Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre - Page 70

Strether · 11-18-2020, 12:01 PM

I'm on a Mac with Big Sur, and use Chrome which has version 87.0 installed. All of a sudden this morning, it refused to download an ebook from Amazon, using the Contents and Devices page. I've tried a couple of things to change the security setting, but no luck. I was able to download it using Safari, but that's not my browser of choice. Anyone have any ideas how to change Chrome's behavior?

Jim

jhowell · 11-18-2020, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

I'm on a Mac with Big Sur, and use Chrome which has version 87.0 installed. All of a sudden this morning, it refused to download an ebook from Amazon, using the Contents and Devices page. I've tried a couple of things to change the security setting, but no luck. I was able to download it using Safari, but that's not my browser of choice. Anyone have any ideas how to change Chrome's behavior?

I am now seeing an error in Chrome under Windows when I download a book from Amazon: "xxx can't be downloaded securely". However it does give me the option to keep the download anyway.

This appears to be due to a recent change in Chrome that blocks downloads using the insecure HTTP protocol that are initiated from a secure web page.

Quote:

Your file download may be blocked for one of a few reasons:

We think it might be a malicious, unwanted, uncommon, or insecure file.
- Malicious: You tried to download malware.
- Unwanted: You tried to download a deceptive piece of software. This program, disguised as a helpful download, may actually make unexpected changes to your computer or device.
- Uncommon: You tried to download an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous piece of software.
- Insecure: You tried to download a file or program that wasn't secure but was started on a secure page. In some cases, you can choose to download anyway.
We've found that the website you tried to download the file from has been known to distribute malware.

Strether · 11-18-2020, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

I am now seeing an error in Chrome under Windows when I download a book from Amazon: "xxx can't be downloaded securely". However it does give me the option to keep the download anyway.

This appears to be due to a recent change in Chrome that blocks downloads using the insecure HTTP protocol that are initiated from a secure web page.

Chrome on Mac doesn’t allow you the option to download anyway.

Jim

jhowell · 11-18-2020, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

Chrome on Mac doesn’t allow you the option to download anyway.

Odd. Perhaps there is an option somewhere in the Chrome settings.

The real fix would be for Amazon to deliver downloads via HTTPS instead of HTTP. They are probably getting a lot of complaints so they have incentive to change it quickly.

odamizu · 11-18-2020, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

I'm on a Mac with Big Sur, and use Chrome which has version 87.0 installed. All of a sudden this morning, it refused to download an ebook from Amazon, using the Contents and Devices page ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

I am now seeing an error in Chrome under Windows when I download a book from Amazon: "xxx can't be downloaded securely". However it does give me the option to keep the download anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

Chrome on Mac doesn’t allow you the option to download anyway.

It may be a Big Sur thing as I am able to download using Chrome 87.0.4280.67 on High Sierra.

As with jhowell, I get an alert with the option to "Keep" the download.

Strether · 11-18-2020, 07:05 PM

If you click on the lock on the Contents and Devices page and "allow" insecure content, it downloads the book normally.

Jim

lkmiller · 11-20-2020, 08:02 PM

Anyone on Big Sur able to get things working with Kindle for Mac and Alf's tools? No details here, of course. But I'm trying to help someone over at GitHub, and we seemed to have ruled out other differences between a working setup on Catalina and a new setup not working on Big Sur.

JSWolf · 11-20-2020, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strether

I'm on a Mac with Big Sur, and use Chrome which has version 87.0 installed. All of a sudden this morning, it refused to download an ebook from Amazon, using the Contents and Devices page. I've tried a couple of things to change the security setting, but no luck. I was able to download it using Safari, but that's not my browser of choice. Anyone have any ideas how to change Chrome's behavior?

Jim

Uninstall Chrome and install FireFox. That will change Chrome's behavior from not working to working because it's no longer Chrome.

lisainIL · 11-20-2020, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Anyone on Big Sur able to get things working with Kindle for Mac and Alf's tools? No details here, of course. But I'm trying to help someone over at GitHub, and we seemed to have ruled out other differences between a working setup on Catalina and a new setup not working on Big Sur.

That someone is me. So I'm interested in replies to this thread.

Also, I'm curious how one uses Calibre with books from Amazon if they all have DRM and Calibre doesn't officially support books with DRM. In other words, if you're a Kindle/Amazon ebook reader, what's the use case for Calibre?

jhowell · 11-20-2020, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Anyone on Big Sur able to get things working with Kindle for Mac and Alf's tools? No details here, of course. But I'm trying to help someone over at GitHub, and we seemed to have ruled out other differences between a working setup on Catalina and a new setup not working on Big Sur.

