Flights of Fantasy discussion

I found this earlier today:

B&N Ends Desktop Downloading – In a stealth move and without notifying its existing customer base, BN has removed the ability for readers to download Nook purchases to their desktops. Readers who complained were told that they could download the book to via a Nook App or a Nook Device (check out the featured image to see that download buttons have been removed). This is true for any reader regardless of the purchase, whether it is made today or two years ago. Obviously, this is awful conduct on the part of BN. We will be updating this as more information becomes available.


In the meantime, Mac users can install this older app
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-...

and PC users can install this older app:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-...

That stinks! I don't have a nook, but it seems to me, that this does not encourage use.

Agreed. A lot of people prefer to buy and then sideload (like me).

I use Kobo but I almost never do direct d/l. I don't like leaving my ereader connected to the internet so I purchase, save to harddrive and then sideload via Calibre.

Now I'm upset I bought my mom a nook. :(

Something to do with this maybe.
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/barnes-n....

Also, B&N is partnering with Samsung's Tab 4? No new Nooks?

I guess. That plus the Mircosoft sale.

But there are a few scripts still working from what I've read - 3rd party scripts to allow you to d/l before those stop working, too.

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "No new Nooks?"
Well...just not by B&N, I guess.


http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2014/...

MrsJoseph wrote: "I guess. That plus the Mircosoft sale.

But there are a few scripts still working from what I've read - 3rd party scripts to allow you to d/l before those stop working, too."


I saw that, but didn't know until now.
I hope the brick and mortar bookstores survive.

I still like to go in and buy an occasional book. I guess the writing is on the wall.
;)

I actually deleted the Nook-PC thing shortly after getting my Nook. It sucked ass. I never never never read an ebook on a computer. Everything I get from B&N and Amazon goes right to my Nook. (Kindle via the Kindle app on the Nook).

MrsJoseph wrote: "Agreed. A lot of people prefer to buy and then sideload (like me).

I use Kobo but I almost never do direct d/l. I don't like leaving my ereader connected to the internet so I purchase, save to harddrive and then sideload via Calibre.

Now I'm upset I bought my mom a nook. :("

Wait... I'm confused. It doesn't sound like they are changing the ability to sideload. It sounds like they are saying "If you purchase a nookbook, you can't read it on your computer anymore - you have to read it on a nook device/app". Which is lame, but wouldn't change anything if your mom just uses her nook to read what she's purchased.

Chris wrote: "I actually deleted the Nook-PC thing shortly after getting my Nook. It sucked ass. I never never never read an ebook on a computer. Everything I get from B&N and Amazon goes right to my Nook. (Kind..."

I never do either.

And wait a minute. That thing I'm talking about was an app. So they offer PC apps?

What changed?

Chris wrote: "And wait a minute. That thing I'm talking about was an app. So they offer PC apps?

What changed?"

Well they do now. Windows 8 has a Nook app you can download. But how it used to be was you could download it to your desktop and open and read it through like Adobe digitial editions or another program that would read epub. (This is going from memory from a looooong time ago, so I think it's right, but I could be wrong.)

Becky wrote: "Wait... I'm confused. It doesn't sound like they are changing the ability to sideload. It sounds like they are saying "If you purchase a nookbook, you can't read it on your computer anymore - you have to read it on a nook device/app". Which is lame, but wouldn't change anything if your mom just uses her nook to read what she's purchased."

I wouldn't be able to read a nook book - Ihate reading on my phone and I don't own a nook.

The only way I can read a nookbook is by d/l to my harddrive (that's the link that isn't accessible) and then sideloading.

My mom will be fine - I'm just mad I bought her a nook and now they do this. I should have gotten her a kobo.

MrsJoseph wrote: "The only way I can read a nookbook is by d/l to my harddrive (that's the link that isn't accessible) and then sideloading."

I wonder if this is anything to do with piracy.

HarperCollins just announced that they don't want any new customers they are adding a secondary level of DRM to their ebooks: digital watermarking. They are also going to keep the current attached DRM as well.

So from now on I'm only buying used HC analog books.

Chris wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "The only way I can read a nookbook is by d/l to my harddrive (that's the link that isn't accessible) and then sideloading."

I wonder if this is anything to do with piracy."

^ this, plus most companies are getting users to use their apps. I think it's easier for them to keep track.

Yeah, they probably figure that the only people that are downloading to actual PCs are stripping the DRM and pirating them anyway. Everyone else uses apps or direct device d/l.

