Amazon issues warning about major change for Kindle users starting next month

3 years ago by Salamendacious to c/technology

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. Amazon clarifies that MOBI is an older file format lacking support for the latest Kindle features, prompting a transition to modern formats that ensure prolonged compatibility with Kindle e-books. Users

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 132 points 3 years ago

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.

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anteaters 41 points 3 years ago

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

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inasaba 29 points 3 years ago

Some of us still use devices that only support .mobi

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kaitco 27 points 3 years ago

This news wouldn’t really affect you, though, would it?

Send to Kindle feature is only for Amazon Kindle, and Kindle apps, and those have been able to support more than .mobi since the Kindle 2 (non-touch with a keyboard) which was discontinued nearly 15 years ago.

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Paradox 10 points 3 years ago

So just set Calibre to convert the books to mobi before sending it to them

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HipPriest 17 points 3 years ago

I remember having to change things I got from... places... from epub to mobi using calibre for my old school kindle to recognise it years ago. I don't even have that device anymore.

Glad they're accepting what appears to be the standard format tbh.

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lnxtx 12 points 3 years ago

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

It doesn't make sense.

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pulaskiwasright 34 points 3 years ago

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?

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TheEntity 11 points 3 years ago

Wait, does Kindle handle epub now?

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ipha 12 points 3 years ago

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

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Rizoid 7 points 3 years ago

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

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Calcium5332 1 point 3 years ago
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Salamendacious 2 points 3 years ago

I haven't had an e-reader in years but I remember using mobi files a lot, admittedly I'm not up to date, but I thought that this was more important than it appears it is.

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kraniax 6 points 3 years ago

it's trivial to mass convert mobi to a widely supported format. I think this is a welcomed change, because Amazon was the only one on the industry still promoting a legacy format like mobi, even if they tried to start moving on with their newer formats.

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