As someone who likes to have a fallback way of purchasing digital content that I can remove DRM from, this annoys me.
I can still purchase mp3 and flac files from various online retailers, and I can rip bluray for my movies and tv shows, but now I need a new place to purchase ebooks that are downloadable. Anyone have any recommendations? The first few independent retailers i’ve found seem to require their own apps.
Kobo, Barnes & Noble, ebooks.com
Sounds to me like Amazon is reducing the value proposition of their product. For me, additional roadblocks to being able to enjoy something they way I want when I have paid for it reduces the value of the product itself.
For example, if a DRM free book in an standards compatible format costs $20, then the DRM version I can still download for offline viewing is worth $10. The DRM version I can’t download is now worth more like $1-$5 depending on how badly I would want to read it while still supporting the author.
And yes, ebooks from the major sellers aren’t worth much to me and I rarely rent (because you’re not really buying) them.
Here’s my purely capitalistic problem with Amazon:
A decade+ ago, I realized that major brands were using the site as their outlet store. I’d buy a pack of socks, and they’d be hideously deformed. I’d buy a few pants for work, one pair would be too small, one too large, and one would fit just right. I’m not fucking Goldilocks.
The final straw for me was when my coffee maker broke. I ordered a new one via same day shipping, which at the time had a minimum order of something like $50. The coffee maker did not cost quite enough, so I added something random to the order so that my same day shipping would be free. Ultimately, the coffee maker arrived late (i.e. not the same day) and the decanter was broken.
When I contacted Amazon about the issue, the agent said they could reship, but they wouldn’t send it same day so for that specific item it was going to take 3 - 5 days to arrive. They also tried to hassle me with a straight up return, telling me I had to take it to a UPS store, which at the time was 30+ minutes away.
Ultimately, I pulled a Karen and told them to cancel my Amazon Prime, which they did. Only problem is, I was 2 or 3 months into the year long subscription and assumed I’d get a pro-rated refund. I did not. When I got back in touch with customer service, they told me that Amazon adds up the value of the “free” shipping I received, the rental value of the movies and shows I watched on Prime, and the value of all the other services included with Prime and if that total exceeds the remaining value of the Prime subscription, then no refund.
They basically stole almost a year of Prime from me with no recourse.
Scum company. I got a lot of hate for saying this back in those days. But at least now, a decade+ later, people are finally starting to wake up. Not everyone, obviously. But at least I don’t get hateful responses and DMs quite as much as I used to.
“your” ebooks. – You never owned them in the first place. And if buying isn’t owning, questionably acquired ebooks aren’t stolen.
Check if it’s available on your library website first, for the sake of the author.
I download books from my library to my kindle. It goes through Amazon though, so I assume I am also impacted by this BS.
It shouldn’t. The DRM is on the Amazon book file format. The books I get from my library are usually epub format.
I mean authors don’t see money anytime someone rents an ebook do they? Libraries just need to pay for licenses to the publisher annually from what I’ve read on reddit/Lemmy.
I can understand renting ebooks so that your library continues to fund a digital library, but if the book is available in paper form that doesn’t really benefit the author either.
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/
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.
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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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.
It depends, sometimes you can “buy” digital ownership from these places in the form of DRM-free files. If you are able to download the DRM-free file and make a reliable backup of it, then I could call that actual ownership. This is how I approach my music and ebook libraries. I don’t do subscriptions for streaming anything but TV.
True, though such services are in the extreme minority at this point.
Bandcamp is great for music downloads
One more reason not to buy ebooks from Amazon.
I’m glad I started my Amazon boycott earlier. I could’ve lost a lot more e-books.
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.
some FAA handbooks
Just light reading…
I’m a flight instructor, so…yes.
Roger
GetLibation.com to download and convert your Audible library
Thank you. Audible was my lifesaver when I was working on the road but I’m definitely on the prepare part.
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.
Calibre (Kindle) and Libation (Audible) are essential backup tools.
Y’know, in case their servers are down…
Sadly, Calibre doesn’t handle .kfx at this time.
It absolutely does. https://plugins.calibre-ebook.com/ there is a KFX input plugin. Also, if using an older version of kindle for PC you can batch download your whole library and import to Calibre.
Yep, I did it earlier today. Took about half an hour to set up, download and convert 75 books and comics
There’s a plugin, and easy tutorials to follow online. It absolutely handles KFX.
🤣🤣🤣🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
I borrow them from my library through the Libby and Hoopla apps. If I want to support the author, I’ll buy a copy through some other means. Directly from them, if possible.
I was able to export (you’ll have to remove DRM via plugin) all of my Kindle ebooks into epub using “Method 2a” of this guide:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361503
It’s can be a massive pain with some metadata issues, but at least it works.
I’ve been meaning to do this for years, but have always been too lazy.
Windows only. Le sigh.
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.
What do you mean? The guide OP mentioned has instructions for MacOS. Also, the software referenced (Calibre and DeDRM plugin) are available on Linux systems as well.
The Kindle app needs to be a specific version, and sadly the one needed for MacOS to grab the by Calibre dedrm-able files from Kindle doesn’t work anymore.
You’re right. Method 2b is for mac.
Good thing then that I never, ever in my entire life have given Amazon a single cent, nor will I.
Honestly? That’s pretty amazing.
how is that even possible? Congrats anyway
Have you paid for a service that uses AWS though? Youay never know if you’ve funded the big A.
Perfection is the enemy of better
A wink’s as good as a nod to a blind bat.
Very happy I got a PocketBook instead of the store locked alternatives
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?
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)
Thank you so much for posting pics! It looks great.
Like I believe generally everyone needs . waffle eating books should imaginatively teach evil
How is that legal?
Welcome to capitalism 101.
Because in the kindle store you’re not purchasing the book but a license to the book.
That doesn’t change the argument.
Legality has never been morality. Slavery was legal, still technically is.
No it isn’t 🐭