Chris wrote: "Yeah, they probably figure that the only people that are downloading to actual PCs are stripping the DRM and pirating them anyway. Everyone else uses apps or direct device d/l."

i agree that this is what they believe. I also know they will be fine without getting anymore of my money. And now I'm firmly in Amazon's corner re: HC and the sales issues.

I hate DRM, but piracy is an issue. It killed the music industry (well, that and Justin Bieber).

Jackie wrote: "^ this, plus most companies are getting users to use their apps. I think it's easier for them to keep track. "


I think that's a big thing for them. If you direct d/l and then use the app(s) to read, you can't really turn off your wifi (and you'd have to turn it on again to do another d/l). So they get more and more information about your reading habits. I know lots of companies really want to know how long you read, how fast you read and WHAT you read - Amazon collects that data and so does Kobo. But that's none of their damn business so I keep my wifi off and I sideload.

I do most of my reading at work or away from home, and I don't get wifi except at home. I don't read on my phone. I only have to d/l once and I do that at home when I'm at the wifi. It opens fine when I'm away whether I use the Nook books or the Kindle app.

Chris wrote: "I do most of my reading at work or away from home, and I don't get wifi except at home. I don't read on my phone. I only have to d/l once and I do that at home when I'm at the wifi. It opens fine w..."

Same here. I use the Kindle app on my Nook. One download, open the book and then it's there without wi-fi needed.

SO... then really what they are doing is saying "You can only read nookbooks on a nook device, through the cloud. You cannot manage your library separate from nook".

That is stupid. Lame, B&N.

And I have yet to see a book offered cheap or free on Nook that isn't also on Kindle. So it'll become even easier for Kindle to get the business.

Chris wrote: "And I have yet to see a book offered cheap or free on Nook that isn't also on Kindle. So it'll become even easier for Kindle to get the business."

Can you sideload with Kindle?

I've never really worked with a Kindle, so...not sure.

Jackie wrote: "Chris wrote: "And I have yet to see a book offered cheap or free on Nook that isn't also on Kindle. So it'll become even easier for Kindle to get the business."

Can you sideload with Kindle?"

Yep, there's a download/deliver with USB option.

Becky wrote: "SO... then really what they are doing is saying "You can only read nookbooks on a nook device, through the cloud. You cannot manage your library separate from nook".

That is stupid. Lame, B&N."

Very lame.

Well, I can see that B&N is continuing its mission to shoot itself in the foot and scare away all possible business, but luckily this particular one is a non-issue as far as the way I do things with my Nook.

We'll have to see what the next self-destructive move is.

I've never downloaded directly to my desktop. I've always just downloaded it to my Nook. If I want the actual file, I can always plug in my Nook and get it directly from my device. (I use the Nook 1st Ed.)

I can kind of understand why they are doing this though. I hate how B&N and Amazon have made it so you have to have their device or app to open their content. Having a 1st Ed Nook, I can't download the Kindle app and have no way to open Kindle books directly on my Nook, so I had to install a DRM remover Calibre extension so that I could sideload them onto my Nook.

Chris wrote: "Well, I can see that B&N is continuing its mission to shoot itself in the foot and scare away all possible business, but luckily this particular one is a non-issue as far as the way I do things wit..."

B&N kept going downhill as far as I'm concerned after they discontinued the 1st Ed. I've tried the Simple Touch and the Nook Tablet and returned both after just a week. I don't know what I'm going to do when my Nook finally gives out on me. It's already acting a bit funny at times.

It's never much affected me.
The main reason I bought a 2nd Generation Kindle, way back when, was because I didn't/don't have a computer. I do like having options, however.

Beth wrote: "If I want the actual file, I can always plug in my Nook and get it directly from my device. (I use the Nook 1st Ed.)"


Maybe not too much longer. If you can still do this, quickly turn off your wifi and do a d/l of your books because the word I'm hearing is:

Just a heads-up: Nook for Mac does not work on 10.8 or 10.9. There is no straightforward way that I know of to access the BN books if your Mac is running Mountain Lion or Mavericks. And the BN books are hidden and do not show up in the Nook directory structure when you connect it via USB.

When I'm forced to give up on Nooks, I'll probably just end up getting an ipad.

Chris wrote: "When I'm forced to give up on Nooks, I'll probably just end up getting an ipad."

I want an iPad.

Especially if someone will give me one for free...

I need to start hinting for christmas.

