topic Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ? in eReaders

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:02:10 GMT

Newbie here folks so please be gentle ! Words below are a bit long-winded but I'm trying to give as much info as I can.

I have just bought a new PRS-T1 and am not sure if I've set up the software correctly, so grateful for any hints. I have:

1. Downloaded Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) on my PC.

2. Obtained an Adobe ID & authorised the PC.

3. Connected the PRS-T1 via USB, selected "data transfer" on the Reader, and opened ADE.

4. At this point, something seems to go wrong. The ADE Help Page says I should get an automatic dialogue inviting me to authorise the Reader, but I don't get that nor is there any way to open it manually. Adobe tech support say I should get a dialogue if I use Ctrl-shift-E, but that does nothing. I still get a blank ADE window. So I cannot authorise the Reader via ADE. I have a support case running with them about why ADE is behaving like that.

5. At this point I wondered about the Sony proprietary "Reader for PC" (R4PC) software, so I back-loaded that from the Reader and installed it, including a Reader software update.

6. R4PC recognised that the PC was already authorised, and - wonderful ! - invited me to authorise the Reader, so I did that. The Reader now shows "Authorised for DRM" in the relevant "about" screen.

7. I've proved the DRM seems to be working OK by downloading a couple of books from my local library. R4PC handled all that without (as far as I can see) ADE playing any part in it - although my library insisted I had to have ADE installed

8. But when I go back to ADE, still nothing happens. It's like ADE simply doesn't recognise there's a Reader plugged in, it's just a piece of dead software. I've tried various options of opening ADE before and after I've connected/strarted the Reader, but it's just blank. I have added the library books to it, but can't move them to the Reader because ADE doesn't think the Reader exists.

It looks as if there's some kind of glitch between ADE & the PRS-T1 which stops ADE working properly. Not sure whether that's by accident on my setup or maybe deliberately by Sony to force you to use R4PC. My questions revolve around "Does it matter if ADE doesn't recognise the Reader ?". Is there a difference between authorising the Reader via ADE or R4PC ? If so, are there any circumstances in which this might be a problem ? If not, can I uninstall ADE without affecting any functionality ?

Thanks in advance.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

a_j_w_h — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:28:41 GMT

If it's any consolation, I'm in EXACTLY the same state.

My PRS-T1 is recognised by R4PC ( basic and updated), calibre and Overdrive, but not ADE....

I haven't got round to downloading any DRM books yet, so I'm hoping someone comes up with a fix - or reassures me...

Andrew

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:16:22 GMT

Well now, here's some interesting news. I mentioned in my original post I had raised a support issue with Adobe - I've just had a response which I'll paste in verbatim:

Colin, I would like to inform you that Sony PRS T1 is not compatible with Adobe Digital Editions. It can not be authorized with Adobe Digital Editions directly. We have been facing most of the issues from customer where they are facing connectivity/authorization issues with PRS T1 and couple of customers confirmed that it is not compatible with Adobe Digital Editions because when they called up Sony Support they have come to know this information.

Using Reader for PC is the solution to the problem.

Have a nice day!

So, for anyone else struggling with ADE who manages to find this post - you're not doing anything wrong, it's just not going to work ! Titles with DRM must be managed through Sony's "Reader for PC" software (which I strongly suspect is simply a customised version of ADE anyway).

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

a_j_w_h — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:23:05 GMT

So the fact that the PRS-T1 is on the Adobe approved list doesn't mean anything.......

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:11:46 GMT

Update: response from Sony tech support:

"I can confirm ADE is compatible with your e-reader, it is not software we support, but it does work correctly with the e-reader."

Which neatly ignores the fact that in my case (and at least the other poster to this thread) that statement is demonstrably untrue. So the customer is caught in the middle, with both Sony and Adobe denying any responsibility. I've asked the two of them to liaise, but I'm not holding my breath.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

a_j_w_h — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:52:27 GMT

From the ADE help page list of supported readers.....

Sony Electronics Inc.	PRS-900 Reader Daily Edition	Dedicated reading device with 3G wireless
Sony Electronics Inc.	PRS-500	Dedicated reading device, tethered
Sony Electronics Inc.	PRS-T1	Digital Reader device with WiFi
Sony Electronics Inc.	Reader App	Reader application for Android
Sony Electronics Inc.	Sony Reader Daily edition PRS-950	Dedicated Reading Device

I know I can be a bit stupid , but the PRS-T1 is there.......

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:20 GMT

OK then, after a few exchanges with Sony Customer Support I have now had a retraction of their previous statement to me:

"Please accept my apologies for any confusion caused by my colleague in the previous e-mail.

I have taken this matter up with a colleague of mine in the technical department and can confirm that the Adobe Digital Editions is not compatible. I can understand that this must have been frustrating going back and forwards between us here at Sony and Adobe to try and get an definitive answer. I hope this clears up this matter for you."

So I now have both Adobe & Sony stating the PRS-T1 is not compatible with ADE. Frankly, I'm a bit gobsmacked - I can only assume Sony have built something into this latest Reader to force you to use their own software for a reason that isn't particularly clear at present.

The only remaining action is that Adobe should remove the PRS-T1 from their list of compatible devices. I've suggested that to both companies, it'll be interesting to see whether they do so.

For now, I'm not missing ADE. Haven't bought any books yet, but I can read DRM-protected content borrowed from my local library both using R4PC and directly to the Reader using wi-fi, plus DRM-free stuff from Gutenberg. If anyone can suggest something for which ADE is essential and R4PC won't do it, I'd be grateful - if I find anything like that, the device is going back citing misleading advertising.

Cheers & happy reading !

