I wonder if this is a response to someone jailbreaking all kindles ever the other day
Next week, Amazon is stripping away your ability to download your ebooks.
Submitted 2 months ago by Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
https://lithub.com/next-week-amazon-is-stripping-away-your-ability-to-download-your-ebooks/
Comments
ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
IonAddis@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Some have speculated it’s complying in advance with stealth editing of books to remove whatever content has been decided to be censored. If you can’t download the original copy and keep it, they can change the one you have and make it seem like the original text never existed.
mac@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Lol, my girlfriend just had all of her sideloaded books removed from her kindle today
Luffy879@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
The kobo unes run Linux ootb, and they are as easy to install something like pluto on as an android one, but I still prefer them because I can do all kinds of shinanigans with the command line
Also if they are too expensive for you, just get a used one, as long as they have a backlight you can read just as well on them as a libra color
suburban_hillbilly@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
It’s because the first few generations of DRM were extremely poorly implemented. My kindle og keyboard still works and will ignore the DRM (that would be locking me out of, for example, a library book after its due date) if you just change the file extensiom to one of the DRM free file types. It will also then let me distribute that ebook to others without restriction.
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I don’t think that will work with the .kfx file type. At least it didn’t for me.
mp3@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
One more reason not to be ebooks from Amazon anymore.
Sunshine@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
I’m glad I started my Amazon boycott earlier. I could’ve lost a lot more e-books.
Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Good thing then that I never, ever in my entire life have given Amazon a single cent, nor will I.
KingGordon@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Honestly? That’s pretty amazing.
ALiteralCabbage@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Have you paid for a service that uses AWS though? Youay never know if you’ve funded the big A.
AbsoluteChicagoDog@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Perfection is the enemy of better
acoralemelhor@lemm.ee 2 months ago
how is that even possible? Congrats anyway
GooberEar@lemmy.wtf 2 months ago
Here’s my purely capitalistic problem with Amazon:
A decade+ ago, I realized that major brands were using the site as their outlet store. I’d buy a pack of socks, and they’d be hideously deformed. I’d buy a few pants for work, one pair would be too small, one too large, and one would fit just right. I’m not fucking Goldilocks.
The final straw for me was when my coffee maker broke. I ordered a new one via same day shipping, which at the time had a minimum order of something like $50. The coffee maker did not cost quite enough, so I added something random to the order so that my same day shipping would be free. Ultimately, the coffee maker arrived late (i.e. not the same day) and the decanter was broken.
When I contacted Amazon about the issue, the agent said they could reship, but they wouldn’t send it same day so for that specific item it was going to take 3 - 5 days to arrive. They also tried to hassle me with a straight up return, telling me I had to take it to a UPS store, which at the time was 30+ minutes away.
Ultimately, I pulled a Karen and told them to cancel my Amazon Prime, which they did. Only problem is, I was 2 or 3 months into the year long subscription and assumed I’d get a pro-rated refund. I did not. When I got back in touch with customer service, they told me that Amazon adds up the value of the “free” shipping I received, the rental value of the movies and shows I watched on Prime, and the value of all the other services included with Prime and if that total exceeds the remaining value of the Prime subscription, then no refund.
They basically stole almost a year of Prime from me with no recourse.
Scum company. I got a lot of hate for saying this back in those days. But at least now, a decade+ later, people are finally starting to wake up. Not everyone, obviously. But at least I don’t get hateful responses and DMs quite as much as I used to.
Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Straight up theft. In a more functional government, there would be an agency with real teeth that you could report them to for that kind of behavior, with something other than fines-as-the-cost-of-doing-business.
pr06lefs@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Unaffected since I’ve never participated in the Kindle ecosystem. I’ve been gifted a few Kindles but never was on board with that walled garden. Fuck Amazon.
kava@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Up until fairly recently, you could just drag and drop files onto the Kindle with a usb. I’ve had my first generation Kindle for almost 15 years now and it still works. Just download an .epub file, convert it to .mobi with Calibre, and drag and drop it over to the Kindle.
I have a newer one too, that I got a couple of years ago as a gift.
The trick is just disable the wifi and never let it communicate with Amazon servers. They will mess with your settings and push secret updates that remove features. For example, it could “sync” your books with your Amazon account literally resulting in you not being able to remove items from your Kindle without logging into your Amazon account on your computer and going through a million menus. It won’t let you do it from the Kindle, even if you’re offline.
But if you just never let it connect it to the internet at all, you’re fine.
Although the new Kindles now require a special Amazon software to copy files over (because of “convenience”) and it won’t communicate with the usual protocol so you can’t drag and drop like you could for the last 15 years.
So yeah, don’t buy a Kindle. at least not a new one.
Drewski@lemmy.sdf.org 2 months ago
Which generation of kindles requires Amazon software for USB transfer? I’ve always put mine in airplane mode and just used Calibre. I don’t want to buy a newer one that doesn’t work without special software.
Macaroni_ninja@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I think with applications, like Calibre its relatively painless to save the whole library, if someone is ready to jump ship. Now its the perfect time.
I personally use a Kobo, which is fantastic, but there are many great Kindle alternatives without the corporate spyware bullshit.
Brewchin@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Calibre (Kindle) and Libation (Audible) are essential backup tools.
Y’know, in case their servers are down…
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Sadly, Calibre doesn’t handle .kfx at this time.
feannag@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
It absolutely does. plugins.calibre-ebook.com there is a KFX input plugin. Also, if using an older version of kindle for PC you can batch download your whole library and import to Calibre.
