Does anyone have any experience with doing this? It’s not for myself, but for someone who isn’t tech inclined. I want to set him up with FOSS to avoid future shitification by azn. I know I need to strip drm, and then convert out of amz formats, but really have no idea how to do this. Any help would be appreciated! -j
This sound like a job for Calibre. I don’t know exactly how to do it though.
Looks like there’s a plugin you can use
https://www.techradar.com/news/software/how-to-remove-ebook-drm-with-calibre-1291960
Awesome, I’ll give this a shot!
Have a look at DeDRM Tools.
A guide can be found on the old repo
Make sure to use an older Kindle for PC version. I think I have 1.26. With that version you also need the KFX input plugin.
With the plugins installed, you should be able to drag the files you downloaded with Kindle into Calibre and have it detect them.
The next step is conversion. Be very careful here, Calibre likes to fuck with images. You’ll probably want EPUB as the target format.
Set the target device to Tablet, or your images get resized.
Also disable the title image resizing in the last register.
I’d recommend you set these setting as default, so you don’t forget changing them.If it’s for a Kobo, there’s also the KEPUB format which adds extra tweaks and features, that Calibre also has a plugin for.
You don’t mention how they read these books, is it a Kindle e-ink device, a Fire Tablet, or some other way? I ask because the shitification has started, they have a new file format they deliver to devices that are capable of KFX. That’s anything made after the 1st Paperwhite e-ink Kindle. The new KFX file is not crackable with current NoDRM/DeDRM tools that can be found on GitHub.
As for FOSS, Koreader can be found on github and is installable on most Kobo devices as well as Remarkable devices if going with e-ink, and can be installed on android devices through F-Droid or manual install. Always read the install instructions to make sure you understand the install procedure on e-ink devices.
Currently android tablet with kindle app. Uses windows desktop to organize library (which the latest update forces you to do via cloud)
I’ll send you to an older post, here.
It’s a hassle, but it works mostly, unless it’s textbooks or books made for the Indian market. Mobile read has info about the changes, here and here.
It basically involves installing an android emulator to windows and using old Kindle for Android apps as the workaround, but Amazon can stop that whenever they feel like it.
KFX up to Kindle for PC 1.26 can be converted with the KFX input plugin.
Sounds like you already have a good start on this, but I wrote up instructions for myself when I move computers. I use calibre and an older version of the Kindle for PC app. DM me if you need help.
Thank you!
Is there a good FOSS e-reader platform? I was considering moving from nook TO kindle, but now you’re giving me pause.
I went down that rabbit hole and really had no options that were satisfactory. I average almost a book every 10 days so it needs to just work. I got a kobo libra and love it. Supports all my formats and i sync over wifi with calibre-web
Sounds like me. I like supporting B&N, but I feel like their reader is an afterthought and it’s always frozen or laggy. Are you ahem acquiring your books as well? I do like being connected to a store for easy access.
I aquire 50/50. I do buy from thier store and use calibre and calibreweb for the other “store” calibre web has pretty good support but you do have to do a very easy config update to sync over wifi. But i basically add to a shelf in calibre web and that syncs to the reader. it just works
KOReader. Even runs on jailbroken Kindles
PineNote is one of the only ones I can think of with an e-ink display.
