Send-to-kindle delivering KFX format to more devices

[jhowell]

Amazon's send to Kindle accepts user-supplied books via email, web, or app and converts them to Kindle formats for delivery to various Kindle reading apps and devices. Until recently only Scribe devices received personal documents in KFX format. All other Kindles received either KF8 (azw3) or MOBI format.

This appears to have changed in the last few days so that now most apps and devices that support KFX will receive personal documents in that format. The main exception appears to be the Kindle for PC app which still does not get KFX.

It is not yet clear why Amazon is doing this. One possibility is that they are preparing to allow hand drawn annotations to be viewed or created on non-Scribe devices and doing that requires KFX format. Another possible reason is that this is being done as part of a general shift away from the older Kindle formats.

I do not know if this change applies to everyone in every region. I see it for my own newly sent personal documents and saw a report on Reddit of someone else experiencing the same thing. I am curious to hear if this change is universal or limited.

[shamanNS]

Doesn't seem to be global. I've done a quick test with 2 different epub files. One was send using email and the other using amazon.com/sendtokindle web app. Amazon.com account with country for digital content set to Serbia.

Books were delivered to Kindle for Android v8.85.0.100(1.3.296551.0) on mobile phone with Android 10 & also to Kindle PW5 with firmware v5.14.1.1. azw3 format was downloaded in both cases.

[jonathan2022]

I'm from zimbabwe. I agree not global yet. I think they night usually Start with usa and Canada first then the world.

[jonathan2022]

I just tried sending a doc today. Seems to be still in azw3 format on Android 12. Using latest kindle for android.

[jonathan2022]

Out of curiosity jhowell which method did you use to send. Kindle on the web or send to on Android/other device

[tomsem]

The method should not matter, everything feeds into the same web service.

It's enabled for every Kindle devices/apps that I've checked so far: Fire HD 10, Paperwhite 11 gen, iPhone, iPads (including one that was not on latest version of Kindle app) etc.

The only exception is my Fire HD 6. And Galaxy Tab Kindle app lacks Alignment option, but scrolling and page flip work (updated the app and re-downloaded, still no Alignment option).

Note that anything previously sent as ePub will now download as KFX for users that the feature is turned on for.

Personally, I've been waiting/hoping for this change since I got a Scribe in February. So this makes me very happy.

The other shoe to drop will be when other devices and apps start getting Print Replica instead of low function PDF.

The third shoe will be when Scribe gets access to most or all Kindle Store Print Replica content. I presume Share will be restricted to Notes and Highlights and not the entire document as with personal documents in this format.

[odamizu]

As far as I can tell, I'm not getting KFX on iPhone or iPad. Is there an easy way to identify what I'm getting?

For both Kindle for Mac 1.40.1 and the new Mac beta, I'm getting old mobi (not azw3).

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by odamizu

As far as I can tell, I'm not getting KFX on iPhone or iPad. Is there an easy way to identify what I'm getting?

For both Kindle for Mac 1.40.1 and the new Mac beta, I'm getting old mobi (not azw3).

Getting KFX with the beta, just needed to re-download.

If it's not working for you, you are not one of the Chosen. (what region are you in?).

Kindle Classic is EOL and I doubt they'll flip the switch for it, even if they could.

[axu2]

I can confirm I got KFX on Android 11

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by jonathan2022

Out of curiosity jhowell which method did you use to send. Kindle on the web or send to on Android/other device

I used the web version.

Originally Posted by odamizu

As far as I can tell, I'm not getting KFX on iPhone or iPad. Is there an easy way to identify what I'm getting?

Tap the middle of the screen while in a book. If the lower left corner of the screen that comes up has a 3x3 grid of dots then it is KFX format.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

... Tap the middle of the screen while in a book. If the lower left corner of the screen that comes up has a 3x3 grid of dots then it is KFX format.

Excellent! Thanks! I didn't realize that feature occurred with all KFX books. For some reason I thought it depended on formatting within KFX. I can now confirm that Send-to-Kindle is not (yet?) resulting in KFX for me.

Originally Posted by tomsem

... If it's not working for you, you are not one of the Chosen. (what region are you in?).

I am one of the unChosen in USA

ETA: I am now one of the Chosen! 26 Sep

[dedeca]

That's great news!
I suppose there's no need to update the Kindle to the latest firmware 5.16.3, right? I don't want to update and lose the jailbreak.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by dedeca

That's great news!
I suppose there's no need to update the Kindle to the latest firmware 5.16.3, right? I don't want to update and lose the jailbreak.

I think that remains to be learned.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by dedeca

That's great news!
I suppose there's no need to update the Kindle to the latest firmware 5.16.3, right? I don't want to update and lose the jailbreak.

My Oasis 2 running 5.16.2.1.1 firmware is receiving personal documents in KFX. I also have a Paperwhite 3 running 5.15.1 firmware and that is not receiving personal documents in KFX even though it receives purchased books in KFX. So there is a software version cutoff involved.

[dedeca]

Originally Posted by jhowell

My Oasis 2 running 5.16.2.1.1 firmware is receiving personal documents in KFX. I also have a Paperwhite 3 running 5.15.1 firmware and that is not receiving personal documents in KFX even though it receives purchased books in KFX. So there is a software version cutoff involved.

Well, it's good to know that I won't need to update my pw5 (it's on firmware 5.16.2.1.1).