What DRM is put on PG files? I thought the DRM was in the reader program, not the files.
DRM on books in my experience is typically implemented as a device-specific encryption such that even if you move an ebook file to a different machine you own that machine cannot read the file. A hidden key say "serial number" on a particular hardware device is used as a decryption key to allow decryption of the file encrypted specifically for that device. Thus for example if one buys an in-copyright book from Amazon and you physically copy that ebook file from one Kindle you own to another Kindle you own the second Kindle still will not be able to read the ebook file for the first Kindle. While Amazon will typically allow you to read one purchased book on six devices simultaneously -- including on Kindle for the PC, Kindle for the Mac, Kindle for the Blackberry, etc, each of those ebook files has to be downloaded separately from Amazon because each comes with a unique device-specific encryption. Not everything from Amazon needs to have DRM, the publisher who uploads to Amazon has the right to specify "I don't want DRM on my book." Further, the encryption schemes are typically owned proprietary to a particular company or consortium and discussing or distributing information about those encryption schemes is against the law. And thus ePub specs for example doesn't include description of a ePub specific DRM scheme rather each distributor of ePub files can implement their own proprietary and mutually incompatible DRM scheme such that owning multiple ePub devices is not sufficient to ensure that one can purchase an ePub book for one device and read it on another device. And if you have an ePub library of purchased books that you read on your blackberry or what have you and now you want to move that library to your new iPad well too bad because its probably not going to work. Nor can you resell your ebooks to someone else on eBay when you are done with them. Even without DRM as far as I know all storage on iPad is currently tied to a particular app so even if you have a non-DRM "PG" book under Apples' iBooks applet you can't say "Gee let me open that up in Stanza because Stanza offers a better ebook reader" -- you can't do that because the iPad ties the book file to the particular reader applet. If Apple were to allow book transfer via USB then god forbid you could at least move non-DRM books from one iPad reader applet to a different iPad reader applet!
The next time you get your hands on an iPad, or even ask friends to try it for you, just do the little search they have and try a few obvious things like "books" "ebooks" and similar things.
Sorry, perhaps "friends" was too strong a word but I thought what I have been asking here is if anyone in PG or DP land has actually found an applet that will allow them to directly download a free book from the PG website or other websites using wifi and read it in a manner that makes you happy. Or is it necessary, as in the case of Apple's own iBooks applet, to *always* tie the distribution path of the applet to the applet itself? This may seem like a strange question except that Apple already HAS shut down distribution of books by USB except via the iTunes monopoly.
As I have said so many times, I don't care who redistributes PG, from Tea Party people to Sarah Palin or Tina Fey. . .period.
Again, I acknowledge that *you* don't care, but I do: I want to be able to get books and publications directly from a variety of web sites via wifi, and I don't want the applet nor the device to tell me where I can get MOBI or ePub books from anymore than I would want a web browser tell what HTML I am allowed read from what HTML sites. This is the ebook version of "net neutrality" as opposed to buying a device from Big Brother and letting Big Brother then tell you that you can only use that device to buy MORE product from Big Brother. Even Big Bill allows me to install a large variety of reader apps on my netbook say, right click on some ebook I see anywhere on the internet, and that book automagically opens in my choice of reader app.
An apology for when you have been confusing is also appropriate, with no need to blame me or Apple.
I apologize for having difficultly unambiguously discussing terminology that Appple chooses to be deliberately ambiguous as a cute marketing device.
It worked for me, but then I gave it a few tries. However, the first two both worked, as did all the others made for iPad, though I have not tried each one in great detail, but enough to bring up books I know I typed in.
You are I have differing ideas of what "it worked" means. For example on a Kindle, which again is also not the most "unlocked" device in the world, I can web browse to www.gutenberg.org, click on a MOBI title there, and it "works", or I can go to FreeKindleBooks, or to Feedbooks, etc -- my choice of publisher -- and if it's a "free book" I can get it -- it works. I can't get it if it's a "for pay" book because Amazon has locked up that distribution channel -- which is not a good thing. As opposed to Nook where none of this works at all except the direct "for pay" path from B&N.
I really hate to say this, as you'll probably accuse me of flame/trashing but it sounds as if you have spent more time complaining here than in the actual testing of the product.
We spent about four hours playing with the iPad and trying to get it to do what we wanted it to do -- namely direct access to free ebooks on particular websites on the internet. In that amount of time I was already writing software to freely distribute books on the Kindle when I got my first Kindle Dec 2007.
I'm sure you know that Apple wants to control how files get to iPads.
Yes, the only question is just how badly "locked down" their device is in the matter -- and whether or not they will take steps again in the future to force an increase in that "lock down". Again, what I want is the ebook version of "net neutrality" -- I want to have an ebook reader applet which is independent of ebook publisher. I don't want to have to acquire and use a different ebook reader applet for each book I want to purchase -- or acquire freely on the internet. There are WAY more internet sites offering interesting books and other publications that there are organizations willing to write applets for the iPad!
I thought you already had managed to "try these things without sending my $500 to Jobs for the privilege of *testing* his offering. . . .
Sure, I borrowed a friend and his iPad for four hours of lack of success trying various approaches after which he ran away screaming....
Then how did I manage to download them from the store?
Sorry again more Apple cuteness, there is the "Apple Store" virtual on the internet, and there is the "Apple Store" bricks and mortar at the Mall. I can download software from the virtual Apple Store to my desktop, but then I don't have a physical iPad to test it on. Or I can go to the Mall where they have a physical iPad, but then I don't have permission to download and install applets from the virtual Apple Store. And I've used up my friendship for right now with the "bricks and mortar" friend who has a "bricks and mortar" iPad...
You can do this with Goodreader.
OK, good suggestion -- their website looks promising I will dig into it more -- thanks!
Times will change, people will jailbreak iPads and all. . . .
I am hoping that the future OS in the works for iPad may make things less restrictive. Not personally interested in hacking anything to get increased access. Hacking to my taste is incompatible with creating texts for PG....