdrive. Mubiputing.com Tells you how to read public library eBooks with DRM on an iPhone/iPad. Look on the second or third page under the iOS category. It's not letting me post links b/c I don't have more than 3 posts. What stinks is Amazon Kindle is the only ereader that doesn't play nice with Overdrive. I just got my wife a Kindle because she didn't like reading on the iPad. Just means the iPad is all mine now!

 

[iPadCharlie]

Unfortunately this got pushed back to Page 2 of the news section of the forum so it was easy to miss --

http://www.ipadforums.net/apple-ipad-news/13050-read-drm-protected-epub-ipad.html

 

[Peteo]

There's a new version of the overdrive app that let's you open overdrive ebooks from a libraries web site. Works awesome

 

[Peteo]

A new version of overdrive that now supports the iPad got released a few weeks back. works great