Amazon and DRM changes

[annekaelber]

Originally Posted by langshipley

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.

Unfortunately, I just tried to download purchased titles in my Kindle for PC desktop app. Two books I purchased I was able to download, but of course the DRM is still in place. I read on my phone using an app that is not (currently!) Amazon's, so this just sucks.

As an author myself, I remove DRM solely to read on the device of my choice. If it weren't for the convenience of ebooks, I'd just go back to print books.

[langshipley]

Originally Posted by annekaelber

Unfortunately, I just tried to download purchased titles in my Kindle for PC desktop app. Two books I purchased I was able to download, but of course the DRM is still in place. I read on my phone using an app that is not (currently!) Amazon's, so this just sucks.

As an author myself, I remove DRM solely to read on the device of my choice. If it weren't for the convenience of ebooks, I'd just go back to print books.

Have you tried:
1. Downloading directly from your Kindle library using their "Download and Transfer via USB" function? That's what I do.
2. Are you using the DeDRM plug-in that everyone talks about here in Calibre for your purchased books?

If you use those two steps above, you can pretty much download any book you've purchased and convert to whatever format you like to read on whatever app or device you like. That's what I've just done and it works.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by annekaelber

Unfortunately, I just tried to download purchased titles in my Kindle for PC desktop app. Two books I purchased I was able to download, but of course the DRM is still in place. I read on my phone using an app that is not (currently!) Amazon's, so this just sucks.

You need an old version of the desktop app. Books downloaded with the current version can't be cleaned of DRM.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by langshipley

Have you tried:
1. Downloading directly from your Kindle library using their "Download and Transfer via USB" function? That's what I do.

They can't do that if they don't have an eink Kindle.

[langshipley]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

They can't do that if they don't have an eink Kindle.

Ah, good point. I forgot about that.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

So what?

What was being discussed was someone without any kindle aquiring a kindle for the sole purpose of replacing download and transfer. A PW3 or Voyage running 5.6.1 or lower would work just fine for that. Whatever does or does not happen with your PW3 does not matter.

What I am saying is being able to download KU eBooks in KF8. My PW3 cannot do that.

[annekaelber]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You need an old version of the desktop app. Books downloaded with the current version can't be cleaned of DRM.

I am running Kindle for PC 1.17.0.

I think my two new books that I can't get to have fallen afoul of the Amazon changes. If I'd caught it sooner, I might've save myself some money.

Meanwhile, I can't figure out the NoDRM installation -- it keeps failing because a .py file (I think) isn't there. So, I have no way of testing those books I was able to download that Calibre could not convert. I have the old DeDRM 7-something installed, but it's too old to handle the new changes.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And a good thing too!

What can be done with KU eBooks is to download them to the Kindle (that handles KF8 but not KFX), copy off the KU eBook, strip the DRM, covert it to ePub, clean it up, put it on my Kobo to read and use the Kindle to make it look like I've read it so the author get paid.

[annekaelber]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...put it on my Kobo to read and use the Kindle to make it look like I've read it so the author get paid.

I think pages read only applies to Kindle Unlimited titles. For non-KU titles, the authors are getting paid either from Amazon (indie) or from their publishers. I have started to see some authors selling direct to their readers from their website. I'm already altering how I'm going to shop for ebooks in my post-Amazon future.

[trishau]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What can be done with KU eBooks is to download them to the Kindle (that handles KF8 but not KFX), copy off the KU eBook, strip the DRM, covert it to ePub, clean it up, put it on my Kobo to read and use the Kindle to make it look like I've read it so the author get paid.

Does a Kindle PW 4 qualify as one that can do that?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by trishau

Does a Kindle PW 4 qualify as one that can do that?

No, too new.

[ownedbycats]

I've updated the original post to hopefully be a bit more clear. Please let me know if I make any errors.

EDIT: Omissions, too. For instance, I'm a little unclear about Kindles using older firmware, so I left that out.

[JSWolf]

Can KU eBooks be downloaded as KF8 or Mobi using KindleforPC 1.17.1? I am unable to currently test this.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can KU eBooks be downloaded as KF8 or Mobi using KindleforPC 1.17.1? I am unable to currently test this.

AFAIK only those published before January 3.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

AFAIK only those published before January 3.

If someone else confirms, I'll add to OP. (Since my post will be the first that Google users will hit, just don't want to accidentally spread inaccurate information. )