New Kindle format: KF8

Hatgirl · 10-20-2011, 08:14 PM

Kindle are ditching mobi as suspected - but not for epub. For a new HTML5 format called KF8

FFS

Kindle File Format Overview

Supported Tags

JSWolf · 10-20-2011, 08:22 PM

Q: Will KF8 capabilities be available on all Kindle devices?
A: Kindle Fire is the first Kindle device to support KF8 - in the coming months we will roll out KF8 to our latest generation Kindle e-ink devices as well as our free Kindle reading apps.

So if you have an older Kindle, you are screwed and the value just dropped big time.

SmokeAndMirrors · 10-20-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if you have an older Kindle, you are screwed and the value just dropped big time.

Gee, I'm shocked. It's almost like they're trying to force people to upgrade. I feel like I've seen this before with, what was it? Ah yes, .LIT. How many people lost their content that time? Unless they illegally broke the DRM?

I wonder how their switch-over support is going to be for the devices that actually support KF8.

wallcraft · 10-20-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if you have an older Kindle, you are screwed and the value just dropped big time.

Content that is designed around the new features won't work on an older Kindle, but much of it will likely be best on a color screen anyway. This is also true of the Kindle PDFs, which are typically optimized for big screens.

Amazon already includes the original ePub in their AZW ebooks, and it looks like this might be replaced by KF8. In other words, an AZW ebook will include MOBI and KF8. From the FAQ:

Quote:

Q: Will I have to provide two versions of my titles going forward?
A: No. The upcoming updates to our Kindle Publishing Tools will take care of this for you. KindleGen 2 will convert your content so that it works on all Kindle devices and apps. You will be able to preview how your title will look on the range of Kindle devices and apps using Kindle Previewer 2.

kjk · 10-20-2011, 08:52 PM

Interesting-hard to tell from their tag/feature list how it stacks up against ePub 3.0.

OtterBooks · 10-20-2011, 08:55 PM

ooh, something new to argue about. refreshing.

fjtorres · 10-20-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

Interesting-hard to tell from their tag/feature list how it stacks up against ePub 3.0.

Actually, it sounds like it may be epub3- minus...
...minus the name and anything involving adobe and/or royalties.

Actually, it sounds like a dual mobi+epub3 package; older readers/apps use mobi, newer ones use epub3.

JSWolf · 10-20-2011, 09:07 PM

Finally Amazon has realized that Mobipocket no longer cuts it and that they needed to do something. I was hoping that if Amazon ever saw the light that they'd have gone ePub. We don't need yet another eBook format.

If Amazon went ePub with Adept DRM, I think they'd be able to directly compete with others. But if Amazon is going to come out with eBooks that are in yet a different format, then we'll maybe see people jump ship.

seajewel · 10-20-2011, 09:09 PM

If only it had been epub.

rdjack21 · 10-20-2011, 09:09 PM

From looking at this what seems to have happened is that amazon is using the android web view for displaying books. So they automatically got all these new features for free when they switched to android and just decided to allow the publishers to use these new browser features. I think ePub 3.0 is very similar in that it is going to allow you to use some of the new features defined in HTML 5.

JSWolf · 10-20-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Content that is designed around the new features won't work on an older Kindle, but much of it will likely be best on a color screen anyway. This is also true of the Kindle PDFs, which are typically optimized for big screens.

Amazon already includes the original ePub in their AZW ebooks, and it looks like this might be replaced by KF8. In other words, an AZW ebook will include MOBI and KF8. From the FAQ:

Given that KF8 is trying to be ePublike, it will work fine on eink screens.

Andrew H. · 10-20-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Q: Will KF8 capabilities be available on all Kindle devices?
A: Kindle Fire is the first Kindle device to support KF8 - in the coming months we will roll out KF8 to our latest generation Kindle e-ink devices as well as our free Kindle reading apps.

So if you have an older Kindle, you are screwed and the value just dropped big time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeAndMirrors

Gee, I'm shocked. It's almost like they're trying to force people to upgrade. I feel like I've seen this before with, what was it? Ah yes, .LIT. How many people lost their content that time? Unless they illegally broke the DRM?

I wonder how their switch-over support is going to be for the devices that actually support KF8.

10-20-2011, 08:14 PM	#1
Hatgirl Addict Posts: 296 Karma: 955301 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-T2, Kindle (7th Gen)	New Kindle format: KF8 Kindle are ditching mobi as suspected - but not for epub. For a new HTML5 format called KF8 FFS Kindle File Format Overview Supported Tags

10-20-2011, 09:07 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,945 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Finally Amazon has realized that Mobipocket no longer cuts it and that they needed to do something. I was hoping that if Amazon ever saw the light that they'd have gone ePub. We don't need yet another eBook format. If Amazon went ePub with Adept DRM, I think they'd be able to directly compete with others. But if Amazon is going to come out with eBooks that are in yet a different format, then we'll maybe see people jump ship. Last edited by JSWolf; 10-20-2011 at 09:12 PM.

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10-20-2011, 08:22 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,945 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Q: Will KF8 capabilities be available on all Kindle devices? A: Kindle Fire is the first Kindle device to support KF8 - in the coming months we will roll out KF8 to our latest generation Kindle e-ink devices as well as our free Kindle reading apps. So if you have an older Kindle, you are screwed and the value just dropped big time.

10-20-2011, 08:52 PM	#5
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	Interesting-hard to tell from their tag/feature list how it stacks up against ePub 3.0.

10-20-2011, 08:55 PM	#6
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	ooh, something new to argue about. refreshing.

10-20-2011, 09:09 PM	#9
seajewel Fanatic Posts: 589 Karma: 1451235 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-950	If only it had been epub.

10-20-2011, 09:09 PM	#10
rdjack21 Groupie Posts: 153 Karma: 3241792 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Elocity A7, Nook STR, Galaxy Nexus	From looking at this what seems to have happened is that amazon is using the android web view for displaying books. So they automatically got all these new features for free when they switched to android and just decided to allow the publishers to use these new browser features. I think ePub 3.0 is very similar in that it is going to allow you to use some of the new features defined in HTML 5.

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