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(Robert_Kasanicky) Calculating status...

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When will Linux version be released?

Nov 2, 2007 11:51 AM

FAQ says:
Will a Linux® version of Digital Editions be available?
Yes, a desktop Linux is under development and a public beta is expected later this year.

I paid for a digital editions book and still can't read it on my linux laptop. Could you give some more concrete date than 'later this year'? This year won't last long, so I hope it won't just be updated to 'later next year'...

Thanks

11372 Views 41 Replies Latest reply: AlxBlack, May 20, 2012 4:11 PM

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1. (Ric_Wright),

Nov 6, 2007 12:07 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Unfortunately, while we do have an internal build of DE that runs on Linux, for various reasons which I am not at liberty to discuss, we have decided to postpone the Linux release to coincide with a general release, probably next year. Not what you wanted, I know. In the interim, you can get a Adobe Reader for Linux here:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html

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2. (Renich_Bon),

Nov 26, 2007 6:02 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Yes, I can, but how am I supposed to read the ebooks I bought from ebooks.com? They won't display on acrobat.

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3. (Ric_Wright),

Nov 29, 2007 12:40 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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AH so. Yes. Adobe never ported the DRM support to Linux. Unfortunately, the Digital Publishing team has no immediate plans to support Linux either. The only silver lining is that we have done the port already, we just don't plan to support it as a public product at this time.

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4. Czajka,

Dec 18, 2007 10:06 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Then I suggest you update your website faq or reconsider releasing a public beta.

http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/faq/

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5. (Ric_Wright),

Dec 21, 2007 9:24 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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We are updating the FAQ as part of the new release, due out soon. Sadly, it will not include a promise of a Linux version.

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6. (Renich_Bon),

Dec 22, 2007 7:05 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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;=(

Not good...

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7. (John_Blan),

Mar 14, 2008 4:27 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Consider the work of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project, it would seem now is the time to release a version that will work within the Linux environment. The benefit will be in making available to the world so many great books. Hope you will join in this effort!!

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8. (Manuel_Diaz),

Mar 26, 2008 10:49 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I need urgent a version for Linux because My University (UNAM) have a OverDrive-Librisite Library (PDF Format) but my computer it's a Suse linux Plataform then I can't Use the books from my School. Adobe launch this year (2008) the linux Version for Digital Editions ?. What it's a other solutions for me ?

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9. (lennart_aangeenbrug),

Apr 2, 2008 3:47 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Subscribing. Want also more adobe software for linux, starting with a better ebook support.

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10. (Donald_Flowers),

Apr 6, 2008 6:39 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I just bought an ebook not knowing it is proprietary to Digital Editions which is not supported in Linux Ubuntu. I spent my monthly book allotment and am very upset. Any suggestions?

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11. (Stian_Johnsen),

May 4, 2008 9:21 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Is there any hope that 'later this year' really refers to 2008?

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12. (Mad_Chatter),

May 7, 2008 7:46 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I have to agree with the consensus above. I scrapped windows completely from my system after the third virus and only run Ubuntu. I also have an account through my local city and county libraries for Overdrive.com but can not read any of the books I have checked out. I am not happy that Adobe will not even consider porting the DRM to the Linux platform as it leaves many users out in the cold and will not allow me access to support my local libraries. And here my image of Adobe was actually beginning to become a somewhat positive one. :-) When Adobe finally decides to support DRM for Linux, please let us all know! Until then, I will continue to use my good PDF readers and take Adobe off my system again.

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13. (Chris_Gordon-Smith),

May 10, 2008 4:05 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I would like to add my voice to the above calls for a version of Digital Editions that runs on Linux. My low cost eeePC is ideal for reading ebooks, but currently can only read free ones, such as are available from project Gutenberg. This is a very unfortunate limitation (even though the Gutenberg books are terrific).

Linux is ideal for low cost laptops such as eeePC and those from the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project (see also the posting from John Blan above).

A version of Digital Editions that can run on these types of devices is much needed.

Chris Gordon-Smith
www.simsoup.info

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14. (kate_sisco),

May 10, 2008 11:52 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I also hope to purchase a 9" eeePC and want very much to have a reader for Linux. I am trying to use the OverDrive software the local library offers to read books on my sansa clip--but guess what? they don't even offer a computer with the download so you can check that the software will trans the book to your device, a compatible issue and the library doesn't even have a single computer with the OverDrive available to see if your device is compatible!!!!

this is suggested on the OverDrive site itself.

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15. (Ryan_Ware),

May 13, 2008 12:44 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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It's been a while since I looked for a Linux version. Disappointing to see it still isn't available and mention of it has been removed from the FAQ.

One alternative folks might want to consider is getting Acrobat for Windows 7.1.0 and installing that via wine. Yes, I completely agree that it is far from ideal. However, it is functional.

That said, Ric, I do hope Adobe reconsiders this position sometime in the near future. I don't know what the issue are specifically, but they obviously aren't technical in nature. Maybe your internal port is tied to some GPL code that you want to extricate yourself from before any release. Maybe you can't get commitment from your validation teams. Maybe management is asking why you would want to bother releasing a version of the product for an OS whose users only care about something being free.

