Too little, too late imo. They aren't applying it retroactively, and the default is to protect. Certain this is to appease a 0.1% of authors to begin using the platform as their primary...
Too little, too late imo. They aren't applying it retroactively, and the default is to protect. Certain this is to appease a 0.1% of authors to begin using the platform as their primary distribution center instead of a an author/publishers own or third-party platform, and to then lock them in from the network effects.
They definitely aren't changing the DRM status on anything, but they also aren't enabling the new download formats on previously uploaded DRM free books, which is the somewhat odd part. Equally,...
They definitely aren't changing the DRM status on anything, but they also aren't enabling the new download formats on previously uploaded DRM free books, which is the somewhat odd part.
Equally, this seems like a pretty minor feature change in the first place, at least to me. If a book was already DRM free, the flow would've been download->right click->convert to ePub, now it's just "download as ePub". It's a small nice to have, sure, but it doesn't seem like an actual policy shift or even a meaningful change in usability - I can't imagine the number of people who choose to use an ePub-only, non-Kindle device but don't know how to format shift DRM free content is particularly large.
Certain publishers like Tor release their books without DRM, so this could be relevant there too. It's weird that if you've already chosen to have the book DRM-free it doesn't automatically apply,...
Certain publishers like Tor release their books without DRM, so this could be relevant there too.
It's weird that if you've already chosen to have the book DRM-free it doesn't automatically apply, though. Attempting to give the benefit of the doubt (which is sketchy because this is Amazon, but for the sake of trying), maybe there's a contractual issue with making the books available in a new format without opt-in? Still, in that case surely they could send out a notification asking if you want to enable downloads for your existing catalog or something.
My ebooks didn't have DRM to begin with, but I went through the process outlined in this article and confirmed that they can be downloaded in different formats.
My ebooks didn't have DRM to begin with, but I went through the process outlined in this article and confirmed that they can be downloaded in different formats.
Maybe they figure they've captured enough of the market as Kindle exclusives that they can finally throw us this bone. Personally I don't really care anymore--if a book is only available through...
Maybe they figure they've captured enough of the market as Kindle exclusives that they can finally throw us this bone. Personally I don't really care anymore--if a book is only available through Amazon it's the same as not existing to me, I'll find something else to read.
Yes Kindle exclusives and DRM were what drove me away from the Kindle platform. Kobo devices were always a better fit for me, and I didn't want to reward scummy exclusivity deals by rewarding...
Yes Kindle exclusives and DRM were what drove me away from the Kindle platform. Kobo devices were always a better fit for me, and I didn't want to reward scummy exclusivity deals by rewarding Amazon with a book sale then processing it so I could read it on my chosen device. I just didn't buy those books.
Sometimes I managed to get authors to sell direct, which was nice. They probably weren't supposed to though, I guess.
Imagine going to a library and not being able to borrow a book because this shelf was exclusively for those who live on one side of the street or the other. Ridiculous.
Glad to see it, but i'm also glad I got waaaaaaaaaay aware from kindle and amazon forever ago. Pocketbook Era has served me well for years now and i go through libro.fm and similar sites for...
Glad to see it, but i'm also glad I got waaaaaaaaaay aware from kindle and amazon forever ago. Pocketbook Era has served me well for years now and i go through libro.fm and similar sites for ebooks/audio because i'm utterly sick of DRM.
Ignoring the whole "well can I loan this book" thing, it was MASSIVELY frustrating when I suddenly wanted to move my titles to a different device or start backing things up and was constantly kicked in the teeth. As always DRM that makes the consumers life worse than the pirates is always such a crap shoot.
Too little, too late imo. They aren't applying it retroactively, and the default is to protect. Certain this is to appease a 0.1% of authors to begin using the platform as their primary distribution center instead of a an author/publishers own or third-party platform, and to then lock them in from the network effects.
Applying it retroactively would be kind of wild. Ultimately, this should be up the authors. I wouldn’t want Amazon removing DRM without my consent.
They definitely aren't changing the DRM status on anything, but they also aren't enabling the new download formats on previously uploaded DRM free books, which is the somewhat odd part.
Equally, this seems like a pretty minor feature change in the first place, at least to me. If a book was already DRM free, the flow would've been download->right click->convert to ePub, now it's just "download as ePub". It's a small nice to have, sure, but it doesn't seem like an actual policy shift or even a meaningful change in usability - I can't imagine the number of people who choose to use an ePub-only, non-Kindle device but don't know how to format shift DRM free content is particularly large.
Certain publishers like Tor release their books without DRM, so this could be relevant there too.
It's weird that if you've already chosen to have the book DRM-free it doesn't automatically apply, though. Attempting to give the benefit of the doubt (which is sketchy because this is Amazon, but for the sake of trying), maybe there's a contractual issue with making the books available in a new format without opt-in? Still, in that case surely they could send out a notification asking if you want to enable downloads for your existing catalog or something.
My ebooks didn't have DRM to begin with, but I went through the process outlined in this article and confirmed that they can be downloaded in different formats.
Maybe they figure they've captured enough of the market as Kindle exclusives that they can finally throw us this bone. Personally I don't really care anymore--if a book is only available through Amazon it's the same as not existing to me, I'll find something else to read.
Yes Kindle exclusives and DRM were what drove me away from the Kindle platform. Kobo devices were always a better fit for me, and I didn't want to reward scummy exclusivity deals by rewarding Amazon with a book sale then processing it so I could read it on my chosen device. I just didn't buy those books.
Sometimes I managed to get authors to sell direct, which was nice. They probably weren't supposed to though, I guess.
Imagine going to a library and not being able to borrow a book because this shelf was exclusively for those who live on one side of the street or the other. Ridiculous.
Glad to see it, but i'm also glad I got waaaaaaaaaay aware from kindle and amazon forever ago. Pocketbook Era has served me well for years now and i go through libro.fm and similar sites for ebooks/audio because i'm utterly sick of DRM.
Ignoring the whole "well can I loan this book" thing, it was MASSIVELY frustrating when I suddenly wanted to move my titles to a different device or start backing things up and was constantly kicked in the teeth. As always DRM that makes the consumers life worse than the pirates is always such a crap shoot.
How generous of them.