Brenda - I've been looking at the Kindle lately because they do have more options. B&N seems to just keep taking away options. But while my ereader continues working, I think I'll just keep waiting for newer versions with (hopefully) better features.

Chris - Tablet-wise, I've been looking at the Google Nexus or Lenovo tablets. But they wouldn't replace my ereader completely. I like the eink display.

MrsJoseph wrote: "Chris wrote: "When I'm forced to give up on Nooks, I'll probably just end up getting an ipad."

I want an iPad.

Especially if someone will give me one for free...

I need to start hinting for c..."


^This!

:D

Though if I were to stick with Android devices, that's what the Nook HD is. So I'd be used to it.

I should be good for awhile.

Beth wrote: "Chris - Tablet-wise, I've been looking at the Google Nexus or Lenovo tablets. But they wouldn't replace my ereader completely. I like the eink display...."

Yes! I miss that. I'm good with my HD, but when I'm reading in the car (not driving), this hot ass Georgia sun keeps me from seeing the screen.

MrsJoseph wrote: "And the BN books are hidden and do not show up in the Nook directory structure when you connect it via USB."

I'll look into that. I usually have mine on airplane mode so the battery lasts longer, but I occasionally have to turn it off so that the clock can reset. If it's just hidden within other files, I should still be able to find them...theoretically. But I find it hard to believe that they'll put out a new update for the 1st Ed after it having been so long since the last one.

I'm not too worried about it though because all my NookBooks were free. All my good books I got elsewhere and are sideloaded on.

Chris - The whole reason I went with the eink ereader at the time was because we spend a lot of time outside. My sister's ipad is really hard to see a lot of the time.

Mine were mostly free or $.99 too. If I'm going to pay a lot of money for a book, I'll buy the real thing.

Beth, my wife has an ipad and I have the Nook HD. So yes, they're hard to read outside unless it's overcast. I do still have my 1st Gen though, so if I know I have a long car ride coming up, I could always drag it out and charge it.

Beth wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "And the BN books are hidden and do not show up in the Nook directory structure when you connect it via USB."

I'll look into that. I usually have mine on airplane mode so the batt..."

Oh! Missed that you have a first gen. You should be good.

I have a lot of books with Kobo but most of mine were cheap, too. I'm like Chris: if I have to spend a lot on the book, I'm going hardcopy.

I was just talking about this with hubby. He doesn't really read ebooks - only audio and paper books - and he can't understand why we [people who read ebooks] continue to read them.

Does the convenience of ebooks make up for the constant and changing regulations publishers/sellers force on you?

There's a host of things you can't do with ebooks and I think only Amazon allows for loans to friends (and only once and for their chosen timeframe.

I just love that I can decide on a book, purchase and read it, just about anywhere.

And I can have almost a library with me, without the weight.
;)

I agree with Brenda. It's the overall convenience that an ereader brings that does it for me.

The biggest reasons I read ebooks are because:
1. I was moving back and forth from college, and it was easier to move an ereader
2. then we put an addition onto our house, and my room still isn't finished
3. I own ~1,000 books but don't own any bookshelves because my sister stole them on me
4. and consequently, all my books are in boxes and are inconvenient to get to.

It's really hard to find a specific book in 12 banana boxes of books.

MrsJoseph wrote: "There's a host of things you can't do with ebooks and I think only Amazon allows for loans to friends (and only once and for their chosen timeframe...."

Nook books can be loaned too.

I'm an ebook reader. One reason is space. I'm a hoarder. And I can have a huge library in one hand held device. The other biggest reason is its easier on my eyes. I can change the size and font whenever I want. Plus, no moldy books. No worrying about bending pages on accident. Ebooks aren't for everyone, but it's the best format for me. Which is why things like this piss me off. Publishers don't seem to realize that they are cutting off their own noses. The number one complaint about ebooks is the lack of control and flexibility. If ebooks are going to have a future they need to change this old mind set. And the saddest thing? They ones who the strict laws are for get around them anyway, it's the honest consumer who gets screwed in the end.

Btw, I'm typing this on a brand (almost) new nook Samsung tablet which I love. :)

Nienna - I looked at the new Nook, but my biggest problem with the Nook HD was that it kept crashing because there wasn't enough RAM. I'm thinking this is because the Nook OS was running on top of the Android OS and it was taking up too much memory. So this new nook, is it the Nook OS on top of the Samsung OS on top of the Android OS then? I think I'm just going to stay away from Nook and Samsung tablets, separate or combined.