KFX Format

[KevinH]

jhowell,

ps ... if you have python 2.7 or 3 code that attempts to convert a nodrm kfx back to an epub, that would be helpful for KindleUnpack in the future. Please PM KevinH here with a link even to rough code.

Thanks,

KevinH

[Notjohn]

Originally Posted by jhowell

It's Friday night and maybe I've have a glass of wine too many, but I feel a need to comment on the current situation with Amazon's KFX. Right now it seems to be their main format for delivery of ebooks and as far as I can tell I am the only person interested enough in it to look into the details of how it works. One old retired programmer. That seems so strange to me. When I first joined MobileRead there were a lot of people delving into file formats and DRM and figuring out the whole ebook phenomenon. Now most of the developers have moved on to other things. I guess it just isn't as exciting as it once was. Such is life.

But never forget that there are tech-challenged people immensely grateful for what the old retired programmer(s) are doing.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

But never forget that there are tech-challenged people immensely grateful for what the old retired programmer(s) are doing.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Added: Something similar was also introduced for KF8 a while ago, the azw6 HD image container.

Do you think that KFX has made AZW6 obsolete?

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KevinH's assessment is my take on the situation too. Both the fact that support for KFX in Kindle for PC will actually make it possible to really figure things out, and that the door starting to close on 1.17 will be motivating.

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That being said, I caved and bought a Kindle Touch on Woot. It was cheap, and I figure it can't hurt. Who am I kidding that I'll completely stop buying from Amazon? I buy mostly at Kobo, but I like having the option of Amazon too.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

But never forget that there are tech-challenged people immensely grateful for what the old retired programmer(s) are doing.

YES! I am so grateful for programmers of all ages and work status who are delving into this, and I am so grateful for people with tech knowledge who are willing to take the time to explain things and offer insights to those more technically challenged, like me.

What dismays me the most is the likelihood that even if KFX is ever decrypted and deconstructed, the results are likely to be less than ideal for archiving and conversion.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by KevinH

The key is that there are currently ways around being forced to use that format that will actually result in a higher quality epub representation than trying to de-kfx back to epub (even if its drm could be removed). So there is not much interest by many until it is actually required.

Hope this explains things from one old programmer to another! Hope the wine was good.

I agree with you in that I am going to avoid KFX for archival of my purchases as long as possible by making use of an older Kindle. I expect it will be several years before KFX becomes a real hindrance to me, if ever. I believe that there are enough older Kindles to go around for the small percentage of Amazon customers that care about archival and format conversion. KFX can be avoided by those who care enough to do so.

Still, I enjoyed looking into the new file format to try to tease out some the secrets of how it works, even if there was no practical benefit to the effort.

(And the wine was very good!)

Originally Posted by KevinH

ps ... if you have python 2.7 or 3 code that attempts to convert a nodrm kfx back to an epub, that would be helpful for KindleUnpack in the future. Please PM KevinH here with a link even to rough code.

I looked into converting unencrypted KFX from Kindle Previewer 3 back into EPUB and had some success with one book with simple formatting. But that was almost a year ago and I don't have anything shareable left over from then.

[Spfamy1]

Just remember all the arguments the publishing industry uses to justify this draconian copy protection are the same ones used by the music industry years ago. And now you can buy music legally on the web WITHOUT copy protection. The publishing industry better wise up before it's too late.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Spfamy1

The publishing industry better wise up before it's too late.

Too late for what?

A piece of music is typically consumed in a variety of settings for many years. DRM is likely to eventually interfere with that usage pattern.

But for most people books are purchased, consumed once, and then forgotten. DRM affects only a small percentage of e-book consumers. Most people just don't care.

[lkmiller]

Do people buy music much anymore? DRM-free or not? I know most of the time I just play streaming services.

[badgoodDeb]

I can't stand using bandwidth for streaming anything. There's also the data on my phone plan -- but it's the cluttering of the world's internet that I object to. Yes, I started on the internet before 1992 (I work at a research place that was part of the original ArpaNet). So I always buy CDs, or at least single song downloads. I abhore streaming!

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

I can't stand using bandwidth for streaming anything. There's also the data on my phone plan -- but it's the cluttering of the world's internet that I object to. Yes, I started on the internet before 1992 (I work at a research place that was part of the original ArpaNet). So I always buy CDs, or at least single song downloads. I abhore streaming!

Ah, yes, I've been online since around 1995 so I remember watching my precious dial-up minutes carefully. Now I have what might as well be unlimited data at home. And I don't really stream much on my phone plan.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

but it's the cluttering of the world's internet that I object to.

Seriously?
That sounds like the same sentiment of those who want to preserve parks by preventing anyone from visiting them.

What on Earth do you think you're saving it for?

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by ApK

Seriously?
That sounds like the same sentiment of those who want to preserve parks by preventing anyone from visiting them.

What on Earth do you think you're saving it for?

Well, for interactive use. It seems so silly to stream things, when a CD or DVD (or best yet, a good book) is self contained. I actually haven't watched my TV since 2007, but the package makes my internet cheaper. Oh, I seem to have changed the topic. Sorry!

[Notjohn]

it's the cluttering of the world's internet that I object to.

And it's not only the internet. I happened across a book on Amazon this morning whose Product Details contained this line: Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,537,048 in Books

Yes, I started on the internet before 1992

Wow. That is impressive, given that I started in September or October that year (my grad student daughter had dial-up access to the university computer, and I hijacked her account) and there was virtually nothing out there! CERN. The University of Manchester library catalog (when I was a student at Manchester, the catalog was a series of printed volumes with handwritten addenda), and I think the Library of Congress, though that may have come later. There was email, of course. I loved email, though my first few had to be virtual tweets since I could only write in the subject line. I had to email one of my daughter's classmates, and she sent the query on to a friend at University College Cork, who kindly explained what I was doing wrong, or rather wasn't doing. The email utility was PINE, which I was told meant Pine Is Not Elm. Even then, computer boffins delighted in being obscure.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

And it's not only the internet. I happened across a book on Amazon this morning whose Product Details contained this line: Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,537,048 in Books


Wow. That is impressive, given that I started in September or October that year (my grad student daughter had dial-up access to the university computer, and I hijacked her account) and there was virtually nothing out there! CERN. The University of Manchester library catalog (when I was a student at Manchester, the catalog was a series of printed volumes with handwritten addenda), and I think the Library of Congress, though that may have come later. There was email, of course. I loved email, though my first few had to be virtual tweets since I could only write in the subject line. I had to email one of my daughter's classmates, and she sent the query on to a friend at University College Cork, who kindly explained what I was doing wrong, or rather wasn't doing. The email utility was PINE, which I was told meant Pine Is Not Elm. Even then, computer boffins delighted in being obscure.

I know that this is OT, but--I don't remember the precise year; I think it was in the very early 90's--what I do remember vividly is that we were SO excited to find out that an ISP was coming to Phoenix. Primenet was the very first one. We leapt for it, and our customer number was 11. :-) They obviously expected many more customers, because, as memory serves, the number was written out like this: 000011. :-)

Hitch