Amazon and DRM changes

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

What determines the file format of an ebook? I just downloaded The House of Styx published by Solaris in August 2020 and got a mobi.

Would that mean that even with the K4PC changes I would still get a mobi file? And if so, would that still work with DRM removal tools?

The easiest way to test it is to download it again.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Interesting. I shall try again on my KT, and see if it behaves the same as Kindle Keyboard 3. If true, the KT might be the newest suggested old Kindle for removing DRM, especially as it possibly is the last Kindle incapable of the azw3/azw6 split.

Success, the Kindle Touch does work just like the Kindle Keyboard 3. It is the newest device that will get you same as Download and Transfer via USB file that can be moved into Calibre directy - plus the books not yet in library on computer are really easy to see as they don't have the checkmark for being in library.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Here is the difference of #1 in files (file names truncated):

Spoiler:

Download and Transfer via USB:

 Feral...azw3  - 2225KB (the downloaded file)

After copying to the PW1, the PW1 creates the usual directory with two or so little files.


Direct download to device loads all these to the PW1:

documents/Feral...azw3 - 679KB (includes only title and thumbnail of title)

documents/Feral...sdr/AssetDownloadMetadata.meta    - 1KB
                      B09..9.mf                     - 4KB
                      EndActions.data.B09..9.asc    - 35KB
                      Feral...apnx                  - 2KB
                      Feral...azw6                  - 959KB
                      Feral...phl                   - 1KB
                      Feral...azw3f                 - 1KB
                      Feral...azw3r                 - 2KB
                      LanguageLayer.en.B09..kll     - 162KB
                      StartActions.data.B09..asc    - 59KB
                      XRAY.entities.B09..asc        - 80KB

#3 has about the same structure as #1 when downloaded to the device - both have only BW images. #2 is different, but that might be, because it doesn't have any pictures other than the title itself, but the cover is in color as it always used to be.

Unseen Entities and jhowell have covered most of it, but until it gets automated, there is a manual workaround. calibre + plugin handle the azw3 just fine. You just need to copy the azw6 file to the book's sdr directory. If you care about X-ray and/or page numbers, the direct download by the kindle ias a bonus. Just also copy the XRAY.*.asc and the BookName.apnx files to the book's sdr directory. The other files are not needed and some even cause annoying actions during reading (StartActions.*.asc and EndActions.*.asc)

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Sounds like an ottischwenk problem.

Please show me KU.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

The easiest way to test it is to download it again.

What will that test except that nothing has changed in the last six hours?

What I was wondering is: Why a book from a mainstream publisher, published years after the introduction to kfx would deliver a mobi file? Does it have to do with how the original book was uploaded to Amazon?

Also, if I got a mobi instead of an azw on K4PC 1.17, would someone running the latest K4PC still get a mobi instead of a kfx file? And if so, would de-drm still work?

I don't have the latest version of K4PC installed.

[ownedbycats]

I'm also curious as to why sometimes books are MOBI and other times AZW3.

Of my Amazon purchases, 8 MOBI files.

Oddly, six of them are 2020 or later. All self-published/indie publishers, by the look of things. Since there's nothing overtly embarrassing here, the ASINs (too lazy to make links right now):

B08PCD9P76, B08R7X4Q7X, B09CN51BCQ, B09LPT13FC, B0B3X2TD3H, B0BB2Z2CQK

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

What will that test except that nothing has changed in the last six hours?

What I was wondering is: Why a book from a mainstream publisher, published years after the introduction to kfx would deliver a mobi file? Does it have to do with how the original book was uploaded to Amazon?

Also, if I got a mobi instead of an azw on K4PC 1.17, would someone running the latest K4PC still get a mobi instead of a kfx file? And if so, would de-drm still work?

I don't have the latest version of K4PC installed.

Now I understand what you are saying. This particular book was most likely uploaded originally as mobi. Probably, because the publisher asked to have it DRM free. There is no advantage of converting it to KF8 (azw3), so devices that cannot do KFX get the mobi version. Since it does have enhanced typesetting enabled, it will still have DRM when using a new version of K4PC for it. It should be a generic DRM on the KFX that can be shared among other devices and accounts (device usage unlimited), but not on non Amazon app / device.

