Amazon Announces Kindle Colorsoft

[odamizu]

Can someone with a new Colorsoft confirm whether or not Download and Transfer via USB is available for your Colorsoft? I'm guessing it is not, but I don't want to assume before updating the Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre thread.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by spl237

My Colorsoft arrived today.

Nice screen - decent upgrade over my first-gen Oasis - but syncing with Calibre 7.20 does not seem to transfer cover art thumbnails to the library; this worked perfectly with the Oasis.

Is this a known issue with recent Kindles, or have Amazon broken something new?

It's probably related to using MTP instead of USB mass storage.. Scribe had this issue for a long time, but eventually a calibre update added support. It's probably something that can be added for the new Kindles pretty easily.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Can someone with a new Colorsoft confirm whether or not Download and Transfer via USB is available for your Colorsoft? I'm guessing it is not, but I don't want to assume before updating the Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre thread.

A related question is whether you can de-DRM KFX downloaded to Colorsoft (after adding its serial number to configuration). Unlike B&W Kindles these will have color images, so it may be a workaround for lack of a D&T option.

Mine is getting delivered tomorrow, but I am travelling and won't be able to check until next week. It is listed in my Devices, but does not appear as a target for D&T. So my assumption is that the option won't be there even after I finish setting it up.

[pdurrant]

I've just been notified of an update to the Mac version of Send To Kindle.

Version 1.1.1.258 now includes a tool to allow USB transfers from Mac to Kindle readers released in 2024.

I wonder if this will mean that Amazon re-enable Download and Transfer?

[BionicGecko]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I've just been notified of an update to the Mac version of Send To Kindle.

Version 1.1.1.258 now includes a tool to allow USB transfers from Mac to Kindle readers released in 2024.

I wonder if this will mean that Amazon re-enable Download and Transfer?

This is interesting; since MacOS doesn't support MTP natively, Amazon decided to include the drivers directly into their desktop application.

This means that Amazon is at least committed to supporting USB as a means to import books on the Kindle, even for non-Amazon books. It also suggests that the purpose for killing D&T, if they indeed go ahead with this, is really to thwart DRM removal efforts, and not to decommission a rarely used feature.

[lkmiller]

A related question is whether you can de-DRM KFX downloaded to Colorsoft (after adding its serial number to configuration). Unlike B&W Kindles these will have color images, so it may be a workaround for lack of a D&T option.

You cannot decrypt KFX downloaded directly to Kindles. At least nothing on current firmware. Maybe with one of the earliest Kindles that supports kfx but is no longer getting firmware updates.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BionicGecko

This is likely related to the Colorsoft using the MTP protocol for USB file transfer. MTP was initially introduced on Kindles in a software update for the Scribe, which broke support for covers with sideloaded books on the Scribe for a few months. Tweaks had to be made to the Calibre MTP drivers in order to restore functionality.

The new 2024 Kindles all use MTP for USB file transfer, so it is likely that something similar to what was done for the Scribe will have to be done for the Colorsoft as well.

And probably the 2024 Basic as well.

[kript96]

It's adjusted on my 2024 base. although sometimes they disappear. If i got it correctly by the changelog of calibre, they get removed when you use wifi the first time, but once you reconnect it to calibre they're recovered and won't be lost anymore?
Anyway, i can say i have the covers on my base 2024

[leaston]

Originally Posted by Renate

Be sure to get acquainted with the "Eink Center". There are many settings that are on a per app basis. Some of the defaults are not optimal. The "Master switch" disables all weird overrides.

Thanks, I haven't explored those settings yet and didn't realise they could be set per app

[Renate]

Originally Posted by leaston

Thanks, I haven't explored those settings yet and didn't realise they could be set per app

I don't know about your device, but one of the worst transgressions on my Go6 is that all the apps are set to 350 DPI screen density on a 300 DPI device! Besides making everything bigger, it also makes it scale some PNGs that need not be scaled. Also, watch out for Font scale in the global Settings.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

You cannot decrypt KFX downloaded directly to Kindles. At least nothing on current firmware. Maybe with one of the earliest Kindles that supports kfx but is no longer getting firmware updates.

Thanks, it's been awhile since I experimented with it.

[leaston]

Originally Posted by Renate

I don't know about your device, but one of the worst transgressions on my Go6 is that all the apps are set to 350 DPI screen density on a 300 DPI device! Besides making everything bigger, it also makes it scale some PNGs that need not be scaled. Also, watch out for Font scale in the global Settings.

Wow, you were right. Most of the non-system apps and all the ones I installed have defaulted to 350dpi for some reason. At least I know about it now. Thank you again for the suggestion.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by leaston

Most of the non-system apps and all the ones I installed have defaulted to 350dpi for some reason.

We should probably get off this Kindle thread.
Try https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=363318

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I've just been notified of an update to the Mac version of Send To Kindle.

Version 1.1.1.258 now includes a tool to allow USB transfers from Mac to Kindle readers released in 2024.

I wonder if this will mean that Amazon re-enable Download and Transfer?

Attachment 211758

I don't have a new 2024 Kindle to try, but this is what v1.1.1.258 for Mac looks like. Note the "Open USB File Manager" button in the upper right corner.

It makes me think D&T might be enabled for new Kindles.



ETA: What's particularly interesting about this is that .epub is one of the file formats supported by Send to Kindle. Previously it was sent to Amazon's server then converted to an Amazon format and sent wirelessly to your Kindle. But if you use the USB File Manager button, I'm wondering if the Send-to-Kindle app converts the .epub to an Amazon format, then transfers it to your Kindle; or maybe you get a message saying you can't transfer epubs via USB ...?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...EdEkbIhK07ysFu

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by odamizu

I don't have a new 2024 Kindle to try, but this is what v1.1.1.258 for Mac looks like. Note the "Open USB File Manager" button in the upper right corner.

It makes me think D&T might be enabled for new Kindles.

While that function would be needed if Download & Transfer was allowed, it is probably just there to allow side loading of personal documents as Kindles have always allowed.

Originally Posted by odamizu

ETA: What's particularly interesting about this is that .epub is one of the file formats supported by Send to Kindle. Previously it was sent to Amazon's server then converted to an Amazon format and sent wirelessly to your Kindle. But if you use the USB File Manager button, I'm wondering if the Send-to-Kindle app converts the .epub to an Amazon format, then transfers it to your Kindle; or maybe you get a message saying you can't transfer epubs via USB ...?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...EdEkbIhK07ysFu

From the description it appears that the USB File Manger is a separate window that allows you to browse and copy files to/from the device as you could with non-MTP models. No conversion involved.