Sideloading and Whispersync

[mikemc2]

Will files that have been sideloaded to the K3 sync with other devices? I have recently purchased a K3 and I'm not seeing files I sideloaded showing up on my iPod Touch or K4PC. Does this feature only work with content downloaded from Amazon or am I missing something?

[HarryT]

Yes, sync only works with books bought from Amazon.

[daffy4u]

Correct. Syncing only works with content purchased from Amazon. It would be cool if someone would develop a Kindle app that would sync all content no matter where it comes from.

[mikemc2]

Thanks for quick responses! I was afraid that was the case but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a setting or something. It would be a nice feature but I'm guessing that AMZN probably doesn't think there are that many people sideloading content.

[daffy4u]

I think it has more to do with them having access to an exact copy of that same content on their servers, so that they can do the sync (a totally wild guess on my part).

[mikemc2]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I think it has more to do with them having access to an exact copy of that same content on their servers, so that they can do the sync (a totally wild guess on my part).

You're probably right, the content would have to first be uploaded to the Amazon servers then downloaded. They wouldn't be wrong in being leery of having things sitting on their servers that may be of questionable legality either.

[DiapDealer]

Actually, you can get non-Amazon purchases to sync (Furthest Point Read only - no notes or bookmarks) between multiple devices, but you have to be willing (and able) to fiddle with the metadata -- and it has to be an ebook that Amazon does sell in order to work.

If the ebooks (on the multiple devices) share a valid Amazon ASIN number (EXTH Record 113) and EXTH record 501 (cdetype) contains the value 'EBOK' (rather than 'PDOC'), WhisperSync will happily keep track of your "Furthest Read" point on the various devices.

[mean_gene]

I keep a copy of all non-amazon content in Calibre as a backup and sync it up as needed. I usually charge from my USB port so it's pretty automatic for me.

[mikemc2]

"If the ebooks (on the multiple devices) share a valid Amazon ASIN number (EXTH Record 113) and EXTH record 501 (cdetype) contains the value 'EBOK' (rather than 'PDOC'), WhisperSync will happily keep track of your "Furthest Read" point on the various devices."

Interesting, I think some tinkering may be in order...

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by mikemc2

Interesting, I think some tinkering may be in order...

Check out the MobiPerl Tools thread (stickied) down in the Mobi forum for details on how to alter/add EXTH records.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Actually, you can get non-Amazon purchases to sync (Furthest Point Read only - no notes or bookmarks) between multiple devices, but you have to be willing (and able) to fiddle with the metadata -- and it has to be an ebook that Amazon does sell in order to work.

If the ebooks (on the multiple devices) share a valid Amazon ASIN number (EXTH Record 113) and EXTH record 501 (cdetype) contains the value 'EBOK' (rather than 'PDOC'), WhisperSync will happily keep track of your "Furthest Read" point on the various devices.

So are you're saying that a book I may have purchased from another site ("Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for example purchased from the Sony site) can be synced if I convert it to mobi for my Kindle, as long as I change the metadata values? That would be really groovy, if I understand correctly!

[DiapDealer]

So are you're saying that a book I may have purchased from another site ("Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for example purchased from the Sony site) can be synced if I convert it to mobi for my Kindle, as long as I change the metadata values? That would be really groovy, if I understand correctly!

That is correct. But only the furthest read point.
Unfortunately, calibre doesn't allow you to add (or manipulate) the 113 or the 501 EXTH metadata records. Mobi2mobi is the only tool I've found that will allow you to add the proper records to an ebook that doesn't have them.

[daffy4u]

That is groovy! I've only used the Mobi2Mobi GUI. I'll have to do some experimenting.

[daffy4u]

The Mobi2Mobi GUI does work to add the EXTH info for 113 and 501. I used it on the January MR selection book club (part of this collection). I'll see how it goes with syncing and report back. Thanks DD!

[daffy4u]

So far, no syncing love. I upgraded my version of K4PC and loaded the book on it. I went to a location near the back of the book and set a bookmark for my furthest page read (so I could find it again). I closed the book and forced a sync with K4PC.

I then loaded the same book file on my K3, forced a "sync and check for new items" and opened the book. It did not open to the page I bookmarked as my furthest page read. While the book was open I forced a "sync to the furthest page read" and the message you see in the image below. I tried this a few times with no luck. Have I missed a step?