Rick MonroFeb 4, 2023

Discovered during the week I was unable to access a Kindle book purchased in 2013. Reason? The order was “too old”, and refund issued to buy again. Which was pointless as the book is now more expensive than when I bought it.

Subsequently discovered 66(!!) other ebooks no longer available for download.

Currently 40 minutes in to a support chat with Amazon.

About to learn, I think, whether we purchase ebooks, or rent them…

[Edit: documenting progress in this thread https://mastodon.online/@monro/109812445178130161]

Rick Monro (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image The problem first appeared last week, when I attempted to open a book on my Kindle. The book cover appeared in my Library as normal. When I tapped on it, the following message appeared:

Mastodon
Show threadPaul McBrideFeb 4, 2023
@monro oh no. I do not like the sound of that!
Show threadRick MonroFeb 4, 2023
@ThePaulMcBride Not the most satisfying of outcomes, but at least I kinda have the books I want again (or will have 🤪)
Show threadPaul McBrideFeb 4, 2023
@monro sounds like a nightmare. I have a kindle purely because it is the best e-reader hardware. I wish I could have my own copy of the books in epub format though.
Show threadRandi EEAFeb 4, 2023
@ThePaulMcBride @monro This is why i backup all my e-books using Calibre....
Show threadPaul O'MalleyFeb 5, 2023
@Reea
100% agree with you here. I go to the web, download the AZW version and import it into my calibre library.
Admittedly, I also have hundreds of books in Calibre from before I bought a Kindle, so I also use Calibre for managing all the other content on my Kindle also.
Show thread`Da ElfFeb 5, 2023

@paulomalley @Reea #Calibre is absolutely Essential for managing my EBooks (some 600+) and yes I get some of it from Amazon.

Someone down a bit in the thread asks if it Cuts Amazon's DRM...why yes, yes it does.

On Android I use MoonPlus Reader (Pro) and it'll cheerfully display Amazon files, DRM or not.

Show threadAutiste à 🌊 #wokeFeb 5, 2023
@elfin
How do you do this? I have tried once and was unsuccessful. But I probably missed something. I might want to try again!
@paulomalley @Reea
Show threadskryFeb 5, 2023

@elfin

Are you on a Mac?
If so, download the Kindle app
Right click download each book
In Finder, Go menu: Go to Folder
paste ~/Library/Containers/com.amazon.Kindle/

digging through those folders you'll see .azw files.

That's as far as I've gotten, but I hope these files can be used by Calibre.

Show threadskryFeb 5, 2023
@elfin
Unfortunately Calibre can't read newer Kindle files, so all we can do is back up our books and hope that helps.
Show threadArdentArchivist

@skry @elfin
Whoa - Calibre can’t read .azw3 files?

I keep meaning to install Calibre as an alternative to Amazon’s Kindle for Desktop (privacy nightmare & I refuse to have it on my ‘puter). Now I’m wondering.
It can convert the files to something else, though, can’t it?

Feb 6, 2023 at 4:39pmMetatext
Show threadskryFeb 6, 2023
@ArdentArchivist @elfin My understanding so far is that there are plugins for Calibre that can convert some older formats, such as produced in Kindle 1.31 and earlier. But that that window might be closing now that in January they switched to this new DRM that hasn't been broken yet.
Show threadskryFeb 6, 2023
@ArdentArchivist @elfin You might be okay with .azw3 but the .kfx files are not usable yet. Not sure.
Show threadArdentArchivistFeb 6, 2023
@elfin @skry
Eh, as someone else said - it’s only a matter of time before it gets broken.
I just get torqued that if I ‘buy’ a copy of something I can’t keep it, put it wherever I want it, and read it wherever/using my choice of e-readers…
Grrr.
Show threadskryFeb 6, 2023

@ArdentArchivist @elfin

Same. It's awful.