Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[kowalencki]

The issue happens for any book within the library. Tested on books published/released/bought from few years ago.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by kowalencki

The issue happens for any book within the library. Tested on books published/released/bought from few years ago.

I just tried using Kindle for PC version 1.17 and I am still able to download older purchases using the app.

[kowalencki]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I just tried using Kindle for PC version 1.17 and I am still able to download older purchases using the app.

Appreciate checking. I've tried my own PC and all works fine on ver 2.4.0 as well. This is happening on my colleagues machine and for the life of me, I cannot figure it out.

Attaching the screenshots if you guys have any thoughts/ideas. The attached error shows up when trying to download any book: "Not available for this device. You must update your Kindle application to view this content.
Click here to download and install the free update (compatible operating systems: Windows 10 and Windows 8)."

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by kowalencki

... I've tried my own PC and all works fine on ver 2.4.0 as well. This is happening on my colleagues machine and for the life of me, I cannot figure it out ...

Is it possible Amazon is sunsetting 1.17.1 and has started a gradual roll-out that will eventually affect everyone?

(This is the same notice that happened with Kindle for Mac 1.40 when they sunset it in favor of v7.x.)

[odamizu]

Saw a post on Reddit that Epubor has figured out how to decrypt Kindle ebooks downloaded to Kindle for Mac: https://www.epubor.com/how-to-remove...rm-on-mac.html

I have zero interest in trying Epubor, especially since it requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP), which sounds like a very, very, very bad idea.

However, I am very, very curious about what they are doing. Are they breaking into Keychain? Thoughts, anyone?

[lkmiller]

Don't really know, but I have thought that what Sats did with Kindle for PC could possibly be done with other apps. At some point, the unencrypted key is in memory.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

…
At some point, the unencrypted key is in memory.

There are three inherent flaws with DRM:
1. The device or the file has to have the key and at some point the the unencrypted key is in memory. Even Windows 11's much vaunted TPM can be defeated if you have physical access.

2. Eventually the image has to be on human visible screen, or sound reaching human ears. That's trivial to capture.

3. It penalises ordinary consumers but doesn't stop criminals.

The Media industry needs to abandon it, because it only benefits people selling the DRM system, or monoplist retailers. It's evil.

[xyzzy_foo]

The consensus here seemed to be that Epubor was just a bunch of thieves, but I think you've found that's not the case. To be fair, I already knew this, as they've released several unique solutions specifically for Japan.

PS. Unfortunately, Epubor effectively raised its prices the other day, and you can no longer purchase a new lifetime family license. I'm glad I have one.

[lkmiller]

Still feel exactly the same -- zero interest in paying for DRM removal.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Still feel exactly the same -- zero interest in paying for DRM removal.

Same.

My solution is if it ever comes to the point where I cannot remove DRM from Amazon eBooks, I just will give up on them.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Sats method for Kindle for PC still doesn't actually decrypt the current Kindle for PC keys. It works around that little issue. So all they could do to protect the tougher DRM books was to prevent them from downloading.

Well, apparently Amazon did find a way to block Sats in K4PC 2.8.0: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...postcount=3206

[lkmiller]

Well, I suppose it lasted longer than some of the past solutions. I remember a couple times when KFX DeDRM updates were blocked within a day.

So does the last version of Kindle for PC which works with Sats' DeDRM still allow downloads of recently published books now?

Anyone running into problems using noDRM's DeDRM with E-ink Kindles yet?

ETA: Also find this comment in Sats post interesting: "That is... a way, I guess."

[DNSB]

K4PC 2.7.1 (70978) allowed me to download a book which showed as published today and DRM was removable.

So far, no issues with eInk Kindles (PW 5th gen and PW 10th gen) and either azw3 or KFX books being added to calibre (tested with the same book as used for K4PC).

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Well, I suppose it lasted longer than some of the past solutions. I remember a couple times when KFX DeDRM updates were blocked within a day.

Those previous immediate responses by Amazon were only possible because the software in use at the time contained unused DRM algorithms that could be instantly activated when needed.

The new method is not dependent on reverse engineering DRM and so cannot be quickly defeated by Amazon in the same way.

Originally Posted by lkmiller

So does the last version of Kindle for PC which works with Sats' DeDRM still allow downloads of recently published books now?

It should still have quite a bit of life left in it yet. The new 2.8.0 release has just started being rolled out so I suspect that any cutoff of downloads to the previous version is likely still weeks or months away.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Anyone running into problems using noDRM's DeDRM with E-ink Kindles yet?

That is my main concern for those using newer Kindles. Recent Kindle firmware has a DRM time bomb that Amazon could activate at any time which would prevent DRM removal unless the device was jailbroken.

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Also find this comment in Sats post interesting: "That is... a way, I guess."

What Amazon did stops Sat’s current software but it is still likely susceptible to the new approach of using Amazon’s own software to unlock the DRM.