Content This title is unavailable for download and transfer

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

... Yes, those are KFX-only books that have always been ineligible for downloading. No change there.

Thank you, jhowell, I feel a little better then.

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

... It used to be possible to select that option when buying a book, it no longer is ...

I wasn't even aware of this option. How long has it been available? My memory is fuzzy as it's been several years since I bought my first Kindle book, but as I recall, there was no "download and transfer" option when purchasing at that time. I had to select a default device to send newly purchased books to then go to the Manage Your Content and Devices page to download.

[Deskisamess]

I've always used the Download & Transfer option from Content & Devices. I don't recall ever seeing from the Buy page. But in looking, I do see the option there for a Sample.

Using Safari on an iPad Pro.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I've always used the Download & Transfer option from Content & Devices. I don't recall ever seeing from the Buy page. But in looking, I do see the option there for a Sample.

Using Safari on an iPad Pro.

Right, the option is there, but it does not work: it (properly) asks which device, but then sends it wirelessly instead of downloading.

It is clearly a software defect. If they actually wanted to not let you download a sample, the option would not be there in the first place.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Thank you, jhowell, I feel a little better then.



I wasn't even aware of this option. How long has it been available?

Before this week, I have used it for every Kindle ebook I've bought in the last 4 years since switching to Kobo. I no longer even HAVE a Kindle, so used the option with the account I setup for my father when I gave him my old PW3 - which is with him 350km from me.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Before this week, I have used it for every Kindle ebook I've bought in the last 4 years since switching to Kobo ...

Interesting. I probably bought my first Kindle book 6-7 years ago, and I'm quite certain that if "download and transfer" had been option at the time, I would have chosen it instead of going to the Manage Your Content and Device page to download. Instead, Amazon made me pick a default device to send to, and after that, it never occurred to me to see if the options had changed. I wonder when they added it — and sad they've now taken it away.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Interesting. I probably bought my first Kindle book 6-7 years ago, and I'm quite certain that if "download and transfer" had been option at the time, I would have chosen it instead of going to the Manage Your Content and Device page to download. Instead, Amazon made me pick a default device to send to, and after that, it never occurred to me to see if the options had changed. I wonder when they added it — and sad they've now taken it away.

Kindle has apparently decided that my default device is their Cloud Reader. When I do select download and transfer as in the screenshot, it opens in the Cloud Reader

[LDB]

I click to buy the book and it goes to my default device, for me my Oasis. I never have to go to content/devices and send books I bought. I do go there to shuffle books around that I previously bought but whenever I've made a purchase it arrives the next time I'm near my wifi and airplane mode is off.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by LDB

I click to buy the book and it goes to my default device, for me my Oasis. I never have to go to content/devices and send books I bought. I do go there to shuffle books around that I previously bought but whenever I've made a purchase it arrives the next time I'm near my wifi and airplane mode is off.

You have completely missed the point. It's not a matter of having to go to Content & Devices, it is essential for those who sideload their Amazon books to an ereader other than Kindle or anyone who formats their books before reading, Kindle included. I will not purchase a book that cannot be sideloaded.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by LDB

I click to buy the book and it goes to my default device, for me my Oasis. I never have to go to content/devices and send books I bought. I do go there to shuffle books around that I previously bought but whenever I've made a purchase it arrives the next time I'm near my wifi and airplane mode is off.

This thread is about downloading a book file to your computer via the "USB transfer" option, a step necessary for people who want their hands on the file for various reasons, like sideloading, editing or backup. Downloading a book via wifi has nothing to do with it.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

This thread is about downloading a book file to your computer via the "USB transfer" option, a step necessary for people who want their hands on the file for various reasons, like sideloading, editing or backup. Downloading a book via wifi has nothing to do with it.

EXACTLY

If you can't download to PC you have not really got a copy. If you make too many returns to Amazon they will close your account. You lose access to the Web page for your Kindle.
You can't copy the the kindle files to a different Kindle if the battery wears out or screen damaged. They won't (easily) work. Even if you make a new Amazon account and register the new Kindle you can't use the files.

Even if you DON'T lose access to the existing Amazon account and do register a new Kindle to the Account you can only copy PC files, not Kindle files, direct which is far faster than WiFi.

1) DRM should be illegal on anything other than rentals or loans or subscription streaming.

2) ALL DRM can be defeated anyway, even if only with camera and/or microphone. Only hurts consumers, not commercial "pirates". Audio, ebooks and even 4K streaming can all be easily defeated.

3) It's totally wrong of Amazon to limit eBooks to direct mobile or WiFi connection to the reader. Some places don't allow WiFi. Wifi can fail even when USB is working, for various reasons.

4) A so called Cloud Library isn't a backup up.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Thank you, jhowell, I feel a little better then.



I wasn't even aware of this option. How long has it been available? My memory is fuzzy as it's been several years since I bought my first Kindle book, but as I recall, there was no "download and transfer" option when purchasing at that time. I had to select a default device to send newly purchased books to then go to the Manage Your Content and Devices page to download.

I did not know either that you could "download and transfer" at time of purchase. I have always sent mine to K4PC so I could have them automatically sucked into Clibre. Like odamizu I always went to "Manage Your Content and Devices" to do anything else. Even before Calibre I always wanted a backup on my computer.

[BookCat]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Interesting. I probably bought my first Kindle book 6-7 years ago, and I'm quite certain that if "download and transfer" had been option at the time, I would have chosen it instead of going to the Manage Your Content and Device page to download. Instead, Amazon made me pick a default device to send to, and after that, it never occurred to me to see if the options had changed. I wonder when they added it — and sad they've now taken it away.

I bought my first kindle early in 2014, not long after I moved to my current house which has poor lighting so I needed a frontlit ereader. Transfer via usb was available then. I've never had wifi in this house, so had to be able to download the books to my computer. That was at least nine years ago.

[BookCat]

Have just been chatting to Amazon CS and told them about the issue and how it meant I wouldn't be able to purchase anymore kindle books. She did the usual "have you been to content and devices and tried to download from there?" I said yes and it worked but there were rumours Amazon was phasing out download to computer. Her response to this was that this was just a malfunction which was being worked upon.

There was something in her tone - evasive - I didn't believe her.

She said she would "pass on my concerns" . . .

I told her about my wifi sensitivity, so I don't have wifi. But it might be a good idea if others would complain to them, giving this or other reasons for prefering download to wireless transfer.

Let's get some customer pressure on them.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by BookCat

Her response to this was that this was just a malfunction which was being worked upon

She was probably being 100% honest - the ability of customers to potentially evade the walls of the garden IS a malfunction from Amazon's POV, one that needs to be worked on

[BookCat]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

She was probably being 100% honest - the ability of customers to potentially evade the walls of the garden IS a malfunction from Amazon's POV, one that needs to be worked on

Of course! Why didn't I consider that interpretation? Oh dear, looks like they're working on the 'malfunction'.

One good thing has come from this - for me, anyway. I took a look at Kobo's ereaders, fell in love with the Libra 2 and have bought it. So I'll have one functional non-kindle ereader. Does some really fun things too, like changing from portrait to landscape just by being turned.

But every silver lining has a cloud.