Whatever the reason, you may want to ensure your management understands that there are people here wanting to pay for services tied to Adobe technology and who don't have a solution for their OS.

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16. (Robert_Campbell),

May 26, 2008 11:07 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Well, I am currently looking at things with DE and Linux, and am truly sad that Adobe made the choice not to port it over.

What am I to do with this book that I bought and can not read? Shall I use DE on a Windows computer and do screen shots for each page and export to PDF? I hate doing that, because technically, it's illegal... (Of course, technically, I am in Mongolia... DRM means nothing here anyways...)

But, what about everyone else? Will I then have to host the file so that everyone else who bought the same book and has the same problems can read it too?

Being a Christian, your company has knowingly put me into a bad position.

Please do something about this.

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17. (Karen_M),

Jun 5, 2008 7:36 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I'm another eeepc user hoping for Linux support.

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18. (Hanna_Mint),

Jul 4, 2008 11:12 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I am another new eee pc user, I also wanted to loan e-books from my library and read them. Very disappointing.

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19. (richard_oelmann),

Jul 24, 2008 1:57 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Another disappointed eeebook user - not with the eeebook, which I think is a brilliant product, but with adobe's decision not to enable digital editions for Linux and therefore for the eeebook (non-windows versions). I am currently planning to provide these for all the children in a large primary school, and while lack of digital edition support will not influence that decision, it will mean me looking for alternatives to adobe products as I cannot rely on them being available or backwardly compatible - or even by the look of it having future versions compatible with those released now!!!
And I though Microsoft were bad at tying things down and restricting use of things we have legally bought and own! - don't tell me - I haven't actually bought these ebooks, just a licence to view them as and when a software provider decides I can????
DRM'd to extreme!!!
Oh yes - and while I'm at it - its not just Linux and my eeebook, can't even transfer these ebooks to my new Windows based ipaq!!!
Another VERY UNHAPPY digital editions user

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20. (Renich_Bon),

Jul 24, 2008 4:21 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I totally agree with Richard. Please, Adobe, release this to the people. Writing was created so it could be read... are you going to deny us the right to choose our OS?

Make it available for linux or provide both versions!

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21. (Paul_Ro),

Aug 18, 2008 1:42 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Just wanted to buy Methods in Molecular Biophysics and recommend it to my students as an eBook. Unfortunately, my whole dept. runs on Linux, sorry, but another sale of 50 copies down the drain ...

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22. (Paul_Ro),

Aug 19, 2008 12:40 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Just for curiosity I searched for "Linux" under http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/
Is it sad or outright ridiculous ?

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23. (Stephen_Cole),

Aug 19, 2008 4:20 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Paul,

Please forgive the craven commercial nature of this message ...

if you really need your students to have digital access to "Methods in Molecular Biophysics", eBooks.com offers online access to the book as well as the ability to download an Adobe version.

http://www.ebooks.com/ebooks/book_display.asp?IID=293277

Because the book is viewed in a browser, it's Linux compatible.

Stephen Cole
CEO
www.ebooks.com

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24. (Andy_Ekers),

Aug 19, 2008 7:16 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Hi Stephen
Your eb20 application looks interesting but your website doesn't yet explain how it operates. Do you always need to be online to read the ebook or can you also download something to read offline in the browser? Your dropdown mentions "Adobe" so is this based on Adobe DRM or something else? Are you able to explain a little more about how this all works? Any chance of a free (perhaps public domain) ebook to try it out?
Regards
Andy

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25. (Renich_Bon),

Aug 19, 2008 7:58 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Well, not all of them are available for online reading. Hacking exposed is not, hehe...

what an irony, hacking exposed under DRM

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26. (Stephen_Cole),

Aug 20, 2008 4:17 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Gents,

eb20 Online Reader is designed to supplement the download experience. Any ebook you buy at eBooks.com naturally has the download option. Most of our books also have the read-online option.

eb20 is generated from PDFs sent to us by publishers.

The idea is that, if you don't want to download the whole book, or can't (firewall, etc) or you're at your computer at work, or in a cyber cafe in Mali, you can always just log in to your account and access your library from any PC.

We've been overwhelmed by publishers signing on to the eb20 program and are reeling under the tsunami of files being uploaded for conversion. I think we're 60% through the conversion process and we should be up to speed by the end of the year.

We're working on an upgrade and rename for the reader which will hopefully go live in a few weeks. The new version will have some remarkable features.

Here's a free link to a sample eb20 account. The link will persist for 3 months, but if you sign up now, the book should stay in your account forever. http://dc.eb20.com?v=kHYAELYXgUGG72uQ60q30PjSgPqamttP

Hmmm... I meant to create an account with several books in the bookshelf, but seem to have created several accounts with one book in each.

As this discussion is getting way off the topic -- Adobe Digital Editions -- I'll invite you to contact me offline for any further information. I'll be glad to hear your thoughts at adobeguys@sjcole.com.

