Adobe Digital Editions for IPad?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Adobe Digital Editions for IPad?

I frequently review books for an online book digest. Publishers are increasingly distributing galley proofs digitally, most often using the Adobe Digital Editions app, which seems to be compatible with every kind of ebook reader....except the IPad. I haven't found an IPad version at the app store, and I don't have a Kindle or a Nook or any of those devices that read Adobe's DRM-protected files, and so am forced to non-portably read these galleys on my IMac. Anyone know if an IPad DE app is in the offing? Or failing that, a workaround? (I tried using Txtr, which claims it can read DE files. Not.)

IMac/Intel, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Sep 25, 2010 1:59 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 25, 2010 2:15 PM in response to Noah Wilburn

Since this is something Adobe would have to develop, you'd probably be better off asking over there:

http://forums.adobe.com/community/adobedigitaleditions

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Answer 2

Sep 25, 2010 2:23 PM in response to Noah Wilburn

Incidentally, you do know that you can buy kindle or Nook apps for your ipad? I was assuming you wanted a DE-specific app.

EDIT Actually, those apps are free--you just pay for what you buy through them, if that helps you any.

Incidentally, O'Reilly, my publisher, uses PDF for real galley purposes, although they do create epub editions of their books for distribution. You might want to ask the publishers you work with if there's another format available.

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Answer 3

Noah Wilburn Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2010 12:04 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

HI Barbara --

Yes, I've posted a message on the Adobe forum, and thanks for the link.

I wasn't aware that Kindle apps are available that will run on IPad. Can you provide further info? I would just like to be able to read DRM-protected galleys on my IPad, don't really care what app I can use to read them. The galley I'm reading now was provided by Houghton-Mifflin through NetGalley, which is how I ended up with Digital Editions.

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Answer 4

Sep 26, 2010 12:15 PM in response to Noah Wilburn

Yes, just search the itunes store for Kindle and Nook and you'll see them in the Apps section of your results.

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Answer 5

Noah Wilburn Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

Have done so, and thanks again. Alas, NetGalley tells me they can only send DRM-protected files to an actual Kindle, not to an IPad running the Kindle app. So we will have to wait for Adobe to do something.

Thanks again for your help.

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Answer 6

Sep 26, 2010 2:05 PM in response to Noah Wilburn

I don't understand that at all, since you can view kindle content on any kindle player, but whatever.

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Answer 7

okiejack

Level 1

4 points

Sep 26, 2010 6:06 PM in response to Noah Wilburn

Overdrive Media controls most US Public Libraries' ebook lending. If you go to their website, you will see that the do not list iPad as a compatible device. As I understand it, Adobe Digital Editions DRM is the issue. Apple has their own DRM which, I guess is incompatible with Adobe.

Sound like the Flash issue on a different playing field. IPad owners are shut off from our own (Public Library) digital books.

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Answer 8

Noah Wilburn Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 27, 2010 7:57 AM in response to Barbara Brundage

The issue is that galley proofs aren't published works yet, so they aren't available through any e-book store, including the Kindle store. So there's no way to get these galleys into your Kindle library,no matter what application or device you're using. But I did install the Kindle app on my IPad, and love that Amazon's store has a much wider selection of new books for sale than Apple's bookstore! Thanks!

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Answer 9

Noah Wilburn Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 27, 2010 8:00 AM in response to okiejack

Yes, I suppose this is a side battle in the Flash wars. However, I did discover that an app called Txtr for the IPad can read Adobe's DRM files, although not easily. Kind of a workaround for the time being.

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