Disastrous new Amazon policy (DRM)

[Odyssee]

Please have a look at this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=351285

Effectively those of us who use a Kobo ereader, can't read any new kindle books (published after the 3d of january) anymore on our Kobos.
I used to buy my books with the 1.17 Kindle for pc app, which allowed me to load the azw file in Calibre and then upload to my Kobo Sage. Amazon has blocked this 1.17 version and forces the customer to use the latest version which downloads only the KFX file which can not be read in Calibre.
This is too bad. The power of Amazon is such that many authors publish exclusively in the Kindle store. Their (new) books can't be bought in other online stores.

[Lys]

Originally Posted by Odyssee

The power of Amazon is such that many authors publish exclusively in the Kindle store. Their (new) books can't be bought in other online stores.

That's what monopoly looks like, and the ones losing are always the customers.

I'm sorry for those who read a lot of authors that sell exclusively on Amazon platform. It really sucks, and, if you can, try and reach out to them explaining how they are losing readers when they lock themselves into exclusivity contracts with Amazon. I don't know how long those contracts are, but maybe they will think twice over signing again with them.
If they don't care about that, I'm not going to cry a river over authors who don't want me to read their stuff, though.
Thankfully, there is enough to read around.

[Dr. Drib]

Just buy an old Kindle for $15, register it, and put it in a box and forget about it.

Then buy your ebook and download it to your computer (selecting that Kindle), and then put the file in calibre and convert like you're crazy (if that is your predilection).

I have, use, and love both Kindles and Kobos - and so I have no problem whatsoever with what I want to buy, where I want to buy, and what I want to read on whatever device I own.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Odyssee

Please have a look at this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=351285

Effectively those of us who use a Kobo ereader, can't read any new kindle books (published after the 3d of january) anymore on our Kobos.
I used to buy my books with the 1.17 Kindle for pc app, which allowed me to load the azw file in Calibre and then upload to my Kobo Sage. Amazon has blocked this 1.17 version and forces the customer to use the latest version which downloads only the KFX file which can not be read in Calibre.
This is too bad. The power of Amazon is such that many authors publish exclusively in the Kindle store. Their (new) books can't be bought in other online stores.

You have misunderstood.

1. 1.17 still works and downloads books in mobi or azw, EXCEPT:
2. Books PUBLISHED AFTER January 03, 2023. Any book published after that date will require a newer version of Kindle for PC and will only download as a KFX with (currently) unbreakable DRM.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You have misunderstood.

1. 1.17 still works and downloads books in mobi or azw, EXCEPT:
2. Books PUBLISHED AFTER January 03, 2023. Any book published after that date will require a newer version of Kindle for PC and will only download as a KFX with (currently) unbreakable DRM.

But you'll still get AZW for the Jan 03 and later books if you have an older Kindle, correct?

[Kindleing]

Originally Posted by rcentros

But you'll still get AZW for the Jan 03 and later books if you have an older Kindle, correct?

IF you use "Download and transfer via USB" from the Amazon website "Content and Devices" page. Just select an eink Kindle as the destination; download to your computer and then transfer to Calibre. Then use USB to transfer from Calibre to your preferred device. At least that's the way it works today; who knows about the future.
[Edited for (hopefully) clarity]

ETA: Also, this only works for purchased books, not for borrowed books (KU, etc.)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

But you'll still get AZW for the Jan 03 and later books if you have an older Kindle, correct?

Any eink Kindle, even the newest. An old Kindle is needed to pull KU books off it, as Download & Transfer is not available for those.

Numerous complaints by people wanting to deDRM their KU loans has caused a massive confusion about the topic.

[GeorgK]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Just buy an old Kindle for $15, register it, and put it in a box and forget about it.

Then buy your ebook and download it to your computer (selecting that Kindle), and then put the file in calibre and convert like you're crazy (if that is your predilection). ...

Great! Just gave it a try and succeeded
I never delt with Kindle hardware and never got in contact with this Kindle dialogue on Amazon's website. I wrongly asumed download via internet to be the only way to get books downloaded...

Regards
Georg

[Odyssee]

Quote Sirtel: "Any eink Kindle, even the newest. An old Kindle is needed to pull KU books off it, as Download & Transfer is not available for those."

I am confused. Do you mean: the newest Kindles transfer the books via wifi, but if you want 'download & transfer' (via USB) you need an older Kindle? If so which Kindles still can do that trick?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Odyssee

Quote Sirtel: "Any eink Kindle, even the newest. An old Kindle is needed to pull KU books off it, as Download & Transfer is not available for those."

I am confused. Do you mean: the newest Kindles transfer the books via wifi, but if you want 'download & transfer' (via USB) you need an older Kindle? If so which Kindles still can do that trick?

Vice versa: any eink Kindle can use download & transfer, but if you want to pull the books directly off a Kindle, you'll need an older model (Kindle 3/4 and the first Kindle Touch). The books directly downloaded to newer Kindles via wifi can't be decrypted.

Download & Transfer is not available for borrowed books. Only for purchases.

[JSWolf]

And you need a Kindle Touch or older to be able to pull off KF8 eBooks. A PW1 will not work even though it does not handle KFX.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And you need a Kindle Touch or older to be able to pull off KF8 eBooks. A PW1 will not work even though it does not handle KFX.

Yes. To be clear: if you purchase your books, any eink Kindle can be used to get your purchases into Calibre and decrypt them. If you borrow your books, you'll need an old model.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes. To be clear: if you purchase your books, any eink Kindle can be used to get your purchases into Calibre and decrypt them. If you borrow your books, you'll need an old model.

That is correct.

[Odyssee]

Thanks. Thats clear for now. I am a Kobo user but it may end in me buying a Kindle as well. Several authors I follow and read seem to publish exclusively on the Kindle store so I probably have no other choice.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

If you borrow your books, you'll need an old model.

Or get a new model or Android eink for Kindle App, because you don't own loans. I got an Android eink purely for the local Library Android app, but I installed Kindle & Kobo & Google ebook apps as well, just in case.