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Adobe Digital Editions

Rgarner

Android Expert
I just found out about this. I downloaded, actually borrowed, an ebook only to find I didn't have the right equipment to view it. Then I downloaded the Adobe, but for some reason the phone wouldn't install it, even with two tries. What's the deal? The phone's a Samsung Galaxy S5, and the files are URL links to something called acsm. By the way, why wouldn't it be possible to keep the books instead of just borrowing them? I would understand if they weren't digital.
 
I just tried that, and once again I have the same problem. Why am I having this bad luck with ebooks? Is there a way to get another format the phone can already handle?
 
What format are these ebooks in, PDF, EPUB, etc?

I have hundreds of ebooks myself, all in PDF or EPUB, and can read them on phones, tablets, and computers no problems.

You say you "borrowed" them. Where from, a library or something? Maybe they're in some proprietary locked DRM format?
 
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It's available in two Adobe formats, epub and pdf, as well as something called daisy. They're all encrypted. Maybe that's the problem? Mikedt, what's your secret? By the way, is Wuhan open for business yet?
 
Files that are locked by DRM won't be accessible or viewable unless you pay whatever fees (subscription or purchase) that the owner is charging.

There are countless sources to find free (as far as cost and legal) digital books all over the Internet,
Here's a just a few, there are plenty of sources too
https://archive.org/
https://www.gutenberg.org/
http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks

Your local library will of course have lots and lots of physical books but most are now tied to online digital services too. If you have a valid library card, take a look at:
https://www.hoopladigital.com/
or
https://www.overdrive.com/
or
https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/
 
It said it was free for 14 days. There was nothing about any DRM, whatever that is. Internet Archive sounds trustworthy, but maybe not.
 
It's available in two Adobe formats, epub and pdf, as well as something called daisy. They're all encrypted. Maybe that's the problem?

If they are, there's nothing you can do, except having access to the account or key they're associated with.

Mikedt, what's your secret?

Easy, non of my ebooks are encrypted. :)

By the way, is Wuhan open for business yet?


Wuhan is still locked down. But here in Jinan, schools are still closed and I'm teaching online, but many things seem to be getting back to open, many shops are open with no shortages, there was many people out and about yesterday. and on the highway I can see from my bedroom, there's plenty of trucks and cars going back and forth. Wearing masks is compulsory though, and all public places have QR codes at the entrances that you must scan with your phone using a govt issued app.
 
Here you go...
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How do I post a link to the book? It's a somewhat older texr. Also, if it's digital, why can't people have their own copies for good instead of borrowing for a limited time? It makes sense with physical books.
 
How do I post a link to the book?
Just point us to wherever it is that you're getting these books. We need to see some, download them, see if we can open them.
Also, if it's digital, why can't people have their own copies for good instead of borrowing for a limited time? It makes sense with physical books.
Since we don't know which books you're talking about, we can't answer that.

I know for fact that you can buy digital books. So if you're in a borrowing situation, I have to assume that's a function of wherever it is you're getting them. Like a library, for example.

Once you show us where you're looking, we'll be MUCH better able to help!
 
Ok, it is that Internet Archive. Is the photo upload working yet? I have found it on Open Library. I'm going to try to put a screenshot on here.
 

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It might help if you distinguish the difference between books that are for actually for sale (and will be protected by their copyrights), and those that are not such as books that have expired copyrights and are in the public domain, or those that are currently published under licenses like Creative Commons.
If you're looking to get pay-for books for free that's just piracy and none of the alternative sites that have been previously mentioned will be useful to you.
 
Ok, it is that Internet Archive. Is the photo upload working yet? I have found it on Open Library.
Okay, I found--and opened--the book you showed. Just. Like. That.

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I didn't *do* anything. I just pressed the 'borrow' button, and it opened in my browser. When you do that, what happens?

Also, I found their FAQ on borrowing books very informative. It should clear up any questions you have as to why you can only borrow books from them.

But they're not the only source of e-books. If you prefer to buy books, that's definitely doable. Here's an example of a book available to me, as a Prime member, to read for free or buy for my Amazon Kindle:

Screenshot_20200326-122716.png


That's a Kindle-specific example, but I know there are others out there. Their format will vary, but with an Android device you really shouldn't be having problems opening them, whether they're free or paid.

Please be very specific and tell us what you've tried opening and what happened. Providing actual links to the books, like this one for your example, https://openlibrary.org/books/OL5194905M/Cell_biology would be very helpful and save us from having to search for them.
 
