Adobe Digital Editions
Encyclopedia
Adobe Digital Editions is ebook reader software from Adobe Systems
built using Adobe Flash
. It is used for acquiring, managing and reading eBooks, digital newspapers, and other digital publications. The software supports PDF
, XHTML (through the nonproprietary .EPUB
file type specification), and Flash-based content. It implements a proprietary scheme of Digital Rights Management
, which since version 1.5 (May 2008) allows document sharing between multiple computers and user authentication through Adobe ID. Adobe Digital Editions is a successor to Adobe eBook Reader.
Windows and OS X versions of Adobe Digital Editions were released on June 19, 2007. The software requires version 9.0 of Adobe Flash Player
. Adobe originally announced a Linux version would be published at the end of 2007 but later changed their mind. All promises of future versions have now been removed from the Adobe's official FAQ.
scheme, which is also implemented on some e-book reader
s such as the Sony Reader
. The software locks content to up to six machines and allows the user to view the content on each of them. Barnes & Noble
(B&N) ebooks are protected with a variant of ADEPT.
In March 2009, the author of the reverse engineering
blog i♥cabbages announced that they had broken the scheme. As of 2010, a collection of Python
script
s that are claimed to be able to remove this form of DRM are circulated on the Internet; they are called "inept" (for ADEPT) and "ignoble" (for the B&N variant).
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
built using Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
. It is used for acquiring, managing and reading eBooks, digital newspapers, and other digital publications. The software supports PDF
Portable Document Format
Portable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
, XHTML (through the nonproprietary .EPUB
EPUB
EPUB is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum...
file type specification), and Flash-based content. It implements a proprietary scheme of Digital Rights Management
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
, which since version 1.5 (May 2008) allows document sharing between multiple computers and user authentication through Adobe ID. Adobe Digital Editions is a successor to Adobe eBook Reader.
Windows and OS X versions of Adobe Digital Editions were released on June 19, 2007. The software requires version 9.0 of Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Flash Player
The Adobe Flash Player is software for viewing multimedia, Rich Internet Applications and streaming video and audio, on a computer web browser or on supported mobile devices. Flash Player runs SWF files that can be created by the Adobe Flash authoring tool, by Adobe Flex or by a number of other...
. Adobe originally announced a Linux version would be published at the end of 2007 but later changed their mind. All promises of future versions have now been removed from the Adobe's official FAQ.
Digital rights management
Adobe Digital Editions uses the proprietary ADEPT (Adobe Digital Experience Protection Technology) digital rights managementDigital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
scheme, which is also implemented on some e-book reader
E-book reader
An e-book reader, also called an e-book device or e-reader, is a mobile electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital e-books and periodicals....
s such as the Sony Reader
Sony Reader
The Sony Reader is a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony. It uses an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, is viewable in direct sunlight, requires no power to maintain a static image, and is usable in portrait or landscape orientation.Sony sells e-books for the Reader...
. The software locks content to up to six machines and allows the user to view the content on each of them. Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
(B&N) ebooks are protected with a variant of ADEPT.
In March 2009, the author of the reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
blog i♥cabbages announced that they had broken the scheme. As of 2010, a collection of Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
script
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
s that are claimed to be able to remove this form of DRM are circulated on the Internet; they are called "inept" (for ADEPT) and "ignoble" (for the B&N variant).
See also
- Digital LibraryDigital libraryA digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks...
- Public LibraryPublic libraryA public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
- Etail
- Adobe Content ServerAdobe Content ServerAdobe Content Server is DRM software used to add digital rights management to eBooks and developed by Adobe Systems. It is designed to "protect" and distribute Adobe eBooks in PDF or EPUB format through Adobe Digital Editions...
- International Digital Publishing ForumInternational Digital Publishing ForumThe International Digital Publishing Forum is a trade and standards association for the digital publishing industry, that has been set up in order to establish a reliable and complete standard for ebook publishing....
External links
- Adobe Digital Editions official website
- ADOBE ADEPT
- Public Domain ePub files which can be read using Adobe DE.
- WineHQ results show wine can be used very successfully to run Adobe DE on Linux systems such as Ubuntu