Kindle for Windows 8 app and Calibre

[chaley]

Originally Posted by shalym

So what is the difference between getting it directly from Amazon or getting it from cnet, other than the fact that cnet will also get you a "installer" bundled with it? (In my experience, 95% of all "installers" or "download helpers" include some sort of spyware, or at the very least, adware. Either way, you don't want it on your system.)

Shari

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

Erm, I can download the desired executeable from amazon without any difficulties using Windows 10, perhaps try a user-agent switcher?

Last year when I installed K4PC on my Win8.1 machine the version supplied by Amazon was Metro and only Metro. It also contained the "new" book storage where books were partitioned, meaning that I could not use the Alf tools on the books I purchased. Downloading a Win7 version in the fashion I described got me a non-Metro app that downloaded the books as azw into /kindle. My scheme works only if one has access to a Win7 machine.

The OP indicates that he is having a problem with the app as supplied by Amazon, in that "some books" are downloaded (can only be downloaded?) using the partioning scheme and not the single file scheme. I have never had that problem on my laptop with the many books I have purchased.

Couple these two observed behaviors together led me to postulate that the K4PC app currently supplied by Amazon conditions its behavior depending on what Windows version it is running under. I could be wrong. I have no interest in doing the experiment and potentially breaking something that works.

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by shalym

Are you replying to me? If so, I was saying that if a person downloads from cnet they get the extra "installer" added to the download, and it's much better to download directly from Amazon.
Shari

No, that was not. However, most downloads on cnet are the original executables offered by the publishers.

[cybmole]

I had one free , comic style, amazon book sample that was not available in k for pc, only on k hardware. I wiped it from cloud as it annoyed me. It was the graphic novel adaptation of girl with dragon tattoo. If a book is not for k for pc it should say so in description.
Kindle lending lib. Books are also not for pc.

[cybmole]

See here
http://ebooks.stackexchange.com/ques...upport-windows

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by chaley

At one point (and perhaps still) the behavior of the Kindle for PC applications delivered to the PC depended on which version of windows you are running. I installed a working K4PC (books arrive in azw files not fragments) on my windows 8.1 machine by downloading the install file on a Win7 machine and transferring it to the laptop.

The K4PC version here might work for you.

Originally Posted by chaley

Last year when I installed K4PC on my Win8.1 machine the version supplied by Amazon was Metro and only Metro. It also contained the "new" book storage where books were partitioned, meaning that I could not use the Alf tools on the books I purchased. Downloading a Win7 version in the fashion I described got me a non-Metro app that downloaded the books as azw into /kindle. My scheme works only if one has access to a Win7 machine.

The OP indicates that he is having a problem with the app as supplied by Amazon, in that "some books" are downloaded (can only be downloaded?) using the partioning scheme and not the single file scheme. I have never had that problem on my laptop with the many books I have purchased.

Couple these two observed behaviors together led me to postulate that the K4PC app currently supplied by Amazon conditions its behavior depending on what Windows version it is running under. I could be wrong. I have no interest in doing the experiment and potentially breaking something that works.

There is a difference between running the "Kindle for PC" win32 application, and the "Kindle for Windows 8" Metro app...
Just because you couldn't find a Kindle for PC installer (because Amazon) does not mean Kindle for PC displays the same behavior as Kindle for Windows 8.

I cannot imagine why there would be any code in the "Kindle for PC" win32 application that would arbitrarily change how it works, based on what Windows kernel it runs on (or other pointless windows-version-detector used).
And downloading the files on one computer and transferring it to a Windows 8 computer, or downloading from alternative and might I add highly shady sources (yes, CNET and all the other sites which redistribute executables after adding spamware is a terrible way to download something that is already available from the developer website in unsullied form), is not going to change the actual code you are running.

Assuming you correctly use the official Amazon download link I provided, which is admittedly hard to track down.

[chaley]

@eschwartz: thank you for telling me that what I experienced did not happen. It is good to know that I was hallucinating.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by shalym

So what is the difference between getting it directly from Amazon or getting it from cnet, other than the fact that cnet will also get you a "installer" bundled with it? (In my experience, 95% of all "installers" or "download helpers" include some sort of spyware, or at the very least, adware. Either way, you don't want it on your system.)

Shari

IMHO CNET (download.com) loads additional cr*p into the files.
There used to be a time (pre-CBS?) where they were happy to just show you Ads while downloading ...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

No, that was not. However, most downloads on cnet are the original executables offered by the publishers.

CNET is still a shady site, although I grant you SourceForge is worse these days...

There is no reason to rely on third-party redistributors instead of the original source. The only people who use CNET and other such sites are gullible people.
Although I am willing to make an exception for desperate people who cannot find any other possible source after the developers seemingly pulled it from their website, e.g. Kindle for PC.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by chaley

@eschwartz: thank you for telling me that what I experienced did not happen. It is good to know that I was hallucinating.

