Syncing location - looking for verification this CAN'T be done

dakins · 12-12-2014, 12:37 PM

I'm just looking to verify this can't be done. You can't sync the last page read on non-Amazon purchased books, across Kindle devices and sideloaded apps (iOS) - correct?

I've looked a the various plugins and read the various threads. I don't want to "Send to Kindle" or email all my books (I have a few). I tried changing to the [EBOK] tag and reconverting the books, but that didn't work.

I like my PaperWhite, but with an iPad and iPhone and limited time, most of my reading is done when I can fit it in - standing in line or something. I really need my location synced across devices, but there doesn't appear to be a good way to do it.

theducks · 12-12-2014, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakins

I'm just looking to verify this can't be done. You can't sync the last page read on non-Amazon purchased books, across Kindle devices and sideloaded apps (iOS) - correct?

I've looked a the various plugins and read the various threads. I don't want to "Send to Kindle" or email all my books (I have a few). I tried changing to the [EBOK] tag and reconverting the books, but that didn't work.

I like my PaperWhite, but with an iPad and iPhone and limited time, most of my reading is done when I can fit it in - standing in line or something. I really need my location synced across devices, but there doesn't appear to be a good way to do it.

Across applications reading position synch: not easy
The Amazon way vs The Apple way

dakins · 12-12-2014, 12:48 PM

The apple way seems easy enough. I converted all my books to epub and loaded them on my iPad, and right away my reading location was synced on iBooks on my mac. My only problems are 1) I like the reading experience on my Paperwhite and so this kind of excludes that and 2) some of my books didn't convert so nicely over to epub and the text looks really small.

theducks · 12-12-2014, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakins

The apple way seems easy enough. I converted all my books to epub and loaded them on my iPad, and right away my reading location was synced on iBooks on my mac. My only problems are 1) I like the reading experience on my Paperwhite and so this kind of excludes that and 2) some of my books didn't convert so nicely over to epub and the text looks really small.

You just proved the Apple way does not work with the Amazon way.

MY WAY is the only way (to support my walled garden) is their mantra.

These issues could easily be fixed by rules from the GAO.

"No taxpayer $ may be spent on e-media used in public schools that is not cross hardware platform usable"

dakins · 12-12-2014, 01:53 PM

I get the Apple angst, but this really isn't an iOS or Apple issue. I'm guessing if I had an Android tablet and sideloaded my books into the Kindle app (which is what I'm referring to - sideloading into the Kindle app on my iOS devices), whispersync still wouldn't sync my books not purchased at Amazon. I ran the ASIN check and update, changed the tag to [EBOK], which are some of the things to help allow the sync, but still with no success, so I'm just curious - is this something that's really even possible to do with sideloaded books across Amazon devices and apps?

eschwartz · 12-12-2014, 03:40 PM

No, you need to use send-to-kindle. It is that simple. That is all Amazon supports.

It might be possible to forge the ASIN to imitate a book you already have, and make Amazon think that your sideloaded book is that book, and they will sync its position across the other book's namespace. (Total guess as to how Amazon manages things, take it or leave it.)

dakins · 12-12-2014, 03:47 PM

The biggest issue I have with send-to-kindle is that it marks me as the author by default. I don't care that they're marked as personal documents, but I would have to go in and change the author on each book I "send to kindle" to be the real author. I assume once I do that I can side load the AZW file I download from their cloud and get that to sync. It's just such a hassle changing the author for all those books.

eschwartz · 12-12-2014, 03:54 PM

Well, if you are using the send-to-kindle application drop target that is certainly true... may I advise you NOT NOT NOT to use it? (Seriously, that application offends me...)

Email the books yourself. calibre can do that automatically if you set up
Preferences ==> Sharing ==> Sharing books by email

dakins · 12-12-2014, 04:44 PM

Thanks - I'll give that one a shot. I wonder if the document has to remain in the cloud for it to sync. I'll test and see.

eschwartz · 12-12-2014, 04:59 PM

The send-to-kindle drop target application is meant for people who are sending word documents to themselves.

There is no interface for editing the author wen you send the book as an email attachment.

12-12-2014, 12:37 PM	#1
dakins Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: iPad	Syncing location - looking for verification this CAN'T be done I'm just looking to verify this can't be done. You can't sync the last page read on non-Amazon purchased books, across Kindle devices and sideloaded apps (iOS) - correct? I've looked a the various plugins and read the various threads. I don't want to "Send to Kindle" or email all my books (I have a few). I tried changing to the [EBOK] tag and reconverting the books, but that didn't work. I like my PaperWhite, but with an iPad and iPhone and limited time, most of my reading is done when I can fit it in - standing in line or something. I really need my location synced across devices, but there doesn't appear to be a good way to do it.

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12-12-2014, 12:48 PM	#3
dakins Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: iPad	The apple way seems easy enough. I converted all my books to epub and loaded them on my iPad, and right away my reading location was synced on iBooks on my mac. My only problems are 1) I like the reading experience on my Paperwhite and so this kind of excludes that and 2) some of my books didn't convert so nicely over to epub and the text looks really small.

12-12-2014, 01:53 PM	#5
dakins Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: iPad	I get the Apple angst, but this really isn't an iOS or Apple issue. I'm guessing if I had an Android tablet and sideloaded my books into the Kindle app (which is what I'm referring to - sideloading into the Kindle app on my iOS devices), whispersync still wouldn't sync my books not purchased at Amazon. I ran the ASIN check and update, changed the tag to [EBOK], which are some of the things to help allow the sync, but still with no success, so I'm just curious - is this something that's really even possible to do with sideloaded books across Amazon devices and apps?

12-12-2014, 03:40 PM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	No, you need to use send-to-kindle. It is that simple. That is all Amazon supports. It might be possible to forge the ASIN to imitate a book you already have, and make Amazon think that your sideloaded book is that book, and they will sync its position across the other book's namespace. (Total guess as to how Amazon manages things, take it or leave it.)

12-12-2014, 03:47 PM	#7
dakins Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: iPad	The biggest issue I have with send-to-kindle is that it marks me as the author by default. I don't care that they're marked as personal documents, but I would have to go in and change the author on each book I "send to kindle" to be the real author. I assume once I do that I can side load the AZW file I download from their cloud and get that to sync. It's just such a hassle changing the author for all those books.

12-12-2014, 03:54 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Well, if you are using the send-to-kindle application drop target that is certainly true... may I advise you NOT NOT NOT to use it? (Seriously, that application offends me...) Email the books yourself. calibre can do that automatically if you set up Preferences ==> Sharing ==> Sharing books by email

12-12-2014, 04:44 PM	#9
dakins Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: iPad	Thanks - I'll give that one a shot. I wonder if the document has to remain in the cloud for it to sync. I'll test and see.

12-12-2014, 04:59 PM	#10
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The send-to-kindle drop target application is meant for people who are sending word documents to themselves. There is no interface for editing the author wen you send the book as an email attachment.