IAMHEREDOTDOTDOTNOW@lemm.ee 2 months ago
There’s a plugin, and easy tutorials to follow online. It absolutely handles KFX.
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I was able to export (you’ll have to remove DRM via plugin) all of Kindle ebooks into epub using part of this guide:
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Windows only. Le sigh.
TunaLobster@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I keep a Win10 VM kicking for things like this. Sure I could probably do it with Wine, but sometimes I just take the easy route.
techforwhat@lemmy.today 2 months ago
What do you mean? The guide OP mentioned has instructions for MacOS. Also, the software referenced (Calibre and DeDRM plugin) are available on Linux systems as well.
MilitantAtheist@lemmy.world 2 months ago
🤣🤣🤣🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Geodad@lemm.ee 2 months ago
I borrow them from my library through the Libby and Hoopla apps. If I want to support the author, I’ll buy a copy through some other means. Directly from them, if possible.
Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Very happy I got a PocketBook instead of the store locked alternatives
techforwhat@lemmy.today 2 months ago
I’m planning on buying a pocketbook soon!!! I’ve been trying to get a sense of what the PocketBook interface is like on the device but haven’t found anything online. You don’t have a picture of the home / library page do you? Also, can you disable discover / suggestions on the PocketBook?
Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
library genesis. anna’s archive.
chances are, its there.
archomrade@midwest.social 2 months ago
It’s been a while since I’ve heard about libgen and aa - and actually i’m not sure how they operate with direct downloads of copyrighted material? I find my ebooks through more conventional p2p means, but i’ve always just assumed that was necessary to avoid sudden takedowns
umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
what is your p2p method, out of curiosity?
sirico@feddit.uk 2 months ago
No it isn’t 🐭
RangerJosey@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
const_void@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Fuck Amazon. Delete your account.
kokesh@lemmy.world 2 months ago
How is that legal?
devfuuu@lemmy.world [bot] 2 months ago
Welcome to capitalism 101.
roofuskit@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Because in the kindle store you’re not purchasing the book but a license to the book.
dukethorion@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That doesn’t change the argument.
archomrade@midwest.social 2 months ago
As someone who likes to have a fallback way of purchasing digital content that I can remove DRM from, this annoys me.
I can still purchase mp3 and flac files from various online retailers, and I can rip bluray for my movies and tv shows, but now I need a new place to purchase ebooks that are downloadable. Anyone have any recommendations? The first few independent retailers i’ve found seem to require their own apps.
madjo@feddit.nl 2 months ago
Kobo, Barnes & Noble, ebooks.com
kokesh@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Buy elsewhere, or simple look up epubs and mail them to kindle
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Where do others buy epubs? (Besides the library) In many cases my obscure authors only use Amazon.
feannag@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I’ve used Kobo and Ebooks.com, and import into my Calibre library. I know some authors have a way to purchase directly on their site.
techforwhat@lemmy.today 2 months ago
I also use Kobo. It’s really easy to download on Kobo (then remove DRM if that’s your vibe).
flop_leash_973@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Sounds to me like Amazon is reducing the value proposition of their product. For me, additional roadblocks to being able to enjoy something they way I want when I have paid for it reduces the value of the product itself.
For example, if a DRM free book in an standards compatible format costs $20, then the DRM version I can still download for offline viewing is worth $10. The DRM version I can’t download is now worth more like $1-$5 depending on how badly I would want to read it while still supporting the author.
And yes, ebooks from the major sellers aren’t worth much to me and I rarely rent (because you’re not really buying) them.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I pulled down the eight Kindle books I actually bought, about half of the books in my Kindle library are public domain, stuff like old Sherlock Holmes novels, some FAA handbooks, etc.
Next I guess is Audible. Over the years Audible has offered a lot of free trials with a complimentary audiobook several times, and I’ve amassed a bit of a collection. Including the edition of The Martian narrated by R.C. Bray you can’t get anymore. Those I’d like in mp3 format if I can get it.
madjo@feddit.nl 2 months ago
GetLibation.com to download and convert your Audible library
Azal@pawb.social 2 months ago
Thank you. Audible was my lifesaver when I was working on the road but I’m definitely on the prepare part.
stringere@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
some FAA handbooks
Just light reading…
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
I’m a flight instructor, so…yes.
YamahaRevstar@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Oh, they are, are they?
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Like I believe generally everyone needs . waffle eating books should imaginatively teach evil
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
If I’m buying a book I buy paper. Digital books I have always pirated.
Schorsch@feddit.org 2 months ago
“your” ebooks. – You never owned them in the first place. And if buying isn’t owning, questionably acquired ebooks aren’t stolen.
disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Check if it’s available on your library website first, for the sake of the author.
TheMinions@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I mean authors don’t see money anytime someone rents an ebook do they? Libraries just need to pay for licenses to the publisher annually from what I’ve read on reddit/Lemmy.
I can understand renting ebooks so that your library continues to fund a digital library, but if the book is available in paper form that doesn’t really benefit the author either.
yenahmik@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I download books from my library to my kindle. It goes through Amazon though, so I assume I am also impacted by this BS.
circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 2 months ago
Even after years and years of this being discussed, it shocks me how many people keep dropping money into services which force them to own nothing.
Convenience is a helluva drug.
RaoulDook@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It depends, sometimes you can “buy” digital ownership from these places in the form of DRM-free files. If you are able to download the DRM-free file and make a reliable backup of it, then I could call that actual ownership. This is how I approach my music and ebook libraries. I don’t do subscriptions for streaming anything but TV.