1) If you downloaded fragment files instead of .azw* files using Kindle for PC, then someone is definitely hallucinating, because I and a ton of other people are fairly positive that doesn't happen.

2) If in fact you were telling the truth earlier, when you said you downloaded fragment files using Kindle for Windows 8, and .azw* files after you used trickery to download the Kindle for PC installer and installed it...
Then the only thing you are doing is erroneously conflating Kindle for PC with Kindle for Windows 8.

It appears to be very popular to do lately, anyway. That seems to be what the OP did, to cause all the confusion.

They are not the same, anymore than Kindle for Mac is the same as Kindle for iOS.
But I guess it is easier to tell the difference there, as Apple hasn't stupidly glued together two operating systems on piece of hardware.

So unless I miss my guess (option #2):
for perpetuating further confusion.

Note to self and others: do not install programs alongside the equivalent mobile apps (even if the operating system is stupid enough to allow you to), it just confuses the hell out of everybody...

[aborel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

There is a difference between running the "Kindle for PC" win32 application, and the "Kindle for Windows 8" Metro app...
Just because you couldn't find a Kindle for PC installer (because Amazon) does not mean Kindle for PC displays the same behavior as Kindle for Windows 8.

I cannot imagine why there would be any code in the "Kindle for PC" win32 application that would arbitrarily change how it works, based on what Windows kernel it runs on (or other pointless windows-version-detector used).

Perhaps the choice of version offered for download depends on the operating system? Many web sites that distribute cross-platform applications will helpfully suggest the one matching your system (Windows, Linux, OSX...).
Is Amazon trying to do this, with the extra silly idea to distinguish Windows 8 from the other MS systems?
Just because Windows 8 and its Metro interface deserve to die a thousand deaths doesn't mean that some dumb Amazon marketing drone didn't see it as a wonderful idea

[chaley]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

So unless I miss my guess (option #2):
for perpetuating further confusion.

My goodness, thank you again for clearing things up. It is so nice to have someone so experienced explain why what I saw could not happen.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by aborel

Perhaps the choice of version offered for download depends on the operating system? Many web sites that distribute cross-platform applications will helpfully suggest the one matching your system (Windows, Linux, OSX...).
Is Amazon trying to do this, with the extra silly idea to distinguish Windows 8 from the other MS systems?
Just because Windows 8 and its Metro interface deserve to die a thousand deaths doesn't mean that some dumb Amazon marketing drone didn't see it as a wonderful idea

Currently they ask you to enter your email address and they will email you a link. No idea how that works out, as I didn't care enough to try it.

I'm browsing from linux anyway.
And being on linux, I'd need to use WINE anyway, and thus would also use winetricks...

They wouldn't be the only ones who have fallen for the TIFKAM joke, either.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

Erm, I can download the desired executeable from amazon without any difficulties using Windows 10, perhaps try a user-agent switcher?

If a software provider insists on pushing its Windows app when what you want is its Windows desktop application, then it's almost certain that the site its picking up the Windows version from the user-agent string that the downloader/browser sends.

Amazon is not the only site that does this, I came across another one recently.

How to Change Your Browser’s User Agent Without Installing An Extension

That said with Firefox it may be easier to use an extension rather than diving in and out of about:config, there are a couple of them at the Moz add-ons site.

MS dissertation on Understanding user-agent strings - it has Windows versions - eg Win 7 is "Windows NT 6.1"

BTW 1 : you can also spoof sites into thinking your Windows/OSX etc system is an Android or IOS device via the the user-agent string

BTW 2 : Windows app and Windows desktop application are the latest 'official' MS names. I would have made the second one Windows application for desktop deployment, then we would have Wapp and Wadd programs

BR

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by chaley

My goodness, thank you again for clearing things up. It is so nice to have someone so experienced explain why what I saw could not happen.

he's good at that. e.g. see the recent threads about converting epub to AZW

as a scientific test ( I do like the scientific method) I go to the same amazon page, via the same google search via two PCs, 1 x Win 7, 1 x Win 8.1 , and request a download link for K for PC installer I receive the two emailed links and perform the two downloads. I get two different installers.

so:
amazon requested details of the requesting O/S
or
amazon guesses lucky
or
a little divine intervention helped out

Scores this month:
Papal bull: Nil,
scientific method : Two,

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cybmole

1 x Win 7, 1 x Win 8.1 , and request a download link for K for PC installer I receive the two emailed links and perform the two downloads. I get two different installers.

It's because AmazeNot thinks it knows what you want, better than you do.

Try doing what Glorfindel initially and I latterly suggested - change the user-agent string.

BR