My Disgust With Amazon (that there's nothing I can do about)

Fanboi

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So as some of you may know by some of my posts of late, I recently decided to dust of an old novel and actually get it published. Blood, sweat and LibreOffice tears later, I've formatted it to spec... So my bestie, who has just also dusted off an old book of his published it (we "twin think") suggested I use Kindle Create for my final submission. I won't expand on why it's the best option, sufficed to say it is a massive advantage over DIY'ing it in ePub or doc(x) format.

So I find Kindle Create download page. "For PC or Mac" ("PC" vs "Mac"? Really, people still talk like that?). No Linux. WTF? They had a Linux eBook converter last I looked into doing this. Quick web search revealed they dropped -- yes dropped -- Linux support. So I tried WINE despite the app DB saying it would not work, and, well, it did not work.
Now if you know much about the underlying technology involved -- and most people today do, except "Generation Smartphone" -- you'll know this could have been developed cross-platform (or they could've just open sourced it, let other OS users port it). I would say supporting Linux is as important now as supporting Mac (and Mac users once faced this issue, too). ~5% of the desktop market in most countries with 15% in some (like India).

So... er why? It's like a deliberate kick in the face? It's worse than getting kicked out of games over anti-cheat BS because there is literally no sane, rational reason for Amazon to have made this move. They're literally telling authors, f*** you (ironically, Linux users are way less likely to publish AI-written books than Windows users -- because we're better, duh ;) -- which only makes it more insane).
 


I share your outrage over organizations gratuitously excluding users based upon irrelevant criteria. It's like excluding a segment of your market just because they're dogs! (To pervert a phrase, "On the internet, everyone just assumes you're a dog." Dogs everywhere are offended.)

I've recently been fooling around with ebooks in the epub format(s) with an eye toward just being able to open and read them (not create nor "manage" them) on a Linux PC without any bells and whistles.

Disregarding any vendor-specific bullshot, an epub file is basically a zip file containing some xhtml files and a bit of metadata - all of it in plain text form. There's no reason whatsoever why any tool for handling or creating that should be platform-specific. As a proof of concept, I have a workable epub reader written entirely in shell script (no built in display functions - it uses a web browser for display).
 
I've actually generated a reasonable ePub from LO (before tweaking the HTML)... Problem is Amazon converts that to .mobi/.azw and co. Basically, the conversion process can break things. So they offer you a great tool, like dangling a carrot. So I'll be forced to fire up a VM for Windows for the first time in years (and I have a legal copy of Windows 10... so to speak, it was on the OEM partition of something I bought, but I kept it just in case, and now I'm glad, even though I'll likely have to ***** it because of hardware detection, but if I bought hardware containing it, I paid for it, and thus, EULAs aside, it is my copy -- from my standpoint). Literally years since I've had a Windows VM and I feel traitorous even installing it. But needs must.

... Funny how just about every other online eBook seller supports ePub natively. You'd almost think Amazon were intentionally breaking compatibility, but corporate would never do that.
 
For something so basic, you won't even have to activate Windows. You can use Windows for free, if you want. There will be a nag in the lower left after 30 days but you can still do that sort of stuff with it.

There are some settings you can't change prior to activation.

In fact, you can download virtualized images perfectly free from MSFT.
 
So I find Kindle Create download page. "For PC or Mac" ("PC" vs "Mac"? Really, people still talk like that?). No Linux. WTF? They had a Linux eBook converter last I looked into doing this. Quick web search revealed they dropped -- yes dropped -- Linux support. So I tried WINE despite the app DB saying it would not work, and, well, it did not work.
I can just connect my Kindle to my Linux install and then copy over pdf's or epub's. Not sure what the problem is?
 
ou'd almost think Amazon were intentionally breaking compatibility, but corporate would never do that.
b-Zo-Rud6-Imgur.gif
 
For something so basic, you won't even have to activate Windows. You can use Windows for free, if you want. There will be a nag in the lower left after 30 days but you can still do that sort of stuff with it.

There are some settings you can't change prior to activation.
I had thought of doing that, but I figure I'll need KC in the longterm, so I may as well bite the bullet, do the full PITA once and then be done with it.
In fact, you can download virtualized images perfectly free from MSFT.
...When you say free, does that mean free beer free, or still in the above context?

I can just connect my Kindle to my Linux install and then copy over pdf's or epub's. Not sure what the problem is?
It's not for that. I'm talking publishing on KDP. The KDP platform does all this alchemy. So it's easier to use their tool and make sure I don't have to re-submit a million times because their conversion broke something, or that I'm dissatisfied with the output.

@Fanboi, I don't fully understand the ins and outs of what dramas you are facing.......but.......is there any

joy for you in Calibre ?

""Calibre is one of the most popular eBook apps for Linux. To be honest, it’s a lot more than just a simple eBook reader. It’s a complete eBook solution. You can even create professional eBooks with Calibre or even remove DRM from Kindle books. ""

?
I've looked into it, but it doesn't fully support KDP's preferred format (KF8/.mobi/.azw et al). I'd love it if they supported ePub 100% like every other platform does, but sadly it's unlikely to happen. They accept manuscripts in ePub, but convert them, and that's why it's better to your their tool. Just one of those unfortunate things. A 1% of 1% bad luck, rock and hard place.
 
free beer

This kind of free...

While MSFT does have programs like the 'shared source' program, or I assume they still have it, it's definitely not going to be free as in opensource - at this level, at least. They do have some FOSS stuff but this fill VM isn't going to be one of those things.
 
This kind of free...

