Wanted: OverDrive for Ubuntu

I too use overdrive, and found that by installing the Android SDK, I could successfully install the Android version of overdrive and download books I checked out. Still limited to the MP3 format since the encrypted WMA needs an approved player like Mediaplayer in Windows. (Or maybe try Daniusoft (sp?) but that's not free, and the encryption used seems to change over time, so it may stop working at the next change).

Yes, Yes, sometimes a work around will work, sometime not, and sometimes only for a while. Work around's are not so good for the casual user. Ubuntu is free; Using books from the Public Library is free. I think this is a match. Now how do we convince Canonical the sponsor of Ubuntu to investigate the possibility of bringing OverDrive to Ubuntu?

ebooks aren't free. you are accessing the books from your library for free. however, the library pays the publisher/distributor a fee so you can download the books. the licencing is different for each publisher and depends on how many downloads have been made and the library is required to renew its licence after the limit had been reached.

Emperor Aurelius: All your comments are true but OverDrive software is the electronic gateway to my local library, and OverDrive is available for dozens of devices ( http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/ ) but not any PC runnging the most popular Linux Distro: Ubuntu. So how do we nudge this in the direction of getting a version of OverDrive for Ubuntu. My inquiries to my local library and OverDrive are not really going to make this happen. Unless someone has a better ideal, how do we convince Canonical the sponsor of Ubuntu to investigate the possibility of bringing OverDrive to Ubuntu?

Install and try the 'Wine' software (Wine is a free software application that allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems)
The software is free and hopefully will solve your problem. Thanks.

Mohsin: Wine is really not a working option at this time. Others have tried without success as the Ubuntu forum and Wine links below show.

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-927443.html
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=8836

It should be noted that use of WMA and WMP formats with DRM has failed. This is really something which MUST work for this application. The user is 'borrowing' the book and rights software is intended to keep it that way. I can currently borrow almost any physical book from my local library and I would like the ability to borrow any eBook offered. There are really two high level technical problems to be solved: (1) How to get Ubuntu to work with 'rights software' used by OverDrive. (2) Working with OverDrive to make available an Ubuntu/Linux version so no acrobatics are required to install and use OverDrive. I don't see this happening without Canonical.

My question at this point is how to get Canonical the sponsor of Ubuntu to INVESTIGATE the POSSIBILITY of bringing OverDrive to Ubuntu?

Basically, this question has nothing to do with Ubuntu.
CSO (sometimes also called "CISO") is a compression method for the ISO image format. It is used only to compress *dumped* PlayStation Portable UMD games, which will only run on a modified (hacked/custom firmware installed) PSP System. Otherwise will show an error, like "The game could not be started Error 80010002"

Sorry, wrong post!

I don't know if there is any update on a solution for Ubuntu. In the meantime, I use VirtualBox running Windows to access the OverDrive stuff:-(

I know this thread is old, but I thought I'd mention that several years back I wrote a native Linux OverDrive client that works for downloading MP3 audiobooks (and since OverDrive recently announced it is going 100% MP3, this should work for most people). After using it for a few years myself, I recently added support for eMusic audiobooks as well and finally released a beta version on sourceforge in case anyone else might find it useful:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gloc/

Apparently some folks have OMC working with WINE these days, but if anyone out there is searching for a native Linux solution like I was a few years ago, feel free to give it a try and let me know what you think

gloc is the solution! Works perfectly! THANK YOU so much for writing this, and making it public.

PJ - Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it's working for you and that you're finding it useful. I encourage you to submit any bugs you find or other suggestions for improvement on the project page.