Ok, I'll try to do that, but I'm still not quite sure how. Maybe I'll try to borrow by just pressing that button. I should probably also read the faq.
 
Well, I went to the faq and it mostly sounds as if it's for computers, not Android. I tried to check on a couple of links which were unavailable because of some DNS failure. I don't know what that is. Does Adobe Digital Editions work with Android? If it doesn't, why would they bother having an app?
 
I tried again but I still keep getting this Adobe thing. I guess I can post a picture of it. Maybe I should just try to find a copy of the REAL book and buy that.
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Does Adobe Digital Editions work with Android? If it doesn't, why would they bother having an app?
Until this thread, I'd never even heard of, let alone needed, Adobe Digital Editions. And since you haven't given us a link, I can't see or try anything you're having problems with...
I tried again but I still keep getting this Adobe thing. I guess I can post a picture of it.
So the pic is from after you pressed the 'borrow' button on the biology book?
Maybe I should just try to find a copy of the REAL book and buy that.
That's what I'd do! Oh...did I mention that I don't do e-books? :o I don't like them. I prefer, and continue to buy, real books. I've said before that--for me--there's no comparison. Being able to thumb through a book's pages, stopping here and there to read a bit, bouncing back and forth from the index or table of contents to particular topics, the smell of a real book, I just love it.

I still have all my pre-med books. They're sitting on shelves in my bookcases, never [or extremely rarely] actually opened any more, but I just can't part with them! They remind me of one of the best, albeit most exhausting, periods of my life. And they're filled with sky blue highlighted text--stuff I highlighted as vitally important [as in 'will likely be on the next test'] at the time. Let me see you do THAT with a borrowed e-book! :D

If you're wondering why I bought a Kindle if I don't do e-books, that's easy: As soon as my Kindle Fire HD 8.9" arrived, I rooted it, turning it into a real Android tablet. I would've sent it back if that had failed for some reason. :)
 
I agree with that! I love real books too. It's just that often it's possible to get the fakes for less, and sometimes there are free samples. Also, you've gotta wonder about the environmental impact of having the real deal sent, amazon drivers running over grandma, etc. By the way, that picture was indeed after I pressed borrow. How do I post a link the way you professionals do?
 
How do I post a link the way you professionals do
Silly! There's nothing hard about it. :)

Let's take the biology book we've been working with. When you're on its page, simply copy its URL, then paste it where you want. So, for example, this book's URL is https://openlibrary.org/books/OL5194905M/Cell_biology which you can copy from your browser:

Screenshot_20200328-124728~(1).jpg


Just press inside the URL box [at the top] and copy it:

Screenshot_20200328-124752~(1).jpg


As for the environmental impact of physical books, I--as a longtime environmentalist--have no issues with it. Trees that are used for paper are grown to be cut down. They're perpetually replaced with newly-planted trees. It's not like precious, rain-forest trees are being felled for this! Just like Christmas tree farms, there are paper tree farms.

Plus, Amazon is going to be delivering packages and/or running over Grandma anyway. :o :D

Finally, real books, if properly cared for, can last for eons. I have books from the 1800s and the turn of the [last] century. They'll be handed down when I'm gone. It's just not the same with virtual books, you know?
 
Well, I looked up how to copy the url. I did a long press and it did say "copy". Now how do I copy it to here?
 
Well, I looked up how to copy the url. I did a long press and it did say "copy". Now how do I copy it to here?
Sorry, I didn't realize you're not familiar with copying and pasting.

Generally speaking, once you copy something it stays in your clipboard until you replace it with something else. How you get it there depends on the OS you're using and/or what kind of device it's on.

On Linux and its offspring, Android, you can copy by selecting the text you want, then pressing [ctrl][c] on your keyboard. Note that not all Android keyboards have a [ctrl] key; mine does:

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On computers, you can highlight text by using its trackball/mouse; just left-click on the text and scroll over while still clicking. Once it's highlighted, copy it by pressing [ctrl][c] or by right-clicking and choosing 'copy.'

On Android devices, press on any part of the desired text, then use the left/right controls that appear and highlight everything you want. Then use either [ctrl][c] or press 'copy' in the menu that appears.

Once it's in your clipboard, paste it where you want by pressing [ctrl][v], or by choosing 'paste' in the menu that should appear when you're somewhere that accepts text--like here. Say you're writing a reply; you've copied something, like a URL. In your reply, where you want the URL to appear, just put your cursor there and paste as above.

There are other things related to copying/pasting, but they're irrelevant right now. And, of course, I don't do window$ or Mac, only Linux, so someone else will have to help if you need it with those.
 
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