Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format • Hacker News Board

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#71

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:27 AM UTC

teraflop wrote: post #19

DavidWoof wrote: post #17

This is a welcome move, but I keep trying to figure out how this is going to effect Libby users (which is probably 80% of my kindle usage these day) and I can't find any info at all. Does anyone have any idea?

This particular page is only talking about a change to Microsoft's ebook store. On Amazon's side, they've been updating their docs to talk about how MOBI is "deprecated", but the only actual change announced is that MOBI support has been removed from the "Send to Kindle" (via email) feature. So if you're not using that, you should be unaffected.

[deleted]

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#72

Post by manholio » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:28 AM UTC

paxys wrote: post #3

I'm very confused about what file format(s) Kindle actually supports. * They are dropping support for MOBI from their Send to Kindle website and apps. * They are adding support for ePub in their Send to Kindle website and apps, but apparently they will be converted to Kindle format (MOBI? AZW?) under the hood. * Several sites mention AZW3 as the official Kindle format. Is that the same as MOBI? * It is unclear whethe…

It supports exactly the format it needs to so that you can purchase DRM encumbered ebooks off Amazon. I hope that clears it up.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#73

Post by relix » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:31 AM UTC

innocenat wrote: post #64

pantojax45 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Kobo Store is really easy to use - plus Overdrive (library ebook software) is natively integrated into Kobo as well. It’s basically equivalent to Amazon and when you purchase from Kobo (or check out from local library) it shows up automatically when you sync via wifi. They’ll even price match Amazon (credit for difference in cost +10% bonus) just by filling out a form.

Kobo doesn't have wireless sync for third party book. That's a killing feature for many people on Kindle.

Kobo's default OS has Dropbox and Pocket support. You can just drop a book in your Dropboox and it'll appear on your Kobo through wireless sync.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#74

Post by powersnail » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:33 AM UTC

innocenat wrote: post #62

powersnail wrote: post #59

My biggest confusion about Send-to-kindle, is that you can't send an `AZW3` file. It's the format that Amazon uses; it works if you transfer it by USB; for some reason, you just can't send it by email. Makes no sense to me.

AFAIK iOS Kindle App can't read AZW3. It's converted to AZK. Amazon probably don't have AZW3->AZK pipeline.

That just sounds even more curious to me. How can a company make an app that doesn't read a format it invented? AZW3 has been around for years. There's got to be enough time for them to implement it.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#75

Post by innocenat » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:35 AM UTC

relix wrote: post #73

innocenat wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kobo doesn't have wireless sync for third party book. That's a killing feature for many people on Kindle.

Kobo's default OS has Dropbox and Pocket support. You can just drop a book in your Dropboox and it'll appear on your Kobo through wireless sync.

Dropbox is only available on Kobo Forma, Sage, and Elipsa. It isn't available in more popular Libra 2 or Aura HD.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#76

Post by rapind » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:35 AM UTC

janpieterz wrote: post #45

Thorentis wrote: post #25

I very consciously did not buy a Kindle when choosing an Ereader about a year ago. The Kobo H2O is incredible and has served me very well. The format support is wonderful, and the stock OS does more than I need (though there is a whole community of custom OSes that also look cool). Combined with Calibre, I don't even see what the Kindle value prop is.

I switched from a Kindle to a Kobo, and now back to a Kindle. My experience was that the Kindle's responsiveness to changes (next/previous/moving around in the OS) was better, just significant enough to be bothering me when I was using the Kobo.

The latest low end kindle response time is horrendous and the material is slippy.

I lost my paperwhite so replaced it last week and the quality has really really dipped. Also it was the cheapest kindle but cost more than I originally spent in my paperwhite…

I’m returning it next week when I finish my current book.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#77

Post by innocenat » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:38 AM UTC

powersnail wrote: post #74

innocenat wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK iOS Kindle App can't read AZW3. It's converted to AZK. Amazon probably don't have AZW3->AZK pipeline.

That just sounds even more curious to me. How can a company make an app that doesn't read a format it invented? AZW3 has been around for years. There's got to be enough time for them to implement it.

I heard that it's because Amazon don't want to use WebKit for HTML rendering. AZW3 is mostly EPUB in different package.

Don't quote me on this though.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#78

Post by brewdad » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:42 AM UTC

powersnail wrote: post #74

innocenat wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK iOS Kindle App can't read AZW3. It's converted to AZK. Amazon probably don't have AZW3->AZK pipeline.

That just sounds even more curious to me. How can a company make an app that doesn't read a format it invented? AZW3 has been around for years. There's got to be enough time for them to implement it.

I honestly think that Amazon can't fathom a world where you could end up with an AZW3 file that wasn't purchased, and therefore directly downloadable from, their store.

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#79

Post by fancy_pantser » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:43 AM UTC

innocenat wrote: post #75

relix wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kobo's default OS has Dropbox and Pocket support. You can just drop a book in your Dropboox and it'll appear on your Kobo through wireless sync.

Dropbox is only available on Kobo Forma, Sage, and Elipsa. It isn't available in more popular Libra 2 or Aura HD.

It's not native, you're right. Many of us have been using Kobocloud for years to automatically sync to cloud drive services: https://github.com/fsantini/KoboCloud

Re: Retirement of Amazon MOBI eBook file format

#80

Post by nucleardog » Thu, Aug 11, 2022, 6:45 AM UTC

jfim wrote: post #39

Thorentis wrote: post #25

I very consciously did not buy a Kindle when choosing an Ereader about a year ago. The Kobo H2O is incredible and has served me very well. The format support is wonderful, and the stock OS does more than I need (though there is a whole community of custom OSes that also look cool). Combined with Calibre, I don't even see what the Kindle value prop is.

> Combined with Calibre, I don't even see what the Kindle value prop is. Easy purchasing of ebooks from Amazon, combined with their large selection of ebooks.

Yeah like, I don't wanna point out the typical HN problem but...

Imagine explaining this to someone's grandma.

"Click this Amazon shortcut, type your book name up here, click on it down below, press 'buy now'. If it doesn't show up right away, wait 5 minutes and check again."

Versus... something to do with trying to download mobi files (from where?), starting calibre, starting an import process, locating said files (this is seriously harder than you think for most people), plugging your reader into your PC, running a sync process...