Microsoft Releases Update For Reader 2.0

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/reader/news/update.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/reader/news/update.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Today we are announcing the rollout of a Microsoft Reader security update. This system-wide update closes known gaps in the Microsoft Reader security architecture. The 'trigger' for the update is the purchase and/or downloading of a digitally protected Owner Exclusive Microsoft Reader eBook title. When you purchase a new title, or re-download a previously purchased title, after June 30th you will be prompted to update your system."<br /><br />Apparently, this new version will be able to handle new DRM5-encoded .LIT files that are not vulnerable to the crack on the first-generation DRM5-encoded .LIT files. <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=130530#130530">Anecdotal reports from the forums</a> also suggest that the new version will not prevent you from opening up your old DRM5-encoded ebooks. Finally, the <i>real</i> good news is that this update also seems to roll in some of the Pocket PC 2003 Reader fixes on Pocket PC 2002 devices, including a fix for the known memory leak when scrolling through image-laden ebooks.

[Thras]

Is this an XIP install to ROM or does it take up RAM? If it takes up RAM, how much?

[onepieceman]

It's an install to storage memory (or storage card), and it takes 2,578,152 bytes.
When running, it will of course take up RAM memory, depending on the size of book you are reading, but in my view way out of all proportion to what it is actually doing, which let's face it, is not much.
Performance is still absolutely abysmal.

[Jonathan1]

Bet hard cash this is in response to that cracking tool that was released late last year. It could crack the encryption on DRM5 e-books. Lets see how long this patch holds.

[freitasm]

For the 2Mbytes to store this update, better use Palm Reader. I have a few eBooks I bought while a Palm owner, and I was glad to be able to read them on Palm, Pocket PC, Windows and Mac.

Now, try an eBook on MS Reader and a similar size one on Palm Reader - you'll notice the Palm readers is fast.

I tried reading the Pocket PC Magazine on MS Reader, and gave up. It's just too much to wait for two seconds to turn a single page.

Ooops. Sorry, this is not supposed to be a product bashing thread :mrgreen:

[KH]

I am annoyed at the misleading wording - it is not as much 'Owner Exclusive' as it is 'Device Exclusive', which is why although I have spent thousands on ebooks to-date (gadzooks, it adds up!), the only encrypted books I buy are from Peanut Press/Palm Digital Media; these folks have a much better approach to 'Owner Exclusive' digitalization. Baen and Fictionwise offer great selections without the encryption (although Fictionwise offers several varieties of encrypted books as well). As has been stated many times, buying books locked to short-lived devices makes no sense, particularly when your goal is to replace a physical library with an electronic one with an expectation of being able to re-read your books at will in the future.

[Janak Parekh]

I am annoyed at the misleading wording - it is not as much 'Owner Exclusive' as it is 'Device Exclusive'
No, it's outright Owner Exclusive. The ebook is tied to your Passport. I agree that Palm's method is a little simpler (no Activation process), but I have easily read ebooks on both my desktop and my Pocket PC.

--janak

[dean_shan]

Now, try an eBook on MS Reader and a similar size one on Palm Reader - you'll notice the Palm readers is fast.

I tried reading the Pocket PC Magazine on MS Reader, and gave up. It's just too much to wait for two seconds to turn a single page.

Ooops. Sorry, this is not supposed to be a product bashing thread :mrgreen:
It's ok. I feel the same way. PalmReader is better. I like the simplicity and cross platform ability.

[Pony99CA]

I am annoyed at the misleading wording - it is not as much 'Owner Exclusive' as it is 'Device Exclusive'
No, it's outright Owner Exclusive. The ebook is tied to your Passport. I agree that Palm's method is a little simpler (no Activation process), but I have easily read ebooks on both my desktop and my Pocket PC.
I think KH meant that it's Device Exclusive because the owner can only activate a book on a limited number of devices (eight). I think he's pointing out that if it were truly exclusive to the owner, the owner would be able to install it to as many devices as he owned.

Also, there's no programmatic way that I know of for the owner to de-activate a device, so it makes sense to call it Device Exclusive.

Finally, if I give the device away without hard-resting it, someone who is not the owner could use those eBooks. A truly Owner Exclusive book could use something like fingerprint recognition -- another use for the HP 5450/5550. :-)

Steve

[Stephen Beesley]

First I was excited :multi: at the thought that the update might finally make reading PocketPC Mag on my Pocket PC doable once again.

Then I was sad :( when I discovered that for PPC 2002 you have to do a complete re-install and take up over 2megs of precious storage space and it may not even fix the problem.

Oh well I guess I will stick to "books without pictures" in Reader and use Palm reader and the delightful uBook for my other reading needs!

Goldtee

[Janak Parekh]

Also, there's no programmatic way that I know of for the owner to de-activate a device, so it makes sense to call it Device Exclusive.
Well, the device is automatically deactivated over time.

Finally, if I give the device away without hard-resting it, someone who is not the owner could use those eBooks. A truly Owner Exclusive book could use something like fingerprint recognition -- another use for the HP 5450/5550. :-)
By the same token, they could use the Palm Digital Media ebooks on the machine...

Mind you, I'm not dissing Palm Reader. I've noticed it's speed, as I have noticed the speed of Mobipocket. I just prefer the typography and typesetting of Microsoft Reader (nice margins, spacing, etc.)

--janak