Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre

[pdurrant]

Is version 4 the one that switches to Python 3? In which case, no.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Is version 4 the one that switches to Python 3? In which case, no.

4.99 (beta) is in Python 3. The current non-beta releases (4.10) are still using Python 2.

[tomwest]

I second the thanks
tom

Originally Posted by MRS_SOMERSET

Hi,
I just wanted to say thank-you to the Calibre tech team for their post on how to deal with the new Kindle update ( that happened without my permission!)

I have been using Calibre for a while now to convert the books I buy to epub - why - because I have recently become partially sighted, (thats is a nats whisker away from being blind for those who do not know, and why should you ;-)

The reason being that I need a TTS ( text To Speech) software to be able to "read" my books, that is the software reads the text, rather robotically, but allows me to enjoy the books I buy, from Amaon for Kindle and other places, I have been an avid reader since I was 4, and have no intention of letting a mere issue of not being ble to see, get in the way of me accessing my books.

I started off with the super secret, not on the amazon website but official Amazon Kindle PC download for the blind which reads the text to you, as amazon and other publishers put their books in a format that TTS software cannot read - then that stopped working - on an update.

So I googled and chatted with other people with sight challenges and they recommended Calibre - and it was all working out fine until tonight when I bought, paid for and downloaded my new book from amazon, and when I opened up kindle it did an update, without asking, and when I went to convert the book it kept saying that it could not, so a quick search of the Calibre forum and a quick solution ( roll it back, find the hidden "automatically update without asking me button that is automatically set to on without the customer knowing" and turn it off.
and lo and behold I am able to convert the book and now able to have my TTS read it to me.

I know publishers like Amazon offer their own narrated versions of things, but having tried the free audible trial and finding that the narrator was so disinterested sounding, and got both the name of the main character and the title of the book wrong, repeatedly, I uninstalled that very quickly.

I am baffled, having worked with t he government many moons ago on ensuring accessibility in all electronic means, and the total faff it was back then to code, so much easier now to comply, why major companies make it so darn hard for us to get access to things ( I was not blind as a bat back then, it was just part of my job - who knew, an untreated autoimmune disease and bobs your uncle and I am rather stuffed)

So, after all that waffle, I just wanted to say that I am ever so grateful to companies like Calibre who make life easier for us with disabilities, and not only that - keep on top of things and continue to offer advice and support, especially when those who should know better get up to nefarious activities.

[Sam Vimes]

Hi, not sure I'm understanding all this. I'm running a Mac with Calibre 4.11.2 with the latest KFX plug in. The Kindle version is 1.25.2
Books from the Kindle directory (after download) can be added to Calibre but have the suffix kfx-zip. When I try to add them Calibre offers to convert them, I choose yes and then it says no suitable format for the device (Kobo Glow) and then as a final insult throws up a DRM message.
Do I just give up and buy a Kindle, and would Calibre convert my pub books to be read on the Kindle?
Help!

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Sam Vimes

Hi, not sure I'm understanding all this. I'm running a Mac with Calibre 4.11.2 with the latest KFX plug in. The Kindle version is 1.25.2

Books from the Kindle directory (after download) can be added to Calibre but have the suffix kfx-zip.

Read the first post of this thread regarding which versions of Kindle for Mac will work for each method.

You will need a means of removing DRM. See Apprentice Alf's Blog or Apprentice Harper's GitHub for software and instructions. (Detailed help with DRM removal is not allowed on MobileRead.)

[olimyob]

There is currently no way to open Kindle books in Calibre running under macOS Catalina. Catalina requires 64 bit apps, and the only available Kindle app that is 64 bit is version 1.25 (or above). There are workarounds involving utilizing other operating systems, but if Catalina is all you have, it appears you are currently out of luck.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by olimyob

There is currently no way to open Kindle books in Calibre running under macOS Catalina. Catalina requires 64 bit apps, and the only available Kindle app that is 64 bit is version 1.25 (or above). There are workarounds involving utilizing other operating systems, but if Catalina is all you have, it appears you are currently out of luck.

Not exactly true. K4Mac 1.25 thru 1.27.0 will work with some caveats, though Catalina does pose challenges:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...&postcount=508

[tennisplyr13]

I was able to get the AZW format but it is still saying the book has DRM. Is there any work around?

[lkmiller]

AZW can still be KFX. For help with DRM, ask at Apprentice Alf's blog or Apprentice Harper's Github.

[rbpeirce]

I've finally managed to solve this problem by purchasing the Epubor-kcr-converter.app. I don't know how it works, but it does. I am still running Mojave but this is a 64-bit app. It requires having Amazon download to the Kindle Cloud Reader on Chrome. Other browsers don't work. It creates a Mobi file that can be loaded into Calibre with no problems at all.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by rbpeirce

I've finally managed to solve this problem by purchasing the Epubor-kcr-converter.app.

Like the other Epubor products, that is just a nice GUI wrapper around software that was developed and made available for free elsewhere.

[rbpeirce]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Like the other Epubor products, that is just a nice GUI wrapper around software that was developed and made available for free elsewhere.

Didn't know that. Nevertheless it did solve my problem at a relatively low cost. Essentially all I'm trying to do is buy a Kindle book and make it available on other Kindles via Calibre.

[WayneInIndy]

Originally Posted by jhowell

This process may need to be repeated multiple times before the desired version will stick.

This may be an old post but still works. I hate Amazon's Kindle system and the new version that uses twisted file formats. I could not import any Kindle content into Calibre with the new Kindle version, but your trick worked fine. I did get a DRM error but it did not seem to matter. The books open just fine.

THANKS...

[jonn.doe]

I'm using an older version of Kindle for PC (1.24.51068) and since yesterday it's stopped connecting to Amazon. I know there is a lot of traffic in the current situation worldwide.

I've uninstalled cleared out directories and re-installed still the problems persist ? Can anyone with a current version of kindle confirm it connects or not. Think this loophole has been patched if so... Damn

[georgemk]

I'm using an even older version 1.17 on a PC and it downloads fine today.

You might have another issue. Check your PC firewall to see if it is blocking the program.