I just tried the samples, and they get mobi on the PW1, DeDRMable, but KFX on PW3.

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I'm also curious as to why sometimes books are MOBI and other times AZW3.

Of my Amazon purchases, 8 MOBI files.

Oddly, six of them are 2020 or later. All self-published/indie publishers, by the look of things. Since there's nothing overtly embarrassing here, the ASINs (too lazy to make links right now):

B08PCD9P76, B08R7X4Q7X, B09CN51BCQ, B09LPT13FC, B0B3X2TD3H, B0BB2Z2CQK

I looked at at least two of them, and they are sold without DRM (except again on KFX).

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

What determines the file format of an ebook? I just downloaded The House of Styx published by Solaris in August 2020 and got a mobi.

The internal metadata for that book shows that it was produced using mobigen version 6.2 build 43 from 2008. (Mobigen was the predecessor to Kindlegen.) That software predates KF8 (azw3) format and produces only the old MOBI V7 format. Very odd choice of software for a mainstream publisher to be using! Amazon would no longer accept that file today.

Not the case for this book, but a common source of MOBI format in recently published books is Amazon's Kindle Create software for self-publishers. That prodcues only KFX format for reflowable books and Amazon produces a MOBI version from that for delivery in any case where KFX is not supported.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Would that mean that even with the K4PC changes I would still get a mobi file? And if so, would that still work with DRM removal tools?

Amazon did produce a KFX version of that book which will be used instead of MOBI on devices that support that format, including the latest version of Kindle for PC.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Amazon did produce a KFX version of that book which will be used instead of MOBI on devices that support that format, including the latest version of Kindle for PC.

For some reason I got it stuck in mt head that mobi was also a fallback when KFX isn't available.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Im using Google Translate - but you are rightI have 22 Handke books and of course I like them.
But a real stylistic treat is by Alexander Lernet-Holenia "Der Graf von Saint-Germain" - KU

Could you please use https://www.deepl.com/translator instead of google translate? At least deepls translations are accurate.

[Quoth]

I've only ever got KFX via WiFi on the Kindle. Both PW3 and Oasis gen 2 never ever have had KFX when "Manage my Content & devices" and Download for USB transfer is used. Also some DRM free azw3 titles, mobi/KF7 isn't needed for DRM free.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Could you please use https://www.deepl.com/translator instead of google translate? At least deepls translations are accurate.

Thank you, but that happens too often

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[Joykins]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Never heard of it and it's not in German KU.
I borrowed another book from her from German Onleihe - but I finished reading it quickly because there were annoying grammatical errors on the first few pages of the translation.
My experience with such authors and publishers:
they have a certain clientele, but you don't need the best translators for them. The language quality is accordingly.

I think it's fair enough to say that the quality of author and quality of translation can certainly differ, and that the offerings in Germany that are of the same quality may be from German fantasy authors (or may not exist in German on KU. I have no experience with German KU as my reading level in German is about that of a 10-yo) -- I was trying to highlight a commercially "bestselling" author that could be considered similar to Rowling, though less famous.

[Joykins]

I did a little experiment. Charged up my PW2 only to discover it's using KFX which means its firmware is too new to use to deDRM. Was able to deDRM some older books not using KFX directly from this PW2.

Charged up my Kindle NT4 only to discover that it doesn't work anymore. My husband is going to try changing the battery himself, to see if that will make it work again. He did this with his NT4 and the right side buttons now work but not the left side, so right now I am waiting, seeing as half a brick here might be better than a total brick.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Joykins

I think it's fair enough to say that the quality of author and quality of translation can certainly differ, and that the offerings in Germany that are of the same quality may be from German fantasy authors (or may not exist in German on KU. I have no experience with German KU as my reading level in German is about that of a 10-yo)

Of course - but I read what the translator produces