Can I download and convert Kindle freebies?

BookCat · 02-08-2011, 05:00 PM

There seem to be some great books given away by Amazon these days. I can't download the measly samples which Sony offer because I prefer using outdated Sony software which the site won't recognise.

Is there some way that I can download and convert (using calibre) the kindle freebies? I don't own a kindle, but have a Sony PRS 505.

Thanks.

Leep · 02-08-2011, 05:04 PM

You can download Amazon ebooks if you install a copy of Kindle4PC and use that as your download vehicle....and you will need an Amazon account.

Once you have downloaded the ebook, you will find the original in a directory my documents/my Kindle content. That file can be put into Calibre. The book can be converted only if you remove the drm with the appropriate Calibre plugins for those tasks.

cheers

wvcherrybomb · 02-08-2011, 05:40 PM

Often, the same books are also free at B&N since the publishers are the ones who offer them.

Check out koland's blog Books on the Knob. She lists freebies for all formats.

I have noticed that a large number of the recent Amazon freebies have been Topaz. I only seem to have about 50/50 luck with removing DRM from those.

BookCat · 02-09-2011, 03:31 PM

I've just tried to set up an Amazon account. Now it wants me to register my non-existent Kindle. Help!

I think I've just sorted this. I don't need to register a kindle with the kindle for pc thingy. Thanks. Silly me!

BookCat · 02-09-2011, 03:54 PM

Oh dear, I seem to have created an account with Amazon US instead of UK. Does this matter? I only intend to download freebies.

Leep · 02-09-2011, 11:54 PM

Not to worry. Now that you have set up an account, on the main ebooks page, right hand near the top you will see "manage your Kindle" Click on that, sign into your account and mid way down the page you will see a listing for "Your Country" There is an edit button where you can correct the information.

cheers

BookCat · 02-10-2011, 03:09 PM

Thanks for all the help. The strange thing is that if I look at the freebies using my normal browser (firefox) they are, indeed, free. But if I look at them using the kindle4pc software, they're not. Amazon seem to have a two-tier pricing system for their ebooks, one for direct download to the kindle and another for download to the kindleforpc software. Damnations!

elizilla · 02-10-2011, 05:34 PM

I get them via my normal browser, where they are free. When you "buy" them, they are offered to send to Kindle for PC, and that's where I send them. I don't open them in Kindle for PC until I've already "bought".

BookCat · 02-12-2011, 03:10 AM

Thanks elizilla. I've now downloaded several freebies from Amazon and have them in the software. I now have to go through the rest of the proceedure before loading onto the 505. Once I've got the hang of this, I won't feel so dumb.

02-08-2011, 05:00 PM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Can I download and convert Kindle freebies? There seem to be some great books given away by Amazon these days. I can't download the measly samples which Sony offer because I prefer using outdated Sony software which the site won't recognise. Is there some way that I can download and convert (using calibre) the kindle freebies? I don't own a kindle, but have a Sony PRS 505. Thanks.

02-08-2011, 05:40 PM	#3
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	Often, the same books are also free at B&N since the publishers are the ones who offer them. Check out koland's blog Books on the Knob. She lists freebies for all formats. I have noticed that a large number of the recent Amazon freebies have been Topaz. I only seem to have about 50/50 luck with removing DRM from those. Last edited by wvcherrybomb; 02-08-2011 at 05:46 PM. Reason: addition

02-09-2011, 03:31 PM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I've just tried to set up an Amazon account. Now it wants me to register my non-existent Kindle. Help! I think I've just sorted this. I don't need to register a kindle with the kindle for pc thingy. Thanks. Silly me! Last edited by BookCat; 02-09-2011 at 03:33 PM.

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02-08-2011, 05:04 PM	#2
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	You can download Amazon ebooks if you install a copy of Kindle4PC and use that as your download vehicle....and you will need an Amazon account. Once you have downloaded the ebook, you will find the original in a directory my documents/my Kindle content. That file can be put into Calibre. The book can be converted only if you remove the drm with the appropriate Calibre plugins for those tasks. cheers

02-09-2011, 03:54 PM	#5
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Oh dear, I seem to have created an account with Amazon US instead of UK. Does this matter? I only intend to download freebies.

02-09-2011, 11:54 PM	#6
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	Not to worry. Now that you have set up an account, on the main ebooks page, right hand near the top you will see "manage your Kindle" Click on that, sign into your account and mid way down the page you will see a listing for "Your Country" There is an edit button where you can correct the information. cheers

02-10-2011, 03:09 PM	#7
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks for all the help. The strange thing is that if I look at the freebies using my normal browser (firefox) they are, indeed, free. But if I look at them using the kindle4pc software, they're not. Amazon seem to have a two-tier pricing system for their ebooks, one for direct download to the kindle and another for download to the kindleforpc software. Damnations!

02-10-2011, 05:34 PM	#8
elizilla Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 610286 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Aura One, Sony PRS 650, Sony PRS 350	I get them via my normal browser, where they are free. When you "buy" them, they are offered to send to Kindle for PC, and that's where I send them. I don't open them in Kindle for PC until I've already "bought".

02-12-2011, 03:10 AM	#9
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks elizilla. I've now downloaded several freebies from Amazon and have them in the software. I now have to go through the rest of the proceedure before loading onto the 505. Once I've got the hang of this, I won't feel so dumb.

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