Sideloading MOBI files to Kindle for iPad

[crowman28]

Ok so i just meddled with this for a bit and found a way that worked for me since I couldn't figure out mobi2mobi (running mac osx 10.6.3)

All I did was use calibre to transfer whatever file to mobi, and picked my cover image.

were going to pretend the name of my book was title.

Once I got the title.mobi file and the cover.jpg i tried something stupid. I changed the file name of "cover.jpg" to "title.mbp" and used iphone explorer to put both of them into the ebook folder as described above.

and odd enough it worked! repeated for a few ebooks to verify. Try it out and let me know if it works for you!

[wirehead]

Originally Posted by crowman28

Once I got the title.mobi file and the cover.jpg i tried something stupid. I changed the file name of "cover.jpg" to "title.mbp" and used iphone explorer to put both of them into the ebook folder as described above.

and odd enough it worked! repeated for a few ebooks to verify. Try it out and let me know if it works for you!

didn't work 4 me-Y not just add the cover in Calibre...

[orwell2k]

Not sure if this is already known or if it is a new feature, but I just updated the Kindle iPad app to v2.5.0.37 and it allows me to drop non-DRM Mobi files directly into the app via iTunes. Is this a new feature or could the app always do this?

I was under the impression there was no easy option for reading Mobi directly on iPad, but with this Kindle app update it seems there is now - at least, for basic reading/annotating it's probably sufficient if users don't wish to convert to ePub via calibre, etc.

I still will purchase ePub whenever possible, but at least it provides a good option now - good news (for me anyway)!

[GRiker]

As noted by @orwell2k, sideloading is now officially supported in the latest release of Kindle for iPad, so there's no longer any need to fiddle with the ASIN - just drag 'n drop your MOBIs into the iTunes DEVICES|Apps|File Sharing|Kindle|Kindle Documents window.

G

[DiapDealer]

so there's no longer any need to fiddle with the ASIN - just drag 'n drop your MOBIs into the iTunes DEVICES|Apps|File Sharing|Kindle|Kindle Documents window.

The ASIN and the CDETYPE EXTH records still need to be fiddled with... if you hope to synchronize "Furthest Page Read" across multiple devices with Non-Amazon mobi's.

[GRiker]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The ASIN and the CDETYPE EXTH records still need to be fiddled with... if you hope to synchronize "Furthest Page Read" across multiple devices with Non-Amazon mobi's.

Of course you're correct, I was only thinking of the problem with covers.

G

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by GRiker

Of course you're correct, I was only thinking of the problem with covers.

My mistake... I came to the conversation too late.

[cgould]

I followed these tips. Using iPhone Explorer, Kindle can be found in a folder called com.amazon.Lassen. That folder contains folders labelled Documents, Kindle app, and Library. I used the path com.amazon.lassen/documents/eBooks and copied my MOBI files there.

Assuming that was the correct path; how do I open the MOBI file on my iPad? I can't figure out how to access the files from the device.

[GRiker]

The early instructions are obsolete. See post #19.

G

[m0ngr31]

crowman, check out my thread here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=117645

It will link you to howto install mobi2mobi on mac and automatically edit the meta data for you.

[CuriousGrrl]

As of Calibre v0.7.44, the metadata changes required for "Furthest Page Read" syncing are now supported. When a book is converted to .mobi, Calibre automatically updates EXTH 113 & 501 so that Kindle and Kindle apps will sync your furthest page read across devices.

Now that Kindle for iPhone/iPad supports non-Amazon .mobi files, you only need to access those files (i use Dropbox or email the .mobi files to myself as attachments) on your iDevice, and you should be offered the option to open the file in Kindle reader app.

[rverstee]

You can also download mobi files directly to your iPad using Good Reader. Then use the "Open in" option and select Kindle.

[Jojolobo]

That was really useful information. Have managed to add books to my iPad and iPhone but eBooks was in Kindle/library rather than documents. You have to exit Kindle on iPad then open it again before they sync.
Kindle won't sync the books I've added between devices it seems but that doesn't bother me. So satisfying when something works easily.
E

[Jojolobo]

Sorry, just realised wasn't clear about what was useful info!
From GRiker, I downloaded iPhone explorer and dragged .mobi files to Kindle/library/eBooks.

[jencymikki]

It turns out that the best new feature of the updated Kindle app–the ability to open external Kindle formatted titles from an email or a website–isn’t so great after all. My hope is that this is a bug and not a deliberate restriction, but we’ll have to wait for another update to find out.What’s supposed to happen is this: you find an .azw or .mobi file online or included as an email attachment, and when you tap it you get an option to open that file in your Kindle app.