Frequently Asked Questions
What types of books can I buy on mysmartbook.fr?
Several types of books are available for purchase on mysmartbook.fr. You can find ebooks, Smartbooks and audiobooks. The type of book is always indicated on the product page, and the same title may be available in several formats.
In all three cases, ebooks, Smartbooks and audiobooks are books published and distributed in digital format. They consist of one or more digital files and are designed to provide an optimal and accessible reading experience adapted to different types of readers.
Unlike a printed book, a digital book requires a compatible device. Whether you use a smartphone, tablet, e-reader or computer, your device must support the file and, in particular, the format in which it is provided.
Why are some of the books sold as Smartbooks?
You will only find this format on our website :)
Smartbooks are ebooks that you can talk to in our reading application.
To provide a completely new reading experience, we have developed a conversational agent that allows you to interact directly with your book. It opens up a new dimension of reading.
Didn't understand a passage or want an explanation? Ask our chatbot!
Want to talk to one of the characters? Ask our chatbot!
Want to create a sightseeing itinerary from your travel guide? Ask our chatbot!
Want a summary of your book? Ask our chatbot!
Are you a student and want to check whether you have understood a particular chapter? Ask our chatbot!
The rest is up to you. You can ask any question you like, provided that it relates to your book :)
What are the different digital book formats?
Digital books are available in several formats, each offering different features and reading experiences.
The formats we offer and their specific features are described below. The format of each book is always indicated on its product page.
The EPUB format, short for “electronic publication”, is currently the most widely used ebook format. Designed for reading on smaller screens, reflowable EPUB automatically adapts to the size of your screen and allows you to change the font size, typeface, line spacing and other display settings.
Fixed-layout EPUB is particularly suitable for books containing many images and photographs. Its layout reproduces the appearance of the printed book.
MP3 is the format used for digital audiobooks. This highly compressed format is designed to make audio files easier to store. It is widely supported by native audio applications as well as many freely available media players. Before purchasing an MP3 title, however, you should make sure that your device supports audio playback, including the use of Bluetooth or headphones where required.
How do I read my ebooks and Smartbooks?
After purchasing ebooks and Smartbooks on mysmartbook.fr, you can find your purchases on the “My Books” page.
For the best reading experience, we recommend downloading the My Smart Book reading app from the store corresponding to your smartphone, tablet or compatible device. Our application is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
After downloading the My Smart Book application, sign in using the same username and password as on our website. All ebooks and Smartbooks purchased through our website will then be automatically synchronised with the application.
You can then read them directly on your smartphone or tablet. If your books are Smartbooks, you can also interact with them in addition to reading them normally. To start a conversation, open the “Discussion” section.
You can also download your books from the “My Books” page and read them in another compatible application or on another compatible device.
Digital books sold on mysmartbook.fr use standard file formats and can be read on most e-readers currently available, with the exception of certain Kindle devices, which are primarily designed for content distributed through the Amazon ecosystem.
Can I use the app to read books purchased somewhere other than mysmartbook.fr?
Of course. If the book is already on your phone, use “Open with” or “Share” and select My Smart Book. If My Smart Book does not appear in the list of available applications, the file is probably not compatible. If the book is stored on your PC or Mac, you will first need to transfer it to your phone.
How do I listen to my audiobooks?
To listen to your audiobooks, go to the “My Books” page to find your purchases, then use the compatible application or device of your choice.
Are the files sold on mysmartbook.fr protected?
Yes. Most books sold on our website are protected by DRM, or Digital Rights Management. These protection systems help preserve the integrity of digital content and prevent unauthorised sharing.
Whether a digital book is protected by DRM has practical consequences, particularly regarding which reading applications can open the file.
The use and type of DRM applied to a digital book are determined by the publisher, not by mysmartbook.fr.
What are the different types of digital protection?
The main protection systems currently used are:
No protection: some books are sold without any technical protection and can therefore be read freely on compatible devices.
Watermark: watermarking is similar to a digital stamp added to the file when it is obtained. Information identifying the purchaser may be embedded in the document. It is one of the simplest forms of digital protection and imposes very few restrictions on the reader.
LCP: LCP DRM is a solution developed by the European EDRLab consortium to simplify access to protected digital content. The licence is linked to your account and email address. To open the digital book, you use an LCP key, or passphrase, associated with your customer account and which can be personalised. This password unlocks access to the content without requiring authentication through a proprietary third-party reading application. Management of the passphrase is handled by MY SMART BOOK and is intended to remain transparent to customers.
ADE: Adobe DRM, used with Adobe Digital Editions, generates an ACSM file when a protected book is downloaded. To access the content, you generally need an Adobe account and must authorise the devices on which you wish to read it. A compatible application is also required.
In general, when a title is protected, we strongly recommend choosing either LCP DRM or watermark protection whenever possible. Adobe DRM requires the use of a third-party service and can make access to the book more complex and reduce the quality of the reading experience, particularly for accessibility features and image handling.
If you have any questions, please contact us at: [email protected].
