this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2023
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In a recent communication, Amazon has alerted Kindle users about significant changes set to take effect from next month. The notification pertains to the phasing out of support for sending MOBI (.mobi, .azw, .prc) files through the “Send to Kindle” feature, starting November 1, 2023. This change, as News18 pointed out, specifically impacts users attempting to send MOBI files via email and Kindle apps on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.

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[–] Rizoid@programming.dev 125 points 2 years ago (7 children)

They're just removing an antiquated file type that you should have moved on from anyway. All my books are in epub format and even if they weren't calibre converts them so I don't think this is a significant change at all.

[–] anteaters@feddit.de 38 points 2 years ago

Yup. I see no problem with this change. EPub is an open format and one can easily convert existing ebooks.

[–] TheEntity@kbin.social 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Wait, does Kindle handle epub now?

[–] ipha@lemm.ee 12 points 2 years ago

No, but you can send one through the email service and it will be automatically converted.

[–] Rizoid@programming.dev 7 points 2 years ago

I only ever send in epub format. In the article it clarifies that Amazon recommends the sending of epub.

[–] lnxtx@feddit.nl 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What if you bought an ebook in mobi format a long time ago?

It doesn't make sense.

[–] pulaskiwasright@lemmy.ml 32 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

If you’re technically competent enough to have a mobi locally and send it to a kindle, then you’re technically competent enough to convert it, so it’s not a huge deal. I agree it’s weird though.

Honest question: what non-piracy reasons are there for having a mobi file locally and not already having it attached to your Amazon account ready to download straight to your kindle? Did anyone but Amazon ever even sell mobi files?

[–] nick@midwest.social 17 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Hello checking in here.

Last night I finally got calibre and dedrm working. I have around 400 ebooks that I’ve bought from Amazon over the years,but my trust in Amazon has been eroded to the point I want local, drm-stripped copies in case they take the books back; it has happened, but not to me yet.

The first book I converted: 1984.

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[–] SARGEx117@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (5 children)

"what non piracy reasons are there"

"If you have nothing to hide then what's the problem with putting a camera in the bathroom. What non crime reasons could there be?"

Really though, if you're technically proficient enough for torrenting and vpns, you're proficient enough to convert to newer formats, too.

So even then, it's really just not that big a deal. Other than being a once-used format for the platform. And honestly how many devices are still functioning that can only use mobi? Heck I have a 10 year old Kindle somewhere that probably has 4 or 5 different formats from about 10 different sources.

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[–] Deebster@programming.dev 116 points 2 years ago (3 children)

This is an enormously overblown headline for such a small change.

[–] Salamendacious@lemmy.world 33 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I erroneously thought mobi was more important than it apparently is. I haven't had an e-reader in a long time and I remember using mobi files back then.

[–] Deebster@programming.dev 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's only for very old Kindles, really - Amazon have a new version they use (azw3) and everyone else uses epub.

[–] Salamendacious@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago

My last e-reader was a very old Kindle.

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee 19 points 2 years ago

"Amazon notifies users that Kindle will no longer support Mobi ebook format"

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[–] kadu@lemmy.world 67 points 2 years ago (7 children)

Calibre + KFX plugin. That's it.

KFX supports hyphenation and many more advanced features - the plugin exploits the official Amazon app for publishers to convert any open format into KFX, giving you all the features of Amazon store bought books for free.

[–] Senex@reddthat.com 9 points 2 years ago

Calibre has been a life saver for me. Love that program!

[–] TwinTusks@outpost.zeuslink.net 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Sadly, KFX plugin does not work in Linux (it lacks Kindle Preview app)

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[–] HaggierRapscallier@feddit.nl 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why are kfx files often larger and sometimes double the size?

[–] frezik@midwest.social 8 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Lacks compression?

Don't know if it really matters, though. 8GB of storage holds a lot of books, even if they're illustrated, and that's what base-model e-readers are coming with.

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[–] Treczoks@lemm.ee 35 points 2 years ago (1 children)

lacking support for the latest Kindle features

What kind of support are they "lacking"? They do contain the text and basic formatting. What else would they need in a book?

I'd guess that those "lacking" features have something to do with user tracking or DRM.

[–] clegko@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Epub doesn't natively have user tracking and DRM either. Mobi files are just ancient and there are better alternatives for them. Like bmp files vs jpg.

[–] mesamunefire@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Epub is actually pretty good. And it's been supported for a long time now. Hard agree.

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[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The devices themselves still can’t process epub though so they still need conversion to … mobi.

[–] KaJedBear@lemmy.world 14 points 2 years ago (3 children)

They can use epubs for several months now. It's been incredibly nice but to have to convert books anymore.

[–] uranibaba@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Older devices too? I still have a Kindle Voyage.

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[–] iHUNTcriminals@lemm.ee 22 points 2 years ago (7 children)

Once you go Kobo you never go back.

[–] accideath@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

Gotta say, cannot complain about my kindle either. Thanks to calibre, I’m not bound to Amazon and can read whatever I want.

[–] Salamendacious@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I'll check them out. Thanks

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[–] elscallr@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

If anyone knows of a good ebook reader that's as easy on the eyes as a Kindle I'd love to know it. Everything I look at looks like a low spec tablet instead of a proper eink display.

Edit: thanks to a few comments in this thread I went with the Kobo Libra 2. I love this little device. Plenty of storage, a great display that's really easy on the eyes even with the backlight (which is fully dimmable and has color temperature adjustment). Thanks for everyone for the recommendations!

[–] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 7 points 2 years ago

I use an old Kobo model and its great.

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[–] uphillbothways@kbin.social 11 points 2 years ago

They've been notifying users for a while now, when sending mobi files.

[–] Senex@reddthat.com 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Samsung Mini Tablet + ReadEra = No more Amazon nonsense.

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[–] RheingoldRiver@kbin.social 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I thought they disabled sending mobi files last August? As in, August 2022? Did they postpone it?

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