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LeesID Cloud Bookshelf Gains New Partner: Kobo

leesid[1]The Netherlands' response to the oncoming might of Amazon will soon have another supporter. The Dutch ebook blog MustReads.nl has reported that LeesID is now working to integrate Kobo’s ebookstore into its platform.

Launched earlier this week, LeesID is a cloud bookshelf service based in the Netherlands. Right now it is primarily supported by Dutch ebook retailers, and is drawing its funding from the non-profit CPNB, but if the Kobo partnership goes through then this service could well take on an international flavor.

LeesID enables users to aggregate all of their ebook purchases in one location on the web, both saving them from having to remember which ebook was bought where and enabling them to easily transfer all of the ebooks to a single preferred reading app.

So long as this service was only supported by Dutch ebookstores it wasn’t going to attract much attention outside of the Netherlands (or rather, Benelux). But now that Kobo will hopefully be joining I just may sign up myself, and push for other retailers to join as well.

While cloud bookshelves aren’t a new idea, LeesID potentially solves a problem that could make it appealing to users.

It’s not too difficult for you to start your own cloud bookshelf in Dropbox or Google Drive, and you can sign up for one of the existing paid services like NeoLibrary, Bookmate, or Personal Book Space. Or you could even use the online space provided by Amazon (the Kindle Cloud) or txtr to store your ebooks.

But if you want to use any of those services, you’ll first have to strip the DRM from your ebooks. That can be a hassle, but since LeesID supports Adobe DE DRM (or so one FAQ suggests), transferring ebooks to that cloud bookshelf should be comparatively easy.

Not having to bother with DRM counts for a lot, IMO. Not everyone wants to invest time and energy in liberating their ebooks, so a service like LeesID will likely draw in users like flies.

Have you used it yet?

I have not, and I would love to read what you think.

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Comments


Loyd September 11, 2014 um 3:50 pm

Nice idea. But it could be insanely great with a wider vision and if the publishing houses gave their blessing. If they use watermarking for copyright protection all it would need to store is the watermark for books you buy. If you call for it from a Kobo they would serve up a copy of that book in the format you have on record with the watermark installed. If a Kindle calls for it then in Mobi or AZW, with watermark, or whatever format is called for. You hold down internet traffic and server storage by recording only the copyright protection info while giving writers and publishers better protection.

To make it insanely great, you would let people transfer their entire library of eBooks to it. The user’s computer would read the old style DRM and transfer that info to LeesID where a watermark is assigned from the DRM data and the book’s owner is registered as owner while the book on user’s computer is deleted, freeing up hd space for him/her.

I don’t honestly believe the publishers are this far sighted for a technology they dislike anyway. I suppose that’s why it’s insane.


Jurgen Snoeren September 12, 2014 um 1:05 am

It’s not a cloud service, though. What LeesID does, basically, is store all your download links to enable you to load all the cover of your books in every retail environment you chose – meaning, you could create a library of your books on your Bol.com bookshelf. LeesID would then make it possible to start reading your books from the Bol bookshelf, even the books you didn’t buy there. And remember (if you knew already…;-) in Holland all e-books are Watermarked and real downloads, not cloud streaming.

Nate Hoffelder September 12, 2014 um 7:12 am

If there is no copy stored then in that case LeesID shouldn’t describe itself as a bookshelf on its own website. Or is this a case of Google misTranslating the terms?

Jurgen Snoeren September 12, 2014 um 8:34 am

The marketing is deliberately confusing things somewhat, I think, although they’re not exactly lying either. Let’s say they’re a bit liberal with the facts. You eventually learn you how can link your e-books to one of your e-tailer accounts and thus create a bookshelf. As far as where and how you can read the books depends on the services the retailer provides – LeesID itself does not have any reading services. They could be a bit clearer in explaining this from the start.

Nate Hoffelder November 25, 2014 um 8:51 pm

Okay, thanks. It makes me feel a little better to know that my misreporting came from misleading statements and not my own mistake.


Vikarti Anatra September 12, 2014 um 1:09 am

if only thing needed is cloud library with support for Adobe DRM…there is another option – Mantano Cloud http://reading.mantano.com/whats-mantano-cloud/

potential disadvantages:
– Android-only so far (Mantano Reader for iOS doesn’t support Mantano Cloud yet)
– app is either ad-supported or costs money. cloud sync also cost money
– cloud sync is separate option with subscription
– almost everything should be made from android app and not via web site
– you WILL see offers from feedbooks.com even if you don’t want them.
– you CAN download synced books from desktop browser if you want (Adobe DRM protection is NOT stripped by this)

advantages:
– Mantano Cloud also allows to sync position, quotes, etc. Adode DRM books are also synced (you will be asked to authorize every device but it will work same as with regular epubs)
– support is real if you need it.
– OPDS is supported
– a lot of ways for library management (tags,collections,etc)
– EPUB2, PDF. initial support for EPUB3


Another One Bites the Dust | Digital Book World September 12, 2014 um 11:22 am

[…] Dutch Cloud Bookshelf Does Deal With Kobo (The Digital Reader) A new Dutch ebook cloud storage start-up is integrating with ebook retailer Kobo. The start-up, LeesID, supports Adobe digital rights management software, solving some headaches for cloud bookshelf users. […]


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