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The Kindle FAQ [0] is interesting: > Why don’t you provide mobi files in addition to azw3 files? > Standard Ebooks is a small, volunteer-led project, and we d

by Thrymr 4y ago

The Kindle FAQ [0] is interesting: > Why don’t you provide mobi files in addition to azw3 files? > Standard Ebooks is a small, volunteer-led project, and we don’t have the time or resources to support a second proprietary file type just because Amazon can’t get its act together. We have time for one or the other, and azw3 is the technically superior format that provides the better reading experience. > Why can’t I use “Send to Kindle” to send an azw3 file to my Kindle? > We don’t know! You’d think that Amazon would allow you to send the very file format it invented to its own devices. But Amazon hasn’t made it possible to send azw3 files via “Send to Kindle,” even though they surely could. You should complain to Amazon, or vote with your wallet and buy a better ereader. [0] https://standardebooks.org/help/how-to-use-our-ebooks#kindle-faq https://standardebooks.org/help/how-to-use-our-ebooks#kindle...

acabal 4y ago
As I'm fond of saying, Kindle is an ecosystem invented by people who hate books. It's a pity they're the first thing many people think of when they hear "ebooks."
- erajad 4y ago
  I remember thinking when Kindle was first announced: "Have they ever heard of _Farenheit 451_?!?!" :/
AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
Caliber's maintainer has similarly pithy remarks about Amazon if you ever check the MobileRead forums. Amazon should officially be supporting EPUB as the send-to-Kindle option now, so that might no longer be necessary. You might still have an issue with missing covers, though.
- acabal 4y ago
  This is technically true, however when you do that they simply convert the epub to mobi on the backend, which is even worse.
  - AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
    I'm suspicious whether they're still using MOBI on the backend, given that they sent me an email about it a few days ago when I tried to share a mobi file to my mother's Kindle. The email is below: --- Dear Kindle Customer, Thank you for using the Send to Kindle service to send personal documents to your Kindle library. We noticed that the following document(s), sent by you at HH:MM AM on Sun, Jul DD, 2022 GMT are in MOBI (.mobi, .azw) formats: <<REDACTED>> We wanted to let you know that starting August 2022, you’ll no longer be able to send MOBI (.mobi, .azw) files to your Kindle library. Any MOBI files already in your library will not be affected by this change. MOBI is an older file format and won’t support the newest Kindle features for documents. Any existing MOBI files you want to read with our most up-to-date features for documents will need to be re-sent in a compatible format. Compatible formats now include EPUB (.epub), which you can send to your library using your Send to Kindle email address. We’ll also be adding EPUB support to the free Kindle app for iOS and Android devices and the Send to Kindle desktop app for PC and Mac. If you have any questions, please visit our help page or contact our Customer Service team. Regards, Amazon Kindle Support --- I would think they might be converting it to some other format? Otherwise, why yank the feature to send direct MOBIs anymore?
    - acabal 4y ago
      The technical decisions Kindle makes are shrouded in obscurity, both in logic and in execution...
    - NoboruWataya 4y ago
      I have to assume it's at least a precursor to rolling out broader support for EPUB. Unfortunately, I am using a ~12 year old Kindle which isn't going to be seeing any updates, so discontinuing send-to-Kindle for MOBI will basically just mean I can't use that feature anymore.
      - AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
        Any reason why you haven't upgraded? I keep an old Kindle around as well, but just for having a physical Kindle registered to my account so that I can download the books I purchase and remove the DRM. All my actual reading is done on a Kobo. At some point Amazon sent me an email that my Kindle would soon lost storefront access and offered me some kind of voucher for an upgrade (like 30% off and a $40 ebook credit). Surely with all that you could've grabbed a new model during the Prime Day sales for next to nothing?
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mecha_ghidorah 4y ago
In terms of switching e-readers I currently do have a kindle voyage, which I love, but I am increasingly worried about what happens when it reaches end of life... Does anyone have recommendations for a similar e-reader that has the things I love about it: e-ink display, and buttons for page turning instead of a touchscreen, and have said buttons on both sides of the device? The Kindle Oasis and a few others I've seen only have buttons on one side and having to rotate the device 180 degrees and wait for the display to flip every time I want to change hands sounds like a nightmare. It might just be because I'm left handed and therefore am more comfortable using both hands for things than most people, but the lopsided designs Amazon and some other manufacturers are using just look so hobbled to me.
- tssva 4y ago
  The Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4 has an e-ink display and physical buttons on both sides. This is not a recommendation. I have never held one in my hand and the last time I had anything to do with the Nook ecosystem was over 10 years ago. I just know it exists and meets those 2 criteria.
  - mecha_ghidorah 4y ago
    Thanks for the pointer, I'll check that out. It is a relief at least to know someone is making something that meets those criteria. I have no experience with hardware but I use my kindle so much I was legit considering buying an e-ink display and hacking together my own device to replace it if I couldn't find something that met those criteria
- nvarsj 4y ago
  I bought a Kobo Libra 2 recently and it's fantastic. It only has buttons on one side, but the display is fast - it typically adjusts before I finish rotating it.
  - mecha_ghidorah 4y ago
    But I don't want to rotate it. I switch hands very often, and in situations where rotating it might be uncomfortable (i.e. when holding other things). EDIT: to clarify, it isn't just about the waiting for me. It's about the physical action being massively inconvenient compares to just shifting hands

by Thrymr 4y ago

acabal 4y ago

As I'm fond of saying, Kindle is an ecosystem invented by people who hate books. It's a pity they're the first thing many people think of when they hear "ebooks."

