Amazon has removed Download & Transfer option

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I watch DVD's fine on my Linux computers (Both Linux Mint and Bodhi Linux)?

Because people reverse engineered the DVD DRM scheme for you. Not every distro will play DVDs out of the box either because of potential legal concerns.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Well after being disconnected 3 times I managed to get Amazons customer services email address so I will be making an official complaint about the removal of download and transfer.

Interestingly the last lady on the chat was very helpful, she just gave me the email address no trying to avoid the issue, but when I said why I wanted to make a complaint she apologised and said that the technical team was trying to resolve the issue - now did she misunderstand what I was complaining about or is maybe Amazon going to backtrack from this decision?

We'll see what happens later today or tomorrow. My thinking is that D&T's last day is the 26th, So it should be gone tomorrow.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Because people reverse engineered the DVD DRM scheme for you. Not every distro will play DVDs out of the box either because of potential legal concerns.

I honestly don't know about that. Although logic would say there would be no reason to stop someone playing a dvd on a computer (running Linux or otherwise), but as I say I have no idea behind the technicalities, I just know I can (with OOTB Mint and Bodhi)

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Interestingly the last lady on the chat was very helpful, she just gave me the email address no trying to avoid the issue,

Scratch that, the email address she gave me doesn't work

Typical Amazon shenanigans

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Scratch that, the email address she gave me doesn't work

Typical Amazon shenanigans

I can now only get Amazon UK CS via requesting a phone call. They call immediately but there is a synthesised voice asking for a code to be input that the "voice" gives and the first digit is unintelligible. After two attempts they hang up. I'm sure this is illegal in the EU. What about deaf or hearing impaired, apart from the fact it's broken?

A plan in the locked basement toilet protected by a fierce cat is easier.

This means you now can't get an accidentally deleted (on website) book back using the invoice reference. Also CS support search fails on product code, invoice date or invoice number.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I honestly don't know about that. Although logic would say there would be no reason to stop someone playing a dvd on a computer (running Linux or otherwise), but as I say I have no idea behind the technicalities, I just know I can (with OOTB Mint and Bodhi)

With most DVD players, even Philips, you can play any region DVD, though some models need a code via the remote. Cheaper models don't. Panasonic and Sony models will only play the DVD region that they were sold for. It used to be on Windows you could only change the region for DVD playback a limited number of times and then last choice would stick. DRM.

It's trivial to copy any video in a dark room with a 4K camera. So HDCP on HDMI just adds a cost to the consumer. So does the DVD and BD DRM.

DRM only inconveniences ordinary consumers. Amazon goes beyond what publishers require and unlike everyone else don't pay for DRM as it's their own. Most Digital Rights Management is not about piracy, but controlling consumer. Should be called DCC: Digital Consumer Control.

For Amazon and Apple it's about their own walled gardens.

[lbschenkel]

So, right now at Feb 26 13:14 UTC:

• amazon.com.br already removed the "download & transfer" menu item. It's gone.
• amazon.co.uk still offers the option.
• amazon.com still offers the option.

I didn't check other domains because those are the only ones I ever bought books from.

Initially I thought it was due to time zone, but then it doesn't make sense that the BR store removed the option before the UK one. Anyway, to me this indicates it wasn't a "bluff" and it will be gone everywhere in a matter of hours.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Scratch that, the email address she gave me doesn't work

Typical Amazon shenanigans

Having worked in customer support in the past: the front-line people have zero knowledge of what the C-suite is doing, and the C-suite is completely happy with it that way. That the tier 1 people actually solve issues is incidental--they mostly view the tier 1's as a glorified fire shield for customer feedback so that they don't have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by lbschenkel

So, right now at Feb 26 13:14 UTC:

• amazon.com.br already removed the "download & transfer" menu item. It's gone.
• amazon.co.uk still offers the option.
• amazon.com still offers the option.

I didn't check other domains because those are the only ones I ever bought books from.

Initially I thought it was due to time zone, but then it doesn't make sense that the BR store removed the option before the UK one. Anyway, to me this indicates it wasn't a "bluff" and it will be gone everywhere in a matter of hours.

It's gone from my Amazon.com account

[batpuppy]

It still on my amazon.com account. I just downloaded a book so still working.
I sure it be gone soon.

Originally Posted by geoffwood

It's gone from my Amazon.com account

[lbschenkel]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

It's gone from my Amazon.com account

Originally Posted by batpuppy

It still on my amazon.com account. I just downloaded a book so still working.
I sure it be gone soon.

Alright! Now it makes sense.

I am a software engineer myself. This is called a staggered rollout/deploy. They probably already deployed the change, but in these big sites they don't change everything at once, they change just a few at first, be it per server in their data center or per user/account, so only 1% gets the new version. If no issues, then you deploy to 5%, then 10%, something like that.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Graham44

I honestly don't know about that. Although logic would say there would be no reason to stop someone playing a dvd on a computer (running Linux or otherwise), but as I say I have no idea behind the technicalities, I just know I can (with OOTB Mint and Bodhi)

What logic? If you can play it/open it without DRM then you can copy it. Hence, they put DRM to stop you from copying it. DVD DRM was just not that sophisticated and has been broken for over twenty years so perhaps it doesn't seem like a thing. But yeah, distros like vanilla Debian don't include it out of the box.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by geoffwood

It's gone from my Amazon.com account

D&T is still on my Amazon US account.

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

D&T is still on my Amazon US account.

I think I was one of the first to see the warning message, then it rolled out more broadly, so perhaps not surprising that they are doing the same phased deactivation

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But Amazon didn't announce a time. Just the date.

Why should they commit to a precise time or put any effort into implementing at a precise time? They only have to ensure they don't do it early. (They can make sure that Alaska and Hawaii don't get cut off early by waiting until normal Seattle business hours.) The only thing that matters is that you are on notice that once 2025-02-26 has arrived D&T will be gone or will be "soon".