KFX Format

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

To me it seems Amazon is going backwards instead of forwards what with KFX, Word Runner, and Word Wise.

I don't quite understand why you are complaining when Amazon adds purely optional new features. It is not like you have to use them. But then if they don't add what you think everybody wants, you complain as well. Just be glad you have a Kobo that does everything better for you. And epub, which is your holy grail.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

Is the $49.99 Fire tablet KFX-enabled?

Yes, it is.

[shamanNS]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I don't quite understand why you are complaining when Amazon adds purely optional new features.

Because it's a waste of programming hours which should be used for fixing various bugs (like the one where first element in NCX ToC can't be with sublevels, that is it doesn't get parsed and displayed correctly in Go To menu, or couple of font related bugs) and implementing features that people are asking for years (cover-as-sceensaver, custom fonts, auto generated collections based on author/series/etc metadata) and that would have real life use for much bigger number of people then this Word Runner gimmick.
Or God forbid updating the code for Personal Documents Archive to support KF8.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

that would have real life use for much bigger number of people then this Word Runner gimmick.

"This Word Runner gimmick" is actually a very well-established technique for speed-reading, called "Rapid Serial Visual Presentation", or "RSVP". It's of no interest to me personally, but there will certainly be significant numbers of people to whom it will be useful.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I don't quite understand why you are complaining when Amazon adds purely optional new features. It is not like you have to use them. But then if they don't add what you think everybody wants, you complain as well. Just be glad you have a Kobo that does everything better for you. And epub, which is your holy grail.

It isn't Jon's holy grail, it's just The Holy Grail.
No wonder King Arthur's knights never really found it.

Originally Posted by shamanNS

Because it's a waste of programming hours which should be used for fixing various bugs (like the one where first element in NCX ToC can't be with sublevels, that is it doesn't get parsed and displayed correctly in Go To menu, or couple of font related bugs) and implementing features that people are asking for years (cover-as-sceensaver, custom fonts, auto generated collections based on author/series/etc metadata) and that would have real life use for much bigger number of people then this Word Runner gimmick.
Or God forbid updating the code for Personal Documents Archive to support KF8.

The fact that Amazon prioritizes features which you, specifically, (and I, specifically,) do not value, does not mean that less people are interested in those features.

Custom fonts are a matter of quality control, and I believe Amazon moved the collections database into the hidden OS partition after fools broke their database by misusing the tools posted here on MobileRead.



P.S. The PDOC Archive does, in fact, support KF8.
The same way KDP and the BPH ftp uploads support KF8 -- by uploading a dual-MOBI for compatibility with both old and new devices.

That being said, you will get hit by a cover bug on the KF8 portion of the file...

But given the number of fools that convert EPUB ==> old MOBI to read on their Kindle Paperwhite, or heaven forbid convert AZW3 ==> MOBI I cannot see why that should be a priority for them.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The fact that Amazon prioritizes features which you, specifically, (and I, specifically,) do not value, does not mean that less people are interested in those features.

Exactly. It is always interesting when some minority wrongly believes that they represent the majority. Amazon, or any company for that matter, has to prioritize which features to implement that have the biggest impact before wasting time and money on a minor glitch. Catering to the needs of a fringe group only makes sense if you specifically target a fringe group with your product (e.g. dedicated ereaders).

[shamanNS]

Compared to people wanting to speed read a novel. people who want book-cover-as-screensaver are minority??

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

Compared to people wanting to speed read a novel. people who want book-cover-as-screensaver are minority??

Could be. I keep my Kindle in a sleep cover, so I never see screensavers and am therefore completely unconcerned about what they display. Amazon spend an awful lot of money on market research, so they probably know what people want better than any of us do.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Could be. I keep my Kindle in a sleep cover, so I never see screensavers and am therefore completely unconcerned about what they display. Amazon spend an awful lot of money on market research, so they probably know what people want better than any of us do.

I doubt Amazon knows what people want. If they did, there would be more sensible options. Who would ever use the third options for line height and margins? They are just silly options.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I doubt Amazon knows what people want. If they did, there would be more sensible options. Who would ever use the third options for line height and margins? They are just silly options.

As always, Jon, you conflate your own personal preferences with universal truth. As we have discussed before, there is a very good reason why newspapers are printed in narrow columns: short lines are more efficient to read than longer lines. Using wide margins will, therefore, allow you to read a book more quickly. The fact that you personally don't like the appearance of wide margins doesn't change this.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

As always, Jon, you conflate your own personal preferences with universal truth. As we have discussed before, there is a very good reason why newspapers are printed in narrow columns: short lines are more efficient to read than longer lines. Using wide margins will, therefore, allow you to read a book more quickly. The fact that you personally don't like the appearance of wide margins doesn't change this.

This is not a personal preference. I don't know of anyone who uses the third set of settings. I do know of people who would like the third settings be changed to give less margin and less line height.

[shamanNS]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Could be. I keep my Kindle in a sleep cover, so I never see screensavers and am therefore completely unconcerned about what they display. Amazon spend an awful lot of money on market research, so they probably know what people want better than any of us do.

So do I, and so did I belive I would have no use for that hack and "I only get to see it for half a second anyway" , until I tried it on my PW1 just for fun. Now I miss it on my PW3.
I read in the afternoon for couple of hours but make breaks quite often (I don't close the cover, just press the power button) I that made me realize that I like it when I come back to read I get to see book's cover.

I got to enjoy it even more when I started taking my Kindle out off the cover when I start reading session and putting it back in only when I'm finished for that day.

I like to read like this:
https://goo.gl/photos/YMCzyDFxqdy3eeQcA

[elborak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

This is not a personal preference. I don't know of anyone who uses the third set of settings. I do know of people who would like the third settings be changed to give less margin and less line height.

The logical fallacy of that statement ("I don't know of anyone who wants this, so obviously no one does") just makes my jaw drop...

[MNHockeyGirl]

I'm new to this forum... I was hunting around for this answer. Any help would be appreciated.

I use calibre as a file system for my Amazon books with my Paperwhite. I noticed in September the new KFX file came about.

Will calibre be getting updated so I can put the KFX books in it?

[darryl]

Originally Posted by MNHockeyGirl

I'm new to this forum... I was hunting around for this answer. Any help would be appreciated.

I use calibre as a file system for my Amazon books with my Paperwhite. I noticed in September the new KFX file came about.

Will calibre be getting updated so I can put the KFX books in it?

Hopefully yes. There is a possibility it will never happen, but the most likely outcome is that it will happen some time in the future. But don't hold your breath. At the moment you can still get azw3 or mobi files which Calibre does currently support.