erajad 4y ago
I remember thinking when Kindle was first announced: "Have they ever heard of _Farenheit 451_?!?!" :/

AdmiralAsshat 4y ago

Caliber's maintainer has similarly pithy remarks about Amazon if you ever check the MobileRead forums. Amazon should officially be supporting EPUB as the send-to-Kindle option now, so that might no longer be necessary. You might still have an issue with missing covers, though.

acabal 4y ago
This is technically true, however when you do that they simply convert the epub to mobi on the backend, which is even worse.
- AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
  I'm suspicious whether they're still using MOBI on the backend, given that they sent me an email about it a few days ago when I tried to share a mobi file to my mother's Kindle. The email is below: --- Dear Kindle Customer, Thank you for using the Send to Kindle service to send personal documents to your Kindle library. We noticed that the following document(s), sent by you at HH:MM AM on Sun, Jul DD, 2022 GMT are in MOBI (.mobi, .azw) formats: <<REDACTED>> We wanted to let you know that starting August 2022, you’ll no longer be able to send MOBI (.mobi, .azw) files to your Kindle library. Any MOBI files already in your library will not be affected by this change. MOBI is an older file format and won’t support the newest Kindle features for documents. Any existing MOBI files you want to read with our most up-to-date features for documents will need to be re-sent in a compatible format. Compatible formats now include EPUB (.epub), which you can send to your library using your Send to Kindle email address. We’ll also be adding EPUB support to the free Kindle app for iOS and Android devices and the Send to Kindle desktop app for PC and Mac. If you have any questions, please visit our help page or contact our Customer Service team. Regards, Amazon Kindle Support --- I would think they might be converting it to some other format? Otherwise, why yank the feature to send direct MOBIs anymore?
  - acabal 4y ago
    The technical decisions Kindle makes are shrouded in obscurity, both in logic and in execution...
  - NoboruWataya 4y ago
    I have to assume it's at least a precursor to rolling out broader support for EPUB. Unfortunately, I am using a ~12 year old Kindle which isn't going to be seeing any updates, so discontinuing send-to-Kindle for MOBI will basically just mean I can't use that feature anymore.
    - AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
      Any reason why you haven't upgraded? I keep an old Kindle around as well, but just for having a physical Kindle registered to my account so that I can download the books I purchase and remove the DRM. All my actual reading is done on a Kobo. At some point Amazon sent me an email that my Kindle would soon lost storefront access and offered me some kind of voucher for an upgrade (like 30% off and a $40 ebook credit). Surely with all that you could've grabbed a new model during the Prime Day sales for next to nothing?

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mecha_ghidorah 4y ago

In terms of switching e-readers I currently do have a kindle voyage, which I love, but I am increasingly worried about what happens when it reaches end of life... Does anyone have recommendations for a similar e-reader that has the things I love about it: e-ink display, and buttons for page turning instead of a touchscreen, and have said buttons on both sides of the device? The Kindle Oasis and a few others I've seen only have buttons on one side and having to rotate the device 180 degrees and wait for the display to flip every time I want to change hands sounds like a nightmare. It might just be because I'm left handed and therefore am more comfortable using both hands for things than most people, but the lopsided designs Amazon and some other manufacturers are using just look so hobbled to me.

tssva 4y ago
The Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 4 has an e-ink display and physical buttons on both sides. This is not a recommendation. I have never held one in my hand and the last time I had anything to do with the Nook ecosystem was over 10 years ago. I just know it exists and meets those 2 criteria.
- mecha_ghidorah 4y ago
  Thanks for the pointer, I'll check that out. It is a relief at least to know someone is making something that meets those criteria. I have no experience with hardware but I use my kindle so much I was legit considering buying an e-ink display and hacking together my own device to replace it if I couldn't find something that met those criteria
nvarsj 4y ago
I bought a Kobo Libra 2 recently and it's fantastic. It only has buttons on one side, but the display is fast - it typically adjusts before I finish rotating it.
- mecha_ghidorah 4y ago
  But I don't want to rotate it. I switch hands very often, and in situations where rotating it might be uncomfortable (i.e. when holding other things). EDIT: to clarify, it isn't just about the waiting for me. It's about the physical action being massively inconvenient compares to just shifting hands