Geo-Blocking

[pmcgee]

The radio today reminded me I had meant to post about this.

There was a book on carving that I was interested in. It was available for physical purchase in Australia for say $45 ... but as an ebook in the US for about $25. You couldn't buy it, however, from an Australian IP address.

I had already toyed around with free TunnelBear software, so I gave that a go. Using it I was able to complete a paypal purchase of the ebook, but had to supply a postcode (zip) as part of the process. I don't know anything about US zipcodes, so just searched a few companies and used one of their addresses. The transaction went through, and I moved on to the downloading step.

The downloading would start, but just sit there having received only a few kb. I retried it several times, but it wouldn't go anywhere.
Fair enough ... it was a bit of an experiment.

However - I forget the exact details - the format was I think epub(??) and it (the book) must have been registered into a library somewhere. When I downloaded the reader software ... without the tunnelling software on now ... and ran it, it quite happily determined that I owned a book that wasn't downloaded and went and got it.

Happy camper.

Cheers,
Paul

[artme]

Good for you Paul!!

It makes me wonder how Geo-blocking sits with free trade agreements!

[wolften]

A fair bit of discussion about Geo Blocking on OCAU, (hope I can post another forum name here, albeit a tech forum) especially with the report on IT pricing in Australia.

[steamingbill]

The radio today reminded me I had meant to post about this.

When I downloaded the reader software ... without the tunnelling software on now ... and ran it, it quite happily determined that I owned a book that wasn't downloaded and went and got it.

Happy camper.

Cheers,
Paul

Paul,

Thats interesting - what was the reader software that did this ? I have been frustrated by the same issue at various times in the past and would like to have a go at what you've done.

I use a prgram called Calibre to manage my ebooks - its great and will translate most common formats into eachother, which is handy for getting an epub onto my very old kindle

Bill

[pmcgee]

Paul,
Thats interesting - what was the reader software that did this ? I have been frustrated by the same issue at various times in the past and would like to have a go at what you've done.
I use a prgram called Calibre to manage my ebooks - its great and will translate most common formats into eachother, which is handy for getting an epub onto my very old kindle
Bill

Kobo Desktop (I had to go look ... I haven't had time to read the damn thing yet)
I think that means the book would have come from Amazon.

I will say ... I don't do Apple products ... (other than saw handles ) ... so it is PC desktop and laptop only for me.

Cheers,
Paul
(No 'smart'phone either. Luddites forever ... Luddites forever ... )
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The Lost Carving - David Esterly - Amazon.com: The Lost Carving: A Journey to the Heart of Making eBook: David Esterly: Kindle Store

After a disastrous fire at Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, Esterly was asked to replace the Gibbons masterpiece destroyed by the flames. It turned out to be the most challenging year in Esterly’s life, forcing him to question his abilities and delve deeply into what it means to make a thing well. Written with a philosopher’s intellect and a poet’s grace, The Lost Carving explores the connection between creativity and physical work and illuminates the passionate pursuit of a vocation that unites head and hand and heart.