Reading Kindle books on other devices

maddz · 04-18-2013, 04:25 AM

There is a book I want to purchase and read which only appears to be available to non-US customers on iTunes or Amazon. I can't purchase via iTunes because I don't own an iOS device apart from my Mac and an old iPod. I tried purchasing via Amazon but ran foul of the Kindle DRM requiring a Kindle or Kindle App.

Basically, I want to be able to read the book either on my Aluratek Libre (USB connection) or via FBReader on my Nexus 7. This means being able to get at the file to manage it via Calibre and (more importantly) store it in Dropbox which syncs between multiple devices and locations.

According to the instructions on the book, I just need to select download to PC - BUT when I actually purchased the book after installing Kindle for Mac I couldn't do that... Cue a very frustrating phone call from Amazon who insisted I had to use the Kindle app to read and manage the file. I ended up getting a refund and deleting Kindle for Mac.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get hold of this book without getting friends in the US to get it via B&N or Sony and sending me the physical file?

mbovenka · 04-18-2013, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get hold of this book without getting friends in the US to get it via B&N or Sony and sending me the physical file?

Reinstall Kindle for Mac and buy and download the book. Google for 'Apprentice Alf' and follow instructions found there to get rid of the DRM and load the book into Calibre. Send it to your preferred device

As you found out, 'Download to PC' needs a physical Kindle device registered to the account to work. Kindle apps don't count (but books can be liberated from them as well, so it's effectively the same).

DianNC · 04-18-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get hold of this book without getting friends in the US to get it via B&N or Sony and sending me the physical file?

I buy from Amazon frequently and have never owned a Kindle. Follow the advice given above and once you've purchased the book, click on the button that says 'Go to MyKindle4PC'. Then find the title and double click on it. That will place the book in your Documents folder under 'My Kindle Content'. From there, you can convert it through Calibre (once you visit Alf's site and install the plug-in).

Dr. Drib · 04-18-2013, 11:16 AM

Your thread has now been moved, since your question is device specific.

Don
(Moderator)

maddz · 04-18-2013, 04:24 PM

Yes, but how do I get it out of the Kindle App into Calibre? Dian, your instructions don't work on a Mac...the only books I can see in the Kindle folder are those that come as a freebie with it, and double-clicking just opens up the book... If I drag the book icon onto my desktop, Calibre says it's an unreadable format.

This whole experience is really souring me on Amazon and the apps they supply. Well someone at work is letting me have an old Kindle with a smashed screen. Assuming she can charge it, and it's a USB transfer, I should get something working.

jersysman · 04-18-2013, 04:31 PM

The apps are good. You just have to determine where Kindle for Mac saves it's files. I have a PC, so I am no help there. However, make sure that you have synced the Kindle for Mac with the Cloud. Until you do that, there will be no books on your Mac.

maddz · 04-18-2013, 04:38 PM

Apparently, there should be a folder somewhere on my harddrive called 'My Kindle content'. Well, I can't find it...

Ah, a step mentioned for the first time.

And THAT's where 'My Kindle Content' is lurking... What a stupid place to put things: \Library\Application Support\Kindle\My Kindle Content.

Finally, the books are where I want them - where I can access them with FBReader on my Nexus. Yay!

04-18-2013, 04:25 AM	#1
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,273 Karma: 28630044 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Reading Kindle books on other devices There is a book I want to purchase and read which only appears to be available to non-US customers on iTunes or Amazon. I can't purchase via iTunes because I don't own an iOS device apart from my Mac and an old iPod. I tried purchasing via Amazon but ran foul of the Kindle DRM requiring a Kindle or Kindle App. Basically, I want to be able to read the book either on my Aluratek Libre (USB connection) or via FBReader on my Nexus 7. This means being able to get at the file to manage it via Calibre and (more importantly) store it in Dropbox which syncs between multiple devices and locations. According to the instructions on the book, I just need to select download to PC - BUT when I actually purchased the book after installing Kindle for Mac I couldn't do that... Cue a very frustrating phone call from Amazon who insisted I had to use the Kindle app to read and manage the file. I ended up getting a refund and deleting Kindle for Mac. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get hold of this book without getting friends in the US to get it via B&N or Sony and sending me the physical file?

04-18-2013, 04:38 PM	#7
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,273 Karma: 28630044 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Apparently, there should be a folder somewhere on my harddrive called 'My Kindle content'. Well, I can't find it... Ah, a step mentioned for the first time. And THAT's where 'My Kindle Content' is lurking... What a stupid place to put things: \Library\Application Support\Kindle\My Kindle Content. Finally, the books are where I want them - where I can access them with FBReader on my Nexus. Yay! Last edited by maddz; 04-18-2013 at 04:55 PM.

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04-18-2013, 11:16 AM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Your thread has now been moved, since your question is device specific. Don (Moderator)

04-18-2013, 04:24 PM	#5
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,273 Karma: 28630044 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Yes, but how do I get it out of the Kindle App into Calibre? Dian, your instructions don't work on a Mac...the only books I can see in the Kindle folder are those that come as a freebie with it, and double-clicking just opens up the book... If I drag the book icon onto my desktop, Calibre says it's an unreadable format. This whole experience is really souring me on Amazon and the apps they supply. Well someone at work is letting me have an old Kindle with a smashed screen. Assuming she can charge it, and it's a USB transfer, I should get something working.

04-18-2013, 04:31 PM	#6
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	The apps are good. You just have to determine where Kindle for Mac saves it's files. I have a PC, so I am no help there. However, make sure that you have synced the Kindle for Mac with the Cloud. Until you do that, there will be no books on your Mac.

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