Question re ebook formats

MarniLynn · 09-13-2012, 09:29 PM

I am thinking of buying a Kindle, hopefully the new paperwhite.

Are .mobi books the only format it uses (no .epub?)? And will I be able to use Calibre to put books that I already have onto the device?

Thank-you

Synamon · 09-13-2012, 11:34 PM

The new Paperwhite Kindle will not work with epub, the formats it can use are .txt, .pdf, .mobi, .prc, and the various azw Amazon formats.

If the epub books you've got don't have DRM protection, then yes, you can convert them to mobi or azw3 (the new KF8 format for Amazon) with calibre and put them on a new paperwhite. If the epub books you've got do have DRM (ie. Adobe DRM if you've downloaded books from Kobo), then you'll need to get the third party tools from Apprentice Alf to take care of that before you can convert the format.

hellraiser06 · 09-14-2012, 03:35 PM

^^ and you should know if not already, that removing DRM is considered illegal.

Synamon · 09-14-2012, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellraiser06

^^ and you should know if not already, that removing DRM is considered illegal.

The laws are different in different countries, so that blanket statement is not true.

AlexBell · 09-15-2012, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

The laws are different in different countries, so that blanket statement is not true.

Thank you, you saved me a post. So far as I am aware no one has ever been prosecuted or sued for removing DRM for private use.

SeaBookGuy · 01-15-2013, 05:26 PM

Dredging up this thread to ask about a situation I encountered recently ... bought a couple of AZW3 (KF8?) books on my Amazon account, added them to Calibre (via Alf), then tried uploading those to my folks' Kindle; the device wouldn't recognize them at all. I ended up converting the AZW3 to Mobi, which worked. What am I missing here?

BeccaPrice · 01-15-2013, 06:24 PM

This happened to me when I put a book on my husband's kindle. Make sure you have the latest system update, that should fix the problem.

susan_cassidy · 01-15-2013, 06:28 PM

Depending on the Kindle. If they have a K1 or K2, it will never recognize azw3.

HarryT · 01-16-2013, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Dredging up this thread to ask about a situation I encountered recently ... bought a couple of AZW3 (KF8?) books on my Amazon account, added them to Calibre (via Alf), then tried uploading those to my folks' Kindle; the device wouldn't recognize them at all. I ended up converting the AZW3 to Mobi, which worked. What am I missing here?

What model Kindle?

SeaBookGuy · 01-16-2013, 10:17 AM

I believe they have a K3 (I use Sonys myself), the one with free Wifi for everything, not just the Kindle store? Following Becca's advice, I checked with Alf, and it seems an updated Kindle plugin had come out since I'd last uploaded one.

BeccaPrice · 01-16-2013, 10:40 AM

updating Alf's tools helps, but make sure the system on your Kindle is current, as well. I think that there were updates pushed through to allow kindles to read K8 (azw3) books.

graycyn · 01-16-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

updating Alf's tools helps, but make sure the system on your Kindle is current, as well. I think that there were updates pushed through to allow kindles to read K8 (azw3) books.

Well, having recently purchased a Kindle 3 Keyboard WiFi refurb unit for testing epub conversions, yes, there is an update. It is numbered 3.4. Has to be downloaded, sideloaded to the device and then installed, but this is no biggie. Did surprise me that Amazon didn't offer the update over the air.

Once done, the device will happily read K8 (azw3).

HarryT · 01-16-2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graycyn

Well, having recently purchased a Kindle 3 Keyboard WiFi refurb unit for testing epub conversions, yes, there is an update. It is numbered 3.4. Has to be downloaded, sideloaded to the device and then installed, but this is no biggie. Did surprise me that Amazon didn't offer the update over the air.

Once done, the device will happily read K8 (azw3).

They did offer the update over the air, but over the course of several months. You won't necessarily get it instantly. The format, it should be noted, is called "KF8", not "K8".

SeaBookGuy · 01-16-2013, 12:15 PM

That sounds like it's probably the issue! My non-techie mom would NEVER think to do that on her own! I'll upgrade her device when I visit in a couple of months; she has plenty to read in the meanwhile.

graycyn · 01-16-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

They did offer the update over the air, but over the course of several months. You won't necessarily get it instantly. The format, it should be noted, is called "KF8", not "K8".

Given that I only got the device for testing stuff, waiting months was not my preferred option. Good to know they do offer updates over the air. One couldn't know from the device itself.

Yeah, I slipped on the format, I do know it is KF8.

09-13-2012, 09:29 PM	#1
MarniLynn Misty Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: WiFi Kobo	Question re ebook formats I am thinking of buying a Kindle, hopefully the new paperwhite. Are .mobi books the only format it uses (no .epub?)? And will I be able to use Calibre to put books that I already have onto the device? Thank-you

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09-13-2012, 11:34 PM	#2
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	The new Paperwhite Kindle will not work with epub, the formats it can use are .txt, .pdf, .mobi, .prc, and the various azw Amazon formats. If the epub books you've got don't have DRM protection, then yes, you can convert them to mobi or azw3 (the new KF8 format for Amazon) with calibre and put them on a new paperwhite. If the epub books you've got do have DRM (ie. Adobe DRM if you've downloaded books from Kobo), then you'll need to get the third party tools from Apprentice Alf to take care of that before you can convert the format.

09-14-2012, 03:35 PM	#3
hellraiser06 Yaabbaa dabba doo Posts: 76 Karma: 5348 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: India Device: Kindle Touch wifi, Kindle 3 Wifi, Asus Transformer TF101	^^ and you should know if not already, that removing DRM is considered illegal.

01-15-2013, 05:26 PM	#6
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Dredging up this thread to ask about a situation I encountered recently ... bought a couple of AZW3 (KF8?) books on my Amazon account, added them to Calibre (via Alf), then tried uploading those to my folks' Kindle; the device wouldn't recognize them at all. I ended up converting the AZW3 to Mobi, which worked. What am I missing here?

01-15-2013, 06:24 PM	#7
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	This happened to me when I put a book on my husband's kindle. Make sure you have the latest system update, that should fix the problem.

01-15-2013, 06:28 PM	#8
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Depending on the Kindle. If they have a K1 or K2, it will never recognize azw3.

01-16-2013, 10:17 AM	#10
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I believe they have a K3 (I use Sonys myself), the one with free Wifi for everything, not just the Kindle store? Following Becca's advice, I checked with Alf, and it seems an updated Kindle plugin had come out since I'd last uploaded one.

01-16-2013, 10:40 AM	#11
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	updating Alf's tools helps, but make sure the system on your Kindle is current, as well. I think that there were updates pushed through to allow kindles to read K8 (azw3) books.

01-16-2013, 12:15 PM	#14
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,015 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	That sounds like it's probably the issue! My non-techie mom would NEVER think to do that on her own! I'll upgrade her device when I visit in a couple of months; she has plenty to read in the meanwhile.