Cheers,

Stephen Cole
CEO, http://www.ebooks.com

PS: Renich, I'll see if I can get your hacking book fast-tracked... or should I??

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27. (Roger_Larsson),

Sep 6, 2008 12:46 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Bought a Bible I can not read.

The seller site indicated that you need Acrobat Reader 6 or 7
and since version 8 is installed on my computer I thought it was OK.

But then after I payed, it requested me install "Digital Editions" before downloading. But there were no Linux version - strange...

So, as a Linux user you are quite used to web sites requesting you to use Windows applications, but once you skip over that request it somehow works anyway...

So, I downloaded it - and it did not work. Opening the pdf in acroreader gives:

"There was an error opening this document. The security plug-in required by this command is unavailable."

Other PDF readers requires a password that I do not have...

Reading on this thread that you have had an internal Linux version working for at least a year without releasing it.

I see only two possibilities.
1) You have used GPL code in it and are afraid to be required to release all source if it is discovered.
2) You have used Microsoft intellectual property in it and are not allowed to release it.
I think #2 is much more likely as it would be possible to detect #1 in Windows/MAC versions too.

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28. (Razvan_Bajora),

Sep 12, 2008 7:42 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Thank you for the tip, Sir.
Hope EB20 will extend to all publications on ebooks.com
I have an e-book and is not on eb20 application.

I hardly can wait to use my eeePC to read the books and to get rid of the paper -save the trees, go green-
Sincerely,
Razvan Bajora

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29. (maxcree),

Sep 23, 2008 10:45 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Works with WINE.
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=13053

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30. (Quinn_Dobson),

Oct 6, 2008 4:18 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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This is a shame. I purchased books on ebooks.com with the assumption that I would be able to read the Adobe version, but alas, it was not the be. The Windows version of Digital Editions appears to work perfectly emulated by Wine, but it won't authenticate my books. Anyone have a solution?
I was not able to find any mention of the eb20 option as mentioned above on ebooks.com.

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31. (Nicholas_Steffens),

Dec 11, 2008 3:00 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I use Crossover Office version 6.2.0 (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxlinux/) and installed Digital Editions (digitaleditions1x5.exe).

Digital Editions works perfectly! This may also work using wine although I haven't tried this yet.

Regards,
Nick

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32. (MM_Murphy),

Dec 14, 2008 2:06 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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I second the request for better Linux support. I'm in the same position of having a book I can't display. Hopefully the publisher will give me a refund.

Regards, Max

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33. (MM_Murphy),

Dec 14, 2008 3:09 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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NoStarch Press still seems to sell "real" PDF books. Cite:

"We trust our readers *and* we believe that electronic books should have the same reader rights as printed books."

Good for them!

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34. (MM_Murphy),

Dec 14, 2008 3:15 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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.. and I've rewarded NoStarch with a purchase. A replacement for the other book that wouldn't display and wasted my time.

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35. (Mat_B.),

Dec 19, 2008 4:16 PM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Adobe please, please continue your efforts on the linux-platform (Flash 64bit, Adobe AIR, Acrobat, Photoshop ? ;) ) ...

and please keep your promises! :

"Adobe Digital Editions 1.0 will be unveiled at the OReilly Tools of Change Conference in San Jose on June 19.
Pricing, Availability and System Requirements

Adobe Digital Editions is available immediately as a free download for Microsoft Windows® and Macintosh® systems at www.adobe.com/go/getdigitaleditions . Adobe Digital Editions for Linux platforms and localized versions in French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese are expected to be available in the second half of 2007."

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200706/061907D igitalEditions.html

otherwise you might be losing lots of potential future customers ! (XPS anyone ?) even though I believe pdf is the better container format ...

It's really frustrating not being able to read the (encrypted / DRMed) books I BOUGHT ! What would Gutenberg have said ?

if you're not able to provide a working port for general consumption at least make it possible to make it working via wine or crossover Linux ! so that people can authorize via internet and read THEIR "licensed" books !

many thanks in advance

a fan and power-user of your products :)

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36. (Simon_Tse),

Mar 8, 2009 9:30 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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They are still ignoring the Linux community... sad...

An MPhil student at Chinese Univ of HK, which also subscribed to netlibrary, which gives ebook download only via digital edition.

Hope there're other competing open standard products. Even Adobe is not as stinky as Microsoft, I think competition is truly necessarily.

The DRM is not so hard to implement, why should Adobe dominate part of our online reading experience?

Simon Tse

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37. pegpainesville,

Apr 26, 2009 4:17 AM in reply to (Nicholas_Steffens)

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I have installed crossover and digital editions; however, being new to linux cannot figure out how to get the book to download from the library. Please give step by step instructions. Thanks.

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38. atlee_it,

Dec 30, 2010 3:29 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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ttt

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39. rifffrafff,

Jan 17, 2011 6:04 AM in reply to (Robert_Kasanicky)

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Okay, it's now 2011. This thread was started in 2007. And STILL a Linux version does not exist.

Adobe, aren't you the least bit embarrassed by this sad state of affairs? I know I would be.

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