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  3. Next week, Amazon is stripping away your ability to download your ebooks.

Next week, Amazon is stripping away your ability to download your ebooks.

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  • T [email protected]

    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?

    K This user is from outside of this forum
    K This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #42

    The UI is super simple, it's based on Linux so it's much closer to using a tablet computer, you access your books via folders

    Default UI

    Library is a file Explorer

    UI without recommendations (I never bothered turning it off because I'm never on the front page)

    T 1 Reply Last reply
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    • kokesh@lemmy.worldK [email protected]

      How is that legal?

      D This user is from outside of this forum
      D This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote on last edited by
      #43

      Welcome to capitalism 101.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • alphane_moon@lemmy.worldA [email protected]
        This post did not contain any content.
        P This user is from outside of this forum
        P This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote on last edited by
        #44

        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.

        K 1 Reply Last reply
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        • K [email protected]

          The UI is super simple, it's based on Linux so it's much closer to using a tablet computer, you access your books via folders

          Default UI

          Library is a file Explorer

          UI without recommendations (I never bothered turning it off because I'm never on the front page)

          T This user is from outside of this forum
          T This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote on last edited by
          #45

          Thank you so much for posting pics! It looks great.

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          • H [email protected]

            First, you will need DeDRM v10.0.9 beta/RC or the alpha release. This will work on many (but not all) Kindle ebooks. (Some Kindle books come with extra-strength encryption that these tools cannot handle, etc.) If you have questions about installing, setting up, or using DeDRM, ask on GitHub.

            "many but not all" hm.

            grimer@lemmy.worldG This user is from outside of this forum
            grimer@lemmy.worldG This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #46

            I had some issues at first then decided to actually RTFM and once i entered my kindle serial number into the plugin, worked perfectly.

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            • D [email protected]

              Authors receive 25% of the ebook sale to a library in the US. Frequent lends will also influence future purchases made by the library.

              https://janefriedman.com/what-do-authors-earn-from-digital-lending-at-libraries/

              Libraries in Canada and the UK pay royalties for each lend.

              https://societyofauthors.org/where-we-stand/public-lending-right-plr/

              T This user is from outside of this forum
              T This user is from outside of this forum
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              wrote on last edited by
              #47

              Good to know! Thanks! I’ll start using my e-lending app again, ever if that just means I instantly return the book.

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              • D [email protected]

                Authors receive 25% of the ebook sale to a library in the US. Frequent lends will also influence future purchases made by the library.

                https://janefriedman.com/what-do-authors-earn-from-digital-lending-at-libraries/

                Libraries in Canada and the UK pay royalties for each lend.

                https://societyofauthors.org/where-we-stand/public-lending-right-plr/

                T This user is from outside of this forum
                T This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote on last edited by
                #48

                It's not a great deal for the libraries. They ebooks can come with a limited number of checkouts and cost far more.

                I switched to Kobo and have been very happy so far. I was able to download my books from Amazon and mumble and then I was able to read them on my Kobo device and store them in my Calibre library.

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                • H [email protected]

                  I don't think that will work with the .kfx file type. At least it didn't for me.

                  T This user is from outside of this forum
                  T This user is from outside of this forum
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                  wrote on last edited by
                  #49

                  There are some plug-ins for Calibre that might be able to help you.

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                  • H [email protected]

                    Windows only. Le sigh.

                    T This user is from outside of this forum
                    T This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #50

                    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.

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                    • P [email protected]

                      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.

                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #51

                      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 if you naively log into your Amazon account and that literally results 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.

                      D 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • K [email protected]

                        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 if you naively log into your Amazon account and that literally results 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.

                        D This user is from outside of this forum
                        D This user is from outside of this forum
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                        wrote on last edited by
                        #52

                        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.

                        K 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • S [email protected]

                          "your" ebooks. – You never owned them in the first place. And if buying isn't owning, questionably acquired ebooks aren't stolen.

                          circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.orgC This user is from outside of this forum
                          circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.orgC This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #53

                          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.

                          R 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • D [email protected]

                            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.

                            K This user is from outside of this forum
                            K This user is from outside of this forum
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                            wrote on last edited by
                            #54

                            I'm not sure where exactly they made the switch. Basically, I got my girlfriend one a year and a half ago and it did not need the software. I explained to her to turn off the wifi and just download books and drag and drop.

                            But then around Christmastime last year my girlfriend's cousin wanted an ebook ready so we bought her a Kindle and I gave the same advice. But she couldn't figure out how to drag and drop, so she brought it over. I was fussing around thinking something was wrong with my USB cable but then I realized it required that special software.

                            So the switch happened at some point in the last ~18 months or so my memory's a bit hazy

                            Amazon just couldn't let it be. There's a certain set of people that just aren't going to opt into all the bullshit. These people just want a plain and simple ebook ready to host their ebooks. They think if they force the special software they'll be able to do things like sign into your Kindle and change your settings by force.

                            But what happens? Instead of gaining those people like me or you into their ecosystem, they're just gonna lose future hardware customers. I would have been perfectly fine buying Kindles for the rest of my life if they had just kept that feature.

                            I'm sure it's going to be reversed engineered at some point but it's absurd. I don't understand the short-sighted greed.

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                            • K [email protected]

                              Good thing then that I never, ever in my entire life have given Amazon a single cent, nor will I.

                              A This user is from outside of this forum
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                              wrote on last edited by
                              #55

                              how is that even possible? Congrats anyway

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                              • macaroni_ninja@lemmy.worldM [email protected]

                                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 without the online features, which is fantastic, but there are many great Kindle alternatives without the corporate spyware bullshit.

                                brewchin@lemmy.worldB This user is from outside of this forum
                                brewchin@lemmy.worldB This user is from outside of this forum
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                                wrote on last edited by
                                #56

                                Calibre (Kindle) and Libation (Audible) are essential backup tools.

                                Y'know, in case their servers are down...

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                                • roofuskit@lemmy.worldR [email protected]

                                  Because in the kindle store you're not purchasing the book but a license to the book.

                                  dukethorion@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
                                  dukethorion@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
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                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #57

                                  That doesn't change the argument.

                                  roofuskit@lemmy.worldR 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • ionaddis@lemmy.worldI [email protected]

                                    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.

                                    M This user is from outside of this forum
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                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #58

                                    Lol, my girlfriend just had all of her sideloaded books removed from her kindle today. She just opened her kindle and they were gone

                                    ultragigagigantic@lemmy.mlU 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • alphane_moon@lemmy.worldA [email protected]
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                                      captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.worksC This user is from outside of this forum
                                      captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.worksC This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #59

                                      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.

                                      M S 2 Replies Last reply
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                                      • alphane_moon@lemmy.worldA [email protected]
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                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #60

                                        library genesis. anna's archive.

                                        chances are, its there.

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                                        • dukethorion@lemmy.worldD [email protected]

                                          That doesn't change the argument.

                                          roofuskit@lemmy.worldR This user is from outside of this forum
                                          roofuskit@lemmy.worldR This user is from outside of this forum
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                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #61

                                          Legality has never been morality. Slavery was legal, still technically is.

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