Strange Behavior with Amazon Books

Sydney's Mom · 10-18-2012, 12:11 AM

I downloaded a lot of free books today, and I could only convert about half of them. (I was importing from Kindle4PC). Then I went back and downloaded books directly from Amazon to my desktop. Still wouldn't let me convert. Then I noticed a funny symbol on the ones I couldn't convert. There was a number after azw[1] or [3]. If I rename the book azw, it works just fine.

Just thought it was interesting. Don't know if Amazon is trying something new.

mbovenka · 10-18-2012, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I downloaded a lot of free books today, and I could only convert about half of them. (I was importing from Kindle4PC). Then I went back and downloaded books directly from Amazon to my desktop. Still wouldn't let me convert. Then I noticed a funny symbol on the ones I couldn't convert. There was a number after azw[1] or [3]. If I rename the book azw, it works just fine.

Just thought it was interesting. Don't know if Amazon is trying something new.

Not really.

AZW = 'old' MOBI6 files.

AZW1 = Topaz format, also seen as .tpz

AZW3 = 'new' MOBI files (aka 'KF8')

AZW4 = Print Replica files (PDFs in a Mobi wrapper)

I don't know if AZW2 ever existed in the wild, or even what it was

Sydney's Mom · 10-18-2012, 06:59 PM

It appeared like this AZW1[3]. I had to rename the file extension AZW, and then it converted fine. I think this might be a new DRM scheme fro Amazon. Like I said, it was about 17 books.

CRussel · 10-18-2012, 07:31 PM

Not a DRM scheme, but an anomaly of the save process and the Windows file system. Rename the files before you import them, and all should be well.

JSWolf · 10-18-2012, 07:33 PM

Why do you have to convert eBooks from Amazon to read on an Amazon device?

Piper_ · 10-18-2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why do you have to convert eBooks from Amazon to read on an Amazon device?

I import mine into calibre (which auto-converts them to .mobi using the plugin) as a backup. Some I also convert to epub to edit, or as double security backup.

JSWolf · 10-18-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper_

I import mine into calibre (which auto-converts them to .mobi using the plugin) as a backup. Some I also convert to epub to edit, or as double security backup.

Which plugin does that?

When I import an eBook from Amazon, I get either .azw or .azw3 deepening if it's Mobipocket or KF8.

I actually prefer KF8 because if the code is clean enough, it's quite easy to convert to ePub using the Mobi-unpack plugin which doesn't convert but shifts the files to ePub and then I can edit them easily.

Piper_ · 10-18-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Which plugin does that?

When I import an eBook from Amazon, I get either .azw or .azw3 deepening if it's Mobipocket or KF8.
.

Alf's...

(at least up until the very latest tools and 8.something calibre. I'm still on the second to last, AFAIK. Maybe it can be changed in settings, but I was happy with .mobi. Been too under the weather since kf8 to get on & play.)

jgaiser · 10-18-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Which plugin does that?

When I import an eBook from Amazon, I get either .azw or .azw3 deepening if it's Mobipocket or KF8.

With Alf, the import is either .mobi or .azw3. And I do quite a bit of mobi->mobi if I'm adding metadata and/or a new cover. Not too unusual.

Piper_ · 10-18-2012, 08:59 PM

...and I'm not sure what azw# topaz are, but alf converts mine to html.

jgaiser · 10-18-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper_

...and I'm not sure what azw# topaz are, but alf converts mine to html.

awz1 is what my Topaz ebooks come down as.

Piper_ · 10-18-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

awz1 is what my Topaz ebooks come down as.

Thanks.

AnemicOak · 10-18-2012, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

I don't know if AZW2 ever existed in the wild, or even what it was

It's for active content (kindlet) files.

mbovenka · 10-19-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

It's for active content (kindlet) files.

Ah. Didn't know that.

JSWolf · 10-19-2012, 09:02 AM

I was incorrect. plain old Mobi from Amazon does get a .mobi and not .azw extension while KF8 gets a .azw3 extension.

10-18-2012, 12:11 AM	#1
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Strange Behavior with Amazon Books I downloaded a lot of free books today, and I could only convert about half of them. (I was importing from Kindle4PC). Then I went back and downloaded books directly from Amazon to my desktop. Still wouldn't let me convert. Then I noticed a funny symbol on the ones I couldn't convert. There was a number after azw[1] or [3]. If I rename the book azw, it works just fine. Just thought it was interesting. Don't know if Amazon is trying something new.

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10-18-2012, 06:59 PM	#3
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	It appeared like this AZW1[3]. I had to rename the file extension AZW, and then it converted fine. I think this might be a new DRM scheme fro Amazon. Like I said, it was about 17 books.

10-18-2012, 07:31 PM	#4
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,287 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Not a DRM scheme, but an anomaly of the save process and the Windows file system. Rename the files before you import them, and all should be well.

10-18-2012, 07:33 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,272 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Why do you have to convert eBooks from Amazon to read on an Amazon device?

10-18-2012, 08:59 PM	#10
Piper_ ~~~~~ Posts: 761 Karma: 1278391 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle 3, Sony 350	...and I'm not sure what azw# topaz are, but alf converts mine to html.

10-19-2012, 09:02 AM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,272 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I was incorrect. plain old Mobi from Amazon does get a .mobi and not .azw extension while KF8 gets a .azw3 extension.

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