Just how compatible is Epub and Mobi?

avid01 · 12-26-2012, 07:42 PM

Let's say I want to buy an Ebup from BN to my Kindle or vica versa. I just put in the DRM-free Epub to Calibre and get out an identical Mobi file, right? And vica versa.

I hope both of them go DRM-free by now, right?

In my dreams? Really, just how these two of the most popular e-book formats are compatible with each other? Do they remain identical by converting from one another?

Btw. interesting read: http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/23/kindle-drm/

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 02:56 AM

Mobi is a much simpler format than ePub, but it's pretty irrelevant these days. All current Amazon devices can use the enormously better "KF8" format, which will seamlessly convert to and from ePub. I've converted hundreds of books between ePub and KF8.

DRM has no bearing on the discussion. All these formats can use DRM or not; it's the publisher's choice.

avid01 · 12-27-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Mobi is a much simpler format than ePub, but it's pretty irrelevant these days. All current Amazon devices can use the enormously better "KF8" format, which will seamlessly convert to and from ePub. I've converted hundreds of books between ePub and KF8.

OK. And how well do Mobi files convert to ePub? Thanks.

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid01

OK. And how well do Mobi files convert to ePub? Thanks.

Perfectly well, because ePub is a "richer" format than Mobi. It's going the other way where you can lose formatting, because Mobi doesn't support things like embedded fonts, drop caps, etc. (But KF8 does.)

1611mac · 12-27-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Mobi is a much simpler format than ePub, but it's pretty irrelevant these days. All current Amazon devices can use the enormously better "KF8" format, which will seamlessly convert to and from ePub. I've converted hundreds of books between ePub and KF8.

DRM has no bearing on the discussion. All these formats can use DRM or not; it's the publisher's choice.

And your conversion process? Calibre?

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 10:21 AM

Yes, Calibre.

avid01 · 12-27-2012, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, Calibre.

Thanks for all.

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 10:28 AM

If you do use Calibre, it's perhaps worth mentioning that what I've called "KF8", Calibre calls "AZW3" (one is the internal name of the format; the other is the file extension generally used for it). They're the same thing.

1611mac · 12-27-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, Calibre.

Calibre doesn't convert directly to KF8 does it? Did I miss an upgrade or add on?

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 10:30 AM

Yes - see my previous post. Calibre calls it "AZW3".

1611mac · 12-27-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes - see my previous post. Calibre calls it "AZW3".

sorry.. we are "crossing" posts...

1611mac · 12-27-2012, 10:34 AM

I pull down the "convert to" and there's "AZ3"!!! Now where did THAT come from??? Obviously I need to read the forum more frequently! Thanks!

HarryT · 12-27-2012, 10:36 AM

It was added around 6 months ago, if memory serves me correctly - something like that? Worth keeping up with Calibre updates for it, because it's still getting quite frequent "tweaks" to make it better.

ApK · 12-27-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1611mac

Calibre doesn't convert directly to KF8 does it? Did I miss an upgrade or add on?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It was added around 6 months ago, if memory serves me correctly - something like that?

Looks like it started in April:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=176698

avid01 · 12-27-2012, 09:25 PM

So the bottom line is if I can get a book in either MOBI or EPUB (to read on my Kindle) I'm better off with going with the EPUB then convert it to KF8/AZW3 than to load the MOBI on the Kindle, right?

12-26-2012, 07:42 PM	#1
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	Just how compatible is Epub and Mobi? Let's say I want to buy an Ebup from BN to my Kindle or vica versa. I just put in the DRM-free Epub to Calibre and get out an identical Mobi file, right? And vica versa. I hope both of them go DRM-free by now, right? In my dreams? Really, just how these two of the most popular e-book formats are compatible with each other? Do they remain identical by converting from one another? Btw. interesting read: http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/23/kindle-drm/

12-27-2012, 02:56 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Mobi is a much simpler format than ePub, but it's pretty irrelevant these days. All current Amazon devices can use the enormously better "KF8" format, which will seamlessly convert to and from ePub. I've converted hundreds of books between ePub and KF8. DRM has no bearing on the discussion. All these formats can use DRM or not; it's the publisher's choice. Last edited by HarryT; 12-27-2012 at 02:59 AM.

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12-27-2012, 10:21 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, Calibre.

12-27-2012, 10:28 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you do use Calibre, it's perhaps worth mentioning that what I've called "KF8", Calibre calls "AZW3" (one is the internal name of the format; the other is the file extension generally used for it). They're the same thing.

12-27-2012, 10:30 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes - see my previous post. Calibre calls it "AZW3".

12-27-2012, 10:34 AM	#12
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	I pull down the "convert to" and there's "AZ3"!!! Now where did THAT come from??? Obviously I need to read the forum more frequently! Thanks!

12-27-2012, 10:36 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It was added around 6 months ago, if memory serves me correctly - something like that? Worth keeping up with Calibre updates for it, because it's still getting quite frequent "tweaks" to make it better.

12-27-2012, 09:25 PM	#15
avid01 Addict Posts: 300 Karma: 2000410 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle 4	So the bottom line is if I can get a book in either MOBI or EPUB (to read on my Kindle) I'm better off with going with the EPUB then convert it to KF8/AZW3 than to load the MOBI on the Kindle, right?