Salamendacious

Amazon issues warning about major change for Kindle users starting next month

https://lemmy.world/post/7164473

Amazon issues warning about major change for Kindle users starting next month - Lemmy.World

In a recent communication, Amazon has alerted Kindle users about significant changes set to take effect from next month. The notification pertains to the phasing out of support for sending MOBI (.mobi, .azw, .prc) files through the “Send to Kindle” feature, starting November 1, 2023. This change, as News18 pointed out, specifically impacts users attempting to send MOBI files via email and Kindle apps on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.

Oct 22, 2023 at 1:20pmWeb
Show threadRizoidOct 22, 2023
They’re just removing an antiquated file type that you should have moved on from anyway. All my books are in epub format and even if they weren’t calibre converts them so I don’t think this is a significant change at all.
Show threadanteatersOct 22, 2023
Yup. I see no problem with this change. EPub is an open format and one can easily convert existing ebooks.
Show threadlnxtx (xe/xem/xyr)Oct 22, 2023

What if you bought an ebook in mobi format a long time ago?

It doesn’t make sense.

Show threadpulaskiwasrightOct 22, 2023
If you’re technically competent enough to have a mobi locally and send it to a kindle, then you’re technically competent enough to convert it, so it’s not a huge deal. I agree it’s weird though.
Show threadtrash80Oct 22, 2023

Did anyone but Amazon ever even sell mobi files?

Yes, but they were bought by Amazon.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobipocket?wprov=sfla1

Mobipocket - Wikipedia

Show threadnickOct 22, 2023

Hello checking in here.

Last night I finally got calibre and dedrm working. I have around 400 ebooks that I’ve bought from Amazon over the years,but my trust in Amazon has been eroded to the point I want local, drm-stripped copies in case they take the books back; it has happened, but not to me yet.

The first book I converted: 1984.

Show threadpulaskiwasrightOct 22, 2023
But you do have them attached to your Amazon account. So there’s likely no real usecase for uih to want to push a mobi file to a kindle.
Show threadnickOct 22, 2023

I do, for now, yep. And yeah you’re probably right, I’ve never down the push to device thing.

I’m going to start buying my books elsewhere though, and suspect they will be epub format.

Show threadFaceDeerOct 22, 2023
Amazon has deleted books from peoples' accounts in the past, so I would never trust that as the sole source for any book I owned. I don't buy ebooks often but when I do they immediately get deDRMed and stored in my local archives.
Show threadSARGEx117Oct 22, 2023

“what non piracy reasons are there”

“If you have nothing to hide then what’s the problem with putting a camera in the bathroom. What non crime reasons could there be?”

Really though, if you’re technically proficient enough for torrenting and vpns, you’re proficient enough to convert to newer formats, too.

So even then, it’s really just not that big a deal. Other than being a once-used format for the platform. And honestly how many devices are still functioning that can only use mobi? Heck I have a 10 year old Kindle somewhere that probably has 4 or 5 different formats from about 10 different sources.

Show threadpulaskiwasrightOct 22, 2023

“what non piracy reasons are there”

“If you have nothing to hide then what’s the problem with putting a camera in the bathroom. What non crime reasons could there be?”

You’re being silly. This wouldn’t inconvenience any legitimate buyer. And pirated material is in epub format already or can easily be converted to it.

Show threadBearOfaTimeOct 22, 2023

And pirated material is in epub format already or can easily be converted to it.

Self-contradict much?

Show threadpulaskiwasrightOct 22, 2023
I didn’t contradict anything I wrote. What do you care about books if you can’t even read?
Show threadBearOfaTimeOct 22, 2023
Wow, and now personal insults. You really got me there, mate.
Show threadgrowsomethinggood ()Oct 22, 2023
I have a very old Kindle that’s still kicking. No reason to replace it if it still works right? I’m concerned that borrowing books from the library uses this delivery system and therefore might not be able to deliver to my Kindle. Ironically, piracy might be the only option to still use my working and not otherwise obsolete device.
Show threadHipPriestOct 22, 2023

I remember having to change things I got from... places... from epub to mobi using calibre for my old school kindle to recognise it years ago. I don't even have that device anymore.

Glad they're accepting what appears to be the standard format tbh.

Show threadTheEntityOct 22, 2023
Wait, does Kindle handle epub now?
Show thread°˖✧ ipha ✧˖°Oct 22, 2023
No, but you can send one through the email service and it will be automatically converted.
Show threadRizoidOct 22, 2023
I only ever send in epub format. In the article it clarifies that Amazon recommends the sending of epub.
Show threadinasabaOct 22, 2023
Some of us still use devices that only support .mobi
Show threadParadoxOct 22, 2023
So just set Calibre to convert the books to mobi before sending it to them
Show threadinasabaOct 22, 2023
That doesn’t work for the workflow of sending articles to my Kindle with a bookmarklet.
Show threadiHUNTcriminalsOct 22, 2023
Once you go Kobo you never go back.
Show threadJasSmithOct 22, 2023
They really are great.
Show threadSteveCCOct 22, 2023
www.wired.com/gallery/best-ereaders/
WIRED’s Best E-Readers, Tested and Reviewed (2025): Kobo, Kindle, Boox

These WIRED-tested e-readers let you take your library anywhere. Our favorite? The Kobo Libra Colour.

