Amazon and DRM changes

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by booklover6

As a test, I purchased a book (which is also in KU) which was published Jan 13, 2023. It downloaded in AZW format and of course I had no trouble converting it in Calibre. So clearly not all books published since Jan 3 are in KFX format.

Do you have a link?

[booklover6]

Sure, here

I'm having difficulty finding books for .99 that were published this month. No free ones that I have found.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by booklover6

As a test, I purchased a book (which is also in KU) which was published Jan 13, 2023. It downloaded in AZW format and of course I had no trouble converting it in Calibre. So clearly not all books published since Jan 3 are in KFX format.

Did you download it via Download & Transfer with USB? That, of course, still works for any purchased books. What doesn't work is trying to download new books with an old version of Kindle app OR downloading any borrowed books.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Did you download it via Download & Transfer with USB? That, of course, still works for any purchased books. What doesn't work is trying to download new books with an old version of Kindle app OR downloading any borrowed books.

Yes, via USB transfer. But I was under the impression from this thread that all kindle books are now KFX format as of Jan 3. Maybe I read it wrong. (I haven't used K4PC in years)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by FicDragon

Last questions, at least until my Mom or Dad think of something and poke me.

1) has anyone installed the new update yet or are most of us still on a previously friendly version and holding out hope?

2) [This one's from my Dad] If we install the update, download the new files formats, can we drag them out to a different folder for backup (and to free up space on the computer) then if we want them again drag back in and reopen them? Or does copying them out of the storage file break any readability even if we drag the file back into the program's storage folder? I didn't think about this with the older versions because we did the stripped file backups and could then delete the "parent" file...

Again, apologies for asking so many questions that are probably really ridiculous, but here we're all still sort of in shock about it all.

1) Many of us have an eink Kindle on our Amazon account which can be used for downloading. Personally I also have Kindle for PC 1.17, which I haven't updated, because there is no point in updating it, unless you use it for reading (which I don't).

2) That might work only on the same computer and user account. If you switch computers or accounts, it won't work. So there's really no point in backing up such a file.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Yes, via USB transfer. But I was under the impression from this thread that all kindle books are now KFX format as of Jan 3. Maybe I read it wrong. (I haven't used K4PC in years)

No. Only those downloaded with the app. And USB transfer was disabled for borrowed books.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

No. Only those downloaded with the app. And USB transfer was disabled for borrowed books.

Ok, thanks. People with older Kindles can still sideload via USB their KU borrows, is that correct?

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Yes, via USB transfer. But I was under the impression from this thread that all kindle books are now KFX format as of Jan 3. Maybe I read it wrong. (I haven't used K4PC in years)

Oops, I was under the impression you were using K4PC

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by booklover6

But I was under the impression from this thread that all kindle books are now KFX format as of Jan 3.

No. Books published since that date can no longer be downloaded to Kindle for PC versions older than the current 1.39.

If you upgrade Kindle to PC to 1.39 you can get newer books there, but most will be delivered in KFX format. Not because they are only available in KFX but because if an app or device supports KFX that is the format Amazon uses for delivery.

Older Kindles and Download & Transfer will still use the older Kindle formats.

Originally Posted by booklover6

People with older Kindles can still sideload via USB their KU borrows, is that correct?

No. That is a separate change. KU borrows (no matter when they were published) can no longer be downloaded using Download & Transfer and so can no longer be sideloaded via USB.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by jhowell

No. That is a separate change. KU borrows (no matter when they were published) can no longer be downloaded using Download & Transfer and so can no longer be sideloaded via USB.

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I'm surprised they didn't make that change a long time ago. I used to always side load everything, but I find it easier now to just do it over wifi. I'm sure that's not the case for everyone.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Sure, here

I'm having difficulty finding books for .99 that were published this month. No free ones that I have found.

that one is listed:

Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited

which is, or used to be, an indication that there is probably no DRM unless in KFX.

[annekaelber]

Originally Posted by kspn

Man this is annoying there are a bunch of books I am reading that are only available via Amazon (at least to my knowledge) and this will mean that although I could read them on my Android device, that option however lacks the format capabilities I am used to.

I would reach out to authors you can only find on Amazon and tell them you'd rather support them on another site. Some indie authors are selling direct to readers on their own websites -- I'm much more likely to go this route.

I've cancelled my pre-orders AND returned the books I still could because they are DRMd (and I still can't figure out the NoDRM install...)

[langshipley]

Originally Posted by booklover6

As a test, I purchased a book (which is also in KU) which was published Jan 13, 2023. It downloaded in AZW format and of course I had no trouble converting it in Calibre. So clearly not all books published since Jan 3 are in KFX format.

Same. I downloaded (on my computer) two books I purchased and one published on Jan 12, 2023, and one published on Jan 14, 2023 a few minutes ago and had no trouble putting it into Calibre and converting. It downloaded in AZW3 format.

Note: I'm referring to PURCHASED books.

[Ma'am-I-Am]

Originally Posted by FicDragon

We used one Amazon account for everyone's ebook purchases and funneled everything through Calibre, then put on various Kobos and tablets depending on who wanted it - which is another reason KU wasn't appealing. The cloud reader probably wouldn't work since my parents use the old Kobo readers with the home buttons and take them to work for reading on break. I have a tablet so I could Kindle app, but I hate not being in control of my books.

So we're scr*wed...

Since you "funneled everything through Calibre", you do know there are other apps out there to read ebooks on your tablet? Moon Reader, ReadERA, etc. Just saying if you are reading "unrestricted" books, you don't have to use a Kindle app.

[langshipley]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

1) Many of us have an eink Kindle on our Amazon account which can be used for downloading. Personally I also have Kindle for PC 1.17, which I haven't updated, because there is no point in updating it, unless you use it for reading (which I don't).

Correct. I keep my Kindle K3 on my account for that reason. I don't use it for anything else.