While MSFT does have programs like the 'shared source' program, or I assume they still have it, it's definitely not going to be free as in opensource - at this level, at least. They do have some FOSS stuff but this fill VM isn't going to be one of those things.
Figured... They released a DX12 implementation for Linux... but it only runs through WSL2. It's semi-propreitary. Why does this remind me of the browser wars with IE?

KGIII said:
In fact, you can download virtualized images perfectly free from MSFT.
Tried their downloads section. One page says:
Due to ongoing technical issues, as of October 23, 2024, downloads are temporarily unavailable.
And then there's another page for "IT Professionals" but it wants enough info to build a profile on me, and some things I can't provide like my company name and email (my boss would hit the roof). So, I'm going to have just get that OEM install partition to behave in a VM (by one or another or other means).

To quote a friend of mine,
It's insane you have to install an entire VM to run one program.
I'm seriously considering next year's Christmas present to myself to be a MacBook 13" (been considering one for a while because of gaps). Cost is not much different from a new non-potato laptop (12k vs 14k average -- ~650 vs 750 USD by a rough est.) and by then then M1 series will be ancient considering they're already on M4 now, so the price will be even less. I basically need to save 1-1.5k per month depending on commission. I mean at least I'll be getting a fairly decent OS and very good build-quality with Mac, and I won't be adding to the Windows market share. And if Apple are still onboard with dual-boot, then I get to see how well Linux will run on an M-series first-hand.
 
It's not for that. I'm talking publishing on KDP. The KDP platform does all this alchemy. So it's easier to use their tool and make sure I don't have to re-submit a million times because their conversion broke something, or that I'm dissatisfied with the output.
I see, I didn't get that it was about publishing when I was reading it last night. I had gone out to eat and wasn't in my normal state of mind lol. What's the name of this app that does all this alchemy?
 
I see, I didn't get that it was about publishing when I was reading it last night. I had gone out to eat and wasn't in my normal state of mind lol. What's the name of this app that does all this alchemy?
Well, when you publish on KDP you have these options for the manuscript: ePUB, Doc(x), mobi, KPF (which support the KF8 spec but is backwards compatible) to upload the manuscript.
Now if you used doc(x) or ePUB, it'll get converted by Kindle. Not sure about mobi as it is their format. During the conversion, you have no say and things can be botched. Also your print editions need different formatting to eBooks... The KPF format is not actually a fomat as such. Best analogy: Jpeg/PNG vs xcf.
So when you use the KPF (proprietary) format, made with Kindle Create, your book is automagically formatted perfectly to their spec, no inconsistency, and smooth transition between eBook and print. This is where Kindle Create really becomes useful. But it doesn't stop there. It has, though limited, stock fonts so no worrying about licenses or errors embedding fonts in your manuscript or unavailable fonts and random fallbacks -- ironic since the reader can alter this in any case -- etc. It also guarantees your <elements></elements> will not be messed with and if they display wrong, your can fix it in Kindle Create to ensure it works. And built-in is a previewer for all kindle devices, including mobile apps.
And this is the alchemy Amazon uses. Not sure why as others all use straight-up ePUB, but that's Amazon for ya.
 
Me, I just convert eBooks into .txt files.....and read 'em that way. Works for me.

I've always been a huge sci-fi fan. Many, MANY years go - late 70s/early 80s - I obtained a boxed set by an author some of you MAY have heard of (but most won't); E.E (Elmer Edward) "Doc" Smith's 'Lensman' series, mostly written back in the golden hey-day of 'pulp' fiction & sci-fi between the wars.

In the course of various house-moves, these got misplaced. Annoyed the hell out of me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

I managed to track-down a set some years back, from an on-line publishing house called Project Gutenberg. They had 'em in some very weird format, but at that time they DID offer an on-site 'converter' for either PDFs or plain text files. I chose the latter, simply because they're compatible with everything.....

.....and the rest, as they say, is history.

They appear to have dropped the converter now, probably due to the fact eBook readers are so ubiquitous (my set mentioned above are now available in standard ePub). I've linked to the site above, because they have a really good selection of titles, including plenty of harder to find stuff. Some of you may find it useful.


Mike. ;)
 
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So, installed Windows 10... Only took about 2 hours...
~45-60 min install, then a good 1 hour of the Win10 logo and "Getting Ready" across the bottom (I kid you not). Finally... Nope, I'm now greeted with "Just a moment..."

I feel like I'm dating again. "Just a moment..."

Could've done about 6 heavy-weight Linux installs (Like Mint/Ubuntu, not a super light weight distros that barely give you time to make a cuppa tea). And I monitored it with iftop, and there was barely any network activity, so it ain't my ISP, it's local.
 
I published a short story using LuLu. used the free online tools and everything worked fine. I did it from libre office and firefox using linux and not a problem. They release to kindle, amazon and a dozen other outlets for you.
 
I published a short story using LuLu. used the free online tools and everything worked fine. I did it from libre office and firefox using linux and not a problem. They release to kindle, amazon and a dozen other outlets for you.
I checked out the site, seems they also have their own store as well. Will keep them in mind for after the KDP select period. But since I already installed a malware called Windows in a VM and started with Kindle Create, may as well not get off this train... It's a pity because my LO ePub actually looks nice (IMO, lol) until it converts to Amazon's format.
Main problem is I use more styling than Kindle readers were designed for (Chapters, separate "sections" that are not chapters but parts unto themselves, subheadings, etc.) ePub -- that everyone uses -- is a vastly superior format to Kindle's proprietary rubbish, but I guess it's play the hand I'm dealt.
 

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