Whether or not the device has the new Apple M1 chip might also be a factor.

jhowell · 11-20-2020, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisainIL

Also, I'm curious how one uses Calibre with books from Amazon if they all have DRM and Calibre doesn't officially support books with DRM. In other words, if you're a Kindle/Amazon ebook reader, what's the use case for Calibre?

There are several.

1. Amazon makes books available without DRM if the publisher has selected that option as long as the customer is able to avoid KFX format.

2. DRM free books obtained elsewhere, such as Project Gutenberg and the MobileRead library, can be converted for use on a Kindle using calibre.

However, I suspect that a large percentage of calibre users do make use of DRM removal even though it requires external software.

odamizu · 11-21-2020, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisainIL

That someone is me. So I'm interested in replies to this thread ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

Whether or not the device has the new Apple M1 chip might also be a factor.

I checked on GitHub.

If I'm reading correctly, lisainIL, you are trying this on a new Mac mini M1 running Big Sur?

That would seem to point to the problem being the M1 chip since I think Strether is running Big Sur and it sounds like it's working (other than the Chrome download issue).

Also, I just asked on the Big Sur thread in the Apple forum if anyone is having issues with Calibre and Alf: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...74#post4060274

lkmiller · 11-21-2020, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisainIL

That someone is me. So I'm interested in replies to this thread.

Also, I'm curious how one uses Calibre with books from Amazon if they all have DRM and Calibre doesn't officially support books with DRM. In other words, if you're a Kindle/Amazon ebook reader, what's the use case for Calibre?

If you only get books from Amazon, probably not much. But if you get books from more sources, it's useful as a catalog of what you have whether you remove DRM or not. Granted it's much more useful with DRM-free books.

DuskyRose · 11-21-2020, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisainIL

In other words, if you're a Kindle/Amazon ebook reader, what's the use case for Calibre?

There's also millions of fanfic stories, for thousands of movie/television/band/real people fandoms.

There's even a batch download plugin for Calibre for many fanfic archives.

A lot of people collect and read them, and can also sideload them onto kindles, or send them to Amazon to store as Doc files.

Sirtel · 11-21-2020, 11:24 AM

There are also those funny people who are seldom satisfied with the default formatting of an ebook and want to change it according to their taste. Can't do that when the book has DRM.

Moreover, some of us have installed custom font sizes (the FONT_RAMP hack) on their Kindles. But these only work with the AZW3 format, not with the default KFX of the newer Kindles. Again, the books with DRM cannot be converted to AZW3.

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11-18-2020, 12:01 PM	#1036
Strether Guru Posts: 765 Karma: 2825929 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fresno Device: Kindle 1; iPad Air; iPhone 7; Kobo Libra; Kindle Oasis 3	I'm on a Mac with Big Sur, and use Chrome which has version 87.0 installed. All of a sudden this morning, it refused to download an ebook from Amazon, using the Contents and Devices page. I've tried a couple of things to change the security setting, but no luck. I was able to download it using Safari, but that's not my browser of choice. Anyone have any ideas how to change Chrome's behavior? Jim

11-18-2020, 07:05 PM	#1041
Strether Guru Posts: 765 Karma: 2825929 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fresno Device: Kindle 1; iPad Air; iPhone 7; Kobo Libra; Kindle Oasis 3	If you click on the lock on the Contents and Devices page and "allow" insecure content, it downloads the book normally. Jim

11-20-2020, 08:02 PM	#1042
lkmiller Laura Posts: 1,534 Karma: 23597272 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Nook Glowlight 4 Plus, Kindle Oasis 2	Anyone on Big Sur able to get things working with Kindle for Mac and Alf's tools? No details here, of course. But I'm trying to help someone over at GitHub, and we seemed to have ruled out other differences between a working setup on Catalina and a new setup not working on Big Sur.

11-21-2020, 11:24 AM	#1050
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,517 Karma: 240526511 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	There are also those funny people who are seldom satisfied with the default formatting of an ebook and want to change it according to their taste. Can't do that when the book has DRM. Moreover, some of us have installed custom font sizes (the FONT_RAMP hack) on their Kindles. But these only work with the AZW3 format, not with the default KFX of the newer Kindles. Again, the books with DRM cannot be converted to AZW3.

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