Can Non-Amazon Bought Books Be Archived?

[jsaffer]

How do I find out the ASIN number for a book?

Thanks,
Jason

[ProfCrash]

I have read both. It should be easy enough to pull both and be safe

[SusanCassidy]

Both ASIN and ISBN are usually listed on the book page on Amazon (DTB or Kindle).

[jmiked]

I've looked inside the file for a Kindle book. The ASIN is in the meta-data, but the ISBN doesn't seem to show up anywhere. The ASIN is what Amazon uses to identify the book in all its processes. The only place that the ISBN appears to be used is on the Amazon product description page to tell people the book to which the page numbers correspond. The Kindle versions themselves don't appear to use the ISBN (at last on some recent ones I've checked), they use a new number called an eISBN, which is not shared with any print version.

Mike

[jsaffer]

Two questions:

1. Does it matter if the ASIN number I retrieve from the web, to insert in the mobi2mobi program, comes from the hardcover version of a book or the kindle version of the book? I notice that Amazon has different numbers for the two things.

2. I'm assuming that once I use mobi2mobi to convert a book with the revised metadata for items exth 113 and 501, that I then have to copy the converted mobi book both onto the Kindle and onto my Android phone. Is this correct? I can't just copy the book onto one device, it has to be both?

Thanks,
Jason

[jsaffer]

Also, another question:

Once I have put the converted mobi book onto both devices, do I then have to click on the "sync" option in either the Kindle or on the Android phone, or should the latest page sync happen automatically? Also, does the sync show up right away or does it take Amazon a bit of time to sync things?

Jason

[Morf]

Also, another question:

Once I have put the converted mobi book onto both devices, do I then have to click on the "sync" option in either the Kindle or on the Android phone, or should the latest page sync happen automatically? Also, does the sync show up right away or does it take Amazon a bit of time to sync things?

Jason

I've never tried this idea of syncing converted mobi's so I'm not sure on that bit, but I helped somebody else understand page sync in this thread http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,67535.msg1100656.html#msg1100656.

You might want to take a look at that, and then try to get it working with a genuine Amazon book ("buy" one of the free books if necessary) before you try it with converted books.

[chilady1]

So let me clarify a few things about this process because jstaffer you are doing a lot of extra work.  

1.  I add non Amazon books into Calibre and if they are not in .mobi format (for example epub) I use Calibre to convert them to .mobi format.  Since Calibre version 7.x something, Calibre adds the ASIN to the metadata.  That's part 1.  There is no need to use mobi2mobi anymore because Calibre is essentially putting the ASIN in for you.  The ASIN is what makes the Kindle for iPhone app think it is syncing an Amazon book.

2.  Now, I don't know about Android phones so please use this with a note of caution.  This process is what I use to sync my non-Amazon books between my Kindle and my iPhone 4 but my thought is that the process may work for Android also.  If you import a non-Amazon book using iTunes, sync will not work.  This is not the location that allows for syncing.

3.  I found a program called Disk Aid - again, I think this only works for iPhones.  You would need to look for an equivalent program that will give you access to the root on your Android.  Disk Aid allows you to access the root directory of your iPhone WITHOUT a jailbreak.  Once you have access to the root, you look for your Kindle for iPhone app, below there is a directory called Library, below that is a directory or folder called ebooks.  This is where you place the books.  

4.  At this point, I would recommend a re-boot of the iPhone, although some have said a re-boot is not necessary.  Once the re-boot occurs open the book and read.  Once done, hit the snyc button before closing out.  Open your book on the Kindle, turn wireless on and once inside the book, open MENU and choose "Sync to the Furthest Page Read".  

5.  Again, this is done for the iPhone, although I would venture to think doing it for the Android would be a similar process.  I am doing this with books that I have legally purchased.  Also, as someone mentioned earlier, books sideloaded in this manner DO NOT go into your Archive once you delete them off the phone but since I maintain my entire library in Calibre, that is no problem.  I can simply reload them if I choose to read the book again.  Hope this helps!

[chilady1]

As far as I know, the Kindle syncs on ASIN, not ISBN. But I could be wrong.

Mike

You are correct Mike, it syncs on the ASIN.

[belle17363]

Thank you Chilady1! 

I followed your instructions and can now Whispersync my non-Amazon kindle books between my iPad and iPhone.  I expect to get my Kindle 3 soon, and it's very reassuring to know that I will be able to enjoy reading across devices. 

And the wonderful thing is that this didn't require any "techie" skills - just the ability to follow directions.  Maraming salamat!

[jsaffer]

Hi ChilLady,

Are you saying that you can change the ASIN number using Calibre? I can't see a way in Calibre to modify an ASIN number. I have the latest version. Can you help me out on this? Thanks.

Jason

[jmiked]

Are you saying that you can change the ASIN number using Calibre? I can't see a way in Calibre to modify an ASIN number. I have the latest version. Can you help me out on this? Thanks.

It's an automatic process. If the mobi format book has no ASIN, Calibre will generate a pseudo-ASIN number and insert it in the metadata during the conversion process. You have no control over this.

Mike

[Meemo]

Ah.  Useless for me then.  I only have one Kindle and I don't want to Jailbreak my iPad2 which I read on sometimes as I carry it around more than I do my Kindle.

You can e-mail a copy of the .mobi file from Calibre to yourself as an attachment, when you go to open the attachment on your iPad you'll get the option to open it with the Kindle app.  (I just tried it and yes, it works.)

[gaidinsgirl]

I can't get this to work at all. I have tried a few times. Did the new Kindle for iPhone update take away the ability to do this or anything? I am just trying to see if I am messing up or if something else is going on.

[Morf]

If you haven't already done so, I would strongly recommend that you get sync working first with Amazon bought books (you can "buy" one of the free books to test it with) using the process described in our FAQ http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,73465.msg1183688.html#msg1183688.

Once you've got it working with Amazon books, try again for a non-Amazon book using the process described here.

[gaidinsgirl]

I've done that many times. I just can't get this to work though.

[ProfCrash]

I have been having toruble with synching lately as well. No idea why.

[raehtz10]

i just got this to work with my EVO. I just converted the .mobi into a .mobi with Calibre. Uploaded the new file to my kindle, and put the three created files into the Kindle directory on my phone. Worked like a charm after that. Thanks everyone for your help in this thread.

[naman919]

Thank you Chilady1! 

I followed your instructions and can now Whispersync my non-Amazon kindle books between my iPad and iPhone.  I expect to get my Kindle 3 soon, and it's very reassuring to know that I will be able to enjoy reading across devices. 

And the wonderful thing is that this didn't require any "techie" skills - just the ability to follow directions.  Maraming salamat!

where/how did you load the book onto the iPad? i emailed the mobi to myself and the sync doesn't work. i'm trying to sync an android phone and iPad like some others.

[kemik]

Hi all,

I just registered here to give you an answer I spent most of my morning trying to find - that is, where exactly does Kindle for Android store the books which it opens (or, where you should paste your files from Calibre to be able to open them with Kindle for Android).

The answer is:

/mnt/sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.kindle

So, just have your Calibre copy the .mobi files to that folder, it works like a charm, and syncs with my Kindle device flawlessly.


(Took a while, but I'm happy to share with you what I've learned).

[Linjeakel]

Hi, kemick, welcome to Kindleboards!

Thank you for the tip, I'm sure a lot of people will find it very helpful. Hopefully it will work on all Android phones.

Now that you've joined us, I hope you'll stick around and see all the things we have to offer.