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

sehuxle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:42:34 GMT

Does R4PC allow you to authorise your reader without ADE being present. If you already have an ADE ID can it be entered into the Sony software.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:21:17 GMT

Yes, as I said it all works fine using R4PC.

Incidentally, I don't think there is such a thing as an "ADE ID". What you need is an Adobe ID from the Adobe website. Once you have this, you can authorise both your PC and the Reader using R4PC - my experience is that you don't need ADE at all. I only installed it because my local library insisted on it, but as I've painfully discovered it doesn't work with this latest model Reader and is not needed because R4PC seems to do everything ADE does.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

sehuxle — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:02:34 GMT

I ask as prior to R4PC sony used different reader software that did not have an option to enter your Adobe ID. So you had to us ADE.

Ive had a Sony reader for over 2years now and have always needed ADE

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

carpetmojo — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:47:59 GMT

All I know is - to use technical terms which some people not too "up" on the new technologies might not understand - I've always done something with Adobe , as far as I know what the manual tells me to, and I'm on my 3rd Sony so far - and all are still doing what they're supposed to, just fine.

Yes, even the T1. I have got a few works wifi-ly, but mostly I use the PC, and if you do have problems you could always use Calibre to get you by until the Sony Store "opens".

Quite naturally, when this does come on-line Sony would prefer you are using R4PC because I suppose you might be more likely to shop at the Sony Store ?

But I'm not privy to Sony's overall global marketing strategy.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

sehuxle — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:32:53 GMT

Just a follow up to the 'do you need ADE or not' installed if you use R4PC

Well I installed R4PC and I can see nowhere that allows you to enter your Adobe ID. So I assume you still need ADE installed.

However it looks like R4PC takes the authorisation from ADE, as in the help option it shows my ID.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

ColBla — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:03:16 GMT

Can't claim to be an expert here, but I think what's going on is that you must authorise your PC (and any mobile device) with your Adobe ID and it doesn't seem to matter too much how you do that, the end result is independent of whichever method you used. You seem to be able to use several apps - ADE, R4PC, and probably others (Calibre ?). Once you've authorised it using one of these, that seems to show up with the others as already authorised and you don't have to do it in each app. So if your PC is already authorised using one of these, any other one won't prompt you to authorise because there's no need. I think.

In my case, I used ADE to authorise my PC but when I plugged in my shiny new PRS-T1 ADE simply didn't recognise it and I didn't get the prompt. After a bit of head-scratching I tried R4PC instead: this told me firstly that my PC was already authorised ('cos I'd done it with ADE) and secondly it prompted me to authorise my Reader, so I did. End result seems to be what I need, but the way of getting there wasn't what I expected. Hence my original query "Does it matter which one you use to authorise your mobile device ?". The query's kind of OBE now, because I now understand I can't use ADE and have to use R4PC to manage my downloads, and transfer to the Reader.

What's interesting is that both Adobe & Sony have told me ADE won't work with the PRS-T1, and there are other examples in this forum of people reporting the same thing ... but there are also examples of people reporting that it does work. No, I don't understand either.

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

sehuxle — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:19:49 GMT

I think for the clarity of new users, you must authorise your PC first using ADE. At present R4PC will not do this.

Once done you can use R4PC to authorise the reader itself, also note that Calibre will not do either.

Message was edited by: sehuxle

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

pevanza30 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:16:18 GMT

Hello,

I use an e-reader since a year, with Adobe Digital Editions, and it works great.

First start ADE, then connect the reader and it shows up in the library list fine, the can drag-and-drop books to the reader, when i click on the reader i see the content.

I just bought a PRS-T1 for my wife, great device, better than what i have myself but it refused to show up in ADE so i had to install R4PC that imediatedly found my Adobe-ID and the reader worked fine via R4PC but it still refuses to show in ADE which I do not like since I now have 2 programs to manage the ebooks,, bugger.

I can drag-and-drop ebooks from the ADE folder into the form of R4PC and theyt do show up there and can sync them onto the PRS-T1,, stll a work-around.

What is wrong here?

Well, i noticed that y own reader acts as a memory stick, i can copy files from PC onto the reader, no problem, so i have write-access. When I try same with the PRS-T1 it does NOT work,, it is read-only.

So, Sony hs protected the access to the PRS-T1,, you can read files from it but not write, only R4PC is allowed to do that. I must say I find that not very fair. This DRM stuff is good, I can only comply,, but what limit the use of DRM protected files by having it managed only with the Sont software?

We need a 'trick'that allows us access to the PRS-T1 write-enabled,, i bet it then shows up in ADE.

Who would know if that is possible?

Peter

PS I must say I am a fan of the PRS-T1 so no comment on the product, comment on the supporting software,, YES..

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

carpetmojo — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:54:56 GMT

Just to say that I've never actually used Adobe, as a management system, on any of the Sonys I've got.

I used to use Reader, until I found Calibre, and I can use the wifi on the T1 - but again, I don't actually use Adobe [ knowingly !! :smileyblush: ] as a system at all.

But whether it's necessary.... I give up, rather. :smileygrin:

Authorising PRS-T1 with Adobe DE &/or Reader for PC - does it matter which ?

sehuxle — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:06:39 GMT

Ok, still confusing info

So to clarify, in order to read DRM purchased ebooks the device whether PC or reader MUST be authorised with an Adobe ID, just to repeat it MUST BE AUTHORISED WITH AN ADOBE ID

The minimum requirement is to have ADE installed on your PC. After that you can use ADE or R4PC to authorise your reader.

Once done you do not need ADE to manage your books.

One thing to add is the above only applies if you buy books on your PC and then wish to transfer them via a USB cable to your reader.