Amazon will remove the option to download/transfer Kindle e-books via USB by February 2025
-
For me a big hesitation for getting an e-reader was not feeling like I owned my own media. I love books and felt like this was a very of it ain't broke, don't fix it problem.
After getting one as a gift, I'm a huge fan, I read more than ever and really prefer the e-reader format now.
Unfortunately I think society at large is so used to not owning things anymore that there probably won't be too many people turned off by this. Glad to hear it matters to you - would encourage you to give a different brand / platform a try. -
Nothing is certain, but it looks like you will still be able to download books into local memory so you can read them. As long as the apps still work that way, it will be possible to access the book files.
You do need a tool that can remove the DRM from the books files the Kindle uses. DeDRM used to do this nicely, but it has not been updated to handle the most recent version of Kindle DRM. It will not works on any books published since early 2024.
There are commercial options that can remove even the latest DRM from Kindle books. I use Epubor Ultimate. It was the first to handle the most recent Kindle DRM, but I'm sure there are other by now.
-
It is probably worth noting that I am removing the DRM so I can read them on devices that do not have Kindle apps.
-
https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill is a thing, although you have to get the exact model in order to make it work.
I really wanted https://github.com/joeycastillo/The-Open-Book to be a thing, but its very hard to get the parts and assemble (in my opinion).
https://gitlab.com/guyjeangilles/piereader looks promising.
Honestly, the biggest hurtle does NOT appear to be the hardware, its getting the ebook in an open format. If Amazon removes the ability to download the files, then it really doesn't matter what you run, you cant read your book.
-
I have a sizable collection of legitimately procured ebooks, it's not that rare if you prioritize it.
But I agree, it's not about hardware. There are plenty of super premium eink displays these days. I don't even want integration with a eink reader at all. I'm happy reading off an OLED screen in a tablet. All I need is convenient library, management and display software that will handle both text and comic book formats.
Everybody seems to be trying to mimic the Kindle ecosystem with all its quirks and hardware dependencies when what I really want is book Plex.
-
Yeah, it's been hit and miss with downloading from the Kindle. I mostly get books from the library and strip the DRM from there. I figure it's a win-win, because the library gets a record of the checkout, but then I get to read it at my leisure while the next person gets to read it.
-
Wait, you guys were buying books from Amazon?
-
I used my kindle for 10 years now, and I never bought one. I did buy ebooks 3rd party plenty.
-
If you download your books, how do you read them in other hardware? Aren’t they all drm locked?
-
I heavily depends on where you get them. Most ebook publishers actually DONT put DRM on them. And other software can very easily remove the DRM if it is on the books.
-
Nice having your own library is the way to go!
-
My point is what’s the point of downloading kindle ebooks if they can only be read after connecting to the cloud or whatever anyway?
-
https://github.com/nodrm/DeDRM_tools is just the first one that pops up. Theres a LOT of software out there that does this. I would recommend getting a copy as GitHub has been going after "grey" repos for a bit once they are discovered (see switch emulation and the many fan games).
-
Put it on airplane mode the day I bought it. Calibre is godsent
-
No kidding. Really tried using it for a month. But it was just terrible interfacing with it.
-
Well, feeling glad I already strip the DRM for my backups last month. Not buying anymore from em at all.
-
Then use the library for the rest of the series if needed. :-).
-
Yeah, some of us made that miskate years ago. I can transfer mp3 just fine, why can't I transfer a book file too?
Lots of people entire book libraries are being held hostage by Amazon.DRM ripping was a pain, I used some sketch program that had only worked with a specific old version of Kindle for PC to turn all my books into ebubs.
I love my kindle, but not buying books from Amazon anymore and next ereader won't be kindle.
Fun unrelated fact, kindle unlimited books could also be downloaded for USB transfer.
-
So i won't be able to download my ebooks from amazon.com to my PC, right?
-
My favorite Calibre thing was when the creator was interviewed and asked about the common complaint that Calibre is ugly and he was basically like “actually it’s not.”
