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Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

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Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#11

I'm a heavy use of this feature so I'm pissed. Can anyone recommend alternatives? I need to be able to load any books I buy into Calibre so I can convert to whatever format I need.

Kobo is pretty great. Good quality hardware and works well with Calibre.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#12
I am weary of corporations still trying to own everything they already sold me. Additionally sick of them trying to control speech and thought based on whatever ludicrous corporate nanny culture is in vogue.

The people censoring books with “inappropriate language” have no understanding of precedent, history, or art. 1/100th as talented as the authors whose work they “update”. Their life’s greatest accomplishment is making something actually impressive slightly worse.

Coincidentally I was already looking at a Kobo Libra Color or a Supernote Nomad, this just sealed that decision.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#13
post #7

The simple solution is to stop buying eBooks from Amazon. Pirate all of your epubs and PDFs so you will always have an offline backup. If you enjoyed the book buy a hard copy for a friend, relative, book club, etc from a local book store. Amazon doesn't need your money anymore.

Your solution hurts authors more than Amazon. Just buy ebooks from somewhere else! Don’t be cheap and pretend it’s principled. I know you say buy a copy if you enjoyed it but that’s not really how commerce works and none of these authors agreed to offer you donationware.

> Just buy ebooks from somewhere else!

Where can I buy ebooks (epub) that give me access to download the file so that I can copy it to my other devices and keep it on my own backups and organize it in my digital library the way I want to? I want a good selection of anime / manga / sci-fi, and a little bit of the typical best seller stuff.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#14
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your solution hurts authors more than Amazon. Just buy ebooks from somewhere else! Don’t be cheap and pretend it’s principled. I know you say buy a copy if you enjoyed it but that’s not really how commerce works and none of these authors agreed to offer you donationware.

> Just buy ebooks from somewhere else! Where can I buy ebooks (epub) that give me access to download the file so that I can copy it to my other devices and keep it on my own backups and organize it in my digital library the way I want to? I want a good selection of anime / manga / sci-fi, and a little bit of the typical best seller stuff.

If you want to go down the route offered by GP, buy it anywhere and then pirate the epub. The author is compensated, you get the freedom of an unconstrained ebook file, everyone wins.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#15

This renders my kindle gen 2 useless, as its only connectivity is/was via cellular network which doesn’t work anymore (2g or something). I’ve been having to download and then transfer via usb for years.

I recommend complaining to support if this ends up affecting you. It wouldn't surprise me if they can turn it back on for you (idk if it's likely, but I feel like it's worth a try.)

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#17
post #7

The simple solution is to stop buying eBooks from Amazon. Pirate all of your epubs and PDFs so you will always have an offline backup. If you enjoyed the book buy a hard copy for a friend, relative, book club, etc from a local book store. Amazon doesn't need your money anymore.

Your solution hurts authors more than Amazon. Just buy ebooks from somewhere else! Don’t be cheap and pretend it’s principled. I know you say buy a copy if you enjoyed it but that’s not really how commerce works and none of these authors agreed to offer you donationware.

Too many ebooks are Amazon exclusive for that to be viable. Within the fantasy genre, at least. I agree with you generally but this was a valid way to support authors while still reading on non-Kindle eReaders. Amazon just shut that door.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#18

I'm a heavy use of this feature so I'm pissed. Can anyone recommend alternatives? I need to be able to load any books I buy into Calibre so I can convert to whatever format I need.

Kobo is pretty great. Good quality hardware and works well with Calibre.

It works - amazing - with Calibre actually. I set up Calibre-Web-Automated last week and setup my Kobo Libra 2 to sync with my Calibre server (swapping one url in a config file), and now my Kobo acts like my self hosted Calibre server is the actual Kobo Store, meaning I can browse and download all of my books. I think it syncs reading progress too.

Re: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books

#19
post #7

The simple solution is to stop buying eBooks from Amazon. Pirate all of your epubs and PDFs so you will always have an offline backup. If you enjoyed the book buy a hard copy for a friend, relative, book club, etc from a local book store. Amazon doesn't need your money anymore.

Your solution hurts authors more than Amazon. Just buy ebooks from somewhere else! Don’t be cheap and pretend it’s principled. I know you say buy a copy if you enjoyed it but that’s not really how commerce works and none of these authors agreed to offer you donationware.

bookshop.org is very nice alternative!

I'm happy to spend more money on that than using Amazon or any other big corp. They are heavily subsidized and in the long rung destroy people community and the world in general.

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