Any Kindle alternative apps that can access Kindle Books

[Kelemvor]

I have a bunch of Kindle Books I've gotten from Amazon.com but I can't stand the Kindle App as there's no way to organize books at all.

Is there any alternate apps that can read in the Kindle Books but would let me organize them into folders or something?

Thanks.

 

[Petrah]

Not sure if FBReader lets you sync from your Kindle device, but it looks to let you put the books on your SD card, and also looks like it handles some type of lists. Read the full description and see if FBReader is something you'd like.

 

[Harry2]

If you've free Kindle books, then a reader for .mobi books, like 'iReader', would read these books.

For to organize the books in folders you might use a file manager like EStrongs File Explorer.

Harry

 

[zuben el genub]

Can Calibre convert?

 

[Bren S.]

Can Calibre convert?

Yes it can.

 

[Harry2]

Can Calibre convert?

A free Kindle book, yes.
But not a paid (projected) Kindle book, so far as I know.

Harry

 

[Bren S.]

I've never had a problem converting a .mobi (kindle) paid or free with calibre.

 

[Kelemvor]

OK so that brings up two questions.
1) Where does the Kindle App store its books on my phone/tablet?
2) How do I use Calibre to organize them? Do I have to download them from the tablet to the PC, convert them in Calibre from the Amazon format to some other format, then reupload them to the tablet. Then do I have to use a certain progam to read them? I just want something where I can open it up and go to Collections/Folders/Whatever and choose things like Cookbooks, kids books, Sci Fi, etc.

Thanks.

 

[Colchicine]

This problem illustrates the problem with getting anything Kindle. As much as I like Amazon, their ecosystem is closed similar to Apple products. I'll never buy a Kindle book.
BTW- I think their app is one of the best.

 

[Petrah]

OK so that brings up two questions.
1) Where does the Kindle App store its books on my phone/tablet?
2) How do I use Calibre to organize them? Do I have to download them from the tablet to the PC, convert them in Calibre from the Amazon format to some other format, then reupload them to the tablet. Then do I have to use a certain progam to read them? I just want something where I can open it up and go to Collections/Folders/Whatever and choose things like Cookbooks, kids books, Sci Fi, etc.

Thanks.

Calibre is fairly easy to use once you get use to where all of the options are and how to initially set it up. Once it's set up you can send books from your computer to your Kindle device, and then sync it with the Kindle app. I haven't tried it yet, but I think you can also have Calibre send books to your phone once it's set up... but don't quote me on that.

If you do a Google search for Calibre Tutorial you should find plenty to help you if you get stuck.

 

[Harry2]

... Where does the Kindle App store its books on my phone/tablet? ...

SD card or storage /Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/files/...

Harry

 

[Petrah]

SD card or storage /Android/data/com.amazon.kindle/files/...

Harry

I have books listed in the Kindle app, but not in that sub folder. The only thing I see in there are book cover image files.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I was 99% sure Amazon DRM'd their books.

 

[Harry2]

I have books listed in the Kindle app, but not in that sub folder. The only thing I see in there are book cover image files.

My phone stores there the .prc files of my Kindle eBooks ...

Harry

 

[Pookeysgirl]

I was 99% sure Amazon DRM'd their books.

Most of them are. There are some by indie authors that are not DRM infested, but everything from the big publishers are. If you use Calibre with 3rd party plug-ins to strip the DRM then you're fine. Without the 3rd party plugins you will NOT be able to convert DRM'd ebooks.

Check Mobileread for more info on ereader apps. There are plenty of threads giving a lot of useful information. Android Devices - MobileRead Forums

 

[Kelemvor]

99% of the books I've gotten from Amazon were ones that were on sale for Free for a specific day or two. I'll have to give Calibre a try at some point when I find some free time. heh.

 

[Pookeysgirl]

99% of the books I've gotten from Amazon were ones that were on sale for Free for a specific day or two. I'll have to give Calibre a try at some point when I find some free time. heh.

Kovid Goyal (creator of Calibre) is on Mobileread all the time if you have any issues or questions. A great bunch of people, very helpful.

 

[Kelemvor]

I just wished he'd pronouce it properly. kuh-Lee-bray is how it looks like it should be pronounced. not Kal-i-bur as in caliber. heh heh

 

[A.Nonymous]

Most of them are. There are some by indie authors that are not DRM infested, but everything from the big publishers are. If you use Calibre with 3rd party plug-ins to strip the DRM then you're fine. Without the 3rd party plugins you will NOT be able to convert DRM'd ebooks.

Check Mobileread for more info on ereader apps. There are plenty of threads giving a lot of useful information. Android Devices - MobileRead Forums

I'm reluctant to strip DRM out of stuff. I always wonder about the legality of doing so.

 

[Pookeysgirl]

I'm reluctant to strip DRM out of stuff. I always wonder about the legality of doing so.

It all depends on where you live. I'm in Canada, so far it's legal here. Even if I wasn't living here I would still do it. I bought it, it's mine (yes I know I only bought a licence). As long as people aren't stripping it to share the book around I don't think anyone is going to care if you strip it.

 

[zuben el genub]

Here's another option:
Humble eBook Bundle Lets You Pay What You Want For eBooks - Slashdot

 

[Bren S.]

It all depends on where you live. I'm in Canada, so far it's legal here. Even if I wasn't living here I would still do it. I bought it, it's mine (yes I know I only bought a licence). As long as people aren't stripping it to share the book around I don't think anyone is going to care if you strip it.

Exactly.

 

[kloro2006]

Two things shd be mentioned here:

1. There is a problem with the Kindle reader in that its formatting options are wretched. The main problem is that on Android it does only left and right justify. No option to use the much quicker reading rag-right margin. It would be nice if Amazon would allow a third-party developer to create a decent reader, even tho' it would have to respect DRM. In general, Amazon software developers are incompetent. Their Audible books website won't render correctly in Chrome, their Audible player on Android is poorly designed and buggy, and the Amazon.com search engine is clumsy. The Kindle reader for Android is a pathetic toy. It's as if their head of software development is someone's nephew.

2. Calibre can't always do a good job converting of Kindle books to epub. I'm reading one conversion now that loses whole sections of the original text.