Converting to azw3 format.

Tramsden · 01-01-2013, 05:36 PM

Hi
If I have .mobi format books do I gain anything by converting to azw3.
Is it best to convert to azw3 from ePub format.
Which will give the best option

Thanks
Tony

jocampo · 01-01-2013, 05:56 PM

azw is Amazon's proprietary format, which is mobi, with some minor differences.

ePub is a totally different ebook format.

You can't convert from azw to mobi unless you break Amazon's encryption, which can be illegal in some countries.

Converting from mobi to azw makes no sense to me.

Also, if you're planning to read on a Kindle device, you'll, need the book in azw or mobi format, not ePub.

HYPE · 01-01-2013, 05:58 PM

From what I read, the AZW3 format is more powerful than the mobi format in terms of layout and such. Therefore, it's better to convert epubs to AZW3 files. However, you probably won't gain anything if you convert from mobi to AZW3. I'm not sure how much of the original data is kept during the conversion process, but if you convert from epub to mobi and then to AZW3, the "extra" that could have been converted from the epub to the AZW3 is already lost because of the mobi. Again, I didn't test this theory and someone might confirm it, but that's the conclusion that seems the most logic to me.

jocampo · 01-01-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HYPE

I'm not sure how much of the original data is kept during the conversion process, but if you convert from epub to mobi and then to AZW3, the "extra" that could have been converted from the epub to the AZW3 is already lost because of the mobi. Again, I didn't test this theory and someone might confirm it, but that's the conclusion that seems the most logic to me.

You may be right.

Converting to another format should not give enhancements that the book doesn't have. I believe it depends of the original layout; the target ebook format will adjust accordingly.

HYPE · 01-01-2013, 06:13 PM

I read on this forum that epub and AZW3 both support more advanced layout (etc.) options than the mobi format. Also, from my observations, epubs and AZW3 display almost (if not completely) identical. In this case, that means :

epub & AZW3 > mobi
epub --> mobi = mobi quality
mobi --> epub = mobi quality
epub --> AZW3 = epub/AZW3 (same) quality
epub --> mobi --> AZW3 = mobi quality

Again, this is just based on observations, no actual scientific-ish testing.

ProDigit · 01-01-2013, 10:34 PM

Isn't there a way to read compressed (or uncompressed) HTML files with the kindle?

HYPE · 01-02-2013, 01:20 AM

Yes, HTML is on the supported formats lists. Epubs are also basically HTML.

ProDigit · 01-02-2013, 01:37 AM

Firefox is capable of saving to a complete web page.
The only problem is that pictures are in a separate folder.
I wonder if the Kindle (I have a Paperwhite) will be able to read from external sources (HTML usually has a separate HTML folder with the pics and other attachments in).

If that's the case, they're not that far off in making a Kindle e-pub compatible; but I guess they don't want to (rather than can't)...

HYPE · 01-02-2013, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProDigit

Firefox is capable of saving to a complete web page.
The only problem is that pictures are in a separate folder.
I wonder if the Kindle (I have a Paperwhite) will be able to read from external sources (HTML usually has a separate HTML folder with the pics and other attachments in).

If that's the case, they're not that far off in making a Kindle e-pub compatible; but I guess they don't want to (rather than can't)...

A separate HTML folder for pictures? There's no such thing as an "HTML folder". It's just a basic folder, nothing exclusive to HTML. Also, don't forget the CSS. No respectable developer would embed CSS directly into an HTML file.

The problem, as you guessed it, is not that Amazon aren't capable of making the Kindle epub compatible, it's that they don't want to.

HarryT · 01-02-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HYPE

The problem, as you guessed it, is not that Amazon aren't capable of making the Kindle epub compatible, it's that they don't want to.

Of course they don't want to - they'd be fools to do so. Amazon sell the Kindle at more or less cost price, in the expectation that you'll buy from their bookstore. They certainly don't want you to buy books from B&N or Kobo.

The modern Kindle KF8 format is pretty much ePub 3 in a Mobi "wrapper".

HYPE · 01-02-2013, 12:12 PM

@HarryT : Yep, I know.

Thank "god" for Calibre and DeDRM!

pdurrant · 01-02-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HYPE

epub & AZW3 > mobi
epub --> mobi = mobi quality
mobi --> epub = mobi quality
epub --> AZW3 = epub/AZW3 (same) quality
epub --> mobi --> AZW3 = mobi quality

That's an extremely good summary. I'd also add

AZW3 --> epub = epub/AZW3 (same) quality

01-01-2013, 05:36 PM	#1
Tramsden Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Nook	Converting to azw3 format. Hi If I have .mobi format books do I gain anything by converting to azw3. Is it best to convert to azw3 from ePub format. Which will give the best option Thanks Tony

01-01-2013, 05:56 PM	#2
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	azw is Amazon's proprietary format, which is mobi, with some minor differences. ePub is a totally different ebook format. You can't convert from azw to mobi unless you break Amazon's encryption, which can be illegal in some countries. Converting from mobi to azw makes no sense to me. Also, if you're planning to read on a Kindle device, you'll, need the book in azw or mobi format, not ePub. Last edited by jocampo; 01-01-2013 at 05:59 PM.

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01-01-2013, 05:58 PM	#3
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	From what I read, the AZW3 format is more powerful than the mobi format in terms of layout and such. Therefore, it's better to convert epubs to AZW3 files. However, you probably won't gain anything if you convert from mobi to AZW3. I'm not sure how much of the original data is kept during the conversion process, but if you convert from epub to mobi and then to AZW3, the "extra" that could have been converted from the epub to the AZW3 is already lost because of the mobi. Again, I didn't test this theory and someone might confirm it, but that's the conclusion that seems the most logic to me.

01-01-2013, 06:13 PM	#5
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	I read on this forum that epub and AZW3 both support more advanced layout (etc.) options than the mobi format. Also, from my observations, epubs and AZW3 display almost (if not completely) identical. In this case, that means : epub & AZW3 > mobi epub --> mobi = mobi quality mobi --> epub = mobi quality epub --> AZW3 = epub/AZW3 (same) quality epub --> mobi --> AZW3 = mobi quality Again, this is just based on observations, no actual scientific-ish testing.

01-01-2013, 10:34 PM	#6
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Isn't there a way to read compressed (or uncompressed) HTML files with the kindle?

01-02-2013, 01:20 AM	#7
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	Yes, HTML is on the supported formats lists. Epubs are also basically HTML.

01-02-2013, 01:37 AM	#8
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	Firefox is capable of saving to a complete web page. The only problem is that pictures are in a separate folder. I wonder if the Kindle (I have a Paperwhite) will be able to read from external sources (HTML usually has a separate HTML folder with the pics and other attachments in). If that's the case, they're not that far off in making a Kindle e-pub compatible; but I guess they don't want to (rather than can't)...

01-02-2013, 12:12 PM	#11
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	@HarryT : Yep, I know. Thank "god" for Calibre and DeDRM!

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