WIRED
Show threadiHUNTcriminalsOct 22, 2023
Flexing with wired?
Show threadaccideathOct 22, 2023
Gotta say, cannot complain about my kindle either. Thanks to calibre, I’m not bound to Amazon and can read whatever I want.
Show thread520Oct 22, 2023
I got myself a Remarkable. Expensive but omg so fucking useful.
Show threadwildOct 23, 2023
How much are you missing out on if you choose not to have a subscription with it for the cloud features?
Show thread520Oct 23, 2023

Nothing at all really. The cloud is just a convenient way to transfer documents and notes (but you can still do so over USB).

The only thing that really needs the cloud service is transfer from and to mobile devices, as the Remarkable does not act like a regular USB drive. Instead, when plugged in, it acts as a virtual network device, and you browse to it on a browser. This behaviour doesn't seem to work properly on Android and Apple sure as hell don't allow it on iOS.

If you really must have direct access to the files and OS, it allows for SSH access as root, and provides a surprisingly full featured Linux environment. If you're the experimenting type, you can put homebrew applications on the device. Just...be really fucking careful not to bork the OS to the point SSH doesn't work, else you're fucked unless you wanna tinker at the hardware level.

Show threadDeebsterOct 22, 2023
This is an enormously overblown headline for such a small change.
Show threadSalamendaciousOct 22, 2023
I pointed out in another comment that Biden won Georgia by 12,000 votes, which represents .04% of the black population of Georgia. A drop of 3 or 4 percent can change an election.
Show threadSalamendaciousOct 22, 2023
I erroneously thought mobi was more important than it apparently is. I haven’t had an e-reader in a long time and I remember using mobi files back then.
Show threadDeebsterOct 22, 2023
It’s only for very old Kindles, really - Amazon have a new version they use (azw3) and everyone else uses epub.
Show threadTWeaKOct 22, 2023
“Amazon notifies users that Kindle will no longer support Mobi ebook format”
Show threadRheingoldRiverOct 22, 2023
I thought they disabled sending mobi files last August? As in, August 2022? Did they postpone it?
Show threaduphillbothwaysOct 22, 2023
They've been notifying users for a while now, when sending mobi files.
Show threadanon_8675309Oct 22, 2023
The devices themselves still can’t process epub though so they still need conversion to … mobi.
Show threadKaJedBearOct 22, 2023
They can use epubs for several months now. It’s been incredibly nice but to have to convert books anymore.
Show threadHaggierRapscallierOct 23, 2023
Not natively? You mean through the epub to kindle service?
Show threadanarchostOct 23, 2023
Several months seems like a really short time frame to go from “the format you must use” to “too old for our product.”
Show threadSenexOct 22, 2023
Samsung Mini Tablet + ReadEra = No more Amazon nonsense.
Show threadXatolosOct 23, 2023

Kobo eReader.

Eink display, supports many different file times, don’t need special apps to load files on it, Pocket integration so can save websites for later reading, has a functioning web browser that can download so don’t even need a computer, has eBook store built in.

Show threadmakingStuffForFunOct 23, 2023
Yup. Have one. Is excellent
Show threadSenexOct 23, 2023
I would buy a Kobo, a friend of mine has one, but I like reading my comics in colour.
Show threadTreczoksOct 23, 2023

lacking support for the latest Kindle features

What kind of support are they “lacking”? They do contain the text and basic formatting. What else would they need in a book?

I’d guess that those “lacking” features have something to do with user tracking or DRM.

Show threadClegkoOct 23, 2023
Epub doesn’t natively have user tracking and DRM either. Mobi files are just ancient and there are better alternatives for them. Like bmp files vs jpg.
Show threadmesaOct 23, 2023
Epub is actually pretty good. And it’s been supported for a long time now.
Show threadStarDreamerOct 24, 2023
Epub is also a super easy format to script with, allowing easy parsing of webpages to ebooks.
Show threadelscallrOct 23, 2023
If anyone knows of a good ebook reader that’s as easy on the eyes as a Kindle I’d love to know it. Everything I look at looks like a low spec tablet instead of a proper eink display.
Show threaddutchkimbleOct 24, 2023
I use an old Kobo model and its great.
Show threadzaphodOct 24, 2023
If you can find an old Kindle Paperwhite that can be jailbroken, you can run KOReader on it and leave the Amazon ecosystem behind while still using the hardware.
Show threadShaolin ShrimpOct 24, 2023
Kobo Libra H2O, has hardware buttons and a cool design.
Show threadElderosOct 24, 2023
I can commend Kobo as well, I have an older model and I see no need to ever change.
Show threadpaulsmithOct 24, 2023
I’ve had two readers made by Boox. They’ve been great. I broke the screen on the first one, but software-wise, I have no complaints.
Show threadBillOct 24, 2023
I have never connected my kindle to the network. Always use calibre.
Show threadSalamendaciousOct 24, 2023
I keep hearing people praising Calibre